Page 31 of Yes to The Holidays
I was barely settled back in, and Candy breezed in smiling and placed a cold ginger ale and some small colorful tablets down. “Best to chew those up and let them settle a bit before you drink anything, but I find that ginger ale helps me. If you all need anything, please let me know.”
Edward smiled at Candy, and she left. “You okay, son?”
Chewing the chalky tabs, I swallowed them down with a grimace. “Yes. Just a touch of heartburn.”
“It’s been a stressful week, that’s for sure. And while I love all the takeout, it’s doing a number on me, too.”
I sipped the ginger ale, swishing it to get the chalk flavor from my mouth but tried to do as Candy said and let the tabs work their magic before washing it away. “Edward, you know I typically don’t have my hands in any businesses, I had a thought I wanted to run by you while I still have your ear.”
Chapter 17
Janie
Against my better judgment, I spent the weekend with Odin. We didn’t talk much about work at all. Instead, we found fun holiday places to see, caught an old movie at a small theater close to my old town and he had me show him around outside of the city some more. It helped me get an idea of some neighborhoods to check out once I was able to move again.
We spent a lot of time in the car so there was more talking than banging, but there was lots of handholding and stolen glances. If we stopped to eat inside a restaurant, we sat on the same side of the booth since none had any round booths open when we went in. I used to think those couples who sat next to each other were weird but having his heat near me was comforting and exciting. I imagined his huge hands roaming places they shouldn’t be with such easy access, but wearing jeans also hindered the fantasy, so I didn’t bring it up. I was almost certain had I mentioned it, he’d have done it.
Something about him brought out a little more boldness in me. I thought it was the short-term thing, but even now, knowing he had intentions of trying to see where this went, I wasn’t embarrassed or shy. But I also was less tense around him. Or less…notmyself. I tiptoed around Donald’s feelings constantly to avoid confrontation. After he left, I was sad initially, but a weight had been lifted. When I got the apartment in the city, I embracedmeeven more. Eating the foods I wanted. Drinking beer instead of wine. Going places I wanted to go. With Odin, I was still doing all those things, just not alone.
Still, it was new, and with the work stuff added in, I was worried. What if things didn’t work out? It was already a pain having to deal with Donald occasionally, and I didn’t report to him. Odin would be my boss and the head of the whole company. What would the staff think? I was seen as professional not just at our company, but in the industry, and like anything else, it was hard for women to be taken seriously, especially in leadership.
An even bigger part of me didn’t care, though. He was the most amazing man. He seemed perfectly happy to just exist in the same space as me but also carried on wonderful conversations about everything and nothing. Not to mention, he was literally the hottest man I had even seen in person, maybe even at all.
It had been incredibly difficult to go home Sunday night after such an amazing weekend, and once home, instead of being able to rest, I was antsy. I texted my sister to see if she was awake, but no reply. It was late, but I hoped she’d be up. She had always been a night owl.
After a restless night of sleep, I got up and headed to work. Knots twisted in my stomach. The weekend was over, and it was back to reality. The crazy reality where my lover was about to be my boss.
I was logging into my computer when my phone chimed. It was my sister replying she was up and to call if I needed to, so I did.
“Hey, sis. You okay? You haven’t sent a late-night text for months,” Cassie said as soon as she answered.
Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I answered, “I dunno, Cas. Shit has sort of hit the fan since Thanksgiving.”
“Oh no. What happened? Oh yeah, Odin was leaving right? I’m sorry.”
I mindlessly pushed my mouse around. “Actually, he’s still here.”
“And that’s bad? He was really sweet. And sorry, not sorry, he’s fucking hot.”
“Can I tell you something without you telling Mom and Dad?”
“I can’t even believe you asked me that. Spill.”
Glancing over at the door, worried that I’ll get a visitor anytime, I started, “He sort of may be around a bit more than I thought. He uh…he’s buying the company.”
“What company? Oh shit!Yourcompany? He’s going to ownyourcompany? Oh my God, I love it. Taboo work romance!”
“Cas! This isn’t funny. This is my life.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. So, what happened? How did you not know?”
Rolling my eyes, even though she couldn’t see, I answered, “Excellent question. Eddie has been working on this for months, and I found out the Monday after Thanksgiving. That’s why he was in town to begin with.”
“What did he say when he realized you were the HBIC?”
“I amnotthe head bitch in charge. Eddie owns the place. I just work here.”
“You’re one of the directors, and the other two are a jackass and a man, so that makes you the HBIC.”
