Into the Flood: Seasons of Faith, #1
By Milla Holt and The Mosaic Collection
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About this ebook
She took this small-town job as a temporary last resort. Falling for her reserved boss was not part of the plan.
One mistake imploded Sonia Krogstad's PR career, leaving her with a stack of debt and no job prospects. Out of options, she returns to her tiny hometown in the northern wilds of Norway, planning only to stay long enough to get back on her feet and prepare for her big-city comeback.
Reclusive tech genius Axel Vikhammer bought a non-profit community arts center that's fast becoming a money pit. Closing it down is not an option, especially since it's a refuge for the teenage daughter he only recently learned he has. With her PR background, Sonia seems the perfect hire for the job as his center's fundraising manager.
Yet as feelings develop between the two, Axel wonders how he can trust Sonia with his business—or his heart—when her dreams don't include his small town or him.
With her head and her heart pulling her in different directions, Sonia needs to take a leap of faith. But every time she's done that in the past, she's fallen flat on her face. Why should it be different now?
Into the Flood is Book 1 in Milla Holt's Seasons of Faith Christian romance series. Five friends were in the same wedding in a small Norwegian town over twenty years ago. Four bridesmaids, one bride. Now, two decades on, each woman learns that God's timing is perfect as they find forever love later in life.
Other titles in Into the Flood Series (5)
Into the Flood: Seasons of Faith, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Through the Blaze: Seasons of Faith, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWithin the Storm: Seasons of Faith, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAmid the Ashes: Seasons of Faith, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAfter the Frost: Seasons of Faith, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Titles in the series (5)
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Into the Flood - Milla Holt
Into the Flood
Seasons of Faith Book One
A Christian Romance
Milla Holt
Reinbok Limited
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Copyright © 2022 by Milla Holt
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
Published by Reinbok Limited, 111 Wolsey Drive, Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London, KT2 5DR
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Cover by 100Covers
Editing by Sara Turnquist
Into the Flood/ Milla Holt. -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-1-913416-16-4
Print ISBN 978-1-913416-18-8
Welcome to the Mosaic Collection
We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ.
Each month The Mosaic Collection releases one or more faith-based novels or anthologies exploring our theme, Family by His Design, and sharing stories that feature diverse, God-designed families. Stories range from mystery and women’s fiction to comedic and literary fiction. We hope you’ll join our Mosaic family as we explore together what truly defines a family.
If you’re like us, loneliness and suffering have touched your life in ways you never imagined; but Dear One, while you may feel alone in your suffering—whatever it is—you are never alone!
Learn more about The Mosaic Collection at
www.mosaiccollectionbooks.com
Join our Reader Community, too!
www.facebook.com/groups/TheMosaicCollection
Books in the Mosaic Collection
When Mountains Sing by Stacy Monson
Unbound by Eleanor Bertin
The Red Journal by Deb Elkink
A Beautiful Mess by Brenda S. Anderson
Hope is Born: A Mosaic Christmas Anthology
More Than Enough by Lorna Seilstad
The Road to Happenstance by Janice L. Dick
This Side of Yesterday by Angela D. Meyer
Lost Down Deep by Sara Davison
The Mischief Thief by Johnnie Alexander
Before Summer’s End: Stories to Touch the Soul
Tethered by Eleanor Bertin
Calm Before the Storm by Janice L. Dick
Heart Restoration by Regina Rudd Merrick
Pieces of Granite by Brenda S. Anderson
Watercolors by Lorna Seilstad
A Star Will Rise: A Mosaic Christmas Anthology II
Eye of the Storm by Janice L. Dick
Totally Booked: A Book Lover’s Companion
Lifelines by Eleanor Bertin
The Third Grace by Deb Elkink
Crazy About Maisie by Janice L. Dick
Rebuilding Joy by Regina Rudd Merrick
Song of Grace: Stories to Amaze the Soul
Written in Ink by Sara Davison
Open Circle by Stacy Monson
The Heart of Christmas: A Mosaic Christmas Anthology III
Where Hope Starts by Angela D. Meyer
Flame of Mercy by Eleanor Bertin
Through the Lettered Veil by Candace West
Broken Together by Brenda S. Anderson
Every Star in the Sky by Sara Davison
Where Healing Starts by Angela D. Meyer
All Things New: Stories to Refresh the Soul
Into the Flood by Milla Holt
Learn more at
www.mosaiccollectionbooks.com/mosaic-books
About This Book
She took this small-town job as a temporary last resort. Falling for her reserved boss was not part of the plan.
One mistake imploded Sonia Krogstad’s PR career, leaving her with a stack of debt and no job prospects. Out of options, she returns to her tiny hometown in the northern wilds of Norway, planning only to stay long enough to get back on her feet and prepare for her big-city comeback.
Reclusive tech genius Axel Vikhammer bought a non-profit community arts center that’s fast becoming a money pit. Closing it down is not an option, especially since it’s a refuge for the teenage daughter he only recently learned he has. With her PR background, Sonia seems the perfect hire for the job as his center’s fundraising manager.
Yet as feelings develop between the two, Axel wonders how he can trust Sonia with his business—or his heart—when her dreams don’t include his small town or him.
With her head and her heart pulling her in different directions, Sonia needs to take a leap of faith. But every time she’s done that in the past, she’s fallen flat on her face. Why should it be different now?
Into the Flood is Book 1 in Milla Holt’s Seasons of Faith Christian romance series. Five friends were in the same wedding in a small Norwegian town over twenty years ago. Four bridesmaids, one bride. Now, two decades on, each woman learns that God’s timing is perfect as they find forever love later in life.
Dedication
To my amazing husband, who is my number one cheerleader, and Paula and Emily who held my hand. This one was hard. Thank you for walking with me.
Chapter One
SONIA KROGSTAD WANTED ANSWERS. And, one way or another, she was going to squeeze them out of her elusive business partner today. Since Lauritz Thorsen wasn’t taking her calls, she had manufactured an errand that took her to Trondheim Harbor, giving her an excuse to be in the neighborhood of his glass-fronted office building.
What could be more natural than an impromptu visit to her closest business associate? Especially since she’d been waiting days for him to green-light a contract with their biggest investor to date. The venture capitalist was ready to put millions of dollars into Moving Up, Lauritz’s groundbreaking real estate app. But if Lauritz didn’t show up and close the deal, the investor would take his cash to the next shiny startup, wasting all Sonia’s hard work in nurturing the lead.
She strode through the revolving glass doors, her heels clicking a fast staccato on the shiny marble floor of the lobby. The male receptionist at the front counter welcomed her with a grin, waving her toward the bank of elevators. She was a familiar enough face that the front desk staff no longer asked her to sign in for a visitor’s pass.
Riding up to Lauritz’s penthouse office, Sonia straightened her new Armani suit in the mirrored walls of the elevator. Maybe it stretched her budget to the limit, but the fitted tie-fastened jacket flattered her hourglass curves and went perfectly with her maroon Valentino pumps. Besides, everyone knew that cheap clothes were bad for the environment and supported sweatshops that exploited widows and children in developing countries.
Smiling at her reflection, Sonia smoothed her dark, curly bob. There was only one hairdresser in all of Trondheim she could trust with her Afro-European hair, and he didn’t come cheap.
She looked far better at forty-five than she had at twenty. After years of working hard and paying her dues, she’d come a long way from her humble small-town roots. Her days of rummaging through Salvation Army racks and bargain store discount bins were over. As a sought-after independent public relations specialist, elegant clothes and weekly salon appointments were part of her professional role.
Her well-groomed appearance was a key reason Lauritz had been eager to do business with her in the first place, along with a little flirtation on the side to make things interesting. It was a bit of fun, and who knew where it might lead?
But neither the business nor the flirtation would go anywhere unless she found out what was happening with Lauritz.
The elevator doors slid open and Sonia stepped out, slamming into a woman who was bustling past. Sheets of paper flew into the air and scattered all over the floor.
I’m so sorry, Maria,
Sonia said. The young intern, whom Sonia had seen around Lauritz’s office before, gave her a strained smile, stooping to pick up the mess. Sonia allowed herself a mental fist pump. She’d once been an invisible peon at the bottom of the corporate ladder, so it gave her a kick to call even the humblest support worker by name.
Sonia’s pencil skirt wasn’t designed for crouching, but she did her best, angling her body downward to help Maria pick up the wayward documents.
Gathering the last of the papers, Maria smiled again. Thank you. I’m sorry about that.
It wasn’t your fault. I should have been looking where I was going. See you soon.
Maria scurried down the hallway and Sonia stepped through the office door and into pure bedlam.
Normally humming with contained, efficient energy, today Lauritz’s business HQ resembled an ants’ nest after a collision with a bulldozer. Workers scrambled back and forth. The ringing of telephones filled the air, but no one appeared to be answering the calls.
One man, sweat ringing the armpits of his blue shirt, stood next to a heavy-duty paper shredder, feeding it from a pile of documents that teetered at the edge of his desk. The papers slid to the floor and he barked out a string of profanities.
What was going on? Sonia headed to the desk where the receptionist, Rita, stood.
The petite woman’s face was flushed, her normally pristine blond hair slipping out of its bun. The phone on her desk was ringing, but instead of answering it, Rita stuffed a handful of papers into the churning metal blades of a shredder. Her pale eyes widened as she looked up at Sonia. How did you get up here?
Sonia stared back at her. How was she supposed to answer such a weird question? She gestured over her shoulder. With the elevator.
Past the lobby reception? They were under instructions not to send any visitors up today.
I’m not really a visitor, though. I work with Lauritz.
Rita fidgeted with her stack of papers, her hands skittering over them like a pair of flighty squirrels. Nobody other than on-site staff was supposed to come up here today. We’re really busy, as you can see.
Sonia glanced at the chaos surrounding them. I can see that. But since I’m here now, could I have a quick word with Lauritz? I won’t be more than five minutes.
Mr. Thorsen isn’t in.
Rita picked up another handful of papers and slid the edges into the shredder.
Sonia looked past the receptionist to Lauritz’s closed office door. He’s not in, or just unavailable?
He’s not in,
Rita repeated, her gaze sliding away from Sonia’s face. Why don’t you call and make an appointment?
Can’t you set up the appointment now?
That’s not possible. Company policy states that we can only make appointments over the phone. It really would be better if you called.
Sonia pointed at the shrilling phone lying between them on the desk. You mean like these people who are trying to call right now?
Rita glared at her, face flushed.
Sonia took a slow, calming breath. Time to try honey instead of vinegar. Smiling, she injected as much sweetness into her tone as she could muster. I can see you’re really busy, and I don’t want to add to your workload. But since I’m here now, how about you schedule me in and save me the trouble of calling for an appointment?
That’s not possible. I already told you I can only make appointments over the phone.
Since when has that been a policy?
So much for being syrupy sweet.
Since we realized that drop-in visitors disrupt everyone’s workflow,
Rita snapped. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a lot to do. Have a nice day.
Sonia bit back a sharp retort. Squabbling with the receptionist would get her nowhere. Glancing at Lauritz’s closed door, she sighed and half-turned to leave.
A harried-looking man balancing a stack of ledgers knocked on the door, then stepped inside. He closed the door behind him, but not before Sonia glimpsed a pale faced, unshaven Lauritz sitting hunched at his gleaming glass and steel desk.
Sonia whirled back to Rita. I thought you said Lauritz wasn’t in.
Color flooded Rita’s face. I—I’m under strict instructions not to let anyone in. It’ll cost me my job if you go in there.
So Lauritz was avoiding her. The sneaky, cowardly, lying weasel. Something strange and stinky was going on. Sonia could walk away and avoid an awkward confrontation, but she had an important investor waiting for answers. No way was she leaving until Lauritz spoke to her.
I’ll tell him you tried to stop me,
she said, stepping around Rita’s desk.
Rita dropped her papers and held her hands up, her blue eyes wide. Please don’t go in there.