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Iwake the next morning with Jessica wrapped around my body and I can’t contain the huge smile that accompanies it. If I was in the line for Santa, I’m certain this is what I would have asked for and all my Christmases came at once last night as soon as we got home.
As soon as we stepped foot inside the door, we were tearing one another’s clothes off and barely made it to my bedroom before we fell into bed and spent most the night falling in love as I cringingly put it. In fact, when I look back on the things I’ve said and done since meeting Jessica, I wouldn’t believe it if I saw it myself and I am a completely different man than the one I was just a week ago. She has made me feel emotion for once in my life and, like Scrooge, my eyes are now open to the wonder of meeting that special person and letting the light in. I want to make her happy. I want to make her family happy and, most surprising of all, I want to make my own family happy and proud of me for once.
As Jessica stirs in my arms and snuggles against me, I resist the urge to pick up where we left off last night and instead, I inch from the bed with one aim in mind, making her happy.
I leave her to sleep and head downstairs after pulling on some sweatpants and a t-shirt and go straight to the kitchen to fire up the coffee machine. I’m even considering making us scrambled eggs and toast and taking it back to bed, but my phone flashes with several messages and the one from my grandfather is one I can’t ignore.
He answers on the second ring with a loud,“What’s going on?”
“In relation to…”
“The fact you took the day off yesterday. Were you sick? Are you sick? I mean, it’s nine already and I’m standing in your office.”
I glance at the clock in surprise because I could have sworn it was only seven am. As the hands on the clock back up the fact my grandfather is telling the truth, my heart sinks.
“I’m not sick and I’ll be there within the hour.”
His gruff voice radiates disapproval as he barks,“I expected better of you, Robert, especially as it’s the annual board meeting in less than an hour. I hoped we would have time to discuss things before it progressed, but obviously not. We’ll discuss this later. Get your arse over here and don’t spare the horses.”
Despite being a self-made man in my own right, my grandfather has always been in charge and defy him at your peril, so I forego the coffee and head back upstairs, loving that Jessica is smiling and obviously enjoying a contented dream. As I dress quickly, I feel a pang of regret that we don’t get to enjoy our first official morning as a couple.
I dash off a quick note and leave it on the pillow and hate that I’m already proving I’m putting work first as I head out of the door to make the commute to the store.
* * *
On the way,I try to make it up to her and call the head of my display team to discuss transforming my mansion into a Christmas grotto. With only a few days to go until Christmas, there is no time to waste and as I make the arrangements, I congratulate myself on planning ahead and smile when I picture Jessica’s excited expression when she sees it.
I know she intends to touch base with her sister and will be out for most of the day, but we had plans to meet up for lunch at the store and discuss the pressing matter of the postman, who is still at large. It annoys me that our plans are changing so quickly, but it was my fault I guess because I completely forgot about the board meeting, which reminds to never give my assistant any time off ever again because being nice gets you in trouble.
* * *
True to my word,I reach Harvey’s within the hour and as I head through the main entrance, I barely glance at the doorman, who once again almost bows as I pass. I completely disregard the staff who attempt to catch my eye as I head in the lift to the top floor.
The Christmas carols that serenade me as I go, reminds me of Jessica’s wish to go carolling and I dash off a quick text to my housekeeper in the hope she can persuade the local choir to sing at our door tonight. Time is of the essence because I don’t have any and if Jessica wants the perfect Christmas, she is getting it.
As I enter my office, my heart sinks at the glower on my grandfather’s face as he sits in my chair, going through the post. He points to the seat in front of my desk, and I don’t even question falling into it, a little nervous about what he has on his mind.
“Your assistant is missing and on further investigation, I understand you authorised extended leave. Why is that?”
“Her mother’s sick and she was struggling.”
“I see.” He strokes his chin and the icy glare in his eyes makes my heart sink.
“There is also the matter of the email that was sent from your computer giving the entire staff two extra days’ paid leave to attend. what was it, nativity plays or hospital appointments?”
“I did.” I face him with a hard expression, and he hisses. “And you didn’t consider it prudent to run this reckless use of the company’s profits by the Board. It does concern them, after all.”
“It was my decision as CEO.”
I return his glare and he laughs out loud. “So, you make all the decisions now like your father did and look where that got him.”
He doesn’t even give me a moment to reply and slams his fist down on the desk and bellows, “He almost ruined this company, and you know that. We are hard for a reason because what good would it be to anyone if we closed? Your lenient ways could cost these people their livelihood and you must be cruel to be kind. I thought you knew that.”
I can’t even disagree because he’s right. My father put the staff’s happiness over the profits of the store, and it nearly cost them everything. I make to speak, and he says wearily, “I don’t want to hear your excuses. We’ll consider that a lesson learned. Now I want to hear about the woman you’ve been racing around town with. Your father tells me her sister’s in prison and she’s got you by the balls.”
“Then my father is wrong.” I growl, rising to Jessica’s defence immediately.
“Jessica’s sister is home with her children and my balls are just fine, thank you. Yes, I’ve met a woman and yes, she makes me happy. What’s so bad about that?”
