Page 2 of Her Christmas Monsters

He slowly trails his warm brown eyes down to meet mine, freezing me in place. I pull in a staggered breath, unable to break the magnetic pull. The world seems to ebb away to where nothing else matters but Ethan and me.

“I promise I’ll help you with whatever you need, Clara,” he breathes, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my pulse in my ears. I nod shakily, my tongue sweeping over my drying lips. His eyes fasten on the movement, and he leans forward slowly as though he doesn’t even realize he’s inching closer and closer.

We have these moments—where I think things might shift into something more, where the tension grows so thick around us I’m certain I won’t be able to breathe until his lips find mine.

He pauses, his eyes flicking back up, but he doesn’t pull away. The two of us are locked in on each other, waiting for the other to make a move. I try to pull my hand away, to break eye contact with him but I can’t—not when the warmth from his skin is seeping into mine, easing away all the tension, all the worry I’d felt moments ago. Everything feels right with Ethan, like he’s a missing piece to my soul, like my world is at peace when he’s near.

Maybe if we just crossed that line. We could find out if there’s something more. If I just lean closer—

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I jolt back in my chair, snatching my hand away abruptly and frantically searching the cubicle for the source of the sound. My heart thunders as my phone lights up and the beeping of the ringer blares again. I suck in a deep breath, attempting to compose myself, and give Ethan an apologetic look. There’s no way I dare read his expression before I turn back to the phone.

I can’t let that happen again at work, especially not if I want this promotion. Anyone could’ve walked by and seen us.Dammit Clara get your head back in the game.

“Clara speaking.” I’m already reading the internal extension number on the screen.

“This is Julie, Mr Ainswoth’s assistant. He’d like to set up a meeting with you,” Julie says curtly, not bothering to waste any time.

The CEO.

“Of course,” I rush out. My hand shakes lightly as I clasp my pen, readying to write the date on my desk calendar. “When—”

“Now, Ms Wright,” Julie cuts me off. “And I would hurry if I were you—the CEO doesn’t like waiting.”

The phone cuts off before I can get another word out. Dread washes over me freezing the blood in my veins.

Mr Ainsworth doesn’t meet with anyone other than his upper management. He doesn’t even walk through any of the offices downstairs.

This can’t be good.

Chapter Two

“Areyouokay?”Ethanasks, jolting me from my thoughts. I hurriedly hang up the phone and shuffle through the papers on my desk.

“Clara?”

“I’ve been called up to see the CEO,” I say, glancing at him to gauge his reaction as I slip the papers into a folder.

He grimaces back at me, confirming my suspicions. In my five years at the company I’ve never even met with anyone higher than Jackson, who was my direct boss in the Event and Marketing Department, and now all of a sudden I’m meeting with the owner of the multi-million dollar corporation that owns most of the high-end malls around the country.

Yeah, I’m screwed.

“I’m sure it’s just routine since you’re officially running the show this year.” Ethan attempts to assuage me, but even he frowns at the weak assurance.

“Either way, I don’t have a choice.” I sigh, and stand, folder tightly clasped in my palm. Julie hadn’t said to bring anything with me, but I sure as hell won’t be walking into a meeting withtheMr Ainsworth unprepared.

“Good luck,” Ethan says, indecision warring on his face as he walks with me out of my cubicle and to his own.

“It’ll be fine, right?” I ask, giving him a watery smile. Neither of us can know that, but I need a final reassurance, one last push to light a fire under me.

“Of course,” he says. The smile that spreads across his face is much more genuine, so I hold on to that and stride towards the elevators.

My tan heels click on the laminate floors with each sure step, and I square my shoulders, knowing that if I look confident, I’ll feel confident. The elevator dings as soon as I press the button and the doors open immediately. At least something is going my way this morning.

I push down the nervous energy bubbling up inside me as I step on and I push the button for the top floor, instead using the time to straighten my knee-length tan skirt and my scarlet blouse. Luckily, I’d chosen to wear my hair up in a tight bun this morning, but I check my reflection in the metal doors to make sure there aren’t any stray blonde pieces flying away.

To my relief, the elevator doesn’t stop at any other floors. I have no idea what sort of time frame he expects, but I sure as hell won’t be taking any chances.

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