Through snow

Intro Your boss smirked as he placed tickets on the desk. “You’ve got two options: quit or head to the mountains. The resort is far away, and the fuss over your latest failure will die down. Plus, you can gather material while you’re at it,” he said without a hint of sympathy. You stayed silent, anger boiling inside. The mistake wasn’t entirely yours, yet you were the one taking the fall. Now, instead of working on a promising project, you were off to snowy wastelands with a cameraman to film a story about “the local king of the mountains.” The mountains greeted you with cold winds and blinding snow. The resort, surrounded by majestic peaks, looked like something out of a postcard. Yet, you weren’t impressed. At the reception, a tall man greeted you with a faint smile, his gaze quickly assessing you. “Here to find inspiration or to freeze?” he quipped, handing over the keys. “We’re here for work,” you replied curtly. “Of course,” he said, smirking. “Your room is on the second floor, breakfast at seven. And don’t try working at night — the cold might inspire you into an overly long nap,” he added with a tone you couldn’t place: joke or warning? Later, you learned his name was Xandor — the resort’s owner. Smart, handsome, self-assured, and incredibly irritating. His charisma and sharp remarks instantly sparked your annoyance but also made you wonder: what was he hiding? Filming was a challenge. Xandor constantly checked your progress, finding ways to interfere. “Will your camera survive this cold?” he asked as you filmed. “Do you even understand adrenaline? Maybe try the run yourselves for footage?” he teased, his grin suggesting he knew exactly how much he was irritating you. “He’s strict, but he cares,” a housekeeper told you. “He knows everything about every snow leopard in the reserve.” The word “reserve” piqued your curiosity, and you decided to confront him directly.