Page 11 of A Grinchmas Delight

There have been many days where he has made me cry and said some very hurtful things, but on the days where the banter is there and we bicker, it’s absolutely exhilarating. I take a seat at my desk and flip through the pages in the folder, wondering who he conned into typing up these notes for me.

It had to be Jade or Xena, they are the only two that do whatever Zane or Mark ask of them. They’re new and trying to make their way in this industry. Social media marketing is new, for the most part, and it is growing rapidly. There are hundreds of new people ready to take your job at the drop of a hat, so you have to be good at what you do. You have to bring value to your company or be fucking the boss in some cases. Not that any of the girls here are, and if they are, I sure as hell don’t know about it.

I can’t picture Zane sleeping with anyone here, and the thought sends a pang of jealousy through my veins. I most certainly don’t want to sleep with him. Or Mark for that matter. Mark is a fifty-something, overweight, bald headed teddy bear.He’s the most kind and nurturing boss, polar opposite of Zane with his demeaning comments and rude glares. I don’t know how he makes it in this business being as grouchy as he is.

A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts. It’s Jade. Her blonde bun is piled high on top of her head with her long bangs hanging down and tucked behind each of her ears. She’s wearing a long blue dress that nearly touches the ground and she’s grinning ear to ear when she enters my office.

“Yes ma’am?”

She claps her hands together cheerfully. “Want to put up the office Christmas tree with me on our lunch break?”

I smile, bright eyed and excited. “Yes! Oh my gosh, yes!”

“Okay, perf. Meet me in the lobby in about thirty minutes. I had Chad from accounting get the tree out of the storage closet downstairs already and the boxes of ornaments are already in the lobby!”

I should have known that Jade, who shares my love of all things Christmas, would be just as excited as I am to put the Christmas tree up. That’s just what I need in my life today to make this monotonous Monday a bit more exciting.

I grab my Bluetooth speaker from the bottom drawer of my desk and head to the lobby at eleven-thirty. Jade is already putting the tree together and I turn on Christmas music, setting the speaker on the receptionist counter.

The office is mostly empty, everyone having left for lunch aside from Mia, who takes lunch an hour later than everyone else so that someone is always here to answer the phones. She pops her head around the corner of the lobby and smiles when she sees us putting up the tree.

Jade fluffs it as best she can while I sort through the boxes of ornaments. Jingle Bells plays through the office and the three of us sing along as we hang ornaments.

“The only thing that would make this better is some eggnog!” Jade says, hanging a silver ball ornament on the tree.

“Ooh, I’ll have to bring some tomorrow for us!” I say, hanging a gold ball ornament.

Mark has always insisted on a silver and gold Christmas theme at the office. I’m not sure if it’s because of the song from Rudolph or if it’s a family tradition in his family or what, but these are the ornaments he wants. I don’t care what color they are, as long as I get to decorate and look at the pretty lights. I love to stay late and bring my laptop into the lobby during Christmas time. I kill all the lights aside from the Christmas tree and work in the peace and tranquility of Christmas.

I’m so lost in the happiness of decorating and singing that I’m startled when a man speaks.

“I didn’t realize our Christmas party was so early this year,” Zane groans, looking around the lobby.

“Oh, don’t be a Grinch! It’s Christmas.”

“It’s November.”

I roll my eyes and hang another ornament on the tree.

“It’s literally the most wonderful time of the year,” I counter.

“Ah, yes. Singing and presents and eggnog, oh my,” Zane calls over his shoulder, complete with his hands waving in the air as he walks to his office.

Asshole.

We finish decorating the tree and put all the extra ornaments and decorations that we didn’t use into a tote and stuff it in the corner.

“I’ll put the tote away later this week. For now, it can serve as a present under the tree,” I say, plugging the lights in.

The glow of the tree warms my soul and happiness overwhelms me. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

CHAPTER FOUR

ZANE

The next twoweeks drag by at a torturous pace. Christmas songs and decorations have thrown up all over the office and every time I see Dayra, she’s so happy and cheerful. It’s a wonder I can manage to get anything done, with the sound of bells jingling and the scent of pine lingering in the office. I keep my door closed ninety percent of the time, but it’s no use.

I walk out of my office and head toward the lounge to fix a cup of coffee to help get me through this dragging day. I fill my stainless cup full and put two scoops of sugar in to add a little sweetness. I stir it and sit down at one of the tables for a minute.

---