AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Precisely,” I inform him.
“Anything she wants, anything she asks for, do it.”
“And does my position entail the same… privilege?” he asks, making me frown.
I didn’t think he was that ambitious.
“We’ll draft all that when legal gets on board, for now, we’re just operating as conscientious employees, alright, Jason?” I assert. He readily agrees.
“Now, I have an idea for a Secret Santa themed Christmas party, how soon can we make this happen?” I ask. “Can we arrange it all for say, tomorrow?” I ask him, noticing his determined look as he checks his watch, trusting he’s the right man for the job.
“Absolutely, Mr. Cole. We kind of already had our own thing planned, before the staff break for Christmas. Just tell me what you need,” he says, parroting my own thoughts, almost making me wish I didn’t have to pretend it’s not only all for Avery.
“Well, there’s the bonuses for casual staff… the same for salaried plus I think, an extra week’s leave, rotated for those who want to have time over the holidays versus the time we need here in the office,” I hear myself saying out loud, all the while only thinking about Avery, upstairs.
Almost worrying about her up there all alone.
“There is a time constraint, Mr. Cole. It’s almost the end of the day,” Jason asks nervously, and I have to agree.
“Then we’d better get moving, bring in anyone you need to make it happen, I’ll put a call into my head office, I think. Best, given the situation.”
“And the… rest of the team?” he asks, making me frown.
“I mean, should they keep working?” he asks.
“Oh, yes. Keep things as normal as possible. I want tomorrow to be as big a surprise as any,” I tell him, reminding myself just how surprising my own day’s panned out so far.
“It is Christmas after all, isn’t it?” I ask him, thinking again of just one thing.
Avery.
Is it possible to be missing her already? I think I do.
“Is there anything else, Sir?” he asks, making me smile at the most recent memory of her.
“No. I trust you, Jason, make these things happen and greater things will happen for you,” I remind him.
“Now, patch me through to HQ though, will ya? Right here,” I demand, tapping the hard plastic of the phone in front of us.
Once I get through to accounts and finance, I give the heads up and personal approval for any and all additional payments from the new company.
Jason shifts uneasily in his seat as I list off what I need to happen, including unlimited expense accounts for Avery and him.
“The first one, link that to my own personal expenses,” he hears me say, and his brow rises as I sign off.
“Everything clear?” I ask, noting his expression and not having to struggle to read his mind.
“Avery’s my new assistant,” I remind him. “My right hand now.”
It gives me a thrill to say it out loud, to have her with me at work is a start.
Now, I just need to have her properly. And twenty-four seven.
Jason makes some notes to himself on a pad, and I think again about what he said about the regular office party.
“A tradition here?” I ask. “I mean, like the tree in the window, you always have a secret Santa, or is it just a regular office party?”
He gives me the look I get when I realize how maybe I need to get out of my own office a little more often.
“It’s pretty standard to have both a secret Santa and a Christmas party,” he says, politely trying not to offend me.
I open my mouth to tell him how much I hate Christmas but think better of it. Because I might just like it now.
I briefly smile and nod instead, glancing at the door.
His cue to leave.
Checking my own watch, I realize that time has flown. Most office workers a few days out from Christmas don’t want to work past the whistle.
And as much as I used to hate Christmas.
I have this sudden, warm fuzzy feeling inside when I think about the gift of giving when I pair it with the mental image of Avery.
She’s got me.
I don’t know if she knows it yet, or even if she’s done it on purpose, it doesn’t matter.
I only know one thing for sure now, I have to have her. And for far longer than just a romp on a stuffy old leather couch.
I think I have just enough time to make a few calls of my own before I go back up to Avery.
Maybe a little Christmas shopping over the phone?Chapter ElevenAveryHe hasn’t sent me away, I mean he just bent over backward to make sure I didn’t leave.
But I can’t help but feel a little odd being sent back up to the top floor, supposedly to arrange everything.
