Page 47 of Secret Santa

“She’s HR,” I said. “It’s better to let her know now. You know, in case–”

“You think I’d file a sexual harassment suit against you?” She looked appalled at the idea. I scrubbed my hand over my face as I leaned against the door. sighing heavily.

She hadn’t been lying when she said she had trouble sleeping. She tossed and turned all night and, even though she tried not to wake me, she always did. Not that I’d get much sleep with her awake beside me anyway. If she couldn’t sleep, neither could I, it seemed.

“Of course not,” I said. “But it’s the rules. I know how much you love to follow rules.” I grinned as she rolled her eyes. I opened my mouth to continue teasing her, but there was a knock at the door. She shifted her eyes to it, then back to me, looking hesitant.

I pulled the door open enough for me to peek out. Monica stood there with her hands clasped together in front of her.

“Good morning,” she said, smiling tightly. “Mr. Lewis is here.” My brows shot up.

“He is? We had nothing scheduled,” I said, and lifted my eyes to look behind her.

My blood ran cold.

My father’s eyes met mine, and a smile slowly spread across his face. It had been years since I’d last seen him, and he looked old, but with those same shark-like eyes.

“You can send them away.” I looked back at her, finding her lips pressed into a thin line.

“I tried,” she said. “They’re persistent.” I took a deep breath. Yeah, my father was that, among many other things.

“Fine, I’ll get rid of them.” I shut the door before she could say anything else and turned to Danica. “I don’t want you in here.”

“What? Why?” I held my hand out, needing her close. She nearly jumped into my arms, but at the last second, she stopped herself and slid her hand into mine. “Jon is here?”

“And my father,” I gritted out. Her pretty eyes widened as she looked behind me at the door.

“Your father? What’s he doing here?”

“No idea,” I sighed. “If I had to guess, it’s probably about that investment.” My jaw clenched tightly at the word. That fucking word. Investment.

He wanted to rub it in my face that I still needed investments. He wanted to taunt me, show me how much money I could’ve had if I would’ve just done what he said. I couldn’t do it anymore. He sucked my soul dry, and I knew if I’d stayed, I’d end up just like him.

“I want to stay with you,” she said quietly, and I smiled down at her as I tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Gently, I lowered my lips to hers, kissing her softly.

“I don’t want you around him,” I said as I rested my forehead against hers. She wrapped her arms around my waist, holding onto me.

“Please?” she murmured. “I can’t leave you alone for this. You’ll need me.” I huffed out a laugh and pulled away, my hand still cupping her face.

“I’ll need you?” I teased, but she wasn’t smiling. She looked so serious, so fierce, it made my heart stop. “I don’t know what he’ll say to you. I can’t–I don’t want you to see who I have to be around him. I have to be cold and heartless.”

“I can be that, too,” she said seriously. “I can be mean.” My smile widened as I stroked her cheek with my thumb.

“I know you can,” I said, still smiling. She was far too fucking cute and sweet to ever be mean, but I liked that she wanted to try for me.

“Please, Aiden?” she said again, and I sighed. I kissed her forehead, letting my lips linger against her for a moment.

“Okay,” I said, giving her a hard look. “Don’t talk unless you absolutely have to, and if I tell you to do something, please do it.” I kissed her forehead again as she nodded.

She stepped back and smoothed her hands over her pencil skirt, and when she lifted her eyes to mine, I wanted to hide. I’d never thought she looked like her mother, but right then, the coldness in her eyes was just that. And fuck if I didn’t love her a little bit more for channeling that bitch.

23

DANI

I kept my face blank and let that detached numbness settle over my body as Aiden opened the door, letting me walk out first. I forced myself not to look at him as we approached Jon and Aiden’s father. They looked eerily similar, but there was a softness to Aiden that his father didn’t have. Warmth radiated from him, and his smile was always genuine and bright. His father…he looked like a shark.

“Mr. Lewis,” Aiden said, stepping beside me. He was close enough for me to feel his warmth, but he didn’t touch me, not even to brush his arm against mine. “Mr. Rhodes.” I willed my face not to show the shock at him calling him by his name, not Father.

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