Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Either way, I can’t wait to leave this company and work at a place where I'll be appreciated for my many talents.
I’ve got a degree in marketing.
Yet, here I am.
A lowly assistant.
Sure, I make great money. That’s one area where Nicholas isn’t a Scrooge. He always compensates me generously for my time. But I’m not doing what I love. What I feel I was born to do. Reach the masses with my genius marketing campaigns.
Nicholas isn’t the only genius in the room.
“Sorry for the jingling,” I say as I walk over to the filing cabinet. “But I’m letting the spirit of the holidays fill me with their joy. You should do the same.”
“Is that why your office looks like an elf threw up in it?”
I can practically feel him scowling as I reach into the cabinet and retrieve the quarterly reports. But that’s fine, because my plan worked. He noticed.
“If you mean merry and bright, then yes.” I spin around, beaming. “Fa la la,” I singsong on the way back to his towering presence, shaking my head a little to jingle my bells.
His full lips press into a thin line, but I’m saved from his grumbly comeback by my cell phone ringing.
“What is that horrible sound?” he asks, drawing his stern brows together.
“It’s ‘Joy To The World’, it’s for the season.” I smile up at him as I hurry past to see who’s calling.
He steps closer to glance at my phone. “Sounds like a bunch of nonsense.”
I hand him the file and snatch my phone to silence it. “My mother’s calling. She wants to make sure I’m still coming to the family getaway.” There. I’d call this mission a success.
Except it’s not.
Because Nicholas stares straight through me, as if he can read my thoughts, and says, “Did you tell her you can’t make it?”
My eyes pop and my bottom lip falls open. “What do you mean?”
“You’re not going.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest.
“I told you about this a month ago, and you said, and I quote, ‘Skiing? Why would anyone want to strap two boards to their feet and slide down a mountain? There are other ways to get hurt.’”
He stands there like I’ve assaulted him. “Well, it doesn’t matter. You’ll have to postpone it, because we’ll be going to Aspen for the Video Game Awards Ceremony this weekend. Book us two rooms.”
And then he stalks out of my office.
A different person, a braver person, would rush after him and tell him to shove it up his ridiculously toned ass.
I’m not that person. I’m the good girl. The responsible girl who is wired to never say no. Besides, it’s in the same city, so I can actually be with my family this week. Silver linings. I don’t know how, but I will make time for them.
I just can’t tell my mother I’ll also be attending a work thing with my boss. I’ll never hear the end of it. It’ll be a repeat of last year when I blew off the family outing to Aruba so I could accompany Nicholas to a gaming convention. I’ll just have to make sure I’ll have ample time to sneak away for a few family outings.
I can do this.
I can be in two places at once.
And then I can focus on the job I’ve lined up for after the holidays.
I just have to dot a few ‘i’s and cross a few ‘t’s on my contract with Mr. Pulse, but it’s pretty much as good as done. Come the new year, I’ll be the newest marketing executive at Pulse Gaming.
Owned by Garret Pulse.
Nicholas’ bitter rival.
Chapter 2
Nicholas
* * *
I check the time on my custom Cartier watch for the tenth time, noting only three minutes have passed. The airport is abuzz with the excited chatter of holiday travelers. There are children running excitedly, parents lugging countless suitcases more than likely packed with presents, and happy couples holding hands.
It’s utter chaos and part of the reason Christmas is the most stressful time of the year. Sure, it’s fun for the kids, because there’s no work on their part. They aren’t working overtime to save up for the gifts. They aren’t losing sleep trying to get all the presents wrapped. They aren’t standing in packed stores like cattle waiting for dinner.
The excitement of Christmas disappears when you realize Ol’ Saint Nick isn’t flying around the world in a sled flown by reindeer in one night.
What’s the point, really? Other than spending your hard-earned money on lavish gifts for family and friends you’ve hardly talked to all year.
I’d rather be working.
Which is why this awards ceremony in Aspen came at the perfect time. While others are overwhelmed with trying to keep up with family traditions that no longer feel real, I’ll be in the company of like-minded people who are rewarded for their hard work.