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Intrigued, I follow the lights down the hall and into a conference room.
I slip past two life-sized nutcrackers and spot the primary suspect in my future murder.
Georgia Grey.
Dressed in a see-through pink tank top and leggings that hug her small curves, she’s tempting me more than usual today. Her ink black hair that typically falls in waves that caress her shoulder is now pulled into a low ponytail that grazes the back of her neck.
For months, I’ve struggled not to stare too hard at her puffy pink lips, but from this angle I can’t help it.
Since I can hear the holiday music blasting through her headphones, I take advantage of the view for a few more seconds.
“Good morning.”I clear my throat. “Miss Grey?”
She doesn’t answer.
I step closer and pull out one of her earpods. “Can you hear me now?”
“What the…” she turns around. “Oh, um, hey, Mr. Reiss.”
“Miss Grey.” I notice her staring at my chest, so I don’t bother tying my robe shut. “I didn’t know you were capable of coming to work on time, let alone early. What’s the occasion?”
“Uh…” She finally looks up at my face. “I’m just here working on the Winter Wonderland I’m supposed to create for the holidays.”
“Isn’t there supposed to be an entire team doing that?”
“Not when the team has no idea what they’re doing,” she says. “No offense, but most of the people who work here lack creativity.”
“When I said, let’s make this place a bit more festive this season, I was just thinking of a tree in the lobby.”
“Then I guess the CEO is a disappointment in the creativity department, too.”
“For the record, Miss Grey,” I say, staring at her lips, “just because you chose to go above and beyond on this trivial request, that doesn’t absolve you from your daily assignments.”
“I would never think that, Mr. Reiss.” She steps back and picks up a thermos. “But now that you’ve mentioned it, and I’m a lowly intern, I’ve been keeping this coffee fresh and hot for you.”
“Where’d you buy it from?”
“I made this myself.” She smiles. “I’ve decided to go ‘above and beyond’ ineverythingI do now.”
“Why don’t you take a sip of it first before you give it to me?”
“No, that’s okay.” She holds it out for me. “I don’t want to steal any caffeine from my amazing boss who needs it the most.”
“I’d hate to think that you’re trying to poison me, Miss Grey.”
“I’d hate that too…” She continues holding out the thermos, so I take it and vow to pour it out when I get to my office.
“I need to finish twisting the wreaths.” She clears her throat. “My boss has everyone in emergency mode, so I have to be at my cubicle in a few hours.”
“Speaking of emergency mode, my alarm system went off this morning for the first time in ten years. Would you happen to know anything about that?”
“No, but ten years is a very long time to go without running an emergency test.” She shakes her head. “Maybe the alarm company just wanted to try it out when you least expected it.”
I narrow my eyes at her.
“Or, maybe someone is trying to make you as miserable as you make her feel, so you can change your horrible ways.” She shrugs. “Then again, your list of tasks is so long these days, that I’m sure you overlooked it.”
“Georgia Grey…” I step closer. “Between you and me, I know that this is the firstrealjob you’ve ever had in your life.”
