Stranded with the Billionaire

Sage

Darkness crept around them as they continued  down  the mountain. Sage  glanced at his watch. It’s strange. They had been walking for a few hours, but they had a feeling that evening was drawing near. He looked up at the sky and anxiety ran through his nerves as he saw the approaching cloud. A storm is coming.

Panic shot up the back of his neck as he stared into space. He narrowed his eyes to see better, and a feeling of relief ran through him. It’s an ice cream parlor. And  like rivers, glaciers flow downstream. If they followed him, they could get down the mountain before dark.

Sage  stopped. From where they were standing, the mountain had a slope of about 300 feet until it reached the glacier. With the dark clouds rolling in, he knew they didn’t have  time to knock him down. They had to leave the mountain quickly.

There is only one way to get off the bus in time.

“What’s wrong?” Irena  asked as she came  from behind him.

He bends the column in the opposite direction until the metal becomes malleable and breaks. “We need to slide down the mountain.”

Seeing that she did not answer, he looked at her.

“I’m sorry, what?” Her face paled as she stared at the mountain face.

“We have to slide down.”

“Like, slideshow.”

He nodded. “We’re going to use it as an anchor to help us control our pace.”

Irena  shook her head. “No. Don’t do that. I can not do that. Her eyes widened as she looked around. “Six hundred thousand people are injured  every year.” She stopped. “Six hundred thousand,” she said, stretching each syllable.

“Irena, listen. Are you doing well? I go down with you. He walked over to his backpack and opened it. He pulled out the extra rope he had hidden inside.

“Shall we go down together?” She turned back. His eyes widened.

He nodded.

She looked at him, then at the mountain. “How do I know you won’t use me as a sleigh?”

Her lips moved as the image flashed through her mind. “Good . . .”

She hit him on the arm. “Great!”

He covered himself with his hand. “Don’t hit the person who holds your future in their hands.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Is this really the only way?”

He tied the rope around his waist and waved at the rapidly rolling clouds. “Did you see those? You don’t want to be trapped in the storm they bring. We must leave this mountain quickly.

Irena  turned and looked where he was waving. “You think I can beat him?”

Sage  nodded. “If you trust me.”

She pursed her lips, then turned. “Alright.”

He stopped. “Actually?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

She nodded. “I trust you enough to do it.”

A flash of pride flashed across his chest. Irena  trusted him to do something. It was the first time in a long time that he felt the pressure of waiting on him, but he wanted nothing more than to prove  he could do it.

He moved forward until he was inches away from her. Her body tensed as he moved his hands to either side of her waist and wrapped the rope around her.

He could feel her body beside him as he drew closer, so the distance between the ropes was only about a foot. He needed to hold her close to him.

“Ina?” His voice was almost a whisper.

He pulled back to look  her in the eye. They are dark gold. He could feel his fear emanating from her. “Correct?”

“Are you scared?”

Their previous conversation flashed through his mind. He wants to admit that he is. But, she needed him to be strong, so he would. He gave her a smile that made her eyes widen. “Of course not. Kinda easy. Simple tool. He tightened the knot he had just tied with a little more enthusiasm than necessary. Then he snatched their bags and pushed them down the mountain. They disappeared under the encroaching cloud.

She turned to look at him and  sighed. “If you’re confident, then I’m confident.”

He nodded. “Okay, lie down.”

They have to move together until they lie next to each other. Sage  stuck his foot  so he wouldn’t slip. Irena  seems to do the same.

He moves the twisted pole through the snow until it’s deep enough. Inside, he was praying that he could control their descent. There are two things that could happen. First, what he had planned. He used a pole to keep them from sliding too quickly down the mountain and they stopped at the foot of the mountain. Or two, he’ll lose control. The poles will be snatched from his hand, and they will fall.

He clenched his jaw, focusing on the first thing. His success depends not only on his life but also on Irena’s. He will be successful. He had to.

“Ready?” he looked at her questioningly. His face was as white as the snow surrounding them.

“I think so,” she squealed.

Sage  admires Titan. Fortunately, being a mountain dog has its perks. “Come find us, mate, when you’re down,” he said.

Titan barks as he walks through their direction. Hopefully when they start down the mountain, Titan will follow  them. Sage  wishes he could do something more to help, but there’s no way he can come down with  two people strapped to his body.

He took a deep breath and then exhaled. It’s now or never. The storm came faster than he could have thought. They need to get off the bus, and now.

“Let’s go,” Sage  said.

Irena  moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pressed her face to his chest and nodded.

Sage  closed his eyes for a moment as he gathered up his courage, then pushed away with his hand. After a few good pushes, they started down the mountain.