A/N: I reworked the summary as suggested by a reviewer, and it appears to have gotten more people to read my story!
The next one should be out this Wednesday/Thursday.
As always, criticisms and suggestions are always welcome! Enjoy!
Anna awoke to the smell of bacon. Still half asleep, she lifted herself out of the couch and let her nose guide her into the kitchen. Kristoff handed her a plate of food and returned to cooking.
"Thanks Kris, you're the best!" she clumsily leaned over the plate, landing a soft peck on his cheek.
His face reddened, unbeknownst to the ginger. He put his head down and scratched at the back of his neck with one arm.
"Uh... ye-yeah, any time kiddo."
"More tea, miss?"
Elsa simply nodded, only partially paying attention as Gerda poured the sweet-smelling drink in her cup.
We have a lot to do today. Elsa sighed as she looked ahead. Today appeared to be another trying one.
"Miss Beck, I'm afraid I have some bad news."
"I know Kai, I already saw the post this morning."
I knew Hans was up to something. The article is barbaric, but the recording could be damaging.
"Did you want me to take care of Mr. Westerguard's editorial?"
"That won't be necessary, I already contacted our legal department, it should be down by this afternoon."
"Very well miss, please let me know when you are ready."
"Actually, I will be driving myself today. While I'm gone, can you set up a meeting with Miss Anna?"
I'm going to have to get that girl's last name.
Kai hesitated before answering. "Ah, yes, the young photographer. Shall I bring her to the estate?"
"No, please arrange for a table at Ithunn's for lunch. I trust you will be able to escort her there?"
Once the manservant nodded, Elsa excused the two servants to complete the rest of their duties. She needed to be alone for the next phone call.
"So... let me get this straight," the blonde boy said. "You made Elsa Beck, the heir to the multi-billion dollar energy empire, faint?"
"Well... heiress, if we're being technical."
"And you took her to the hospital, waited for her to wake up, and she gave you a ride home plus you two are going to meet up again?"
"Oh no, she didn't drive me, her driver did. In her limo," the redhead corrected. "It was big. And shiny."
"Uh-huh... And you're not supposed to tell anyone about this?"
"Yep!" the ginger added as she chewed on a pancake. She looked up to see the boy with a cocked eyebrow, mouth parted.
"Oops... Don't tell anyone I told you that!"
"Relax feistypants," Kristoff chuckled. "I'm not going to tell anyone. You should be more worried about your own mouth!"
Her face reddened and she pouted. Damn it, he's right. How does he do that all the time!
"I was just messing with you, you'll be fine! Just be a little more careful before you open that mouth of yours, hm?"
There was a moment of silence, before Kristoff spoke up.
"So... How are you doing Anna?"
"Well pretty good right now, these pancakes are to die for!"
"You know what I'm talking about. If you need help with rent I can-"
"I know what you meant, and I don't want to talk about it."
"Yeah but-"
"I'm not a child, Kristoff. I can take care of myself."
Their staring match was interrupted by Anna's phone. She didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
Elsa was content with her meeting with the board. It was short, to the point, and she was in control. She didn't have to convince them she was simply suffering with over-exhaustion. It wasn't the first time she had fainted, something she never thought she'd be thankful for. The board even agreed to allow her to flex her schedule out to accommodate her physical limits. After all, it was the middle of the quarter, when she had the least to do.
She checked the time. Fifteen-minutes to eleven. She was ahead of schedule. She smiled, trying to count her small victories as Gerda always suggested.
As Elsa pulled into her physician's office, she took a deep breath.
It never hurt anyone to get a second opinion.
"Uh-huh, mhm, I see..." Anna's eye's narrowed. She was concentrating, Kristoff noted.
"Yeah, that's no problem, I will be ready then! Thanks a bunch, see you then!"
She hung up, and returned to her pancakes. After a couple bites she looked up at the sound of fingers drumming the table.
"Who was that?"
"Uhh... Nobody!"
"So... You're meeting the Ice Queen?" Once he saw her eyes bulge out of her head, he grinned.
"You're meeting her for lunch?"
"Wha- what?! That's ridiculous Kristoff, she can't just randomly make plans the day of! She's too busy and important for that... right?"
He just smiled at the girl. "Relax, I won't tell anyone. Now hurry up and finish your food so I can drop you off at your place. You could use a shower."
The redhead blew raspberries at him and he chuckled. At least she's back to her normal self.
Why is it taking so long? Did it take this long last time?
Elsa was having a hard time keeping still. When her physician came in, she could barely stay in her seat.
"I'm sorry Miss Beck, I don't have much good news to offer you."
Damn it.
She was ready for that answer, as much as she wished it not true. The blonde simply nodded, and waited for him to continue.
"Now I'm sure they already took your blood to run some tests, to see if the growth is benign or malignant, correct?"
"Yes doctor, and that won't be necessary here, I just wanted to make sure I had the right diagnosis. Once I get the results back, I will have the doctor send them here as well." Though Dr. Lopez had given Elsa his word, she felt much more comfortable in her doctor's hands.
"I see. Well if that is all, you are free to go. Please stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activities, and please, be careful."
His tone had softened for that last bit. Elsa smiled slightly back at him before exiting the room.
Anna sat in silence, trying her best to be still. She felt under-dressed for the establishment and didn't want to attract any additional attention to herself. When she saw her host coming towards her, she stood up. That's what you're supposed to do, right?
"Please, stay seated. I apologize for the delay."
"Oh no, don't worry about it! I was just in awe of this place, I've never been here before..." Anna gulped. The Ice Queen was dressed in another pants suit. Anna was clearly under-dressed.
"Yes, well I hope you enjoy it here. They have great variety of entrees. Please, order whatever you'd like."
"Well, thank you!" Anna looked over her menu. There are so many options! And so many that sound so good! She could feel her mouth watering.
After they had ordered, they sat in silence.
"Well, I can't see any reason not to get started," the blonde broke the silence. She pulled out a black leather portfolio and handed it to Anna. "This is the contract my advisers wrote up. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have."
"This... This is a lot to take in at once," Anna let out a nervous laugh.
"Please, take as much time as you need."
"Oh... did you want me to sign this today?"
The blonde raised only an eyebrow before answering, "Yes, the faster we get this done the faster we can move on to our... collaboration."
"I see..." Anna started going through each paragraph slowly, careful not to miss a dangerous clause.
"Do you need me to explain what it means?"
"What?"
"You seem to be having some trouble, I could explain it for you, if you'd like."
Elsa saw the redhead search her face for a second, before suddenly the ginger eye brows shot down.
"Are you trying to say I'm too stupid to read?"
Elsa blinked. "No, I was only saying-"
"No, I think that's exactly what you were saying." Anna's hands were starting to shake.
"Anna, please-"
"Don't Anna me! My name is Miss Hudson!" Anna's face grew red, and her voice was beginning to shake.
"Miss Hudson-"
"You know what? Don't bother. I'm probably too stupid to understand what you're trying to say!" Anna slammed her hands on the table. People were starting to stare.
"Not all of us grew up with a silver spoon, Miss Beck. Some of us didn't have nice things like mansions, servants or parents!"
Elsa could see the redhead's eyes starting to water.
"I may not be as rich, or sophisticated as you, but at least I'm not such a... a bitch! Forget I even asked to use those pictures. You want them deleted, they're gone!"
Elsa sat there in shock as the redhead stormed off. Once the shock wore off she could only wonder where it had all gone wrong.
So that's what that feels like...