Page 4 of Once Upon a December
“Look, about that…” He tried again only to get cut off, again, which was a strange feeling considering nobody in his life ever dared to talk over him or cut him off these days.
Everyone in his circle understood that he demanded control and why. He liked schedules and routines. He didn’t appreciate excuses or mistakes. He liked things his way and his way was always, always, the right way. His employees and even his brothers knew better than to talk to him like this but here was this man, this stranger, all but yelling at him in his own driveway and despite the flair of annoyance he felt, he was oddly… impressed.
He knew what he looked liked. Tall and broad shouldered, he made sure he was always impeccably dressed before stepping out of the house. His sandy brown hair was perfectly coifed. His face was always clean-shaven. It was part of his need for control that he always portrayed himself to the outside world as completely put together.
It didn’t just benefit him. It benefited the company. He was young to be running a Fortune 500 Company. He knew it and so did all of the investors and board members at Frost Financial. So even when he wasn’t feeling confident about his place in the world, he portrayed himself as the responsible, even-keeled, heir to the Frost fortune that they needed him to be.
“… you can’t keep her from putting up decorations just because you’re a cold-hearted asshole.”
Gibson forced himself to focus in time to catch that last insult, which hit him in a way that he hadn’t been expecting. It cut. Maybe because that particular insult was one his own brothers had thrown at him more than a time or two in the last few years. Whatever the reason, he didn’t like it coming from this stranger any more than he had from Branson or Dawson and he grit his teeth and waited for his turn to speak.
“Actually, I can.” He tilted his chin up when the other man glared at him, “There’s a community wide rule against outdoor décor. It’s in the homeowner’s association guide. Your parents agreed to it when they signed the contract and bought the house. It isn’t my fault if they didn’t read the fine print.”
The man snorted, “You banned outdoor décor?”
“Yes.”
“That’s insane.”
“That’s the rule.”
“So does this stupid rule apply to all décor or just those celebrating holidays?” The guy crossed his arms over his chest.
“It applies to all décor that detracts from the atmosphere of the neighborhood.”
Dark eyes narrowed on him, “So anything you think is trashy then?”
Gibson rubbed at the spot between his eyes that had begun to ache earlier in the day. The situation with Roman had given him the headache but this was putting it over the top. He was late for work. He still had to check on his uncle. And he was done subjecting himself to the insults of a complete stranger that, despite being handsome and intriguing, was annoying as hell.
“Yes. That’s exactly it. You’ve nailed it. I’m biased against trashy holiday decorations.” Gibson snorted and made a show of looking at his watch, “Now, since we’ve settled that, if you don’t mind I’m late for an appointment.”
“And if I do mind?” The man raised his eyebrows.
“Then you’re welcome to wait around on my doorstep until I return and we can continue this asinine argument then if you wish.” Gibson showed his teeth in a smile that was in no way a smile, “I wish I could say it’s been a pleasure but…”
“Screw you.” The man scowled and turned on his heel without another word.
Despite himself, Gibson felt a hint of a smile tug at his lips. He also couldn’t tear his eyes away from the man’s retreating back. That green sweater hugged him tight enough that Gibson could see the muscles in his back flexing as he walked. The dark denim jeans cupped the man’s ass beautifully and for the second time in ten minutes Gibson had to fight the surge of attraction that was all but alien to him these days.
When the man reached the yard on the other side of the road, Gibson noticed a curvy woman with a belly so swollen she could only be pregnant and the small flare of heat inside of him snuffed out instantly. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts and putting the strange encounter behind him. Just like he would have to put the attraction out of his mind because not only was the man clearly not a fan of Gibson, he also seemed to be married and expecting a child.
Which was fine, really, because Gibson didn’t have time for a relationship anyway. He had Roman to check on. He had Branson to supervise. He had Dawson to protect. He didn’t have the time or the energy to devote to another man, no matter how nice it might be to share his bed with one on occasion. Besides, he’d tried relationships before and he’d failed at them all because when push came to shove, a lover didn’t want to come in second, let alone fourth or even fifth after all the others.
Gibson sighed when his phone buzzed in his pocket and forced himself to get moving again. He glanced at the screen just long enough to note it was a text from his assistant with his reworked schedule for tomorrow that included the lunch he’d missed today on top of all the other meetings he’d already had planned.
Monday was going to be a long day but he couldn’t look ahead to it yet, not when he still had so much left to do today.
Chapter Three
Felix straightened his tie in the mirror above the sink and took another deep, calming breath. He’d been waiting for this meeting for weeks now. This was his chance. He’d already begun to make a name for himself as the best party planner in the area. He’d found his calling early and started his career straight out of college with his business degree. He’d planned parties and weddings and anniversaries. He’d worked for some of the most important people in the metro, but if he could pull this off, he’d become the go-to name in the industry.
It had taken him almost two years to make the right contacts to even get through the door of Frost Financial. Their company holiday party was legendary and being the one chosen to bring it to life was a coveted and competitive job. But finally, finally, Felix had gotten his foot in the door and now all he had left to do was to impress the CEO with his ideas to create the grandest event of the season.
The job was already his. He’d met with the board before Thanksgiving. Now they were in crunch time though, the final countdown as it were, and the big man on campus wanted to see what he’d come up with. If he didn’t wow the stiff suit in the corner office he had no illusions that he wouldn’t be kicked to the curb.
That kind of news would travel fast. Party planning was a gossipy business and he’d be the talk of the town. He’d be lucky to plan the fifth birthday party for the son of the city councilman down at Chuck-E-Cheese if that happened.
“You’ve got this.” He spoke to his reflection as he steeled his spine and then turned on his heel and walked back out into the waiting area.
