Page 39 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

It’s ironic that Lila and I are best friends, considering her passion for all things Christmas and Hallmark movies. I’d rather spend my evening with haunted houses and vengeful spirits than cheerful townsfolk finding love in the snow.

That’s the one upside to living with Harrison. He doesn’t decorate for Christmas because he’s always out of town. It’s one less thing to remind me that aside from a few catering gigs, I’ll be spending the supposed happiest time of the year alone.

“You better be okay with creepy twins asking you to play forever, or you might want to return to the kitchen,” I warn Cat.

He shoots me another look of disdain before turning his attention to the TV.

“Okay, then,” I say, hitting play onThe Shining.Better to stick with something I’ve seen before if I want to avoid nightmares.

The next morning, I’m up before the sun rises, scouring the apartment for any supplies for Cat. After coming up empty-handed, I realize the only place I haven’t checked is Harrison’s office. Normally, I would ignore his request that it’s off-limits, but I’ve already invaded the rest of his house. And aside from his spider stunt, he’s left my personal space untouched.

It’s the one line I’m not ready to cross…yet. But all bets are off if he pulls another stunt like leaving me alone with his cat without warning.

While I wait for the pet store to open, I whip up a fish and egg scramble for Cat, who’s perched on the kitchen counter, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Do you have to judge me, too?” I ask, grabbing a spatula, folding the eggs with precision, making sure they’re soft and fluffy. “I already have to deal with your owner’s attitude, so I’d appreciate a little peace while I work.”

Once I’ve finished prepping the dish and it’s cooled, I place it in front of Cat. “Breakfast is served.” He leans in, his nose twitching as he takes a tentative sniff, and recoils with a dramatic hiss.

I raise an eyebrow and shrug. “Suit yourself.”

Not ready to give up, I leave the bowl in front of him and busy myself with cleaning up the aftermath of his breakfast. After wiping down the counters, I pull a loaf of banana bread from the oven that I made for Walter. I’ll bring it to him once it cools and after my trip to the pet store.

I’ve just gotten the bread onto a cooling rack when the faintest sound of nibbling reaches my ears. I look over my shoulder to find Cat’s already halfway through his breakfast, his face betraying a reluctant satisfaction. It appears he’s not a fan of being watched while he eats—another thing he and Harrison have in common.

“I knew you’d like it,” I say with a smug grin.

Satisfied that he’s eating, I leave the room to get ready to leave the apartment. On my way out, I pull out my phone and send a text to Harrison.

Fallon: You do realize I’m going to prank you back, right?

Harrison: Not sure what you’re referring to.

Fallon: Right, and I have no idea how salt got in your coffee.

Harrison: Are we speaking in riddles now?

Fallon: Your innocent act is cute, but we both know what you did.

Fallon: When you get back, I suggest sleeping with one eye open.

The three dots dance across the screen and then vanish, making me wonder if he’s ignoring me. Which leads me to picture what he and his family are up to. During the limited time I spent with them when I catered Cash and Everly’s wedding reception, they appeared to be close-knit. Growing up, I wished I had siblings, and I can’t help being a little envious of Harrison for the strong bond he shares with his brothers and sister.

After waiting for a response that doesn’t come, I yank my scarf from the coat rack in the entryway and head out the door.

I refuse to let Harrison get to me any more than he already has.

The wind whips around me as I approach the apartment building, my arms weighed down with bags containing everything Cat could possibly need to be comfortable over the holidays—treats, a bag of catnip, and toys. The self-cleaning litter box I wanted was too heavy to carry in the subway, so I scheduled to have it delivered to the apartment.

The store attendant recommended a cat tree, but I opted not to order it. Serves Harrison right if Cat decides to shred the rest of his furniture. He’s also not going to be pleased with the five grand hit on his card, but that’s the price he pays for leaving me with Cat and no supplies to take care of him.

All this shopping for Cat has me a little giddy, and it’s not just because I got to spend Harrison’s money. I always wanted a pet as a kid. My parents promised I could get one on my thirteenth birthday, but by then, I was living with my grandmother, who hated animals and thought it was childish for me to want one. That woman has never had a problem tearing me down or reminding me that I was a disappointment.

She called me last week, but I let it go straight to voicemail. The only reason she’d be checking in is that she finally found out I quit working for Theo and wants to lecture me about my life choices.

Walter rushes to open the door when I get to the entrance.

“Thank you,” I say, sighing in relief when I’m finally out of the cold.

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