Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
The whole mood in the office is festive. People are standing together, laughing. Christmas music plays just a touch louder, and everyone has dressed down.
“I guess we didn’t get the memo.” I look over to see Zach standing there with a coffee in his hand. He’s wearing a blue suit.
“Was there a memo?” I laugh, putting my cup down and then walking over to the closet. My black leather skirt goes to my knees, and I paired it with a deep green shirt. It screams Christmas and also brings out the green in my eyes. “I must have missed it.”
He just nods, and the wheels in my head start turning. If I leave, I won’t see him every day. “I’m leaving early today,” he says, and I just look back at him. “I’m going to fly out tonight instead of tomorrow morning and hopefully miss the rush.”
“I’ll make sure everything is ready for you,” I tell him.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I did it myself,” he says, and I look at him weirdly. In the past year, he has never booked his own flights or accommodations. “I had time last night, so I just did it.”
“Great,” I say, avoiding his eyes by pulling out my chair and sitting down. My mind’s going a million miles a minute. Maybe he changed his plans so I don’t know where he’s going. Maybe the letter freaked him out, and he doesn’t trust me. Oh my god, Tiff was right. I have to quit.
I listen to him in his office when I open the confirmation email from the hotel. I click on it and see he upgraded from just a regular suite to a villa suite located on the beach with its own private pool. It looks like it’s for newlyweds, and my heart suddenly sinks even more. He’s going there with someone. I blink away the stupid stinging in my eyes and close down the screen.
For the next three hours, I make sure that everything I need to do is done. “Okay, Chloe.” I hear from behind me and see Zach standing. “I’m heading out. My flight is at four, and I have a couple of things to get before I head to the airport.”
Grabbing the pen on my desk so he doesn’t see my hands shake, I plaster a smile on my face. “Well then, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.” He just smiles at me. “And a Happy New Year.”
“To you also,” he says. “I will see you in the new year.” I don’t tell him that he won’t. “Why don’t you finish what you are doing and then take off early?”
“I think I’ll do that,” I say. “Have a safe flight.” He nods, and I watch him walk away. The minute he is gone, I open my computer and start my resignation letter.
I print it out, and unlike the last letter I wrote to him, this one I fold and write his name on it. I walk into his office and place it in the middle of his desk. Taking one last look around, I walk out and close his door.
Zach
White Christmas
The elevator door closes, and I let out the breath I was holding. She looked more beautiful today than she ever has. But when I was leaving, I felt she was disconnected. Everything in me wanted to ask her about it, but instead, I took the coward’s way out.
By walking away from her and not even turning back.
I get home and ignore the erratic beating of my heart. I pack my bags, and when my phone rings, I see it’s Jax.
“Hey,” I answer and hear horns in the background.
“I just landed in New York,” he says, and I laugh.
“Um, why?” I grab the pile of clothes and pack them.
“I met this model last night,” he says, “and she had a photo shoot today in Central Park, so I decided to follow her.”
“You followed a girl you met yesterday?” I repeat, stopping to pack. “Like less than twenty-four hours ago?”
“Did you not hear what I just said?” he asks. “I met a model.”
“What is her name?” I ask, and he stops talking now.
“Maria,” he says, “or Marsha.” I can literally hear the wheels spinning in his head. “Mariska.” He groans. “I know it starts with an M.”
“But do you?” I ask him again.
“Doesn’t matter,” he says. “I call her baby anyway.”
“How old is she?” I ask, and he groans.
“Old enough to take my cock all the way down her throat.” He laughs. “I’ve never gotten head like that in my life.”
I roll my eyes now. “This conversation has been fun,” I tell him.
“Did you do it?” he asks. “Did you fire her?”
“No,” I huff out and run my fingers through my hair, “I didn’t fire her.”
“You’re making a big mistake by letting her get away from you,” he says, and I laugh.