Page 107 of Sweet Nightmare

The nonexistent phone signal.

Me fighting for my life last night, trying to get even a single bar long enough to call a cab while Mika refused to cooperate with my perfectly reasonable escape plan.

And the asshole who owns this gorgeous winter wonderland of a mansion.

My irritation returns to healthy levels.

Familiar levels.

I sit up, blinking as the previous night’s disaster comes rushing back to me.

Okay. The room is gorgeous.

Annoyingly so.

White walls with intricate detailing soften the cream-colored furnishings, while thick, textured rugs make the entire space feel impossibly cozy. A massive stone fireplace occupies one wall, its dark surface contrasting beautifully with the pale furniture surrounding it. Near the windows, a sitting area features plush chairs and a crystal coffee table, perfectly positioned to overlook the mountains beyond the glass. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line another wall, filled with books that actually look like they've been read instead of purchased solely for decorative purposes.

Fresh white lilies sit on the bedside table, their delicate scent mingling with the faint smell of burning wood. I’m not particularly fond of flowers, but I’ll admit they make the room look prettier.

I glance away from the mirrored ceiling and notice sunlight reflecting off the glass accents scattered throughout the room. It pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing everything in a soft golden glow.

For a moment, I simply admire the view and then I notice what’s outside. My eyes widen as my brain catches up with what I’m seeing.

It was snowing last night, sure, but whatever the hell is happening beyond these windows is definitely not normal.

There is snow everywhere.

And not the picturesque kind you’d find on a Christmas postcard.

No.

A sinking feeling settles in my stomach and I immediately search the bed for my phone, patting around beneath the covers before remembering I left it charging on the nightstand.

I quickly snatch it up and wake the screen.

No bars.

No signal.

I refresh my screen and check again.

But still nothing.

Yesterday, I managed to get the occasional bar if I held my phone high enough but today?

Not a single bar.

My left eye twitches.

“This can’t be happening to me,” I mutter through gritted teeth, dropping my phone onto the bed.

Outside, snow falls so heavily that the entire estate looks like it’s been transported to the Arctic.

I know I’m not the warmest person in the world. I’ve also had a few questionable intrusive thoughts about people who annoy me. But I haven’t acted on them.

Mostly.

So I see no reason for the universe to punish my restraint with a joke this cruel.