Page 1 of The CEO's Christmas Wife

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JOY TO THE WORLD

Kandi

ME: Yes, Mama, I’ll be heading to your house after work.

MAMA: Why don’t you go home, pack your things, and come back here?

ME: In one week, I’ll be there every day for the next two weeks. Besides, you see me all the time. I only live fifteen minutes away.

MAMA: I know. I just can’t wait for the festivities to start. All your dad has been talking about is your matching Christmas sweaters.

I groaned and shook my head. But a smile danced around my lips at the thought of being with my family and doing all the familiar Christmas traditions.

ME: I can’t wait to take pictures with him. Mama, I have to go now. TTYL.

“You are truly filled with the spirit of the season,” Portion quipped as she slid behind my desk.

“Who wouldn’t be? It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I declared cheerily as Andy Williams’s velvety voice crooned the song whose title matched my words from the overhead speakers.

“I hope our CEO feels the same way,” Portia professed.

“He’d better. Especially after you and I spent the entire evening up here decorating last night.”

She giggled as I lifted the phone to my ear. “Thank you for calling Scenic Vista Landscaping. This is Kandice Jolly. How may I direct your call?”

I listened and then routed the caller to the correct person just as two delivery men arrived. One was here to fill the vending machines, and the other was here to service our copier machines. The phone rang again, and I answered it.

“Thank you for calling Scenic Vista Landscaping. This is Kandice Jolly. How may I direct your call?”

I listened to the next caller as the elevator doors opened. I turned my attention back to the vendors and the caller as I gave the caller instructions.

“You simply need to go online and click the ‘Careers’ tab. All of our open jobs will be listed on that tab, and you can click on the one you’re interested in to apply online.”

While I gave instructions to the caller, I signed the vendor’s form, permitting him to tend to the snack machines with my right hand, and at the same time, I pointed the copier vendor in the direction of the copier that needed to be serviced.

I continued instructing the caller, handed the snack vendor his form back, and waved at the copier vendor. Within a fewseconds, the world seemed to stand still. Broad shoulders and muscular arms filled out the charcoal bespoke suit that was created for the man. The large, gold herringbone chain with a tornado emblem hanging from it shone against rich, sepia skin, and two diamond studs glittered from his ears.

When those sleepy bedroom eyes rested on me, every cell in my body vibrated with intensity, awareness, and sexual attraction. His tongue flicked out just a little bit and licked those plump, wide lips. Then, three things happened at once.

First, I wished that I was licking his lips. Second, I wished that I was the one being licked by his tongue. And finally, the piped in music transitioned from Andy Williams’s smooth tenor singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to Aretha Franklin’s powerful mezzo-soprano voice singing “Joy To the World.”

I didn’t know if it was the jazzy upbeat of the tune or her powerful voice, but it was almost like a record scratched. His eyes went from perusing me to narrowed as he looked around the office and took in the décor.

From the large Christmas tree in the corner to the tinsel and holly draped on the reception desk, to the Christmas pictures of lake scenes hung on the walls, his scowl engraved itself deeper and deeper upon his bold, handsome features.

“Welp, I guess you have your answer,” Portia muttered.

She was standing beside me, filling out forms for a visitor that she expected to arrive later.

“Yikes,” I mumbled after he passed me.

“Hey, you tried,” she replied with a shrug.

I busied myself for the next few minutes with visitors and the phone. I had finished the final call, and Portia was giving me details about her expected visitor when Carmen, the COO’s administrative assistant, walked up to my desk.

“Kandi, Mr. Kayn would like to see you in his office immediately.”

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