Page 18 of Shy Santa

My computer chimed when a message popped up. One secretary warning Chad was on his way to meet with a client for his father.

Great, now I had to deal with creepo and a client. If I didn’t need this job, then I would so quit. The idea of working at the diner grew more appealing every day.

“Hey beautiful, how about you and me get drinks after work?” Sleezy McCreeper whispered in my ear, his hand sliding down my arm.

Standing, I shift away from my desk. “Mr. Sutton, I have no interest in getting a drink after work. But thank you.” I tried to be polite, but the damn man wouldn’t take a hint. Ronda, in accounting, thought some of us girls should go to his father with a harassment charge. But Maxine, the oldest biddy in the secretary pool, she said a good knee to the balls would do wonders and be more effective. At the moment, I was on the knee to the balls side.

The ding of the bell signaled someone coming in, but Chad mustn’t have heard. He just followed me around my desk, cornering me near the little coffee station we had for visitors who needed to wait.

“You know you want to go out with me. Why do chicks insist on playing this game? We can get a drink.” His hand slid up my arm again. Disgust swirled in my stomach at his touch; a shiver working over my skin. “Then we can go back to my place to get better acquainted.” He licked his lips, leaning into me.

I shifted my leg into position as the knee to balls option won out.

“Addy babe? You okay?” A beautiful, deep voice washed over me.

What the hell was Bear doing here? Not that I was complaining because Chad backed off. The cloying stench of his cologne going with him.

“Hey honey, what are you doing here already?” I asked my syrupy sweet, skirting around my douche of a boss and wrapped my arms around him. “It’s too early for lunch.” I made a show of getting close.

Bear, bless him, played along.

“Got a meeting. I knew you said you worked at a law firm but didn’t realize you worked here.” He held me close, his hands drifting down to my lower back. I pinched his back in warning to keep those hands respectable.

“Oh…” I shrugged. “Maybe when you’re done, we can grab lunch.”

“Mr. Alexander.” Chadwick held his hand out.

It was petty of me, but a thrill spiked through me when Bear didn’t shake hands. He adjusted me so I stood snug to his side, his arm wrapped possessively around my shoulders.

Eyeing my boss, Bear grunted. “Thought I was meeting with a Mr. Sutton, not a wet behind the ears kid.”

“My father, sir.” Chadwick’s jaw ticked. “I’m working with him, learning his cases.”

“Are you the reason my grandmother’s house was a mess?” Bear stiffened pissed off vibes wafted off him.

I looked between the two men, their differences so glaring. Bear could have snapped Chad into little pieces.Was it wrong that I'd buy tickets to see that happen?

Chad cleared his throat, looking a little paler than his usual vampire pasty white. “I will look into the property issue while you speak with my father.” He twisted on his heel and walked toward the offices.

Bear sighed, “You okay?”

“Yeah, thanks for playing along.” I stepped away, not sure how to act around him. This right here is why I didn’t like one-night stands. There’s always that awkward moment when our paths crossed the first few times. “You better follow him. He can be a douche about things.”

A snort popped from Bear, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Figured. I’ll see you later.”

He paused for a moment, studying me. Something clicked in his eyes before he nodded and strode off after Chadwick.

* * *

A good fifteenminutes after Bear came in, I walked back to my desk from the stockroom, my arms full of supplies for the coffee station. I refilled the pen jar and coffee pod selection twice a day. We might have numerous clients, and potential clients, who ran through reception, but damn, some of those had very sticky fingers. And it usually wasn’t the destitute or middle-class worker. Most of the time, it was the wealthy who cleared out my supplies.

I caught one once, and she smirked and said, “Well how do you think I keep my money from these blood suckers?” While I didn’t agree with cleaning out the coffee station or my pen cup, I couldn’t fault the lady’s thinking.

One of my guilty pleasures was binge watching that show about the cheapest people in America and extreme couponers. Got a few great ideas from these shows on decorating my place.

“Addison, where have you been? Dad wants you to do a coffee run for our client, since you know his preference.” Chad sneered, practically sitting on my desk. Now I needed to sanitize it from his nasty ass.

“Mr. Sutton, coffee runs are not in my job description. I’m here to answer the phone, keep the lobby organized and greet anyone who walks through that door.” Carefully, I adjusted the hold on the crap in my arms. “If I leave the building, then who will do my job?”

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