Page 1 of Holiday Hook-Up
Chapter 1
Logan
From: [email protected]
Date: Friday, Dec 23 at 9:02 AM
Subject: Regarding The Dream
Mr. Connor,
Congratulations, sir. The final paperwork hit my inbox this morning. All was taken care of before the new year, as you requested. Connor Industries is the new owner of The Dream lifestyle club in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Everything is handled as far as insurance and licenses go. I don’t anticipate any issues.
As your lawyer and longtime family friend I have to say, I hope this is the first of many we’ll be acquiring.
Happy Holidays.
Best,
Ralph Chapman
MerryChristmastome.What did Santa bring me this year? A sex club. It wasn’t on my Christmas list, but I couldn’t refuse Aiden. Not when his sales presentation was so fucking spot on. That’s why I hired him, after all. To scout and procure sound investments, and apparently sex clubs were just that. It helped his case that I’d already owned a few other properties in the area, my favorite being the boutique hotel my driver pulled in front of. It should have been Aiden here, not me. It was one of his jobs to see that the transfer of properties went down without a hitch. But because I’m a sap with too much heart, I gave my friend the holiday off to be with his wife and kids.
My driver stared at me in the rearview mirror, widening his already oversized eyes to catch my attention without bothering me. Funny thing is, I heard him cursing out someone on the phone when he picked me up from the airport. It always amazed me how different a person could act when they were talking to someone important. With a huff, I pulled my AirPods from my ears, right in the middle of my favorite Bad Omens song.
“Sir?” the driver asked, unsure if I could hear him. “Would you like me to let the concierge know you’ve arrived?”
“No. I’ve got it.” I stuffed my phone and AirPods into my jacket pocket and reached for the handle. My assistant and her team had already arrived that morning and were working on setting up the employee holiday party on my orders. She’d already checked me in using my pseudonym. I never used my real name when I visited my properties, at least not when I could get away with it. It allowed me to check in on my investments without all the attention and ass kissing that came with my last name.
“Wait, let me.” The driver yanked his door open and scurried around the back of the car, opening the door. I should be used to this kind of treatment by now, but it still drives me nuts. I could open a damned door. But I’d let him work for the large tip he was about to receive.
“Thanks,” I said, stretching my sore legs as I unfolded from the backseat. Crisp mountain air hit my face, smelling like pine and snow with a hint of wood smoke. Breathing it in was like chugging an energy drink, instantly waking my tired eyes.
I’d forgotten how far out this town was from the Philadelphia airport. It had been at least ten years since I’d stepped foot in Greyridge. Not since I was twenty-five years old, with a mountain of newly acquired money begging to be spent. So much was different then, but glancing up at this hotel—one of the first properties I’d purchased—it felt like nothing had changed at all.
While the driver worked on removing my luggage from the trunk, I took in the scenery around me. The building itself was impeccable. The same luxury old-world European feel—cream colored paint accented with stone elements, wide arched windows, and ornate detailing, combined with quaint small town charm. Snow covered greenery lined the sidewalk leading to two massive evergreen trees flanking the glass lobby doors. White twinkle lights were already shining although the sun had only just begun its trek west behind the mountains.
Whoever I was paying to keep up with the place needed a raise. I hadn’t even stepped inside yet and I was already feeling the warm fuzzies of Christmas. Well, whatever warm fuzzies I could still feel after years of treating the holiday like any other day, albeit one that let me shower my hard working employees with tidings of comfort and joy by way of fat bonuses. What could I say? I loved spending my asshole father’s inheritance. He lived his life like Ebenezer Scrooge—which meant it was my life goal to be so generous, he’d be rolling in his gold encrusted casket. Anonymously generous, of course. No need for all that attention.
“Here you are, Mr. Connor,” my driver said, rolling my luggage to me. I opened my wallet, pulled out a crisp hundred dollar bill and passed it to him, nodding a silent thank you. He stayed cool while I turned to head inside, but not before peeking over my shoulder to catch the big smile on his face. Maybe whoever he was fighting with on the phone would have a much happier person to deal with now.
A gray haired bellman dressed sharply in a black suit noticed me heading inside and opened the lobby doors, tipping an invisible hat in my direction. How odd. I nodded, mumbling thanks before stepping into the warmth of the lobby.
I was so focused on taking in the changes of the property that I didn’t notice the woman walking straight toward me, eyes on her phone screen.
“Crap, sorry,” she said, bumping my shoulder and knocking her phone out of her hands.
“Here, let me.” I bent down to help her and our gazes locked.Holy hell. Her bright green eyes framed by long dark lashes drew me in. They were easily the most captivating eyes I’d ever seen in my thirty-five years. I blinked, bringing myself back to the present.
“Thanks,” she said as her lips lifted in a slight smile. “Sorry for bumping you.”
We stood at the same time and she stuffed her phone in the pocket of her winter coat, hurrying out the lobby doors. I only had a second to register her thick braid of auburn hair, and the hint of her perfume lingering in the air. So sweet, like sugar plums or Christmas cookies.
I’d just started to function normally again, running a hand through my hair, when my assistant Felicity was there, tapping me on the shoulder.
“I’ve got you all checked in, Mr. Nick. Let’s head upstairs before the manager figures you out.” She brushed a piece of lint off my shoulder with a smirk.
