Page 25 of Her Secret Santa

“No, I had a gig with the catering place that I agreed to months ago. Some late holiday party at the Hawthorne Enterprises headquarters, it got canceled and then reinstated like three different times. I only just got out,” I grumble to Allie as I climb out of my car. “Even for a Monday, it was rough.”

“Hawthorne,” Allie says scornfully. “Damn, so we’re both working at their mall, and you were catering their investor gala, huh? Small world. I’ve heard their CEO is hot as sin, but a total dick. Billionaires and their golden fucking spoons, dude.”

I snort in agreement as I climb the rickety stairs up to my apartment.

“Yeah, that was the consensus I got today. Guy didn’t even show up to his own party. It’s such a shit thing to do, cancel and un-cancel over and over. I can only imagine how his employees feel. He’s nothing but a playboy with too much money on his hands and not enough common sense to help people out with some of it.”

“I know I usually bitch at you for giving too much to charity, but assholes like him could take a page out of your book.”

How people can be that oblivious to the amount of privilege they have when there are people who can’t make ends meet no matter how hard they try baffles me.

I unlock my door and swing it open, but I nearly fall on my ass when I slip on something. I balance myself before flipping the hallway light on. A black envelope with silver lettering sticks out from beneath my shoe.

“Hold on, someone slipped something under my door,” I say as I bend to pick up the envelope.

“Ooh, stalker or political campaign?” Allie jokes.

My brows hike up toward my hairline when I read the single word scrawled in silver ink on the heavy cardstock.

Eternity.

“Holy shit.”

I kick the door closed behind me, my heart racing.

“Coupon for pizza?” Allie guesses.

“It’s from Eternity.” Even though I whisper, my words echo almost too loudly. “Did you get anything?”

“What?” she shrieks, her teasing replaced by shock. “Oh my God, no! I didn’t get shit, girl. Open it!”

I toss my work bag down on the counter and switch my phone over to speaker before fumbling the envelope open. A thick piece of cardstock tumbles free along with a bracelet.

“You are cordially invited to a night at Eternity,” I read aloud in disbelief. “Enclosed, you will find a bracelet for your Elite to locate you. Please show it at the door for entry this evening.”

I stare at it in shock as Allie babbles out excited nonsense.

My hands shake as I hold the bracelet up to the light. The stones in it look like fuckingdiamonds, and they sparkle brightly, the silver inlay cool as I run it between my fingers.

“I got a diamond bracelet this time, too.” The bracelet is shocking on its own, but the thought that my Elite wants me back is almost enough to knock me off my feet. Even thinking about him asmyElite makes me a little lightheaded. “The invite says that the code inside the bracelet is for the door to my Elite’s room.”

I twist it around again, a slight engraving on the inside catching my eyes.

1702.

“Go get ready! Call me and tell me everything in the morning!”

It’s a bummer Allie didn’t get an invitation back, but there’s nothing I can do to fix that. She tells me as much when I mention it, and when we say our goodbyes and hang up, nerves mount in my stomach. Allie got me all glammed up last time, and I don’t even know where to begin.

I wind up making a huge mess on my bedroom floor while trying to pick out an outfit. Most of my clothes aren’t exactly risqué, but I think the lacy black bodysuit and silk miniskirt I settle on will do the job.

I don’t feel quite as stunning as last time, but I feel a little bit more like myself. Somewhere in between vixen and normal girl.

I pack a bag with clothes to change into this time. Taking the bus will be cheaper than getting a cab, and it’s still pretty early, so I toss a coat on over my outfit and make my way into the center of Manhattan.

The ride isn’t too long, and I try to keep my anxiety from spiking as I get closer and closer to my destination. It’s only a few blocks to walk from the bus stop, and I’m standing in front of the door to Eternity before I know it. The same burly man from last time stands guard outside, and I hold my wrist up to him, flashing the diamonds in a way that I hope is confident but not rude.

“Take a silver mask when you enter and go through the door to the right,” he says. “The Floor Master will escort you after you pick your bracelets. Welcome back to Eternity.”

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