Page 24 of Santa Is A Sl*t

Slowly, he slides out of my path and I take the opportunity to run.

Chapter Eleven

EVE

Nico has us all in a really shitty situation.

First, he withheld the full truth of what he was here for. Second, he said he wanted a relationship but fucked it up before we even started.

When we sat down and talked the other day, he said he wanted this, wanted us. He was genuine and excited even though he was nervous about how Noel was going to feel about it.

He’s asked me three times a day if she’s called and each time I’ve told him to be patient. So he’d return to his office, obsessing over his notebook. I’ve heard that thing slam on the desk several times.

Of course, Noel shows up today and he blew it straight to the south pole. I’m guessing so anyway, I don’t think she would have reacted with so much anger and disappointment if she hadn’t been here to say yes.

But now we don’t know what she was thinking and we’re all in a mess.

Now, I’m going to fucking fix it.

I point my finger at him with a scowl on my face, “I’m mad at you. Really, really mad. But I am choosing to believe that you did mean it when you told me that you wanted this relationship to work with the four of us.”

Kane gives Nico a warning look, conveying just how much trouble he’s in, but it goes ignored.

“What do I do now?” Nico asks solemnly.

My hands find my way to their hips as I stare at him. “You should probably tell us everything. I can’t fix a problem if I don’t know just how bad it is.”

Nico moves over to his bottom drawer and pulls out a notebook. “The business isn’t able to continue if we continue to be a one holiday operation. We need to add another stream of revenue to keep a profit because SantaScape is barely paying for itself.”

Kane and I sit in the chairs across from Nico’s desk and listen intently.

“I have a few ideas but these aren’t going to be short term solutions. The ideas that I think are worth trying are long games.”

Nodding, I motion for him to continue.

“It doesn’t make sense that we have some of the most extravagant, yet beautiful, holiday decor in the world but we only display it.”

“You want us to sell it?” I ask, catching on to it.

Kane shakes his head. “Wouldn’t we need a manufacturer? And investors?”

Nico nods.

"I hate to be a negative nelly,” I say. “But isn’t the market a little oversaturated with Christmas decor?”

We might be belle of the Christmas ball but people aren’t always willing to pay for something when they can find a duplicate product for cheaper, even if it means sacrificing quality.

“That’s why we need an edge. We need to invest in more than Christmas decor and open it up to a diverse selection of celebrations, bringing qualified individuals who understand them along with artists who can find the right vision.”

Nico’s voice is filled with passion as he explains this. This must be what he’s been working on for the last two days.

“It’s not good enough though. We need to find something that sets us apart from your normal home decor corporations and pop-up shops.”

That’s when the light bulb comes on for me and I run out to my desk. I flip through my contacts until I find the right number and phone in a favor.

It only takes a few minutes, and a name drop that could get me in trouble, but this might be worth it.

“We have to go,” I tell the two men watching as I grab my coat. “We have a meeting in an hour and we cannot be late. Bring the notebook.”

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