1
Deck the Halls with Blurry Budgets
Evelyn
Evelyn sat forward in her chair, staring at her laptop. Squinting, she closed her left eye and tried to concentrate on the screen. Still blurry.
Closing her right eye and focusing with her left eye yielded the same result.
“I’m not wearing those bloody glasses,” she mumbled to herself.
“Can I ask why you’re winking at your laptop?” Maggie asked as she walked into Evelyn’s office, sitting herself ungracefully into the chair opposite her boss. “I hope you’re not having video sex,” she added with a smirk.
“The chance would be a fine thing,” Evelyn answered, still trying her hardest to get her uncooperating eyes to focus on the number in front of her. “Anyway, I’m not sure what kind of video sex you’re used to, but I can’t say winking would really get the job done.”
“How should I know what you’re into?”
Evelyn pushed back from her desk and rested her head on the back of her ergonomic chair. “When would I find the time to have video sex? I’m here all the time.”
Evelyn Crawford had been thrust into the CEO spot two months ago when her father, Richard Crawford, CEO and founder of Crawford’s Pet Supplies, announced he was off on a world tour with his new floozy, Lyla, and shouldn’t be expected to return anytime soon.
“You don’t have to be here all the time, Evie,” Maggie stated.
It wasn’t the first time Evelyn had heard those words from her assistant, and it wouldn’t be the last. Truth be told, Evelyndidneed to be there twenty-four seven. Her father had buggered off at the busiest time of year, dumping Evelyn in the deep end.
Now, Evelyn loved her dad dearly, but sometimes his laid-back attitude really clawed at her nerves. How he’d built a multi-million pound pet supply empire was anyone’s guess. Evelyn always thought it had been her mother who was the real brains behind the operation.
Roslyn Crawford was a magnificent woman. The world was a much darker place without her, especially for Evelyn, who had always been close to her mum. It was nearly three years since Roslyn passed away from cancer. Richard had grieved, Evelynknew that, but she found it in poor taste that he seemed to replace her mum so easily. Lyla—the floozy—was half his age and clearly in it for the money.
Evelyn shook her head, dislodging Lyla and her dad from her mind. There wasn’t enough space for them to take up residence, not when she had a company to run. With Christmas around the corner, there was a mountain of work to get done.
“There’s a lot to get done, so lay off, Mags,” Evelyn grumbled.
Maggie Peach was one of Evelyn’s closest friends. As soon as Evelyn had taken up the mantle as CEO, she’d contacted Maggie and begged her to work as Evelyn’s personal assistant. Maggie had been a receptionist for five years in a small law firm and Evelyn knew she was ready for something different. Maggie jumped at the job offer, and, as they say, the rest is history.
“Yes, there is a lot to do, but overworking yourself isn’t going to get anything done faster. In fact, you’ll do a terrible job and I know that’s not what you want.”
“I’ll finish by ten tonight, I promise. I need to complete some things for the Christmas line.” Evelyn was coming to hate the festive season. All it did was put her under more pressure.
As well as the work she had to wade through, Evelyn knew she had to keep the board happy. Her father hadn’t consulted themat allabout her appointment as the new CEO. Evelyn wasn’t stupid. She knew there were a couple of board members who were pissed she’d got the job. Her job security would never be in question, not when her dad owned fifty-one percent of the company, but that wouldn’t stop the board causing problems for Evelyn if they so wanted.
Christmas was the company’s golden goose. Every pet owner in the UK went bonkers for cute sweaters, new toys, and treats. Crawford’s had a stellar reputation for quality productsat reasonable prices—no wonder they were the number one pet supply store in the entire country.
This would be Evelyn’s first Christmas in the big chair, and she didn’t want it to be her last. Even though she hadn’t asked for the job, she wasn’t about to mess it up. Evelyn took pride in her family’s hard work and the company they had built. Evelyn herself had started at the company straight out of university, officially. Unofficially, she’d been coming to the office since she could walk with her mum and dad.
So, as much as she was irritated at her dad, she wanted to make him proud. Her mum, too.
“Okay, tonight it’s ten. Tomorrow, you’re clocking out with me and we’re hitting the pub,” Maggie stated.
“Mags, come on,” Evelyn whined.
“Nope, it’s non-negotiable. Tomorrow is Friday, it’s the law.”
Evelyn chuckled, “It is not the law, you idiot.”
“I’m pretty sure it is. Anyway, stop arguing. Tomorrow, you and me and a few pints or several glasses of wine. Whatever, I’m not fussy. Oh, and one last thing—” Maggie stood and made her way to the door “—put your bloody glasses on.”
As soon as Maggie was gone, Evelyn let her head thump to the desk. How was she going to get through the Christmas season in one piece? The trill of her phone echoed through her office.
