Page 1 of A Beastly Christmas Cheerful
Chapter One
BELLE
Is this day almost over? I check the time, and it’s dragging by. I’ve got two hours to go, which might as well be forever. At least the view is kind of nice. I get to watch the white fluffy flakes fall from the sky through the window. The window isn’t in my office because I don’t have an office. Technically I sit outside of an office, but I have my own desk, so that’s nice. That’s about the only nice thing around here.
I didn’t know the marketing world could be so intense, but I guess my karma was instant. This is what happens when you fudge your qualifications on your résumé. You get in over your head. Although I should be good at handling being in over my head at this point. It seems I always find a way to get myself in these situations.
The thing is, I thought I’d be in over my head with spreadsheets or whatever assistants to assistants do. I thought I’d set up schedules and write things on Post-it notes. I guess this goes back to being careful what you wish for.
To be honest, I’m shocked I've lasted this long. They must have not called my references. There’s only been one job that I haven’t been fired from, and that was the coffee shop. Right now, I’m really missing that place.
I thought this position was going to be a dream job. Well, the pay was a dream. It was more than I ever made even when working two jobs at a time while going to school. This job is salaried, and I thought it had normal work hours. Normal as in nine to five. I was hoping I could keep a second job at the coffee shop since I worked there all through college. Nope.
At this job, I’m always on the clock. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, if James calls, I’d better answer the phone. He’s not even the big boss. He’s the boss’s assistant, and I’m his assistant. I’m thankful for not being the big boss’s direct report, though, because she’s way scarier than him. One scorching look from her could linger on you all day. Okay, nights too. I’ve had a few nightmares.
I get that I’m kind of a mess, but everyone here makes me so freaking nervous. It feels like I’m playing a part more than I’m supposed to be here. I’m pretending to fit in and that I can be a professional assistant. If that were the case, I wouldn't be hiding at my desk after I just broke the fancy new espresso machine. Which would bust me on another lie.
When I said I worked at a coffee shop, I didn’t mean that I made coffee. I cannot be held responsible for other people's assumptions. At the coffee shop I mostly restocked and ran the register. They tried to teach me how to make coffee, but I couldn't get the hang of it. I did, however, make the best drawings on the cups, and everyone loved me. It was why I worked the register. I could remember all the regulars and their orders, just not how to make them. My old boss Shelly told me I brought personality and happiness to the coffee shop, and that made me feel like I was part of a team.
That’s the way I thought it would be here, but everything I do is a dud. I’ve tried to make treats for the office three times. The first time cinnamon rolls and then bagels. I made them fresh and had to wake up extra early. Nobody ate them.
“Am I going to have to make rules in this office?”
I sit up straighter when I hear Ms. King’s voice and fight the urge to not hide under my desk.
“Stop bringing shit to the office!”
I have no clue what she’s talking about, and I’m not about to go ask. James steps out of the break area with my green Tupperware container. The lid is off, and the cookies inside are gone. Oh my god! Everyone ate them! I knew the decorated holiday cookies would be a hit. Who can turn down frosted snowmen? Not me. I guess the third time was a charm.
Ms. King comes out right behind James, and the click of her heels is loud on the tile. When she sees me, she narrows her eyes, and I hold my breath.
“Christmas is coming. Shit.” She rolls her eyes and turns, heading toward her office. I let out a breath and melt back into my chair.
My relief is short-lived because five minutes later, James is heading back out of Ms. King's office and straight toward me. He drops the empty container onto my desk, and I try not to be smug about it.
“She threw them in the trash,” he says, and I hear the pop of my happy bubble being burst. “And these”—he snatches the reindeer antlers off my head—“are your undoing.”
“What do you mean?” My antlers have flashing lights on them, but obviously I don’t have them going during office hours. I’m professional.
“You reminded her it’s the holidays and she needs to go shopping. She also has a party, and she needs a gift for it.”
How the heck did my antlers remind her it’s the holidays? Doesn’t she go outside? Maybe she sleeps under her desk in a coffin like a vampire.
“Oh, I can do that. Hit me with a list.” I hold my hand out, and James looks personally offended.
“Do you honestly think anyone would let you shop for them? Where did you get this stuff?” He picks up a tiny pink Christmas tree off my desk. “The dollar store?”
“The dollar store has fine decorations. But this one just happens to be from Five Below.”
“Right.” He shakes his head at me. “This is what you’re going to do.” James drops a thick novel on my desk, and I back away from it. The cover is ominous, and I know the type. It’s one of those horror books I avoid when I’m looking for a fluffy romance.
“Don’t say I have to read it.” This place is already giving me nightmares.
“Jesus, Belle, this isn’t a book club. Fucking hell with this one.” He mutters the last part under his breath. “I’m going to text you a number and address. You need to take this book and get it signed by the author.” He pushes it toward me.
“That’s it?” I can handle that. Plus, it will get me out of here for a little while.
“Oh no, it’s not that easy.” He pulls out a set of keys. “You have your driver’s license, right?” I open my mouth to say no, but he beats me. “It said you did on your résumé. I wouldn’t have hired you if you didn't.”
