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)
My Secret Santa: How do you know that? she replies. Maybe I don’t. Perhaps I was gifted an opportunity I didn’t deserve. You don’t know a thing about me. I think you’re building this idea of me in your head. You’re filling in the blanks with things you wish were true. For all you know, I bribed, bullied, and cheated my way to the top.
She’s getting angry, just like in my office. If I close my eyes, I can see the passionate flush creeping across her cheeks.
Me: You shouldn’t have to work in a hostile work environment. I know that much.
I wait for a few minutes, but no reply. Without her words to warm me up, I freeze my ass off. I stuff the phone in my pocket and walk through the city, thinking about grabbing Derek by his shirt and shaking him until his teeth rattle.
If I intervene, Holly will be angry at me. I know she’ll resent me for it. She’s not the type of woman who wants or needs a knight in shining armor.
“Nine days until the big day,” Dan says the next morning over coffee. “Getting excited yet?” His voice drips with sarcasm.
“Oh, yeah,” I reply with the same sarcasm. I hate how forced this banter feels. It’s never been like this before, but I also never kissed his sister. “I can’t wait. It’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
“Have you decided what you’re doing yet?” He mentioned inviting my mom to dinner a couple of days ago. It’s only when he asks me I remember.
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Your mom is more than welcome. Or are you going to have dinner there?”
“I don’t know,” I say again. “I’ll decide later.”
He shrugs. “Weekend tomorrow. I’m considering taking a few hours off work to cheer Holly up.”
I sip my coffee, staring into the abyss, feeling like an ass. I don’t lie to Dan. He doesn’t lie to me. We’ve been that way since we were kids, but this is different. “Cheer her up?”
“She left for work early this morning. She didn’t look very merry, which is wild for her. I need to think of something good to get her in the spirit again.”
“I may have something,” I say.
This is all wrong: the kiss, the fantasizing, the Secret Santa stuff, but that doesn’t mean I want her to remain in a bad mood.
“Go on …”
“When we came home from my mom’s place, she mentioned this rock-climbing center.”
“Rock climbing? Holly?”
“She said it wasn’t her usual thing, but they have a holiday theme. She wants to get some footage and mentioned making a video,” I shrug. “It might be worth looking into it.” Before he has a chance, I’ve got my cell out, searching for it online. “It looks pretty cool. See?” I show him the screen with an image of a giant “ice wall” on it.
“You seem keen on it, too. Want to make it a group outing?”
I need to think of an excuse—fast.
Dan looks at me like this couldn’t possibly be a problem. In his world, there couldn’t be. We’re all friends. When we were kids, we’d often do things, the three of us. I’d tease Holly. Holly would pout and record. Dan would laugh. It was normal.
“Earth to Asher?” he chuckles. “You need to drink more of that coffee. Or maybe you’re worried I’ll kick your ass, huh?”
I force a laugh. It sounds more like choking. “Sorry. Yeah, sure, I’m game. It sounds fun.”
CHAPTER 11
HOLLY
Ihide in my office for the first few hours of work. Both cell phones are in my desk on Do Not Disturb mode. Last night, I got so mad with my Secret Santa, who may or may not be Asher. I went on a bit of a rant. Why did I have to share that stuff about Derek and nepotism?
I focus on some editing work and am happy it’s Friday. I’m forced to look away from my screen when there’s a knock at the door. “Yes?” I say curtly.
Dan walks in. “Jeez, sis. You might want to work on your tone. You sound ready to murder someone.”
“Dan …” I walk across the office and shut the door. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to swing by my office like this.”
“What? Why?” He looks hurt.
“Because people may think I’m getting special treatment, which I’ve been trying to prove is untrue since I got my job here.”
Dan groans. “Come on, Holly. How many times do you have to prove yourself before letting that go?”
“People gossip, Dan. I know it doesn’t bother you. You built this company from the ground up. Because of you now, Mom and Dad can go on world cruises and arrive home just before Christmas. You changed all our lives, but when people look at me, they see a woman who might not deserve what she has.”