Weaselton walked into his office to find Hans lounging on his office chair. His expensive shoes stacked on the glass desk in front of him, and a glass full of the good whisky Weaselton had hidden in the back of his whisky cabinet intended only for special occasions.
"Mr Severn-Isles, make yourself at home… please" he hissed sarcastically. Dropping the stack of yearly reports on the edge of the desk.
"Well I thought I'd get used to view, seeing as it'll be mine soon"
Weaselton stopped for a minute, "Ours, you mean"
"Yes, yes, of course" Hans said, waving his hand flippantly at Weaselton. "I actually came to see you because I've made headway in our… plan" he said, using the word hesitantly.
"Jack is withdrawing his support?" Weaselton asked, allowing himself a small glimmer of hope.
"No, but I've got someone on the job"
"That's it? You came here to tell me you've started thinking about the take down of a CEO?"
"My dear Weaselton, this isn't as easy as you may think. For this to work there needs to be a certain amount of finesse. If it were up to you, you'd steamroll over all the details"
"But at least I'd get to the end result a lot faster than you" he exasperated, swiping the whisky bottle off the desk and taking a long swig. He'd stuck by Elsa's father acting as his right hand man for what had seemed like centuries. Hoping when the CEO finally kicked the bucket Weaselton would be put in charge, but alas, almost the entire board thought it more fitting if a young, inexperienced woman took the helm, if only because her last name was written on the side of the damn building.
He had, had so many plans for the company, only for the first step of liquidating the assets, to be foiled by a lovesick boy who fancied himself a silent hero.
Hans watched Weaselton from over the rim of his glass. Waiting until the small man had simmered down from a lobster red to a deep pink before he spoke. "This is where we must disagree. You'll find enjoyment in the final moments when you can finally take this company for your own. Whereas, I shall find the enjoyment in the process. I will watch lives of all these pawns in our game disintegrate around them. So in the end all they will see is blood on their hands as they kneel amidst the rubble"
"Now" Hans sniffed, standing from the chair and adjusting his suit jacket, "If you'll excuse me, I have a list of people to threaten today and I'm already behind schedule"
"I'm still confused, you travelled across half the city just to tell me this?" Weaselton asked again.
"Ah yes. I also came to tell you that I no longer have any use for your daughter. Her job was to come between Anna and Kristoff and to get Intel on Jack, if anything, she's now compromised"
"And who's compromised her Hans? Jack? Or are you finally going to own up to actually making a mistake?" Weaselton asked. He had to admit, it was partially his fault for getting his daughter involved. He'd suggested her in the first place, however, he hadn't known she'd fall for the last two men Weaselton would ever choose for her.
"Always so quick to blame someone else" Hans sighed, skimming quickly through the pile of confidential yearly reports Weaselton had bought in, "I'd watch yourself, the success of this plan and the dreams you've constructed for yourself all depend on me, it's hardly my fault if your girl can't control her whimsical feelings knowing full well my interests lie elsewhere. Keep her under control, and if she tells anyone about our plans I'll be sure to pay her a visit" he warned, his eyes meeting Weaselton's for a quick second. A promise burning within them, before he turned and walked out the office.
You forgot your lipstick at the hospital
A x
Else let out an exasperated sigh as she locked her phone and slipped it back into her purse.
She'd been sat in the car for the past half an hour trying to work up the courage to face the party. She'd opted to drive herself to Corona, hoping it would keep her mind occupied and stop her from chickening out at the last minute, but it was almost too late.
She'd received the invite to Rapunzel's second baby shower over a week ago. It was called a second baby shower but that was just a ruse, this was actually the final chance for the parents to have a party before the baby arrived to put all potential escapades to a temporary stop.
Elsa was adamant she wasn't going to go, as she'd proudly told Jack the last time she'd seen him, and she still wasn't going to go up until yesterday, when a bed-ridden Anna had threatened her. Telling her if she didn't go, Anna would go in her place, which was obviously impossible seeing as Anna had a broken leg, a shattered elbow and an array of ribs close to shish-kebabbing her lungs.
So Elsa had purposely raided her younger sister's closet for the navy summer dress and red heels, knowing full well she wanted to look good for when she saw Jack again.
She'd been at the hospital any free moment she had, Anna had been her priority, especially with Kristoff having been banished by Anna herself. Fortunately, Elsa was able to run the company from a WiFi accessible zone in Anna's private room, but she was sure this sudden lull in the company meetings diary was going to come to an end, and she'd have no choice but to begin her usual CEO routine of early mornings and late finishes. Not to mention soon she'd have Weaselton breathing down her neck.
She hadn't spoken to Hans recently, and only received a few threatening texts from him asking her if she was purposely avoiding going back to the apartment. She'd said no, but of course it wasn't the truth. She had been avoiding going back, he'd practically moved into her apartment and she hated it. She hated how she was under his thumb all the time. Hated that he seemed to watch every one of her moves like a predator, waiting for her to slip up so he could use it against her later. What was even worse, was that while she was at the hospital she kept swearing she caught glimpses of Jack, but they were fleeting and ridiculous. She doubted Jack even knew anything had happened to Anna.
But now wasn't the time to think about good-looking exes. She braced a hand on the door handle, took a steadying breath and exited her 4x4, looking like the strong, confident and powerful woman she really didn't feel like at the moment.
She threw her keys to the valet who had been patiently stood outside her car since she'd arrived and walked in, not letting her gaze linger too long in case she saw a certain someone.
"CEO Arundel!" Someone boomed from behind her. She jumped and span around only to be collected into a bear hug by Luis King.
"Mr King" Elsa beamed, returning the old man's hug. Luis was a short, stout, jolly man. He'd looked the same since before Elsa could remember, and had been a good friend of her grandfather's. "You look well, how's Charming and Ella?" Elsa asked, remembering the fairy tale wedding she'd attended the year before.
"Still lovesick for one another, in fact I think the heir to my empire prefers the company of his wife more than that of his board members" Luis chuckled, "I'm not sure I can disagree" he smiled. "And what of you? Can we expecting one of these parties for you soon?"
Elsa could feel the heat rush to her cheeks. "I think I need to find someone to help me with that first" she joked, her mind drifting to Jack without warning.
"If only I had another son" Luis teased before giving her another hug and making his way to a group of equally old men.
Elsa let out a breath, and bee-lined for the bar the moment she saw someone with a scotch.
"Black Label, neat" she breathed, taking no time to polish off the first glass before she ordered another.
"I know there's a few too many balloons but it can't be that bad. Right?" Elsa turned to find Flynn Ryder perched on a stool beside her. A teasing look in his eyes.
"Well you know how much anxiety balloons give me" Elsa shrugged, nudging Flynn's shoulder. "Congratulations are in order, soon there'll be a little Flynn or Rapunzel running around"
Flynn grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he glanced around the room, probably trying to imagine it. "I'm so fucking excited Elsa, I can't breathe sometimes. I haven't even met them yet but I know they already have my heart"
"Are you tearing up on me?" Elsa asked light-heartedly, but a lump seemed to lodge itself in her throat reminding her she knew the painful truth.
"I'm already so emotional, you'd think I was the pregnant one"
"You're not pregnant?" Elsa teased, placing a hand on Flynn's stomach, "must be a food baby then."
Flynn rolled his eyes at her. But someone had caught his attention as he raised a hand to someone behind Elsa. She turned and felt a lung give out as she spotted Jack stood at the other end of the room dressed in an ivy green shirt and dark jeans. He raised a hand back to Flynn then looked at Elsa, giving her a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"So are you definitely over then?"
"What?" Elsa asked, spinning back to Flynn.
"Are you guys not…"
"No… I don't think so" Elsa finished, still not entirely sure where she stood with Jack.
Then she saw someone familiar waddling toward her, and she had to fight to keep the disappointment from her face as her cousin came into view. Elsa had to admit she look more beautiful than usual. Her skin was glowing golden, and the way her hand rested protectively over her swollen abdomen told Elsa that Rapunzel was a mother through and through.
"Elsa!" Rapunzel began, throwing her arms awkwardly around Elsa. After Jack had visited her in her office, Elsa had called Rapunzel. They hadn't argued much but there had been a few tears and apologies on Rapunzel's behalf. Elsa had made her cousin promise to tell Flynn the truth, but she suspected Rapunzel was yet to be honest to her husband.
"You're looking well, how long left now?" Elsa asked, her words a little short.
"Urmm… about a month"
"I told her she shouldn't be on her feet so much but you know Goldie" Flynn smiled standing from his stool and guiding Rapunzel to take it instead.
"Yeah, you'll be surprised how much I know about her" Elsa began.
"Elsa" Rapunzel warned, but if anything her tone and that glass of whisky only spurred her on.
"You know Flynn, when we were kids me and Anna found out that Rapunzel was great at playing Cluedo. We'd somehow start the game suspecting each other, and finish it suspecting ourselves. Like how is that even possible?" Elsa laughed, theatrically clapping her hands, "It was because of your beautiful wife. You see not only is she great at keeping secrets, but she has this innate talent which she uses to manipulate the lie, and she does this with so much subtlety it begins to sound real, so in the end you don't even suspect it was a lie in the first place"
"Elsa…" Rapunzel warned again, her voice louder now.
"So I ask you this Flynn Ryder, which of Rapunzel's truths are actually lies?"
"Rapunzel… what is she talking about?" Flynn began, his voice dangerously quiet. Rapunzel's breaths came in small breaths as she took Flynn's hand.
"Honey, don't listen to her. Come on, I need your help with something" Rapunzel soothed, shooting daggers at Elsa.
"Seems like Mother Gothel did rub off on you" Elsa sniped, knocking back her second whisky. However, she wasn't drunk enough to ignore the sharp intake of breath as everyone heard what she said. Rapunzel's eyes burned with ferocity as she slapped Elsa across the face, her hand like a whip that seemed to knock Elsa from this sudden confidence high she was having.
Since when was it her right to divulge secrets that weren't even hers to tell. Elsa could feel the impending wave of shitty-ness beckoning.
Flynn was on Rapunzel before she could inflict a second strike. He clamped her hands down to her sides and ushered her into the hallway, as far from Elsa as he could get her. A crowd had gathered to try to glean what the argument was about, but as if they knew those were all the scraps they were going to get, they began to dissipate, leaving Elsa to her own as she tenderly prodded her sore cheek.
"You probably didn't deserve that" she heard someone say beside her. The voice warm like honey but crisp like frost sending a chill down her spine. "But one good thing to happen is now your cheek matches your shoes" Jack teased as he wrapped a few ice cubes in a handkerchief and handed it to her.
She took it from his gratefully and pressed it gingerly to her face. "Trust me Mr Frost, I definitely deserved that one" she sighed. Anna was not going to be happy.
They were silent for a long time before Elsa felt Jack's fingers twine with hers.
"How's Anna? How are you?" he asked.
Her heart skipped for a second, but only a second because through the buzz of the room cut a single furious voice.
"JACK FROST!"
Jack and Elsa turned just in time to see Flynn surging toward them with a look Elsa had never seen on his face before, it was mix of bowel-loosening fury, gut-wrenching grief and heart-stopping fear as he marched up to his best-friend, his brother and punched him square in the face.
A resounding crack echoing through the hall…
Hello all,
How this year as flown by, and to think we're almost on the final month of 2016! how daunting.
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, thank you again for the reviews, forever appreciated.
Just a reminder that this Fan Fic is my own interpretation of the disney universe (with a guardian's cross over). It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, however please don't call anyone messed up for doing something like changing a characters sexuality. Apologies if this has in anyway offended anyone, however i do personally feel by changing the sexuality of some of the characters it makes the audience more open to addressing the unacknowledged taboo of homosexuality within Disney, a franchise which should help children to understand the complexities, beauty and unity of the society we live in.
Sorry to get all political, i do hope you'll carry on reading :)
Also shout out to Furiyan, I look forward to your reviews always, and shall try harder to do the same for your amazing writing :D
Hope you all have a good week xx
