I Hated My Cold Boss — Until a Storm Trapped Us in the Cabin
Chapter 2
The first thing Claire noticed about the cabin was how small it was.
The second was how warm it became once Adrian got the fireplace going.
The third was that without an office, boardroom, or stack of reports between them, she didn’t know what to do with him.
He removed his wet coat and hung it near the fire.
Then he turned to her.
“Tea?”
Claire blinked.
“What?”
“Tea.”
“You make tea?”
“I can boil water.”
She laughed.
“That’s reassuring.”
He gave her a look.
She smiled.
“Fine.”
They worked together to prepare dinner.
The kitchen was tiny.
Claire chopped vegetables.
Adrian cooked.
She watched him.
“You actually know what you’re doing.”
“My mother taught me.”
Claire paused.
She had expected a private chef.
Not memories.
“Is she alive?”
“No.”
He kept stirring.
“She died when I was nineteen.”
Claire softened.
“I’m sorry.”
He nodded.
“Thank you.”
She didn’t ask more.
The wind howled outside.
Snow hit the windows.
Adrian checked the satellite emergency radio.
“No road access tonight.”
Claire sighed.
“How long?”
“Unknown.”
He looked at the weather report.
“Possibly two days.”
“Two?”
“Maybe three.”
She stared.
“We have food?”
“For three days.”
“Water?”
“Well pump.”
“Power?”
“Generator.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
He looked at her.
“You’re surprisingly calm.”
“I’m panicking internally.”
“Fair.”
They ate at the small table.
No phones.
No emails.
No meetings.
Claire realized she couldn’t remember the last time Adrian had sat still for an entire meal.
Maybe never.
After dinner, he washed dishes.
Claire stared.
“You really do everything.”
He shrugged.
“Someone has to.”
She smiled.
“Do you ever stop?”
“Sometimes.”
“When?”
“When I’m asleep.”
She laughed.
“That explains a lot.”
The fireplace crackled.
The atmosphere became strangely comfortable.
Claire finally asked:
“Why are you so cold at work?”
Adrian looked at her.
“That’s direct.”
“You invited me into a cabin in a snowstorm.”
He smiled.
“You agreed.”
She waited.
He looked at the fire.
“I learned young that people respect certainty.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He sighed.
“My father was unpredictable.”
“Angry?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“Cold.”
Claire listened.
“He thought emotion made leaders weak.”
“Did you believe him?”
“For a while.”
“And now?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Sometimes.”
She nodded.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“That there was a reason.”
“There usually is.”
Claire smiled.
“You’re less terrible out here.”
“That’s encouraging.”
She laughed.
They continued talking.
He asked about her family.
She told him about her younger brother.
Her father had abandoned them when she was twelve.
Her mother had worked two jobs.
Claire had become independent early.
She understood Adrian more than she wanted to.
They both knew how to survive.
Neither knew how to relax.
Later that night, Adrian checked the generator.
Claire watched from the doorway.
“You’re going outside again?”
“Just for a minute.”
“It’s freezing.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She frowned.
“You don’t have to prove anything.”
He stopped.
“What makes you think I am?”
“You’re always proving something.”
He looked at her.
Maybe she was right.
He returned inside.
“Happy?”
“Somewhat.”
They sat near the fire.
Claire noticed he had taken the chair farther away.
Respecting distance.
That should have made her comfortable.
Instead, she wanted him closer.
She hated that.
She stood.
“I’m going to bed.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
In her room, Claire lay awake listening to the storm.
She had expected irritation.
Instead, she kept thinking about Adrian.
Not the CEO.
The man.
The one who lost his mother young.
The one who learned to hide emotion.
The one who quietly washed dishes while nobody was watching.
For the first time, Claire wondered whether she had been unfair.
Then the wind slammed against the cabin.
The lights flickered.
Claire sat up.
A moment later, Adrian knocked on her door.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“The generator is acting up.”
Her heart jumped.
“Is it serious?”
“Not yet.”
She opened the door.
He was standing there in the hallway.
Calm.
Controlled.
But his eyes were different.
Focused.
Alert.
“Stay inside,” he said.
She frowned.
“Why?”
“If the power goes out, I need to check the exterior.”
“Then I’m coming.”
“No.”
“I’m not letting you go alone.”
He looked at her.
Then nodded.
“Fine.”
They grabbed flashlights.
And stepped into the storm together.
