Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“Somebody really should sue you. It’s grotesque. Have you ever thought about seeing a therapist?” Something about the way he says this makes me like the teasing. Sort of. It’s lighthearted. “Nah. It’s fine, just not for me. Thanks for the ride. I’m going to meet my new department.” Asher waves goodbye as he walks away.
“Have a good first day,” Dan says. He turns to me after Asher is gone. “Cut him some slack about the Christmas thing, Holly. You know he never had it like us when we were kids. Plus, between you and me, he had a girlfriend for a couple of years. I thought things were serious, but she broke it off around Christmas.”
Something about that seems so sick to me—dumping somebody at Christmas. I’ve never had a serious relationship, so it’s not like I can judge.
“They were serious?”
Dan nods. “He’s not one to talk about his romantic life, but they were together for years, so I think they must’ve been. It’s the reason he came home. That, and the job.”
His romantic life is none of my business. Annoyingly, I think of ways to turn his opinion on the holidays around.
“I’ll get prepped for the Secret Santa reveal,” I tell Dan. “I think people are going to love it.”
“I’ve got you to thank. It was a great idea.”
“I just want to record their faces when you give the speech. Don’t think about giving me any credit up there, by the way. I want their authentic reactions. I don’t want them turning to the camera and ruining the natural feel.”
“Fair enough. See you soon, sis.”
We bump knuckles. Dan and I have always been close. Maybe it’s the age thing. When I was born, he was old enough to see me as cute, to be another protector and caretaker, not to view me as the in-the-way kid. Maybe that’s why he let me hang around him and Asher so much. Maybe, then, the crush was his fault.
Or maybe I’m avoiding responsibility because Asher Mitchell is in my life, and I want to spend more time with him, but I know I can’t. I know even thinking of this is dangerous.
CHAPTER 2
ASHER
“I’m not here to crack the whip two weeks out from Christmas,” I tell my team of twelve employees while standing at the front of the conference room. “I know you’ve all probably got plans for the holidays, but I want to go in a new direction for the latest phone. We’ve been trying to make it smaller and thinner, but there have been complaints about usability. I’d like us to achieve the impossible—sleek but manageable. Something with the practicality of a video game controller while still appealing to the high-powered executive who wants to draw their competitors’ eyes when they put their phone on the desk during a meeting.”
They all nod, some of them taking notes.
After the meeting, a young man approaches me. He’s wearing a red Christmas sweater with the words The Most Wonderful Time of the Year printed on the front. It’s unfair of me to dislike him immediately for this. I’m such a miserable ass at this time of year.
“Thank you, Mr. Mitchell,” he says, offering his hand. “I’m Derek Wells.”
“Good to meet you, Derek.”
“I just wanted to say we’re thrilled to have you here. What you did in California was impressive. You turned two companies around without touching the tech, just the exterior.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“Are you staying with Mr. Harper?”
He’s got a hungry look to him. That’s the only word that makes sense: sunken cheeks, manic eyes, too much coffee, too much cheer.
“What makes you say that?”
“I saw you arrive together … with Holly Harper, too.”
The way he says Holly’s name sets off my alarm bells. “My living situation isn’t any of your concern, Derek.”
“You’re right, sir. I’m sorry.” He hurries from the room.
It’s not exactly the best start. He was probably just trying to be friendly. I’ve only been in the office for around an hour, and already, I’m looking forward to the New Year when we can tear these decorations down. It’s like there’s a sick obsession with all this crap.
And him mentioning Holly—
What else is there to say? She’s all grown up. I wouldn’t have even recognized her if I didn’t know Dan was living with his sister. Curvy build and green eyes like a goddamn wreath, looking sassy and capable in her business suit, black, tight-fitting, emphasizing the shape of her body.
She looked so proud of herself for hiding my clothes as if she were going to burst with excitement. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. It was cute. Cute, as in, whoa, my best friend’s sister is pretty cute. I don’t mean “cute,” as in, Wow, I’d like to take this chick on a date.