“I don’t think so,” he answered. “I quite like having you at my mercy.”
“Really, what an interesting concept,” she drawled. “As though I would be at anyone’s mercy,” she scoffed.
“You already are. You have been for quite some time.”
“What do you mean?” Merry gasped in outrage.
“You’ve let those two elves take you from a beautiful, respected, talented artist to a miserable, tormented, jealous shrew,” he said smoothly. “It’s affected your work, your self-respect and your judgement. Honestly, where is your pride?” he demanded angrily.
“After what they did…”
“So what. So your worthless, fickle husband left you for another elf. Do you think he won’t do the same thing to poor Ginger?”
“Poor Ginger?” she gasped in outrage.
“Yes, poor Ginger. She has neither your looks nor your talent. Her work is mediocre at best and now she’ll have a child to care for, maybe more than one. Do you think he’ll make her happy? Will she be content with her lot, married to an elf with a wandering eye who thinks he’s some sort of great catch? Or will she end up miserable and stuck with the bastard for life?”
Merry remained silent and rested her head against Bartlett’s chest.
“Yesterday you painted that male doll as stupid. A replica of how you see Bernard Breadhouse, and he must be if he left you. They deserve each other,” he concluded with a barking laugh.
Reaching his office he set her down and swiped his identification card to open the door. Picking her back up he strode inside and plopped her none too gently onto a chair before his desk. Leaning back against it he crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her.
“Where were you last night?” he demanded.
“I…I was tired and fell asleep,” she replied with a slight stammer. My, he was a forceful, determined man. It really was quite exhilarating and she fidgeted on her chair.
“That’s no excuse for bad manners. You could have called and let me know you weren’t coming,” he pointed out.
“It’s hard to call someone when you’re asleep,” she snapped back, inching toward the edge of her seat. Maybe he was a bit too forceful. “What does it matter anyway? You only asked me to dinner so you could scold me some more. I’ve had my fill of lectures!”
“I can see you’re a female who requires candor,” he said with a sigh as he straightened away from his massive desk. Leaning down he looked directly into her violet eyes.
Merry backed up.
“I asked you to dinner because I wanted to have dinner with you. I’d like to get to know you better. In all honesty, I find myself quite attracted to you, despite you’re prickly personality, or possibly because of it,” he admitted.
Merry’s eyes widened.
“I like spirited women,” he went on. “Women who yes sir, no sir, me bore me to tears. I’d much rather have arguments with an intelligent woman, than a long tiresome evening with someone who will agree with everything I say just to keep the peace. Do you understand?”
“No.”
“Let me put it to you this way, Ms. Mistletoe,” he began, taking her hand and helping her rise until she was standing on the steps before the chair and they were eye to eye. “I enjoy a challenge, and you, little elf, definitely fall into that category. I intend to see that you get back to work painting beautiful baby dolls that will please even the most discerning little girl.
“There will be no more moping around and no more feeling sorry for yourself because you made a mistake in marrying the wrong man. Hopefully, you will come to realize that Ginger deserves your sympathy and not your ire, after all, she is well and truly stuck with him now.”
“And you believe you can make all of this happen?” she scoffed with an eye roll and a wave of her tiny hand.
“I know I can,” he replied with authority.
“How?”
“By making sure this is one of the most joyous holiday seasons you’ve ever known,” he replied firmly.
Merry stared at him wide-eyed. The man was clearly insane. Then he leaned in and kissed her, his lips warm and firm, his strong hand gently grasping the back of her head to hold her in place. She felt his tongue sweep her lips just before he raised his head and grinned, looking into her startled eyes.
“Mmm, peppermint,” he said. “I knew it.”
