“You’re right. I’m going to let you go. I’ve got to get up early in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night.” I toss my phone on the sofa and then run my hands through my hair.
“What the hell am I going to do?” I sigh and pace through my condo, walking across the living room and into the kitchen. I see a Mexican takeout menu on my fridge, and I think of a plan. It will be a little difficult to come up with ideas, but I’m going to give it a try and see if she is willing to accept my gifts.
****
“Good morning, Mr. Ames,” my assistant greets me with my cup of coffee.
“Thank you. Come into my office in ten minutes for a quick meeting,” I say as I stroll past her and close the door behind me. I have to make a lot of calls, but I have several business matters that are going to take up my day. Turning on my computer and looking at my calendar, I think about the holiday schedule. We are closed from the twenty-fourth through the fourth. It’s a long break for the office, but that doesn’t mean I’m not working. The rest of the staff have days off because we are closed.
“Sir, you needed to have a meeting?”
“Yes, please have a seat.”
“For the rest of the week, I’ll be ending the day at six.” Her jaw slackens, but she quickly adjusts her expression.
“That’s good, Sir.”
“It may just be the new schedule unless something happens, so that means we’ll need to rearrange any parts of my calendar that keep me in the office or in meetings late in the evening.”
“Yes, Sir. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“Not yet, but I will be busy for the next hour before my call with the investors and I don’t want to be disturbed.” She nods and then excuses herself. As soon as she closes the door, I search for the first gifts. It takes me forever to pick each out and then get them here on time.
My assistant knocks on my door. “It’s time for your call with Mr. Feazell.”
“Thank you,” I mutter, closing the tabs and then opening the docs I need before taking the call.
“Hello, Mr. Feazell.”
“Thank you for taking a call with me so close to the holidays. I’m leaving to visit family, so it would be great if we could strike a deal today.”
I’m more than ready to get back to picking out gifts for my reluctant angel. “Well, then, let’s get down to business.”
Our call lasts longer than I expect because he starts talking about his family, and I feel envious. “Do you have a family, Mr. Ames?”
“Only a sister, but I hope to one day have a family.”
“It’s amazing.” Maybe I’m crazy because I just met this woman I am obsessed with, or maybe it’s a Christmas miracle. I stare at the photo of my mother on my desk, and for the first time, I don’t feel completely angry.
Chapter Six
Caroline
I wake up to myJingle Bellsringtone and smile until I sit up and remember what happened last night. I open my front door to see if he’s still there. It’s a ridiculous emotion, but I’m saddened to see he isn’t there and the snow has covered up his footprints.
I close the door and sigh. “Where did my Christmas sunshine go?”
A dog barks down the street, and then I remember that I have to be at work, so I rush back inside and get ready. It’s a crazy time of year where so many people are getting pets, and the weather brings pets in for cold injuries.
I put on my scrubs with pets in stockings on the top. It’s too cute, not that the dogs and cats care, but sometimes the kids come in and enjoy it.
It takes a little longer to get to the office because of the snow, but I get to work on time. My boss greets me with a grin, but it’s Anne’s face that catches me off guard. She’s practically growling at me like one of our ornery dogs.
“A good morning to you, too.”
“What did you do to Tom?”
