"Well, I’m getting there. Before you mentioned it, I mostly thought it was a scam. I was going to ask around to see if anybody knew anything about it to be sure, but I didn't even enter a contest, so it still makes no sense."
She handed it back to me. "You're welcome."
"What do you mean, 'you're welcome'?"
"They had their booth next to ours at the 'All Around Our City' event last month, and I got talking with the DJ. I was bored and they were nice. It’s not like people come to those events to ask about our special event potential.”
She wasn’t getting to the point. So on brand for her, but at the same time, so frustrating for me.
“They were giving out magnets and were having a big drawing. I entered because weekend in the mountains. Duh, who wouldn’t?”
I knew better than to answer because she’d go on a tangent and I’d be no closer to an answer than I currently was. Instead, I nodded and smiled.
“Anywho, he said that they didn't have enough entrants for the giveaway and his boss was gonna be pissed. And you know how I’m a problem solver.” To her credit, she really was. “I entered everybody from here."
"You entered every single person from work?" Chef asked, meaning that between the two of them, the entire staff was going to know before the early-bird specials were over.
"Yep, even the boss. And you won. So, you're welcome."
"Well, thanks. I do love the mountains." It had been a long time since I had gotten away.
"Hurry up, and book your leave. You know how it is—if you don't ask for it now, you might not get it." She didn’t hide the bitterness in her voice over the management trying to tell her she couldn’t have time off for her son’s wedding. The staff took care of her. We looked out for each other, but if she’drelied on our boss, she’d have missed it. Gods, they could be so incompetent around here.
Even months away, I needed to get my dates submitted like yesterday. It was at Christmas time, and everyone and their uncle wanted a ton of time off then.
I'd missed my birthday the past two years by not booking it off soon enough. Not that I had big birthday plans, but it was nice not to have to work on your special day, even if your "specialness" was going to be sitting on the couch and being a slug.
I downed the rest of my soup, filled out my request, and jumped into my bussing duties. My mind was focused on my winnings. I didn't have any plans for the holidays, and a week in the mountains at Christmas all alone sounded absolutely wonderful. Merry Christmas to me.
2
KINGSTON
PRESENT DAY
Father strode into my office, sporting a huge grin.
I knew that look. It was the one where he was going to make a suggestion and pretend that I could say yes or no. But the reality was, that no matter what argument I put up, he’d tell me I had to do it.
I closed the laptop and sat back in my chair while steepling my hands. “Father.”
He remained standing, a sign this was no casual visit, but my father always had a purpose. He’d never come in and chat about a football match or suggest going out for lunch.
“Kingston, I have excellent news.”
I kept my expression neutral because I’d fallen into the trap too many times of thinking “excellent” was something fun or beneficial to me. Whatever he had to say would be regarding work and probably involve more of it.
“You’ve been doing a great job as vice-president of Kingston Enterprises.” Yes, I was Kingston the Third. “The board is impressed, and so am I.”
He paused, and I was supposed to thank him for the praise, but I said nothing. I wasn’t in the mood for this. I’d been planning on finishing work and reminiscing when I got home, something I couldn’t discuss with my father because he wasn’t aware of that part of my history.
“When I retire, you’ll be filling my shoes.”
I sat forward. He couldn’t be about to announce his retirement. My father lived and breathed this company he’d created from nothing, and I suspected he’d be here until he breathed his last breath.
He couldn’t have a terminal illness, because while shifters got sick and injured, they were immune to most human ailments.
“Is something wrong?” Father liked, as he put it, pulling a rabbit out of his hat, and I imagined him telling me he’d created a new company headquartered at the South Pole and he’d booked me a passage on an icebreaker tonight.
