AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not at all. She told me tonight she’s been seeing someone. Maybe she’ll invite him over for dinner or… something.”
He tips his head to the side. “How do you feel about that?”
“It’s weird. I miss my dad so much. But she’s been single for three years. She deserves to have someone of her own.”
He smiles and kisses me again. “Good girl,” he murmurs.
I shiver. “If you keep calling me good girl, I’ll do anything you want.”
He runs his tongue over his top teeth. “I’ll bear that in mind. Now, I’d better get up.”
But he doesn’t. He kisses me again. And then he continues kissing me for a long time, while the fairy lights flicker, and the flames in the gas fire dance to the Christmas music.
Chapter Thirteen
Alex
The twenty-second is the last official day the office is open, and therefore also party day. Henry, James, and I are usually in and out over the Christmas period, but the rest of the staff are looking forward to the break, and everyone’s in a festive mood.
I work in the morning, finalizing anything urgent that needs doing before the country goes on summer vacation. It’s normal for businesses to be closed for several weeks through Christmas and January in New Zealand, and even if I’m in the office, it’ll be tough to get hold of anyone for a while.
At one p.m., Juliette comes in, closes my laptop, grabs my tie, and drags me out and into the main office. I give in, more than happy to help devour the lunch the caterers have put on. The tables are groaning with sandwiches, hot savories like pies and sausage rolls, sushi, mince pies, Christmas cake, and a hundred other things. Someone sets Christmas music playing, bottles of bubbly are popped and poured, and soon people are singing and dancing and generally having a good time.
I circulate for a while, thanking everyone for their hard work during the year, asking after their families and where they’re going for Christmas. I get hugs and kisses on the cheek, and lots of people saying how much they love working here, which pleases me no end.
Juliette’s organized a Secret Santa, and it’s Henry’s turn to come in with the suit and hand out the presents. Everyone had a twenty-dollar limit, and I know the person I picked—Robyn in Accounts—makes her own jewelry, so I bought her a small box with six compartments containing different color sparkly beads, and she squeals with delight when she opens it.
My present turns out to be a pair of boxers with a picture of a wrapped present over the crotch area and the slogan ‘I have a huge present for you’ on one side. Everyone erupts into laughter as I open it, and I cast a wry glance over to the group of interns we have working for us and say, “I know this is from one of you, and you’re all fired,” and they giggle.
“You’ll have to wear them tomorrow,” James murmurs next to me. He knows that Missie is coming over for dinner.
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate them,” I reply, and he laughs. As Henry moves on to Rebecca from reception and hands her a present, I say to James, “So… are you seeing Aroha over Christmas?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I fucked up. She’s not talking to me.”
I give him an amused look. “What did you do?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He looks embarrassed.
“Oh dear.”
“Plenty more fish in the… you know.”
“Sure.”
He huffs a sigh, and I hide a smile.
“Are you getting back with Cassie?” I ask.
“Nope. I’m done with women.”
“For the next five minutes.”
“I’m serious.” He rubs his forehead. “They do my head in.”
