Page 31 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 9
“Did you think I’d forget?”
“Of course not.”
I grabbed the stack of presents off the cart and ran over to the fireplace.
“Which one should I open first?” I asked, poking and shaking all of them.
“Only the one wrapped in pink,” said Daddy. “The others are for your friends.”
Oh.That was sweet of him. But like… Only one Christmas Eve present? Were we on the verge of bankruptcy?
“Ash! Slavanka!” I yelled.
But they were too busy dancing around the kitchen and singing along to the blaring Christmas music.
I yelled it again.
“Huh?” said Ash. She looked over and her face lit up when she saw the presents. Or maybe she was just happy that the hot bellhop had followed me in…Nope.He was long gone. It was definitely the presents she was excited about.
She turned down the music a little and ran over, trying not to trip over the blanket she’d wrapped around herself to cover up while cooking. Slavanka followed with a tray of fresh cookies.
“Merry Christmas Eve, girls,” said Daddy. “And Chad.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” said Ash. “Damn it. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep calling you that. I think I’m buzzed from eating so many cookies.”
Daddy stared at Slavanka’s tray of cookies. “Weed cookies? Or like…dipped in whiskey? I’m confused.”
“They’re just normal cookies,” I said.
“Sure they are. Anyway, everyone ready to open their presents?”
“Wait,” said Ash. “You got me a present?”
“Of course. I got all of you presents.” He tossed us each one of the big boxes. “Open them on the count of…”
Too late.Ash had torn into hers the second he’d said, “Open them.”
I tore the paper off mine too. There was an Odegaard clothing box inside.Score!I opened it and ran my hand over the red and green silk pajamas inside.
“I was hoping you’d get me these,” I said.
“I can’t accept this,” said Ash. She looked like she was even scared to touch them.
“Why not?” I asked. “They’re nice pajamas, but they aren’t nearly as expensive as that cropped jacket you billed to the room earlier.”
“Oh, you better believe I’m keeping the pajamas, especially the shorts. I was talking aboutthis.” She gingerly pulled a diamond bracelet out of her box.
We got bracelets too?!I unfolded my pajamas and found a diamond bracelet tucked inside. It caught the light from the Christmas tree and sparkled with a million different colors.
“I keep bracelet,” said Slavanka. It was already on her wrist somehow.
Chad dug around in his box and frowned. “Did I not get one? I only have pajamas in here.”
Daddy looked at him disapprovingly. “What do you need a diamond bracelet for? Don’t be so gay, son.”
“Let’s all change,” I said. “And then we can get a super cute photo of us all matching and hanging up our stockings.”
“Great idea,” said Daddy. He turned around so we could change.
