“Good thing, I’m here, I meant.”
“Yeah.I also have a woman to get back to, so if you could be quick about this.”
“Okay, opening it now.You want the term longer?’
“Yes.I also want our royalty raised fifteen percent.”
“Xander, that means I have to rewrite it before I send it to you.”
“I know but I thought you’d be happy with the bottom line.”
“I’ll be happy when this is out of our hands.Let me make coffee.”
There was no point in bringing the coffee pod maker to the kitchen when he was going to be stuck in his office for the next hour.
But with this view he wasn’t complaining.
He couldn’t wait to see Josie’s face as she saw the house in the daylight.
“I might be able to get Drustan to hold off,” Ares said.
“We’d owe you if you did.”
“I’m not a miracle worker.”
“You are.There’s a beautiful woman in your bed on Christmas.”
Ares got his coffee.“Let’s get this done.”
30 JOSIE
Thesoftlightwokeher and catching sight of the view, she got out of bed, as if pulled by a magnetic force she moved to the windows.
The mountains seemed to disappear into the horizon, the waves high, rolling far away in the distance and the light changed as she stared at the majestic view.
She pulled herself from the glass, eager to see Ares and hear more about where exactly they were.She wondered if there was beach access but this house was on a cliff and she couldn’t imagine an accessible way for her to get down the rocky surface.
After she showered and dressed, she grabbed her cane, to find Ares.Walking through this house felt like being in some kind of art installation.
The frosty glass doors closed off Ares’s office.
She bit her lip, shaking off the feeling of disappointment.Don’t be silly,she chided herself.It’s Christmas.He could be on the phone to his brother.Even if it's Christmas he still has to work and it's not like the man didn’t tell her about his obligations.
Continuing on to the kitchen, she caught sight of the stove she wanted to pinch herself.This wasn’t a dream.The rope scene from last night, being in this amazing place.This fancy stove, all real.
She texted her mom, Maisy, and Cecillia Merry Christmas greetings.“Hello?”
Josie startled, while looking in the fridge.
“Can you help me?”
She turned and noticed the laptop on the counter.On the screen a woman with dark hair sat behind a table, staring into the camera.
“I’m sorry,” Josie said.Her stomach sunk to the floor.She didn’t notice the laptop open, and she didn’t mean to interrupt a meeting.“I didn’t realize there was a meeting.Ares should be back in a minute.”
“No, it's fine!I want to talk to you,” the woman said.
Josie closed the cupboard, opened the next one, wondering if she should go get Ares.
