Page 32 of Holiday Hoax

“Stop worrying,” she says as she ends the embrace. “I can practically hear your racing thoughts.”

“I can’t help it.”

“I know.” She pats my chest. “You and your big, soft heart. I’m good, though, promise.” She rolls her eyes. “And you know that if I wasn’t you’d be Nico’s first call.”

She’s right about that. Her husband can’t keep his mouth shut to save his life, which is fine by me. He’s kept me up to date on almost every aspect of her health and care when she couldn’t herself.

It’s a cold day but sunny, so we decide to walk to the restaurant. Soon the Chicago winter will settle in, and days like this will be put on pause. We make small talk as we navigate the city sidewalks until we reach our destination.

Neither of us need to look at the menu, we both have our favorite dishes here. After we order she gives me a soft smile.

“How is everything going with the board? Dad said a few of the members had concerns about the transition.”

I relax back into my seat. “It’ll be fine. Several of them were worried about my relationship status being single for so long. Thinking it showed a lack of ability to commit.”

She scoffs. “That’s the biggest pile of bullshit I’ve ever heard. You’re the most rock solid, committed person in that building. I know it. Dad knows it. They fucking know it.”

“I don’t disagree.”

“Do you think there’s some underlying motivation?”

I’ve been quietly wondering about this, too. I do have some big plans for how to modernize the company, and they’re not exactly popular with the older generation. I wouldn’t just be funneling the money from our company’s growth into their pocketbooks, I’d be reinvesting it into the infrastructure of our company, modernizing it from the ground up.

“Possibly. We’ll see now that I’ve been bringing a date to events.”

Her brows shoot up. “Really? The same woman or a rotating list?”

“The same woman.”

“Do I know her?”

I hesitate before answering. “Yes.”

She opens her mouth to speak, but I quiet her by holding my hand up.

“I’m not going to tell you who just yet.” I drop my hand. “It started as being very casual, but I think it could be more.”

“Is she our age? Did we grow up in the same circles?”

“No to both.”

“Younger?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes narrow. “How much younger?”

“Mid-twenties.”

“At least she was out of diapers when you started college.”

“Shut up.” I toss a straw wrapper at her. “It honestly doesn’t feel like that big of a difference when we’re together.”

She softens. “That’s good. Tell me about her.”

“She works in the arts and comes from a larger family. She’s funny and brilliant and gorgeous. She sees the world through a very different lens than I do. It’s refreshing.”

Stella studies me before speaking. “You really like her, don’t you? I’ve never heard you talk about someone else like that.”

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