“That's all I need to hear then,” I said, fumbling in my purse to throw the credit card at him. “I hope your Christmas sucks, Owen Frost.”
72
Owen
“Get out of my office,” I ordered Sloane.
“But we're made for each other, Owen,” she said, flinging herself at me.
I tried to pull her off; it was difficult, as she had her nails sunk into my suit jacket.
“It's better this way,” Sloane insisted. “You had your fun with the baker, but now it's time to settle down.”
I finally disentangled myself from her. I was furious. “When I come back, you better be gone,” I warned. Then I ran after Holly. She was walking quickly through the lobby to the front door when I caught up with her.
“Holly, stop!”
She whirled around. “I don't get you,” she said. “Like what the hell?”
“Sloane just surprised me,” I insisted.
“Yeah, she seems to be doing a lot of that,” Holly said, eyes narrowing.
“Why can't you just accept that I'm telling the truth?” I snarled at her. “I did all those nice things for you.”
“You mean like buying me expensive jewelry and outfits and paying me to throw parties that apparently you didn't need. Oh, wait, I forgot, there's totally nothing going on between you and the person who is handing out the prizes.”
We glared at each other.
“See, this is why I hate Christmas,” I declared. “People get overly emotional.”
“I'm not emotional!” Holly screeched.
“I didn't say you were,” I yelled. Then I clenched my jaw shut. I sounded like my father. I did not want to be anything like my father.
“I need to go,” I said.Before I say something I really regret.
I left Holly standing there hurt, surrounded by the Christmas decorations. It felt cruel. I knew it was.
Cold, dispassionate.
I needed to calm down. Then I would figure things out with Holly.
“Did Sloane leave?” I asked the temp receptionist when I went back up to my office.
“Stormed out of here,” she replied.
“Please don’t let her back in.”
Rudolph had found my credit card and was chewing it when I went back into my office.
“I need this,” I told him, tugging the drooly card out of his mouth. “Apparently I need to plan a holiday party.”
Belle had been right. I shouldn't have just expected Holly to do it, just like I shouldn’t have assumed that she would want to stay here and open a restaurant in the lobby of my tower. There wouldn’t even be a window. Paris would be nicer, of course. Maybe I could go visit her if I hadn’t screwed up too badly.
Rudolph pawed at my legs, and I scratched his head and took out my phone.
Owen:How many people are coming for the Christmas party tomorrow?
