Page 33 of Christian Clause

“Yes, Mr. Clause.”

Although I’m tearing apart at the seams inside, I lift my chin, turn around and walk regally out of the office. Tears sting my eyes as I stride out of the office. I’m glad they can’t see me tearing up.

Jealousy burns inside me even though I have no right, as Christian hasn’t promised me a future. Heck, he hasn’t even asked me to be his girlfriend or anything. All we’ve done is sneak around smooching.

I walk back to my office, grateful Clara isn’t back. I hastily blink back the tears, angry with myself for caring so much I’m almost shedding tears, which is crazy.

I have allowed myself to get in too deep when Christian didn’t even ask me for a relationship. Anger surges inside me at the way Katherine treated me. Who did she think she was? I hated the possessive way she held on to Christian.

“Are you all right?” Clara asks as she walks back to the office.

Quickly, I school my features and offer her a small smile. “I’m fine, Clara. Just a little tired.”

“Why don’t you take a brief break? I’ll attend to Mr. Clause whenever he needs something.”

“Thanks, Clara.” I don’t bother telling her he won’t need any of us in a long time, probably until the close of work.

I have to evaluate things now. This is one of the reasons it isn’t advisable to have anything to do with your boss or coworker. I shouldn’t have forgotten that rule. Knowing Christian is in there with Katherine, doing what I had no idea of, is driving me crazy. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Everything in me wants me to type my resignation, go into Christian’s office and throw it in his face. I control myself. I can’t allow the incident to get to me. I’m a grown woman who can handle anything thrown at me.

With that in mind, I pull myself together. I even manage a professional smile when Katherine walks out of the office plastered to his side about an hour later. I watch him walk her to the elevator and lower my head when Christian returns to his office. I’m a little surprised because I assumed they would leave together to finish what they started in the office.

My heart aches even more since Christian didn’t spare me a second glance. I look at my wristwatch and I grimace because it’s still many hours before the close of work, and I have little work to do to keep me busy.

Later, my heart flips in my chest when Christian requests my presence in his office. I wonder what he wants. To apologize, fire me, or tell me there’ll be no more kissing and dates between us.

Whatever, I’m ready. Smoothing down my black pencil skirt, my heels click on the floor as I walk toward the double wooden doors. I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Chapter Seventeen

Christian

Staring at Hope standing there looking as sexy as ever, I feel the usual warm flush that rushes up my body whenever I see her. Remorse wells up inside me for the way I treated her earlier. I wasn’t angry at her, but at myself for allowing things to go too far with Katherine. One minute she was talking to me and the next, she was trying to kiss me. And of course, Hope chose that unfortunate moment to enter the office. I know she must think something is going on between me and Katherine. Something is going on, but I can’t tell Hope as it’s between me and Katherine. It’s strictly business, but not one Hope should be privy to.

I listen as Hope, without me even saying anything, rattles off my schedule for the following day and the work she has done so far that day.

“You have a meeting with some of your personnel at four.”

“Cancel it,” I say, and rise from my chair.

She nods and lifts her pad to scratch something out. Then she raises her head to wait for further instructions from me. At that moment, something tightens in my chest and I realize once more that I enjoy working with Hope. She’s a hard worker just like me, brilliant, and never complains no matter what I throw at her. Sometimes I make her stay past the close of work to handle issues for me, but I have never once heard her grumble. In fact, she has dedicated herself so much to her job, she understands almost everything about the business in such a short time. Sometimes, she completes my sentences, guessing my train of thoughts regarding what I want her to do.

Smiling, I say, “I think I owe you a raise.”

Her delicately carved brows shoot up. “Oh.”

I nod. “I’ll speak to the accountant as soon as we get back.”

She frowns. “Get back from where?”

“From our trip to Gray Rock.” I shrug into my suit jacket as I explain. “We hold a conference every year in a ski resort for entrepreneurs in Colorado. Do you ski?”

She shakes her head.

A grin spreads across my face. “I look forward to teaching you.”

I expect her to give me that sweet smile of hers, but her face remains impassive.

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