‘It means if I can arrange for the dogs to wear cute festive outfits and there to be a smorgasbord of fine cheeses or something traditionally Icelandic, yet not gross, at the end of the trip it may be something they would like to do but…’
‘But?’ Gunnar asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Chloe said, sighing. ‘I get the impression that maybe I’ve been trying too hard.’
‘No,’ Gunnar said, shaking his head. ‘Do not say that. That is how you are with the job that means so much to you. And that is absolutely the way to be.’
‘But what if I’m trying too hard for the wrong reasons?’ she asked him as much as she was asking herself. ‘What if all the things I’m doing are not really with the client in mind, but with my career aspirations leading the way?’
‘Chloe,’ Gunnar said seriously. ‘This is not the time for doubt.’
‘No?’
‘No,’ he said even more firmly. ‘We are here.’ He spread his arms and, even in the darkness, you could make out the incredible views of snow-capped mountains, crisp white terrain and all the dogs raring to take them on a winterland adventure. ‘In this magnificent place that is so wonderful because of the simplicity, it is unenhanced by anything but nature.’
Chloe swallowed, her gaze going to the view as she took in Gunnar’s words. Glitz and glamour, classic and classy wasn’t what she thought of when she thought about Iceland. She thought about the power of Mother Earth, the rugged beauty of the landscape, the dramatic waterfalls, the lava fields and the horses, the black sand beach and rock formations. Cocktails and expensive cheese could take place anywhere.
‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘If Sinclairz Chairs have chosen Iceland then Iceland needs to be celebrated as much as the chair company’s anniversary.’ She took a breath. ‘And if they don’t approve of my vision then…’
‘Then?’ Gunnar asked.
‘Then I will… convince them of my vision,’ she stated with utter confidence.
‘Yes,krúttio mitt.’
‘And, if that does not work, I will… reconsider my future at Michelle’s firm.’
She gasped, putting her hands to her mouth in shock. What was she saying? The piece of the partnership was her goal. It was all she had been fixated on for so long. Maybe too long? Because shouldn’t Michelle have already asked her to step up? Hadn’t she proved her worth enough? There was nothing she hadn’t done, nothing she hadn’t given 100 per cent to. But, perhaps it wasn’t partnership with Michelle’s firm she wanted, perhaps what she really truly desired was personal career success. Maybe even career success formed by all her own ideas singlehanded…
‘New adventures are waiting,’ Gunnar told her.
Were they? She looked into his bright eyes and felt solidarity, the thought that she could tell him anything and he would categorically be on her side. It was the strangest feeling when she hadn’t known him that long.
Happy barking punctured the air and it brought Chloe back to the moment.
‘Come on,krúttio mitt, let us ride with the huskies.’
40
‘This is crazy!’ Chloe screamed, hair flying out from under her hat, her words being whipped away into the cold air.
They were speeding along on the sled, the dogs galloping at a super fast pace over the glistening snow, nothing but ice-white landscape all around like they were a moving centrepiece on a celebration cake.
‘This is much better than any fast car!’ Gunnar yelled back, bumping beside her.
‘So much better!’ she laughed. ‘And less environmental impact!’
‘The air is fresh! The sky is clear! There is no one else around! It is like we have the whole of Iceland just for us!’
His words sent delicious shivers shooting down her back. Iceland was so beautiful. It was so steeped in the tales of ancient times, with a rich history of how everything came to be here, yet, right now, Chloe was feeling that its pure simplicity was firing off thoughts of only new beginnings.
‘Stop thinking,krúttio mitt,’ Gunnar ordered. ‘I can hear your head over the yelping of the dogs and the sled against the snow.’
How did he do that? Know that she was churning things over?
‘You go quiet,’ Gunnar continued as if he had read her mind. ‘And your shoulders drop.’
Yes, their bodies were pretty close together and cosy in this sledge, wrapped up in their thick coats and tucked in under a waterproof blanket like burritos. Him mentioning her shoulders highlighted the fact their bodies were tight against each other. And suddenly this sleigh ride was feeling the exact opposite of chilly. She needed a distraction from that…
