I was antsy.
Bored.
But worst of all, I felt like something was missing.
Work was fine, but I had to admit I was a workaholic, being the first to arrive and the last to leave the office. My personal life was mundane. I hadn’t dated or hooked up with anyone in longer than I wanted to admit. Hell, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d jerked off.
I’d had a house built in my hometown over two years ago yet hadn’t seen it in person, and I hadn’t seen my sister or nieces and nephew in longer than that.
I needed a change. What that would look like, I had no idea.
Almost like her Spidey senses were tingling, my personal cell rang, and right there on the screen was my oldest sister’s name: Tiffany.
“Hello,” I answered before it rang a second time. Tiff didn’t call often or without reason.
“Hello, Mr. Tilbury.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Hey, sis, what’s up? Everything okay?” Worry crept up my neck. Had something happened?
“Relax, geez. Breathe much?” She laughed. “Everything’s good, you worrywart. I was just calling to check in if Mr. Scrooge has been mobbed by his employees.”
“Mr––“ I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Tiff.” I forgot she also liked to call to pull my leg and bust my balls. But I guess that was what I deserved.
“I know, I know. You’re a busy, busy man. I just feel bad for your employees.”
“Don’t,” I clipped, knowing just how much of an asshole I sounded like.
“You made them work through the holidays.”
“Well, they’re officially on vacation the moment the clock strikes five.” I fought the guilt I felt for making them work all the way through Christmas.
“That’s if you don’t make them work overtime out of nowhere.” She didn’t bother to mince words. Whereas everyone in the office usually highly disliked me or even hated me from October to December and was terrified of me, my older sister, on the other hand, didn’t have that issue. But then again, she never had.
Eight years older than me, she was always somehow bossier than I could ever dream of being. Thankfully for me, she never used those evil powers on me.
“Tiff.” I sighed, trying to warn her to back off, but I knew it would fall on deaf ears, so I didn’t bother.
“Are you staying in LA for your alleged work break?” she asked.
That was the plan.
To stay and come into an empty office so that when everyone returned on the fifth, we would all be ready to go. But for some reason, it didn’t sound like what I wanted to do anymore.
“It’s a vacation, Tiff,” I reminded her.
“Liar.” She laughed, once again calling me out on my bullshit. “We both know you are planning on going into the big empty office and work every day all your employees are gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if you rang in the new year right from your desk.”
I’d done that last year.
“Actually… Harrison called,” I argued for the sake of arguing. She had hit the nail on the head when it came to my plans.
“You mean Harry Storm?” I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, Harry.”
“What’s he up to?”
“Actually, I meant to tell you this; he’s back in your neck of the woods. Moonlit Pines.”
