Page 3 of Painfully Merry

It’s been a week, and I still can’t think of a plan. I’m gonna go crazy if I stay inside for another minute. I pull the curtain away and wince. The sun beams off the snow, blinding me—every house decorated to the nines with Christmas shit. Every neighbour is trying to outdo the other. I slam the curtain closed; I can’t take it anymore.

Finding Chaos’ keys, I make my way outside—the bitter cold nips at my exposed skin. I should be sitting on a beach with half-naked women clinging to me as I feed them drinks. I climb in the pale blue Astro van with one destination in mind. I hope this rust bucket can make it there.

The closer I get to downtown, the more excited I become. Even if I catch a glimpse of her, then I know whatever I have planned will be worth it. I need to see Sabrina; she has to be suffering like I am. There is no way that someone only embezzles once. Whoever did it has to pay. I park across from her building and wait.

And wait.

A car door slamming jostles my body awake. Grabbing the steering wheel, I straighten up. I can’t believe I fell asleep. Did I miss her? So many people linger on the sidewalk that there wouldn’t be any way to pick her out. Sumbitch. My one chance, and I blew it. Ramming the van into gear, I pull out into traffic; maybe tomorrow, I’ll try. I take the long way home, driving past my old place and cursing the new homeowners.

“I hope the hot water tank blows.” I worked hard for that place; it was my first purchase after being hired. I had no choice but to sell it to pay that bitch back when she threatened to sue me. Every cent I had had gone to her. She left me with my clothes, and that’s all. It felt like a divorce. She still walked away with her pristine name, and mine was dragged through the mud. Well, that ends now because her time has officially run out. Pulling my phone out, I hit the only number I have saved.

“Parky baby, what’s up, man?”

“How good are you at break and entry?”

There’s a long pause, and I swear I can hear muffled voices in the background. “Oh, I think I’m very good at that. Why?”

I went over my plan once more, and it could work. Maybe iron out a couple of things before we execute it.

“Sabrina’s house. Think it would be easy to break into?”

“Hold on a sec.” A distant scream is heard, and Chaos is yelling.

I don’t even pay attention these days when he’s doing his thing. I gave up trying to figure him out years ago. I pull onto our street and contemplate tearing down all the Christmas decorations. Our house is the only one not showing any Christmas spirit.

“I’m back. What was the question again?” Chaos said, catching his breath.

“Sabrina’s, can you break into her house?”

“Fuck man, that’s a big house. Security will be tighter than a virgin. When did you want to do this?”

I rack over my memories of her schedule, trying to remember her holiday calendar. She never visits family, and they never come here. Now that I think about it, she always complained about her family never coming to her. It works out in my favour. Who knew, after all those hours stuck in the office with her, I would get to know a little bit about Sabrina? It’s going to bite her in the ass when she sees me in her house.

I stare at our front door and grin. “The day before Christmas Eve.”

“Wow, okay. I need to know a plan so I can make arrangements. I need at least a week to get shit in order. When I get home tonight, give me the rundown on what you want done to her. I need to pack a kit.”

“Works for me. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

My body tingles with the outcome. I finally get my revenge and will serve it on a silver platter. I want her to beg me for forgiveness, even if I have to force it out of her. She isn’t leaving that house until I get what I want.

Now I have a new plan for tomorrow, when I scoped out her place earlier. I know she doesn’t have a security team. It’s the cameras that I’m concerned about. I’m hoping Chaos will have a way of getting past them, and he can sneak into places with tight security. But if he’s worried about her home, maybe I should be worried.

All I know for sure is that Christmas Eve will be the fall of Sabrina Black.

2

Sabrina

It's a week before Christmas, and I’m losing my mind. Everyone in the office seems to be in vacation mode and can’t finish their work. I’m tempted to cancel the office party. Why should they be rewarded if they can’t do the job? It’s not fair. I work hard. Why can’t they?

Ever since firing Parker, it’s been a mad dash to hire a new financial advisor. The board wanted to promote Kevin, but I don’t trust that pig. Every time we have a meeting, I can feel his eyes on me, and my skin crawls. I can’t have him that close to me. Two things would happen. I would punch his lights out and there would be an office accident.

The thought of Parker makes my stomach sink. Even though I’m the CEO, I still have no control over what goes on within the company. Do I believe he stole from me? No. Someone has, and I need to figure out who it was and prove it. With the Christmas holidays coming up, it’ll be easier for me to come in and do a deep dive.

I have my suspicions, and Kevin is at the top of that list.

I was hoping the board would dig into it more, but of course, they wouldn’t. They don’t care. They told me that I would make up the difference in a day. They advised me to lawyer up and go after Parker. I can’t think about all that. It still pisses me off and my business is more important.

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