Page 1 of The Christmas Lodge
CHAPTERONE
“Mr. Cooper, I think we can work out a better deal than that. We’ve worked together for how many years now? Ten?”
Lacy Preston tucked the phone receiver under her ear as she spoke and swiveled her chair so that she could stare out the window behind her desk, although she quickly realized it was too dark to see anything.
On the other end of the line, Paul Cooper hemmed and hawed for a few more moments before finally conceding, promising to lock in a lower interest rate for the business loan she was currently brokering. The corners of Lacy’s lips lifted in a pleased smile, but she kept her voice smooth and professional when she responded.
“Excellent. I’ll have my assistant watch for the paperwork and we’ll get it signed and returned to you.” She listened a few more moments, laughing lightly as he grumbled good-naturedly. “I know, I know, Idodrive a hard bargain. Have a good night, Paul. Always a pleasure doing business with you.”
She dropped the receiver into the cradle with a satisfyingclick, only then allowing herself to jump from her chair and do a victory dance, wiggling her butt and punching the air while whisper-cheering to herself. She was in the middle of a groovy spin when her office door opened softly and her assistant, Brenda, poked her head in.
Lacy stopped mid-spin, her cheeks warming. She cleared her throat, smoothing her hair and straightening her blazer. “Yes, Brenda?”
Brenda was biting back a grin, and Lacy knew it was no use to pretend. She felt her professional facade crack into an infectious grin.
“You saw that, didn’t you?” she asked.
Brenda came into the office then, her eyes bright with excitement. “Does that cute little number I just walked in on mean that we got the funding?”
Lacy nodded. “Yes! Paul will be sending over the paperwork for us to sign, either tonight or in the morning, so watch for that.”
“Will do! That’s exciting. I know Cutting Edge Real Estate will be thrilled. This is huge for them.”
Cutting Edge, a budding real estate investment company, was one of Lacy’s newest clients. They had flipped a handful of homes and made a decent profit, but now they were looking to expand their portfolio by adding rental properties. Taking their business model to the next level meant they needed more financing than she could offer with her own personal investments, which was why the business loan getting approved tonight was such a win.
Lacy dropped back into her leather office chair. “It really is.” Glancing at the stylish silver wristwatch she had bought for herself as a graduation present when she graduated with her MBA, she noticed the time. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Paul definitely won’t be sending the papers tonight. It’s almost seven o’clock, Brenda. I’ll let you get home.”
Brenda congratulated her once more, then slipped back out of Lacy’s office, leaving Lacy alone with her thoughts for a moment. She leaned back in her chair, letting out a huge breath and soaking in the moment. Her line of work was often taxing, with its high stress levels and fast pace, but there was nothing like closing a huge deal on a Thursday night to put her in a good mood for Friday and the rest of the weekend. After allowing herself one more moment to exult, Lacy began preparing to go home as well.
She had spent many a late night in this office, poring over financial records for prospective investment deals or hammering out the details of a new business venture, but tonight Lacy decided to go home and open a bottle of wine to celebrate this newest success. As she wound her scarf around her neck and shrugged into a thick peacoat to combat the bitter St. Louis December night, Lacy reflected on her career.
In graduate school, she had created an app for her capstone project that businesses could use to assess their assets, risks, areas for growth, and more. Investors had bought the idea from her, giving her a starting sum to then invest in other businesses. Before she knew it, she had built her own investment and consulting firm, seeking out promising young businesses. She consulted with them and helped watch over their business, as well as giving them an infusion of cash in return for a cut of the profits.
Her line of work was not an easy one, but in her opinion it was well worth it.
The icy wind outside her office whipped against her face, making her catch her breath. She burrowed more deeply into her coat and hurried toward her car.
The only good thing about December in St. Louis is looking forward to Christmas, she thought as she pulled the car door shut behind her, turning the key in the ignition and cranking up the heat.
And it was true. Shops were lit up with twinkling lights, Christmas carols played on all the radio stations, and there was a general air of anticipation and goodwill that made her feel like a child again. Lacy pulled a wry face to herself at that thought.
Of course, it’s not like I ever have much time to bask in the holiday spirit, she admitted to herself.There’s always a pile of work waiting for me.
She didn’t mind too much, though. Lacy pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward home, shivering a little on behalf of a man in a Santa suit ringing a bell for donations to charity outside of a shopping center. Shoppers hurried past him, hoping to purchase some gifts before the stores closed for the night, although a few good souls dropped change and dollar bills into his red bucket. The traffic light turned green then, ending her observations, and she continued down the brightly lit streets toward her sleek luxury downtown apartment.
An hour or so later, Lacy settled onto her plush sofa, a glass of white wine in hand. She’d turned soft music on, not wanting to watch TV that night. Taking a sip of her wine, she sank into the cushions, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.
She let the tension ease out of her shoulders and took in a deep breath, savoring the feeling of decadently-soft silk pajamas and that freshly-clean feeling she always loved after her nightly skincare routine. She loved these moments of rest, especially when they came with the satisfaction of a job well done and that her career was moving forward the way she wanted.
Her career was everything to her. Most people she knew had built their careers some time in college or after, but she had been focused on her path since the tender age of eleven years old. Lacy lifted her wine glass, this time taking a long drink. If she was going to think about her past, she needed more than a dainty sip. She closed her eyes again, going back through the years and remembering the night that had changed the trajectory of her life forever.
The night of her eleventh birthday, she had waited to open her presents or have a slice of cake until her father returned from work to celebrate with them. The presents in all their shiny wrapping paper and bright bows had been so tempting, but she had remained steadfast, running to the window every time a car drove by their house in the hopes that it was her father.
Minutes, and then hours, had ticked by with no sign of Harv Spielman. Finally, around bedtime, her mother had come to her, her own eyes red and swollen from crying and her lips tight in an angry line. She had announced that Harv wasn’t coming home that night, or ever.
She had been too young to understand at the time why her father had abandoned them, but over the years her mother had explained how her father had turned tail and run away when his investment business had gone south, forcing him to file for bankruptcy. Lacy’s mother stopped trying to protect her from the awful truth by the time Lacy finished middle school, telling her about how Harv’s business practices were all-too-often shady and deceitful, and how he had never let her in on the details.
“Only a coward would do what he did. Don’t you ever forget that,” her mother would say on one of the many instances of recounting Harv’s past sins. “He didn’t run an honest business and, when it all fell apart, what did he do? He abandoned his wife and child, ran back with his tail between his legs to his daddy.” At this point in the story, Lacy’s mother would always give a bitter laugh. “As if old Nicholas Spielman could help him! His father was part of his business in the first place, which can’t say much for his own integrity or business sense. Nicholas turned tail and ran too, just like his son.” She’d always tuck Lacy under her chin then, wrapping her arms around her daughter. “We don’t need them, though, do we? No, we’ve got each other, and you’ll grow up better without them.”
