Page 49 of Sinning for Santa

Folding the paper in half, I drop it on top of the mauve panties and bra before leaving.

The Palace is bustling with staff and patrons, but the bar itself isn’t as busy.

Most are likely out in the beer garden, given the warm December sun shining today, with the few still inside simply getting drinks for outside, or the couple of usual day drinkers, who perch themselves at the end of the bar from opening until closing.

They are husband and wife and have experienced unbelievable loss. They barely talk to anyone, let alone each other,yet every day, they walk in hand in hand, and stumble out hand in hand, and I often wonder if things will ever get easier for them, or if this is where they will die, living the same day over and over.

“Hey Dev.” Ronnie nods, wiping over the bar as he gestures his Santa hat wearing head to the far corner as I approach. “Melissa is here to see you.”

My gaze shifts to the corner to see the young woman, probably close in age to Jaxcen, her arms wrapped over her chest as she curls in on herself almost like she’s cold.

It’s not cold.

“How long has she been waiting?” I ask Ronnie, and he shrugs.

“She was here waiting at the door when I came in to open up, and hasn’t left since. Just asked for an audience with the devil.”

The devil. I can’t believe the stupid nickname has stuck.

I can thank my cousins for that, the pricks.

Not that it doesn’t work in my favour most of the time.

When people think you’re the devil, they tend to tread carefully.

“Thanks, Ronnie. I’ll take her into my office. If a skinny blonde that looks like she has no idea if she’s in the right place comes in, tell her to take a seat and offer her a drink. Her name is Jaxcen.”

Ronnie smirks. “You got it.”

I roll my fucking eyes at his grin. I know what he’s thinking. I don’t bring chicks back here to fuck, so in his eyes, it must mean more.

Whatever. It’s nearly fucking Christmas and I wanted a fucking treat.

Approaching Melissa, her eyes widen when she sees me nearing, her spine straightening.

“You’ve been waiting to see me?” I ask, and she nods.

“Yes, Mr Marx. I…” Her lower lip starts trembling and her eyes turn glassy, so I gesture to my office door off to the side.

“Let’s go into my office.”

She nodsquickly, sliding off the bar stool as she swipes at the tears escaping her eyes.

Leading her to my office door, I grit my teeth at the fucking garland framing the fucking thing, having to brush some of it aside to get to the key pad and type in my code to unlock the door.

As I step inside and hold the door open for Melissa to enter, my gaze travels back out over the bar and I frown.

Garland, tinsel, ornaments, lights. You name it, my bar has got it, thanks to a sassy teenager that has absolutely added more decorations after I told her she’d already over done it.

“Ronnie,” I call, and his head snaps in my direction from behind the bar. “Get Allegra in here. I need to have a discussion with her about following instructions.”

Ronnie’s lips spread wide, his moustache quirking up at the corners as he nods.

“Will do.”

Fucking teenage girls and their over the top decorating ideas.

As I turn to close the door of my office, I still at what I see hanging over my fucking desk.

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