CEO Gets Stuck in a Blizzard With a Stranger. By Morning, He Knows He Never Wants to Let Her Go
Stranded in the Whiteout
Michael eStore tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched as the snow came down in thick, blinding sheets. What was supposed to be a quick business trip to Colorado had turned into a logistical nightmare.
The private jet had been grounded due to the storm. Now his car was struggling against the relentless wind and icy roads. His phone had lost service miles ago, and the GPS was useless.
The CEO of eStore Enterprises, used to controlling every aspect of his life, was now at the mercy of a snowstorm in the middle of nowhere. Then, just as he rounded a bend, his headlights illuminated a figure standing on the side of the road.
Bundled in a thick coat and waving frantically, the figure stood there. Michael braked hard, tires skidding slightly on the icy road before coming to a stop. The woman rushed toward the car, her breath visible in the freezing air. He quickly pushed open the passenger door.
“Get in,” he barked.
The woman didn’t hesitate. She climbed in shivering, her gloved hands rubbing against her arms. As soon as she pulled down her hood, he took in her features: messy dark curls, wide brown eyes, and a face flushed from the cold.
Despite the dire circumstances, she was striking.
“Thank you,” she breathed, her teeth chattering. “My car broke down miles back. I was starting to think I’d freeze out there.”
Michael exhaled sharply, glancing at the road ahead. The visibility was getting worse by the second.
“You picked a hell of a time to be stranded.”
“Trust me, I didn’t plan this,” she muttered, still trembling. “I just…”
She hesitated before shaking her head.
“Never mind. I just appreciate the ride.”
Michael didn’t press. He wasn’t in the habit of picking up strangers, but he wasn’t heartless.
“I’m Michael,” he offered, shifting the heat up.
“Oriana. Oriana Owens,” she replied, rubbing her hands together.
Michael’s eyes flicked to her briefly. The name suited her. The car rumbled forward through the storm, but within minutes, it became clear they weren’t going to make it far. The road ahead was completely buried in snow.
The wind howled like a beast. Michael swore under his breath.
“We’re not going anywhere in this,” he muttered.
Oriana swallowed hard, looking around.
“So what do we do?”
Michael scanned the surroundings and then spotted a faint glow in the distance.
“A cabin. There,” he pointed. “We wait it out.”
