But I won’t let her get to me. My firm could make millions on this deal.
And I’m not going to let her stand in my way.
CHAPTERTHREE
CALLUM
The second I step off the elevator and into the reception area of my office in the Financial District of San Francisco, I’m immediately assaulted with a barrage of holiday cheer. I’ve only been gone twenty-four hours. Yet, in that time, the entire floor has transformed into something straight out of a greeting card, lights and garland strung from every surface, a tree with fake presents placed below it.
Normally, I hate walking into the office this time of year — every day the decorations become more numerous while employees work less.
Now, as I make my way through the office, Christmas music playing at low levels from various workspaces, all I can think about is Parker Holley.
Then again, I haven’t stopped thinking about her since she kicked me out of her office yesterday morning. She seemed so certain it would all work out. That the universe will give her what she needs simply because she put good energy out into the world.
Who does that? Who thinks all you have to do is put something out into the universe and it will happen? It’s absurd. And goes against every single principle I hold dear.
Regardless, I can’t stop thinking about her spirit. Her determination. Her tenacity.
And her lips.
I’ve definitely spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking about her lips, especially when I was alone in the shower, imagining having her on her knees in front of me with those red lips wrapped around my dick.
Maybe I need to manifest that.
“Good morning, Mr. Reed.” Dakota, my assistant, jumps up from her desk the second she sees me.
I scowl when I notice her workspace is now decorated with lights and garland. Not simply because I hate everything Christmas brings to mind. Instead, it’s because it reminds me of Parker when I shouldn’t be thinking about her in any capacity other than figuring out how to convince her to sell.
“How did it go in Sycamore Falls?” Dakota asks, following me into my office. “It’s a shame Holley Ridge is having so much trouble. I remember my parents taking me there every year to see Santa and make Christmas ornaments.”
“Sounds utterly delightful,” I reply without a single hint of enthusiasm.
“Just because you have absolutely no Christmas spirit doesn’t mean I have to be a Grinch, too,” she retorts.
Any of my previous assistants would never speak back to me like this. Not Dakota, though. She’s the only one with a strong enough backbone to stand up to me and not take my shit. It’s probably why Daniel assigned her to me.
And ensures she’s well compensated.
“The owner should have paid her bills. Then you could have continued to waste hours in a car just to get your picture taken with a fake Santa who probably smells like cigarettes and moldy cheese.”
“You weren’t there when the Christmas Festival was open, though. Or when it was all lit up. If you go back then, you’ll change your mind.” She pauses. “Or maybe not, considering you hate anything that might bring someone joy.” She rolls her eyes. “Your schedule today is fairly light. You have a conference call about the Tidewater project this afternoon at one. I already pulled all the latest status reports for your review.”
“I’ll take a look at it.” I lower myself onto my chair and boot up my laptop. “Can you get Daniel on the line for me?”
“He’s on his honeymoon,” she reminds me.
“So?”
She glowers at me for several moments. “Only you would think it’s okay to disturb someone on their honeymoon. I’ll try him but I’m not going to hound him if he decides not to answer. Anything else?”
“No. Thank you, Dakota.”
She gives me a curt nod, then makes her way out of my office, closing the door behind her. Not surprisingly, a few seconds later, Dakota’s voice comes over the speaker, telling me she has Daniel holding.
I grab the receiver and lean back into my chair, looking out the windows of my thirty-seventh floor office, barely able to see much of the city through the thick blanket of fog that seems to permanently settle on San Francisco this time of year.
“You wouldn’t disturb me on my honeymoon unless it were important, so I’m guessing yesterday either went quite well and we’re about to be hundreds of millions of dollars richer. Or it went horribly and you’re calling for advice or to convince me to come home early, in which case I’d say I’m not surprised but I’m not cutting my honeymoon short because you suck at dealing with people.”
