Page 29 of A Little Christmas: Rivi
Rivi fell to his knees and tore at the paper. He pulled out box containing the newest, most expensive game station brand. The other boys got the same. They jumped up and down.
“And it’s fully loaded with tons of the newest games,” Trent explained, waving his hand through the air. “I don’t know what all, but my assistants tell me it’s what everyone wants.”
“Wow, thank you!” They all spoke at once.
Rivi caressed his box like it was made of gold.
I ripped open my gift. What would Trent have ever thought to give me? Under the paper was a plain white box. I lifted the cardboard lid to see a fancy, lace-edged envelope with the words printed:Bet you thought I forgot your holiday bonus. Ipoked it open and saw… a check. I lifted the paper a little more. Trent gave Christmas bonuses every year, but this was more than usual. $10k. I didn’t show it around. I wanted to keep it private. But everyone could tell it was something good.
I glanced up.
“Maybe I’m too old for games?” I murmured.
Trent heard me and shot me a look. “Buy your own.”
With this kind of bonus, of course I could.
Colin had a box like mine. Since he worked the club, his was probably a bonus, too. The others sported high end bottles of tequila and glassware.
My heart was beating fast. Not just from the money, but now because he’d given me so much I felt the need to please even more. Did he really want me to stay away from Rivi?
I looked at Rivi rising to his feet, hugging the box to him.
Maybe Trent was right. Maybe working for him and pursuing Rivi made things far too complicated. Maybe I needed distance.
I held up my present. “I’m off to put this away.”
“Be back in time for dinner.”
More food. Trent kept it coming. The fresh, hot meals. The gifts. The ambiance.
I walked up to him and embraced him. “Thank you.”
“You’re a valued team member and friend,” he replied nonchalantly.
I took my time in my room. Sitting. Thinking. About Rivi.
I wasn’t sure what to do. He was my type. In two short days, I already adored him. He’d latched onto me.
But… complications.
I decided to take a hot shower. My thoughts became less chaotic when I had warm water cascading over my body.
I stood under the shower head. As I predicted, the steam and the fantastic water pressure cleared my mind.
Simple.
I just needed to get Trent aside and talk it out. It was the answer. Find out what was bugging the guy, fix it and get on with my life. That’s what friends did. Talked. Listened. Fixed.
When I got out and dried myself off, I dressed in clean, warm clothes. I wondered if anyone would notice the different outfit when I went back downstairs for dinner.
Rivi would.
But it was Trent’s attention I was seeking now.
13
Rivi
