Holly clapped her hands and bounced up and down when we told her the news.
“Congratulations, Holly, and thank you, judges,” Anastasia said as Farrah was led off, sobbing, to give her postshow interview.
I wanted to nab Holly, but the production crew whisked her away to give the postcontest rundowns that the producers would edit into the episode. I should have at least gotten her number. Then I could text her under the pretense that we should plan for theTechBizvisits.
I went back up to my condo, absorbed in how I was going to reel in Holly. I wanted her begging and pleading for me. I didn't notice the life-sized elf leaning seductively in the condo entryway until I almost ran into her.
Sloane. She sauntered over to me. The elf costume was really more in the direction of lingerie, I decided.
“Just the man I wanted to see,” Sloane said, unlacing the bodice of the elf costume. Suddenly she grabbed me. The elevator dinged just as Sloane pressed her mouth to mine.
“I, uh—I’m sorry,” Holly said as I scrambled to push Sloane off. Holly stepped back on and mashed the door close button before I could yell out to her.
I shoved Sloane away.
“Her? Honestly, you can't be serious,” Sloane sneered, looking between me and the elevator. Her eyes narrowed. “I’m the perfect woman for you.”
“You need to leave,” I said, wiping my mouth. I was covered in her red lipstick. “I don't know how you even snuck up here.”
“Holly has you under some sort of spell,” Sloane said angrily.
“No,” I said, furious.Stay cold.I could not afford to have her bad-mouth me to theTechBizpeople.
“I have work to do. I'll talk with you another time,” I told her. I went into my condo without waiting for her to answer me.
I was angry that Holly had seen Sloane kiss me.Calm down. You can explain to her what happened.
I couldn't have ruined my chances with Holly. I hadn't even kissed her yet. Well, not on the mouth.
33
Holly
“Celebrate?” I asked Morticia, desperate for anything to keep me from showing up at Owen's condo like a stalker. I wanted him, but he was so intense, and it really wasn't a good idea, especially if I was going to be working for him.
But I wanted to see him. Maybe I could pretend I wanted to talk about the holiday party? But then I really should schedule a meeting. Workers don't just show up at their boss's house in the middle of the night to “work on a project.” That would earn a serious eye roll.
“I have to work,” Morticia said with a dramatic sigh.
“Fiona?”
“I'm meeting a friend from college for drinks.”
I went down to the lobby to be as far away from Owen's condo as possible.
Do not think about Owen.
I tried making a list on my phone of all the things I wanted to do for Owen's holiday party, but the reality was that I was too wound up about Owen to think of anything coherent.
My phone buzzed with an email notification, and I almost dropped it. The message was from Walker, detailing theTechBizcontest and his thoughts. I wrote him back with my ideas. In the back of my mind, I wished it had been Owen to write me.
You're obsessed and crazy.
Yes, but I wanted him.
Holly:I'm going up.
Morticia:To the great Christmas tree farm in the sky? I'll throw a nice funeral for you.
