Page 13 of Secret Santa

“Did he—”

“No,” I said, cutting him off. “I just get a weird vibe.” The last thing I needed was a rumor about me. David hesitated before he cleared his throat.

“So, I was thinking, maybe we could do something sometime?” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking awkward. He gave me a lopsided grin as a blush crept onto his face. “A new bar opened up downtown. Think I could take you there?”

“I’m not really a bar type of girl,” I said before taking a sip.

“We can go somewhere else,” he blurted, and I smiled.

“Maybe.” I chewed on my cheek. He was cute, but not my type. At all. “I just have a lot of work, you know? I don’t know when I’ll be free.” His smile fell.

“Rhodes works you too hard,” he tsked.

“No, he doesn’t,” I laughed, waving at him dismissively. “I choose to take work home.” David shook his head, his eyes trained on my mouth as I took another drink.

“You look exhausted,” he said, and I shrugged his comment off.

“I feel fine.” I refilled my mug before heading out of the kitchen.

“I wasn’t trying to insult you—”

“It’s fine, David.” I kept my back to him as I walked. I don’t know why his comment grated on my nerves. I was supposed to work hard, right? Wasn’t that the point of having a job?

“Dani.” He grabbed my arm, stopping me. I swallowed down my irritation as I turned toward him. “Please let me take you out.”

“I’ll let you know when I’m free.” He opened his mouth, probably to keep trying to convince me, but shouting drew my attention.

I yanked my arm from his grip and whirled around moments before Jon stormed from Aiden’s office. Aiden was right behind him, his chest heaving as he glared at the back of Jon’s head. I hurried toward them, David completely forgotten.

“Mr. Rhodes?” I slowed before I got to him, deciding to approach cautiously. I waited for him to say something, but he stayed silent, his body stiff until Jon was out of sight, when he relaxed slightly.

His gaze lowered to mine, then lifted above my head. I felt David at my back, too close for comfort, and Aiden’s eyes darkened.

“My office,” he demanded, then turned on his heel. I glanced at David, who winced.

“Good luck,” he whispered.

My stomach twisted as I walked into Aiden’s office and shut the door firmly behind me.

6

AIDEN

I stormed into my office, barely stopping myself from slamming the door behind me. I knew Danica was close behind me and I wasn’t that big of an asshole, despite my reputation. Clutching my fists at my sides, I paced in front of the window, my eyes trained on the ant-sized people walking below.

One of those ant-sized fucks was Jon, and I’d give anything to squash him like the pest he was. The fucking audacity of him—to string me along, promise a giant investment, the biggest one my company has ever fucking seen—only to hold some bullshit like my father wanting to see me over my head.

I was aware of Danica entering my office, but I couldn’t calm myself down enough to talk to her yet.

Truthfully, I didn’t know why I wanted her around me right now. It wasn’t professional, and any other boss in the entire fucking world wouldn’t have their employee see them at their wits end, about to fucking lose it. A man wouldn’t want the woman he’s been thinking about for months see him about to explode, but I wanted her close. Only her.

Finally, I stopped pacing and stared at her. Her throat bobbed as she stared back, wringing her hands tightly together in front of her. How was I supposed to tell her everything was fine when it so clearly wasn’t? That I couldn’t put my pride aside long enough to get through a crucial meeting?

I finally settle on ‘I’m sorry.’ Her brows pushed together as she tilted her head to the side, confused. I rubbed my forehead, unsure how to explain or where to start. “He—Mr. Lewis, I mean—had certain requirements I couldn’t agree to.” She was confused. I could see it on her face, but she didn’t pry. I wanted her to, though. I wanted her to give me a reason to open up, to spill all my dirty secrets. I wanted her to know who I was, what a failure I was becoming, just as my father predicted.

“He wasn’t a good fit for our company, anyway.”

Our company.

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