Chapter One

Elsa Andersen: The Ultimate Opportunist

The year is 2012: soon-to-be graduates of North Mountain University clutch their diplomas in their hands and excitedly throw their caps in the air. They let out cries of relief as their four-year odyssey comes to an end. They will all leave the stadium with some degree of certainty in their future. Except for Elsa Andersen, who already knows what's next.

In her freshmen year, she acquired an internship at ArenCorp. Then just a simple sales department for a different company, and now a global powerhouse with investments and businesses in multiple industries. The next year she would be promoted to a supervisor position, and in her junior year she would be promoted once more to a regional management position. Now with a Bachelor's in Business Administration, she sets her sights higher.

At the age of 22 years old, Elsa Andersen is one of the youngest CEO's in history to run such a massive company. So how did she do it? By becoming an opportunist, the ultimate opportunist.

In a recent interview, Ms. Andersen credits her success to taking every opportunity presented to her. Her coworkers, now subordinates, have stated that she never hesitated to take on any task assigned to her and completed them like a woman on a mission. "When the higher positions were up for grabs, I remember she was always the first in line to apply. Sometimes she didn't even need to apply, sometimes she was already recommended for the job.", says Regional Manager, Clayton Brian.

An employee like Elsa Andersen, who has been with the corporation for less than five years, would never even be considered for these positions so soon. But it's no secret that without her efforts, ArenCorp wouldn't be in the position they are in now. Her negotiation skills are legendary, securing client after client for the corporation; she has overseen the creation and expansion of numerous businesses under the ArenCorp banner; and it was Ms. Andersen who convinced the Board of Directors to take a risk and branch out into industries such as fashion, construction, and technology. With her laundry list of successes, the question changes from why she should be the CEO, to why not?

While the announcement has only been made recently, Elsa Andersen has been in talks with the ArenCorp Board of Directors about the promotion for a month now. All eyes are on her to see what she does next. Will she fall for the same traps and setbacks of the leaders before her? Will she follow in the giant footsteps of ArenCorp's previous CEO? Or will she blaze her own path and add more ink to her already impressive mark on history? Only time will tell, but the future seems bright for Ms. Andersen and her company.

Elsa closed the magazine and set it back down on her desk. The article read like the countless other ones about her promotion; this one at least seemed less biased than the others. She never wanted to make an announcement, they were tacky and stalled work too much for her liking.

But the Board of Directors insisted it would give the company a good PR boost, and apparently you can't have too much good PR.

The phone ringing interrupted her thoughts, she pressed the button on the receiver. "Yes, Hannah, what is it?"

"Ms. Andersen, your 11:30 appointments are here", her assistant responded.

"Great, send them in." Elsa de-pressed the button and stood up, hands folded behind her sky blue blazer.

She looked out the large, oversized window behind her desk which took up the entire back wall. Downtown was bustling as usual, and even this high up she could spot some familiar faces enjoying their lunch break at one of the city's countless restaurants.

Arendelle, this city, it was a part of her, and she was a part of it.

There was a sharp knock on her gold-lined mahogany door before it opened, four men and women in varying colored suits filed in. Her own personal council, each member had served the CEO before her.

"What do you have for me?" Elsa asked without turning around.

A man in a black suit spoke first, "The technology wing is requesting funds to fix a small hardware issue before we roll out our new phone line in the fall."

Elsa shook her head, "Small is a relative term, I want more information before I sign off on anything. Now what else?"

A woman in a forest green pantsuit spoke next, "There's a worker down in the sales floor who has missed his quota three times now-"

"And you haven't fired him yet?" Elsa interrupted, this wasn't the first time she'd heard such a story.

"Well I…we didn't want to make a move like that due to the announcement of your promotion." The creeping fear in the woman's voice didn't escape Elsa's ears.

"Fire him. What's next?"

Was Elsa ruthless? None of her workers would ever say it loud but yes. She had a reputation for being so, but if upholding strict policies kept her company on top, then so be it. She didn't even know the man she was firing, what his situation was or if he had a family. But underachievers had no business being here in her eyes.

She would find someone to replace him within the hour anyway.

"Our restaurants are due for their quarterly health inspections, and we need you to sign off on the inspectors", said a woman in a white pantsuit.

"Understood, have the papers on my desk before 1." Elsa checked her phone, it was 11:50, she'd need to wrap this up soon. "Are there any other reports or are we done here?"

No one else spoke up and, hiding her relief, she waved them off, "Then you're all dismissed." She made a mental note to have these meetings bi-quarterly. It promoted uniformity, and made sure these men and women were continuing to do their job.

Once they all left she called her secretary again, "Hannah, the opening is at 12:30 right?"

"Oh you're…you're not too busy to go?"

"I have nothing else till 2. You should know my schedule, it's what I pay you for."

"Of course I know what your schedule is, I just assumed that-"

"Pull the car around, I'll be down in a few minutes." Elsa ended the call, and straightened out her jet black skirt before walking out her door.

Her office was the entirety of the top floor of ArenCorp. Despite the obnoxious amount of free space, she appreciated the amenities. She even had certain other necessities brought up here like a refrigerator and a bed in case she needed to work overtime.

Sometimes she thought about living here, there was no one waiting at her apartment anyway.

She occupied the rest of her office with a sleek mahogany desk, a bookcase with dusty journals, classic literature and mementos from past business trips, and a large, fake bamboo plant. It was a bit lacking sure, but Elsa would choose practicality over flashiness any day.

Her assistant had a third of the floor, and she didn't hesitate to fill the space to her liking. There were paintings, colorful pieces of furniture, and exotic plants covering every square inch of the space.

Hannah was an attractive 20-year-old Communications major at North Mountain. She had short, brunette hair and a penchant for always dressing a little bit on the unprofessional side. She was sitting at her modernist glass desk and typing on her expensive, white computer with golden accents.

The internship paid well.

"Is the car out front?" Elsa asked.

Hannah nodded, "I just called your driver, he said he'll be there as soon as you get out of the elevator." She broke eye contact with Elsa and started to fidget with her phone. "By the way, are you going to need me tonight or not?"

"I don't know for sure yet, but chances are good. It's going to be a long day." Elsa strode towards the elevator before her assistant could reply.

No matter how high Elsa rose in the company, she would always pay a personal visit to any new ArenCorp establishment. The tradition started when she helped to oversee the grand opening of a laundromat, and she's stuck by it ever since.

Elsa didn't know why she did it, maybe because it kept her grounded and reminded her of where she started and where she is now. Nonetheless, she was on the way to the newest establishment now.

Parked right at the front door was her unassuming black sedan that she ironically dubbed her "chariot". Marshall, her driver and bodyguard, opened the door for her to get in.

It may not seem like it, but this bakery marked an important new milestone in the company's future. Their culinary branch primarily dealt with fine dining restaurants and catering, this bakery was their first foray into more casual eateries. If it was successful, it would help them gain a foothold in an entirely new market. Sure, there were a plethora of fast food chains around but nothing could ever beat the feel of a local business, and Elsa loved supporting local businesses.

"We've arrived at the bakery, ma'am.", her driver said with a well-practiced straight face. Elsa hadn't seen him smile once since she hired him a year ago, then again Elsa wasn't one to smile all the time either.

"Thank you, Marshall.", she replied with her own straight face incomparable to his. "Keep the car running, I shouldn't take too long."

She was immediately assaulted by blinding light when she opened the door. She thought it was from the sun beaming down at her from its highest point of the day, but then she realized the lights were scattered and flashing.

The paparazzi must have brains behind those cameras, they knew she'd be at this opening too.

She took a second to get her eyes used to the lights before straightening herself up and marching right inside, completely unfazed by all the walking, talking cameras asking her to "Look over here." or to "Show them the moneymaker." Whatever that meant.

Even though she wasn't able to get a good look at the outside, she could get a fairly uninterrupted look at the inside, and it was…homely.

The murals on the wall filled the bakery with splashes of white, blue, and gold. It clashed with the traditional Arendelle colors of purple and green. Colored lights and origami birds hung from the ceiling to complete the eyesore of a color scheme.

To the left were display racks half-filled with bread and other baked goods, to the left were display cases with cakes and muffins. There was nowhere to sit.

A sharp yelp interrupted Elsa's intake of the bakery. She turned to see a woman in an apron, with blonde hair a bit darker than hers, staring at her with hands clasped over her mouth like she'd seen a ghost. Elsa looked behind her to see if there was anyone there but no, it was just her and this petrified blonde standing behind a cash register.

Elsa cleared her throat, "Are you...okay?"

The blonde's eyes went wider than they already were and she shook herself out of her stricken daze, her long, blonde hair swayed as she did so. "I-I'm sorry it's just that…I didn't…it's really you!", she exclaimed.

"Yes, it's…me," Elsa said cautiously. "And who do you think I am?"

"You're Elsa Andersen, right? The CEO of ArenCorp? Oh my gosh, I read about how you always show up to grand openings, but…I can't believe you're actually here!" The bubbly blonde bounced on her toes with each syllable.

She nodded politely, maintaining her poise to encourage her employee to do so as well. "Well this is an ArenCorp establishment, of course I would be here."

"Well yeah I knew that but…" Finally, the blonde started to calm down and stopped bouncing on her toes. "I'm sorry I'm so excited it's just…it's not every day you meet a celebrity you know? Especially not a celebrity who's responsible for paying my salary."

Elsa forced out a small, reassuring smile, "ArenCorp may be my company, but your paychecks come from our payroll department. And I'm not a celebrity, I never wanted to be."

"Maybe you don't think you're a celebrity, but right now you're blowing up the Internet. I mean you're young, attractive, and blonde so of course you are. Wait shoot that sounds like I'm hitting on you!" The blonde looked panicked beyond relief. "I'm not-I'm into guys so that's- I mean you don't have to- do you wanna meet my partner?"

This rambling...it seemed oddly familiar. Elsa blinked that thought away and looked at... "I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name yet."

"Wha- oh! My name's Rapunzel! And this is the Warm Hearts Bakery!'

"Well then it's nice to meet you, Rapunzel." Elsa nodded her head and continued to steer the conversation away from this woman's awkward attempt at flirting with her. "You said something a partner?"

Rapunzel blinked as if she was trying to register what she said. "...right! Yes! My partner! I'll go get her."

She disappeared into the back of the bakery. Elsa heard what sounded like arguing, something dropping and rattling on the floor, and finally feet shuffling back towards the front.

When Rapunzel returned, she had her back turned towards Elsa. She had her arms wrapped around another woman's waist, grunting with each step towards the front counter. It was an odd sight.

The other woman, though...there was something about her. The red pigtails, the way she flailed and struggled to extend her arms back towards the kitchen, seemed familiar as well.

"Anna, stop being such a stinker and pick up your feet!" Rapunzel said, grunting with every step forward.

Wait.

Anna? No…it couldn't be.

But it was. Damn it.

Standing barely four feet in front of her, with just a counter separating them, was a redheaded woman with the most memorable emerald-colored eyes and perfectly placed freckles.

Not even the insane amount of flour on her face could hide the fact that this was Anna, her Anna.

No...not her Anna, not anymore.

"Sorry about all that. Anyway, this is my partner-in-crime, Anna Dawson. Anna, say hi! Don't just look at her like she's a zombie."

The other person in the room continued to talk and try to coax Anna into saying something to no avail.

Anna showed her emotions clear as day, but Elsa did her best to keep her face neutral while her heart and head pounded relentlessly. It kept screaming at her to get the hell out of there.

Elsa found enough resolve to speak without losing herself to the thoughts raging inside her mind, "I…hate to interrupt you Rapunzel, but I should really get going. It was nice meeting you."

Rapunzel was failing to shake Anna around to get her talking. She interrupted her attempt to acknowledge Elsa's goodbye. "Oh no need for apologies, I wouldn't want to keep you from your duties anyway. Thank you for stopping by our bakery, Ms. Andersen, it was so nice getting to talk to you."

Elsa nodded and walked out as fast as she could, leaving Rapunzel and…Anna to themselves. When she escaped to the outside, it took all her strength to not chase away the paparazzi.

She got into the car, and told Marshall to take her back; she had seen enough of this place for a lifetime.

A/N: You know how sometimes you'll be sitting in your sailboat trying to find the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, and then a large octopus comes and wraps your boat in its long tentacles and eats it whole so you just stay in its stomach for a couple months, and then he spits you out when he gets close enough to the Santa Monica Pier, but you don't have any money or means to get home so you work for a bit making saltwater taffy for a bus ticket home, and on the bus ride home you sit next to an old, lesbian businesswoman who tells you of all the insane shit she did back in the day, and then with her permission you decide to adapt her story into written form with a few minor details changed? No that's never happened to you before?

Huh, then I guess it's just me. Anyway, enjoy this story I'm writing that I'll totally update on a regular basis, especially since school starts in two weeks and I'll totally have enough free time to write.

A/N/N: Don't mind me, just revising some chapters. Carry on.