I wiped the imaginary dust off of my dress. Taking a deep breath, I opened the meeting room's door.

Inside stood a man with auburn hair, sideburns, green eyes, and light freckles across his nose. He wore a navy blue business suit with a grey shirt and black tie. I must admit...he was actually quite handsome.

When he saw me, he immediately stood and walked over to me. He grabbed my extended hand and kissed my knuckles, treating me like a queen. That was my first clue he was up to something.

"Hans Westerguard from Westerguard International. It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Arendelle." He said, smiling.

"Please, have a seat." I gestured to the chairs around the table.

He nodded and smiled again as we sat down across from each other.

"So Mr. Westerguard, why did you request a meeting on such short notice?" I asked, getting to the point. I tried to sound polite but it did not come out that way. And that was probably on purpose, because something about this man made my stomach churn...and not in the good way.

"Excellent question, Ms. Arendelle. I've been meaning to speak with you about merging the companies." He explained

"I'm sorry Mr. Westerguard, but I am going to be completely honest with you, I don't want to combine our companies."

"May I ask why?" His cheery attitude was now dark and menacing—unlike the insulted response I was prepared for. 

But I didn't skip a beat. "My parents worked too hard for me to just merge our company with another. My father took many years building it up and developing every minuscule detail of the company so that it could be handed down through my family, and I do not plan on letting his hard work go to waste." I responded calmly.

He glared, "alright, Ms. Arendelle, I understand."

"Good. Is there anything else you wish to discuss today?"

"Actually, yes. It's about Guardian Industries."

"Continue," I urged, though I truly didn't want to talk with this man anymore.

"Aren't you worried they could put you out of business?"

I considered his question for a moment. "No, not at all. They are a new company, and it will take them a while to be successful. Take Arendelle enterprises, for example, it took decades for us to be well known. Not just in the country, but in the entire world." I responded proudly.

"Okay. That was all I wanted to speak about Ms. Arendelle."

"Okay, Mr. Westerguard."

He picked up his briefcase and headed for the door. But before his hand reached the knob, he stopped. "Ms. Arendelle?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to join me for lunch today?" He asked hopefully, but I could still sense the darkness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry but I already have plans." I really wasn't sorry.

"How about dinner?"

"I'm afraid that's booked too."

He frowned, "Some other time then?"

"Sure." I agreed. Though I didn't want to, it was the proper thing to do. I mean, it was only one meal, it wouldn't kill me.

He nodded, "I'll call to book something with your secretary then."

"Of course."

He smiled and shut the door as he walked back to the way he came. 

Sighing, I looked at the clock. I had ten minutes until I had to meet Rapunzel in the lobby. I gathered my briefcase after that thankfully short meeting. I walked down the hallway, soon reaching my office to set the briefcase down, then walked back out into the lobby, where a perky brunette stood waiting for me.

"Gerda, I'm leaving for lunch." I called. 

"Have a nice break, Elsa." She smiled.

As Rapunzel and I walked out onto the crowded sidewalks of New York City, I could only hope that this lunch—with my cousin who stole my boyfriend—wouldn't be too awkward.

As I said, I could only hope.