Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
I say nothing.
If this were earlier this year, I would’ve quickly agreed, and we would’ve slept together by now instead of simply using each other for public appearances. On paper, she and I are a perfect match. Ruthlessly competitive, determined to outlast our competition, and ambitious to a fault.
Yet, it changed somewhere between this past spring and summer, and I didn’t see much value in our arrangement anymore.
“You should’ve discussed this with me first,” I say.
“Well, forgive me, okay?” She caresses my tie. “Since you’ve been buried in your upcoming deal, I assumed you were far too busy to even think about a party.”
“I’m sure.” I roll my eyes. “We need to cancel it.”
“Two hundred people, including my family, have already RSVP’d.”
“It’s a month away. They have plenty of time to make other plans.”
“What’s the reason?”
“I don’t need one.”
“Is it Georgia Grey?”
“No.”
“Sounds like it.” She waves her hand around the room. “Looks like it, too.”
“I just said she isn’t the reason.”
“How much extra time have you spent with her while she’s worked on this special little project?” She looks into my eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m sure you already know the answer to that since you’ve ‘randomly’ shown up here every day to watch us work.”
“Okay, fine. Let’s make a deal,” she says. “I’ll call everyone personally and tell them not to bother coming, and you’ll fire Georgia by the end of today.”
“What did you just say?”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Dominic.” She glares at me. “You like her and she likes you, but she’s just a crush and a distraction. We have the history and you shouldn’t throw it away on some skanky little slut.”
“Georgia is far from a slut.”
“How would you know? Are you sleeping with her?”
“I’ve never even touched her.”
“Do you want to?”
“What I want, is for you to cancel this party.”
“Answer my question, Dominic.” She narrows her eyes. “Do you want to sleep with Georgia?”
Silence.
“Son, you’ve got to see this!” My father shouts from across the room. “These little wooden elves are making me hot cocoa!”
“Look.” Amy softens her tone. “I know how wealthy men are when it comes to commitment, and I know that Georgia is slightly above average in the looks department. She’s…kinda pretty, I guess.”
No, she’s fucking beautiful. I don’t bother saying that aloud.
“Anyway, it’s time for you to shit or get off the pot,” she says. “We’ve been ‘dating’ long enough, and the public expects us to get married soon. You can keep Georgia if you like, but you better do the right thing when it comes to me, or we’ll have a problem.
“Are you threatening me, Amy?”
“Of course not, Dominic…I’m just letting you know that your life will never be the same if we’re not engaged soon.” She steps back, and like a goddamn psycho, she suddenly becomes cheery. “That sounds amazing, Mr. Reiss! Show us those elves and that hot cocoa!”
She wanders into the Enchanted Forest with my father, but I don’t bother joining them.
I’ll check it out later.
I watch one of the golden trains chug its way down Gingerbread Avenue before heading to my office.
As I step off the elevator, a guy dressed in all red jumps in front of me.
“What the hell is up with you man?” he says.
“Man?” I raise an eyebrow. “Who are you?”
“The guy you let go of for no reason.” He pouts. “I thought we had something special.”
“You have me confused with someone else.”
“Dude, we’ve shared several memorable mornings. They were the best part of my day.”
“I’m calling security.”
“Okay, maybe you don’t remember because I’m not wearing my full mask today.” He clears his throat and begins rapping.
“I fucking hate working for you. I hate everything about you. Fuck this job, and fuck you, too.” He throws down an invisible mic. “Sound familiar?”
“Unfortunately.”
“I was looking forward to working a few more weeks so I could buy some last-minute Christmas presents, so um…” He runs a hand through his hair. “Any chance I could perform at a holiday party or go back to our normal morning routine?”
“I’d rather pay you five thousand dollars to never show up here again.”
“Can you make it ten? One of my kids really wants a dirt bike…”
THREE (B)
PARK CITY, UTAH
DOMINIC
The Following Morning
“Mr. Reiss, I want you to know that I will always believe in you and your company’s mission.” Mindy is standing in my doorway wearing a “My Boss Rocks!” sweatshirt.
She kisses my ass so much that I’m worried she’ll eventually leave a mark on my cheeks. She also makes me regret demanding that my staff hire a “forever loyal employee.”
“I appreciate that, Mindy,” I say. “What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to know why Georgia Grey is being allowed to have a full week off for Christmas when she spends six hours a week on Pinterest.”
“I’m pretty sure she spends ten hours a week on that.”