He turns, his eyes wide. “What the hell? Where’d you come from, man?”
I lock eyes with him, biting into the rest of the sugar cookie, and chewing slowly. Unhinged… I know, but from the look on his face, it’s effective.
“I asked you?—”
I don’t give him time to finish. Gripping his shoulder, I push him back against the lockers hard enough to rattle the metal. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to get my point across.
“We need to have a serious conversation, friend.”
He shoves back at me, and I smile, loving the give and take. “Fuck off. I’m calling security.”
“It’s about Jessica.”
That gets his attention.
“What about her? Who are you?” His voice wavers. Good. I need him afraid.
“Just a little Christmas angel who has a vested interest in making sure she doesn’t do something stupid.” I lean in closer, keeping my tone low and measured. “Like taking that job offer tonight.”
“How the hell—that’s none of your business!”
He tries to back away but I have him trapped. My hand finds his shoulder again, and I smile.
“That’s not what I want to hear.” I press harder, feeling him tense. “Here’s how this is going to work. Jessica’s going to get a call shortly from a man… A bad man, Adam. And when this man repeats his offer, Jessica is going to decline and tell him she has a replacement. A gifted surgical resident named Blake.”
“Blake? Blake Hyland?” Confusion flickers across his features. “Why would?—”
“All you need to know is Jessica’s Christmas won’t be very merry if she takes this offer. You care for her, right?”
His eyes narrow, trying to figure me out. I don’t let my expression give anything away. He finally nods. “I do.”
“Then trust me on this. You need to do whatever it takes to make sure Blake’s the one taking that job.”
Adam swallows hard. “And if I don’t?”
I lean in closer, letting my voice drop to a whisper. “Then Jessica will go. And when things get fucked, and they will, you’ll have to live with that.Forever.Plus, then I’ll have to get involved, and let me tell you, blood splatter really ruins the Christmas spirit.”
He’s dead silent as he takes my words in. I can see him weighing his very few options, toying between fighting me on this or taking the easy, sensible way out.
“Tick, tock, Adam.”
Finally, he sighs. “Okay. Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll convince her to back out.”
“And give the job to Blake.”
“Yes. To Blake.” He looks at me. Really looks at me. “Who the hell are you, anyway?”
“Like I said, a Christmas angel who’s very good at protecting the people I love.” I step back, giving him space. “And Adam, once you convince your girlfriend, you need to forget we ever had this conversation. You don’t tell Jessica a word about me. You don’t try to follow Blake tonight. You just let it go and trust that it’s being handled.”
He blinks and balls his fists. “What other choice do I have?”
“Exactly.” I reach out, and chuckle as he flinches, but this time I give his shoulder a friendly pat. “Merry Christmas. Go get it done.”
I leave him standing there, probably trying to process what the fuck just happened. I don’t look back. There’s no need to. He’ll do what I told him. The fear in his eyes guarantees it.
Back to the stairwell I go, hurrying up a flight to Blake’s floor. I set the stage with Adam, and now I need a spot to watch my masterpiece unfold. Checking the cameras, I see that Blake’s exactly where I thought she’d be. In the breakroom, talking to Jessica.
I find a spot in the connecting hallway, partially hidden by a decorative column wrapped in twinkling white Christmas lights. From here, I have a perfect view of Blake’s breakroom without being too obvious.
