A/N: I do not own Frozen, nor it's characters.
TRIGGER WARNING: There is description of a panic attack in this chapter, the part marked by A LONG STRING OF 'L's should be skipped by anyone who will be triggered by descriptions by a panic attack, and I'm sorry if I described it wrongly. Again, I have never experienced a panic attack and so will not know how it feels, and can only hope to accurately describe it from what I have read.
Bit of a plot teaser/filler chapter. Enjoy.
Anna was sullen as she pulled out her check book to pay for that night. She was still sweaty, sticky down there, and she refused the shower offered to her—She knew it was irrational, but the longer she kept from bathing, the longer she would be able to feel the ghost of the Ice Queen's touch on her skin.
"How much do I owe you?"
Anna groaned and slumped on the counter, propping her chin on the counter. Why does this feel like a break up? She never even knew the Ice Queen… How could she get so attached to someone she hasn't even seen?
Gertrude was eyeing her with a mixture of amusement and sympathy. She patted Anna on her head like she would a puppy. "Just the fee for the Ice Queen. No charge from Links."
Anna pouted and scribbled the details on the check and wrote the amount that the Ice Queen charged, plus as great big tip for her. Then she buried her eyes in her folded arms as Gertrude handled the check.
"Wow. That's generous of you." Gertrude eyed her speculatively.
Anna mumbled wordlessly into her arm.
"You know, it's not the end of the world…" Gertrude said feelingly. "…you might still be able to contact her."
Anna's head popped up like a dog spotting a squirrel. "What? How? When? Who is she?"
Gertrude smiled as she tapped on the screen. "She is the Ice Queen, my dear. And just like you would like your identity to be kept secret, the Ice Queen needs to remain anonymous as well."
Anna slumped again, mumbled unintelligently.
"But, The Ice Queen actually left something for you." Gertrude held a piece of folded paper between her fore and middle finger, which Anna snatched without hesitation. With trembling fingers, she unfolded the paper hastily (tearing it slightly) and printed on it were the following words:
"Snowflake, thank you for the last few wonderful Saturday nights. I guess we may never see each other again, but I do treasure your company. If you have anything you need to contact me, especially for company or just a listening ear, I made an email account especially for you: the-ice-queen-domme
Contact me if needed, but I will not consent to anything that involves us interacting face to face.
I would also like to request that you do not try to locate me through the Internet. As I mentioned, I would like to start my life anew."
Anna didn't wait for Gertrude to finish the transaction. With the note in hand, she dashed out of Links, and into the unassuming car waiting for her outside. Speaking to her driver-cum-bodyguard, she barked rapid orders, assertive for one of the few times in her life.
"Kristoff, I need you to track down someone for me through an email address."
"Yes Ma'am." Came the reply.
Anna smiled at the irony of his words, but it was soon replaced by a look of blazing determination, even though she held the note to her chest with utter tenderness.
She will track down the Ice Queen by hook or by crook. She'd never felt anything like this with anyone else.
For the first time in forever, someone could fill the hole in her heart.
Sunday, 6th July 2014 12:48:54 am From: SubSnowflake [feistypants gmail . com] To: The Ice Queen [the-ice-queen-domme gmail . com]
Your Majesty:
I know you don't want to meet face to face, but I am really, really addicted to you… Please, may we just… Meet at Links again? You can tie me to the bed, blindfold me, gag me and even put earplugs so I can't hear you. I'll handle everything at your request, I'll pay for everything but please, just… Don't leave me?
Your Servant, Your Pet, Whoever you want/need to be.
It was needy, but Anna was needy.
But her inbox remained silent.
"Hi, I'm here for the 2 o'clock interview with Miss Aren."
The immaculately dressed receptionist looked up, then did a double take as he took in her appearance. She folded her hands in front of her, smiling and waiting patiently and silently while the receptionist tried to recover his voice… or train of thought.
He was quite professional. It took him a mere ten seconds to regain a semblance of rational cognition and cleared his throat, standing in one crisp swoop, extending a hand of welcome to her.
"I take it that you are Miss Delle?"
Her head dipped in affirmation, the edge of her lips still curled upwards, both for courtesy and the other for her own amusement. Bracing herself for the physical contact to come, she grasped the warm hand and gave it a firm pump. The receptionist looked even more enchanted.
"I'm Aaron, Miss Delle. Aaron Schneider."
"Pleased to meet you, Aaron. I'm Elsa. Elsa Delle."
Aaron's smile was nearly too bright for Elsa's poor eyes. He really was quite cute, easy on the eyes, dark hair, pressed suit, warm brown eyes, broad shoulders and dimples… Hell, Elsa really had a thing for dimples, just like little Snowflake when she—
Elsa broke that line of thought as soon as she realised that she'd been thinking of that precious redhead with freckles that reache—
Elsa frowned slightly in agitation, pushing that thought out of her mind. To fall for one of her clients was just asking for heartbreak. To continue that kind of relationship was just… asking for trouble, especially when she'd just dug her way out of an overwhelmingly large amount of shit and debt, the last thing she should do is to dive into another cesspit.
Why she left the note for the redhead confused her as well.
Aaron misinterpreted her small frown, immediately releasing her hand (which, she was surprised to find, was still in his grasp).
"I apologise if that handshake made you uncomfortable."
Elsa's eyebrows ascended in surprise. "It is quite all right. I was merely worried about the time—I came quite on time."
Aaron nodded and smiled. "Ah, yes. Please, allow me to show you to Miss Aren's office."
They padded in silence across a luxuriously large waiting area, complete with marble floors, dark wood walls two light gold L-shaped sofas. As they approached a pair of gigantic floor-to-ceiling frosted sliding glass doors, an absolute beast of a blond mountain man stepped into their way.
Aaron smiled, raised his hand with a small "Hey Kristoff. This is Miss Delle for the 2 O'clock interview with Miss Aren. She's already cleared all the other three interviews by HR and security."
Kristoff nodded, then proceeded to step towards Elsa. "One last security check. Just procedure, nothing personal, okay?"
Oh, Elsa knew about procedure all right…
Nodding again, Elsa looked at Kristoff questioningly.
"Just stand with your feet slightly apart and your hands straight out by your sides parallel to the ground. My partner here," he pointed to a woman of an Asian origin that Elsa had completely overlooked, "Mulan, will be doing a body search on you. Do you give consent?"
Elsa nodded, and Mulan began searching her methodically, not inappropriate pat out of place.
"Clear." Mulan declared curtly, and nodded to Kristoff, stepping aside. He pressed a button on his wristband.
"Ms Aren? The new interviewee is here. Can she come in?"
Apparently, an affirmative answer was given through his earpiece, for Kristoff gave a slight nod and pushed a series of buttons on his wristband, and the doors slid open smoothly and silently.
Kristoff nodded at her, and she stepped through the doorway.
The first thing that hit her was the smell, the light, tangy scent of…
Snowflake?!
The strawberry blonde was positively haggard, a hand propping her cheek and head up. Not a picture of sophisticated grace, quite the contrary, actually.
Elsa froze, fire and ice singing in her veins. The affection and the lust that so warmed her when she saw the trusting woman, clothed and not blindfolded for the first time. And the fear and dread of someone linking her to her "old" life, now so intertwined in her new one. She needed this job, needed this to awaken from the ashes and begin her climb up from where she had fallen. She had bided her time for three years, it was time to step out of the ruins her father had left her in and forge a new road and beginning for herself.
She focused on the woman in front of her, Anna Aren, Elsa's potential new employer should the interview go well. Her eyes are a dazzling shade of aquamarine, the lively eagerness Elsa imagined to be under the blindfold was replaced with forlorn longing and a general disinterest at everything.
Is she sulking?
Elsa guessed knew why; she had freaked out when she read Snowflake's email, and she didn't reply, despite her really wanting to see the girl again. What if she was a hacker? Someone with intimate knowledge to barge into Elsa's life? Or, in this case, a multi-billionaire acting CEO of the most famous company in Europe or possibly the world? Wait, was Snowflake even upset over her not replying? There could be plenty of reasons why Snowflake was so… down. Maybe she fought with her boyfriend? The thought of Snowflake—Ms Aren—having a boyfriend twisted her guts. Well, If she had a boyfriend, Elsa doubted that he was satisfying Snowflake very well for her to visit Elsa every week…
So does she proceed, or does she take a step back and flee from this place that could potentially become Elsa's murder scene?
"I'm not going to bite, you know. You can come nearer…" Anna Aren said in a dead tone, sparing a glance at Elsa before turning to the file in front of her. "… Ms Delle."
So Ms Aren did not recognise her. That's a good sign. Elsa decided to test the waters, clearing her throat, she crossed the enormous expanse of carpet separating Ms Aren and herself.
"I apologise. This is the first time I have seen such a large offic— Ms… Ms Aren?"
The moment Elsa started speaking, Ms Aren's head had snapped up from the file to fixate on Elsa's face with incredulous, hopeful disbelief.
"Ma'am…?" Ms Aren was tearing up as she said this, getting to her feet slowly, aquamarine eyes locked onto surprised ice, baby blue orbs.
Fear, cold, undulating and mind numbing made Elsa's voice waver. "S-Sorry?"
Snowflake recognised my voice. Of all things to recognise—
"Ice Queen…? Is that… is that you…?"
Elsa started backing away slowly, cowed of the intense emotions in Ms Aren's eyes.
"I- I don't know what you're talking about. P-Please… I came for an interview."
Ms Aren cleared her gigantic table in one lithe leap, so there was nothing protecting Elsa from Ms Aren but six feet of light gold carpet.
Elsa backed from Ms Aren step for step.
"I know it's you… please."
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"You're the Ice Queen… I know it… I just know it!"
Elsa was backed up against the door, and Ms Aren was approaching her now, five feet, four feet, three feet, two.
"I- I came for an interview, a job…? As your personal assistant?"
Elsa could see every single freckle on Ms Aren's face as she leant into Elsa, fingers grabbing Elsa's shoulders, imprisoning her, Ms Aren's eyes closing as she tiptoed to reach Elsa's lips.
No, no. Don't touch me. Don't. Don't! DON'T!
Elsa turned her head, so Ms Aren's lips only brushed her cheeks. Tears were streaming down Elsa's face now, fuelled by the whirl storm of fear and dread and just from holding herself, her fear back from Snowflake.
Ms Aren's eyes opened in surprise at the moisture on Elsa's face.
Distress made Elsa lash out. She could not risk her future for Snowflake's tender touch… Her touch. God, no. Get off!
She pushed Ms Aren away from her, wiping her tears even as Ms Aren fell unceremoniously to the ground in shock.
Conceal, conceal. Hold it together now…
"I came for an interview, for a job, not to get assaulted. I do not know who or what the "Ice Queen" is, and I have no intention of staying to find out. It seems that I am unsuited for this job and I must decline. Good day, Ms Aren." With that half- lie, Elsa turned, located a button at the side of the doors, and whisking out of the room with her head up in a dignified silence. Mulan and Kristoff looked confused, but let her pass.
"Wait! Wait, please!" Ms Aren's voice was desperate, pleading.
Elsa just sped up, not sparing a glance behind her.
"Mulan, Kristoff—stop her!"
With that command, Elsa was immediately tackled to the ground, her hands pinned painfully behind her back.
"Do we need to call the police, Ms Aren?" Mulan's calm voice reached Elsa from behind.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Elsa struggled, but it only hurt her arms more. Panic started filling Elsa's body, cold, sharp and clear.
She couldn't move, she was… completely powerless.
"Don't touch me… DON'T TOUCH ME! LET ME GO! NO! PLEASE! LET ME GO!"
Panic panic panic.
She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think, she could only feel, feel herself shaking, knowing the memories that were triggering this attack, but not being able to call them to the front of her mind.
She couldn't feel anything but sheer panic, couldn't see anything but stars and hear nothing but the blood pounding in her ears.
Elsa was released, curled on the floor for a very long time, with Anna, Mulan, and Kristoff all helplessly staring at her as she hyperventilated her way through a panic attack on the ground, not daring to touch her.
Slowly, she came back to the world, eyes connecting with something… blue-green.
No no no no. There's so much fear. Keep it in control. Hold it in. Hold it in.
The realisation of what she was looking at turned Elsa's brain to mush even as she gathered every scrap of energy she had and scrambled away from Ms Aren, hitting into something warm and solid behind her. She turned to find Kristoff, concern in his brown eyes. She bounced away from him, hit Mulan, then ricocheted to a comforting corner and hugging her knees.
"Belle says to just give her space and talk in calm, hushed tones, she's coming up." A manly voice… Should be Kristoff… or Aaron? Elsa had no idea.
"Ms Delle? We mean you no harm. We—I'm so sorry. I didn't know—I shouldn't have… I was just so… It's all my fault. Please, please be alright?" Snowflake. Anna. Ms Aren. She was crouched towards Elsa, hand outstretched, hesitating, before retracting.
Elsa buried her face in her arms, relishing the darkness and peace. She felt like a child again, useless, scared out of her wits.
"Elsa?" A new, calm and gentle voice reached her ears. "Elsa, I'm Belle, the resident psychiatrist. What you need to know is that you are safe now. No one is going to hurt you."
Elsa didn't answer.
"It's okay, Elsa. It's going to be all right. We're going to do a breathing exercise, okay? Can you breathe and count to twenty with me? You don't have to say anything, just think the numbers and focus on breathing."
It took Elsa a long time, but she nodded.
"Good…Okay follow my lead. Take a deep breath. One. Hold it… Release it slowly. Deep breath… Two… Hold it…. Release."
It was slow, but Elsa followed and eventually the blood curdling fear slowly oozed out from her limbs.
"Twenty… Hold it… And release. Well done, Elsa." The office was soaked in absolute silence.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Elsa released her breath and looked up to warm, calm, smiling hazel eyes.
"Feel better?"
Elsa nodded.
"Okay. Come, let's get you something to drink and eat."
Frankly, Elsa wanted something to just avoid heaving, but floor was uncomfortable, so she stood shakily and hugged herself, eyes fixed on the floor.
"Wonderful. Now, follow me."
Elsa followed the beautiful leather flats directly in front of her to the L shaped sofas just outside Ms Aren's office. She plunked down on one of them, feeling drained, as usual, from her attack.
"Do you want something warm? Tea, perhaps?"
"Chocolate."
"Ah… okay. Aaron, if you don't mind…So, Elsa. I see you have a sweet tooth too?"
"Too?"
"Yes, Anna—Ms Aren, that is—has a very sweet tooth as well."
Elsa remained silent, still hugging her midriff.
"So Elsa, do you want to tell me more about yourself?"
"No."
"Okay, then why do you think you have these… episodes?"
Elsa was riled. "I see no point in sharing, especially if I am not getting this job…"
Ms Aren was the next to speak. "Actually, about that… you're hired… if you want the job. I guess it's the least I can do for, you know, doing that¸ but only if you want the job! I won't want to force you into doing anythi—"
Belle cleared her throat.
"Right. Rambling. Sorry. I mean, you have the job, if you want it."
Elsa didn't want the job, she needed it. She needed the money, the position to setting up the relevant contacts… to start buying over her own company back. She liked Snowflake- Ms Aren- needed her touch, but she could not risk utter desolation and… poverty again. She had a family to support, she needed to get her company back, needed revenge and she could not throw everything away just for one person. Her family needed her.
"What's on your mind, Elsa?" Belle gently asked.
For the first time, Elsa sighed and looked up. "I accept this job. But on one condition."
Ms Aren and Belle exchanged looks.
"Go ahead?" Ms Aren said.
Elsa closed her eyes, gathered her thoughts, then said in rapid fire. "I am not the Ice Queen or whatever that is. I don't want… what happened in the office to repeat itself again." She paused to let the message sink in, noting that Belle had frowned and stared at Ms Aren reproachingly, to which Ms Aren quailed.
"Yeah, okay. I guess I can do that…" Ms Aren was sheepish now, scratching her head awkwardly. "I am sorry about that…"
Elsa nodded, adding "I do not want anybody to be touching me, regardless of purpose, without my consent. Also, I do not want to be stalked, or my privacy invaded upon when I am working here. Working hours are working hours, but my own, personal time is mine and mine alone. I do not want people to follow me or track my mobile usage, as you have done from the time I applied for this job."
"Yeah, that is only for security purposes. We have to know your background since you're working for a high-level personnel. Since you have passed everything, we will cease all of such activities." Ms Aren answered.
"Then it's settled." Elsa replied.
"Oh, and another condition I would like to add," Belle piped up, "You are to have weekly sessions with me, everything will be confidential and all costs will be borne by Aren Corp, but you need to turn up for every single session, because Aren Corp highly values their employees' mental health."
Elsa sighed. She did need help, but not… this type. She already knew what works for her. She nodded, Belle seemed caring enough.
They settled most of the conditions of the contract, and after Ms Aren had relayed some instruction to Aaron, he immediately drew up a pre-written contract, edited and cleared it with HR (which took an astonishingly short time) which Elsa checked through and signed.
"Very well, Ms Delle, I will expect to see you in office next Monday at 8.30am." Ms Aren said.
"And I will see you at 5.30pm on Monday, okay?" Belle added.
Elsa nodded, and cleverly avoiding handshakes by waving at them both, she got into the lift and left the building. Getting onto a random bus, she wondered around until she saw a random cafe and alighted from the bus.
She needed control. She was playing with fire, but after that episode…
Entering the café, Elsa ordered a mocha and sat next to a middle aged woman and asked if she could borrow her mobile phone to make an urgent email, since her own had "died".
Initiating incognito mode, she typed out the following message:
Friday, 25 July 2014 4:23pm From: The Ice Queen [the-ice-queen-domme gmail . com] To: SubSnowflake [feistypants gmail . com]
Slut, you dare break the rules I have explicitly set? Punishment. Tomorrow, Links, 10pm, book the room for 3 hours this time. You will be naked, eagle spread on the bed, face down, blindfolded, all limbs restrained, and because of your disobedience, you will be leashed. I will be in the room at 1015. All hard and soft limits will be respected, but you will be punished. You don't need to pay me, just the room at Links. Get Room 26 if you can afford it.
Your Owner, you stupid Pet.
Sending the message, she signed out and exited the application, making sure that she cleared the history as a precaution. Thanking the woman, she finished her mocha and headed out of the café and took the homeward bound bus.
A/N: Thank you for all the reviews and support! And as most of you have pointed out several formatting issues in the previous chapter, I have gone back to revise them, so thanks! And yes, they do meet and the plot will be advancing, there'll be quite a bit to cover but I don't envision this getting too long. Next chapter, SMUTTT. :D