Page 1 of Christmas with My Ruthless CEO
Chapter 1
Atticus
Istand in the center of Blackwood Winter HQ's lobby, admiring how perfect everything looks, exactly how I had imagined. The stone fireplace crackles with warmth against the December chill, making the space feel less corporate and more like an upscale mountain retreat.
"Tell me you're impressed," I say out loud to no one in particular.
"I'd be more impressed if you hadn't texted me fourteen times during construction to adjust the height of that fireplace," comes a familiar voice from behind me.
I turn to find Sloane Parker, my best friend and now Project Operations Manager, leaning against the reclaimed pine reception desk. Her honey-blonde waves are pulled into a messy bun, and she's wearing that burgundy sweater I got her last Christmas, the one that brings out the green flecks in her hazel eyes.
"It was thirteen texts, and the contractor had it wrong," I reply, not bothering to hide my smile. "The proportions matter."
"Heaven forbid we have a non-mathematically perfect fireplace in your corporate palace." She pushes off the desk andcrosses to me, two Perfect Brews mugs in hand. "Black, two sugars, and don't you dare ask me if I remembered to time the brew."
I accept the mug, our fingers brushing. "I wasn't going to."
"Liar." She grins, knowing me too well. "You get this little crease right here...” she taps the space between my eyebrows, “...when you're about to micromanage something."
"I don't micromanage. I ensure excellence."
"Potato, po-tah-to, Mr. CEO." She takes a sip from her own mug, something sweet and spiced from the smell of it. "How was the call with Vivienne?"
I grimace. "How did you...”
"Marcus texted me. Said you were wearing your 'mother called' face."
"I don't have a 'mother called' face."
"You absolutely do. It's the same one you wore at that charity gala when she tried to introduce you to the senator's daughter." Sloane bumps my shoulder with hers. "What was it this time? The eternal bachelor status? The lack of holiday spirit? Your refusal to wear anything that isn't custom tailored?"
"All of the above," I sigh. "She's coming for the holiday gala."
Sloane's eyes widen. "Vivienne Morgan in Hope Peak? Our little town won't know what hit it." She pauses, studying my expression. "There's more, isn't there?"
I take a long sip of coffee; perfect, as always when she makes it. "She's on her matchmaking crusade again. Says a man in my position needs to be 'settled' to show stability and community connection."
"Ah, the 'find someone special' speech. Classic Vivienne." Sloane's tone is light, but something flickers across her face too quickly for me to interpret. "Should I start vetting potential candidates? There's a new ski instructor at the resort; very Swedish, very blonde."
"Please don't." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "The last thing I need is a holiday romance complicating this launch."
"God forbid you have some fun while conquering our quaint mountain village." She nudges me again. "Come on. The team's waiting in the conference room, and Jenna's been practicing her welcome speech for three days."
"How do you know that?"
"She FaceTimed me last night to run through it. Twice." Sloane links her arm through mine, pulling me toward the glass-walled conference room where I can see my team assembled. "I also brought Carly's pain-au-chocolat, so people will forgive you for being intimidating."
"I'm not intimidating."
"Tell that to Callum. Poor kid nearly spilled his coffee when you asked about the marketing mock-ups yesterday."
"That was a perfectly reasonable question!"
"It's not the question, Atticus. It's the steel-gray death stare that accompanies it." She pats my arm. "Don't worry, that's why you have me, to translate Atticus Morgan into human."
We enter the conference room, where Jenna Park immediately brightens at the sight of us. "There you are! I was just telling everyone about the community integration initiatives."
"Which are essential to our success here," I say, taking my place at the head of the table. "Sloane will be leading those efforts, given her connections in town."
