Page 50 of Secret Santa

“Forty,” my father said.

“Thirty.” David’s voice was firm. Final.

That should be me. I should be the one bargaining with him, not David. This wasn’t his company to protect. It wasn’t his job to do this.

“Thirty-five.”

“Thirty,” David said again, and my father laughed.

“Thirty-three.”

“Thirty.”

My chest was tight as I darted my eyes between them. I needed to do something. I needed to stop this. I needed to take that contract and call Keith. I needed to get out of this room.

I couldn’t fucking breathe.

I opened my mouth to tell him we’d discuss this another time, after the holidays maybe. It would give me more time to figure something else out.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and everyone turned their attention to it. Sadie entered first, her usual cocky smile plastered across her face. Danica followed her, looking nervous, but when her eyes met mine, she smiled. Alex and a few others from his company joined us, talking amongst themselves as they sat at the table. Keith hurried in, setting up his paperwork at the opposite end of the table from me, his glasses sliding down his nose.

No sound came out of my still open mouth. Not even a breath.

“This is my brother-in-law,” Danica said, waving at Alex. He didn’t smile. He was stone faced as he stared at my father. “He works for St. James Investments.” My father inhaled sharply, and I shifted my eyes to him. “You’ve heard of them?”

“Yes,” my father gritted out.

“Great,” she said, clapping her hands. “No need for introductions, then.” Her smile was wolfish. It wasn’t one I’d ever seen before. I knew it was an act; her hands shook slightly, her chest was a deep red, but she held my father’s gaze.

“What was your offer?” Alex said, sounding irritated. The man beside him opened a laptop and began typing. I didn’t know who he was. I hadn’t worked with anyone but Alex at their company, and that had been nearly a year ago.

My father told him, and Danica made a choking sound. Sadie put her hand on her arm, steadying her.

That should be me.

Fuck my dad. Fuck what he’ll think.

Standing, I ignored the momentary pause in the stare down between Alex and my father. Everyone’s eyes were on me as I moved to Danica, needing her close. Sadie smirked at me, a knowing look on her face as she stepped back.

I waited for Danica to say something. Maybe she was waiting for me to speak first, but we just stared at each other. My voice was still completely lost.

“Anyway,” Alex sighed. “That’s it? We can do better than that.” My eyes widened and Danica’s face split into a small grin. “Have you signed anything yet, Mr. Rhodes?” I stayed staring at Danica as she twisted her lips to the side. She patted my chest and I put my hand over hers, clutching her to me.

“I think he’s talking to you,” she whispered. I blinked. Clearing my throat, I turned toward Alex, keeping my hand around Danica’s as I dropped them to our sides.

“No,” I said, my voice thick. “We haven’t agreed to anything yet.”

“Good.” He turned his attention back to my father. It probably made me a terrible person to think his annoyance and anger was funny.

“We were about to agree,” he said, and David snorted.

“Not likely,” David said flatly. Danica’s laugh was breathy, and I grinned down at her. I didn’t know how she got Alex to come here so quickly.

“Right, well.” Alex leaned over to look at his co-worker’s laptop. “I think we can do…” He trailed off, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the screen. He said a number that made me choke, my eyes watering. Danica patted my back as I scrubbed my hand over my jaw.

“Are you serious?” I rasped, and he gave me a lopsided smirk before he looked back at my father.

“Can you match that?” he asked, lifting his brows. My father’s jaw tensed, and I knew he couldn’t. There was no way he would. No fucking way he ever could. He let out a harsh breath as he turned toward me.

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