Page 2 of Yes to The Holidays
It was one day. I’d get through it fine. Ididneed to find a date for the company holiday party, though. I wouldn’t let this asshat make me look lonely and sad.
But yeah, I could definitely use a drink later.
Chapter 2
Odin
I hadn’t been to Georgia before, but it was a lovely state. Late fall was still quite mild but orange, red, and yellow colors spattered the trees along all the highways, especially toward the mountains. I came to town to work on a business deal, but anytime I traveled to a new place, I enjoyed a little sightseeing. If I was to become CEO of a company, it seemed fitting to learn about where the company was located.
Most of my purchases were investments to eventually be passed along, but this company was still growing in leaps and bounds. It was happenstance I even learned it was possibly for sale. A conference had me at the table with the owner. A fun and warm gentleman full of excitement over his business. Even so, he was nearing early retirement age and said he would love to get to enjoy the next twenty or so years with his wife, traveling and visiting their grandkids more often.
After running into him again the next day at the lobby of my hotel, we shared a ride to the airport and exchanged information. I had sprung for the large SUV rideshare to accommodate my long legs. Being six-two sounded great until you never had legroom and had to duck at some entrances.
He reached out to me a week later. That was six months ago. We had numerous video meetings between ourselves, then a few key players that needed to be involved for financial purposes were brought in, and we started drawing up paperwork. But, before I signed on the dotted line, I wanted to see the company myself, meet the staff, and get a feel for the morale.
The books looked great, but over the years I’ve learned things could be covered or tucked away. My first few deals went well, but because of that, I was careless and too trusting, and I got stuck in a bad deal. It took a couple of years to recover from that, but at the time, I had partners, and we pulled through. After that debacle, I learned my lesson and eventually was able to buy out my partners.
I didn’t necessarily need this company, but it seemed like a good investment. I discussed becoming a silent partner, but Edward said as long as he was involved, he’d never make himself available for his dreams. I respected his ambition and admired his wishes. Something about the soft-speaking gentleman with white hair and a child-like smile made me want to help him.
I’d always been in awe of the way technology moved at warp speed, and his cyber security company had shot to the top of the industry. After researching the man, it was easy to see why. He took care of his employees, worked just as hard as they did, and ran it like a small mom and pop business, at least according to the multiple articles he was featured in. But again, seeing is believing. If the morale was low, that would shed a different light on the state of the company.
Still, having been a company flipper, for lack of a better term, it intrigued me to be part of a growing business. He insisted his senior staff was like family and the best in the business. I hired some consultants to meet me there following the holidays, though I planned to drop by casually next week.
With my parents on a cruise for the holiday and my brother’s wife due any day, there were no plans for Thanksgiving, so I decided to extend my visit and get a feel for the area. I was growing tired of New York, plus real estate in Georgia was a steal compared to there. With technology and planes, I could continue investment opportunities easily from anywhere.
I dropped a few bags of touristy things at my hotel and headed to the lounge, but it was packed. It was the weekend before a holiday, and the hotel was quite full. Heading to the concierge, I asked, “Sir, is there a little hole-in-the-wall bar nearby? Maybe walking distance?”
The well-coiffed gentleman tilted his head. “We have a lovely bar, and there is one inside our five-star restaurant as well, sir,” he said, waving his hand in the direction of the establishment.
Shrugging, I leaned across the desk. “It’s a tad packed in there. I’d like to have a low-key drink. Even a dive bar is fine.”
He nodded. “Very well. There is a pub a block down; take a left out of here and stay on Peachtree. It’s cool out, sir. You may want your coat.”
I waved him off. New York this time of year was much colder, and I had on a long sleeve button-down with jeans. “I think I’ll be fine. But thanks for your concern.”
I exited the high-end hotel and headed in the direction he gave. It was cool but not cold, although it was breezy. I pulled a hair tie from my pocket and pulled my blond hair into a ponytail at the base of my neck.
When I got to the crosswalk, I waited for the light to change and looked up at the glowing sign of an Irish pub. Not a far walk at all. As I approached, a striking woman who was either going to a business function or leaving work neared the entrance from the opposite direction. I took long strides to the door and pulled it. “Allow me.”
She smiled, and I followed her in, her fruity fragrance tickling my nose. This town kept getting better and better.
Chapter 3
Janie
Holy shit.
Holy fucking shit.
I think a movie star just opened the door for me.Or a God. Or a movie star playing a God, maybe? Either way…holy fucking shit, he was hot. And he smelled like hay and apples. Not exactly what I’d imagine a movie star, or a God, to smell like, but it was heavenly for sure.
We did have a ton of movie studios in town and in some smaller cities surrounding Atlanta. The house we were selling was only minutes from a small town where a huge Netflix show was filmed.
Since Donald and I decided to sell the house and split everything down the middle, I moved out a few months ago so we could get it sold faster. It was easier to show an empty house with fresh paint and flooring. We both wanted this all to go fast, just for different reasons.
I leased an apartment not far from the office downtown. Rent was ridiculous, but I saved a ton on gas and commute time. Although, I sort of missed the small town. It was okay to work downtown but being there all the time wasn’t for me. Until we sold the house, though, I didn’t want to invest in another home.
Trying to manage the warmth flooding to my core, I walked briskly to the bar and started working my coat off. Then hands pulled at the collar. Turning, I flushed as I looked into crystal blue eyes and inhaled apples and hay again. “Thank you,” I said firmly, trying to act calm.Fake it ‘til ya make it.
