Page 105 of Stolen Hearts
Chloe’s voice draws my attention back to the screen.
“Christopher?”
Alexander angrily pushes the chair back as he gets up and walks outside.
“Sorry, I had a sneezing fit,” I say as I unmute myself.
Alexander paces up and down outside alongside the pool.
“Okay, keep me posted if you get her to agree, and I can add it to the tracking.” I feel bad for colluding while Alexander is outside stewing, but it’s best to play along for now, especially if he’s plotting to fire Paul.
“How are the sales numbers looking nationwide?” I ask, wanting to change topic.
“We’re up twelve percent year on year.” Chloe brings up a graph on-screen. “We’re doing even better in the states we did the activation events in. The targeted online advertising spend has California up almost twenty percent.”
Well, at least something is looking up.
The rest of the call passes quickly and we agree to pick up again after the holiday break. We wish one another a Happy Thanksgiving before I close my laptop and head out to Alexander, who is now swimming laps in the pool.
“Can you believe that son of a bitch,” Alexander says,stopping and resting his arms on the side of the pool as I sit down and dip my feet in.
“Unfortunately, I can.”
The twinkling lights from the mansions in the surrounding hills shine brightly as the sky above quickly fades into darkness.
“I can’t wait to see the look on his face when John delivers the news that he’s fired.” The corners of his eyes crinkle. “I have a right mind to phone John and tell him to do it tonight.”
My shoulders tense from the anger pouring out of him.
Please God, I don’t think I can handle any more drama in my life right now.
“I thought you were going to wait until Christmas. That way the announcement will go under the radar and be less of a story in the press.”
I want to see Paul go as much as Alexander. But I know there’s a game that needs to be played here. That the stars need to align, like Orion’s belt above me.
“You’re right.” Alexander scoots over in the water and places a hand on either side of my knees. “Damn you for being right.”
He pushes himself up, lips pouted together to kiss me. I lean forward, closing my eyes to return his gesture, when I feel him yank at my hands. I fly over the top of him and into the water.
23.Alexander
Thursday
Why the hell did I ever agree to host Thanksgiving?
My parents and Harrison are a mere five minutes away and nothing is ready.
“Are you sure we have enough food?” I ask Valentina.
Her hand wipes at her brow as she opens the oven to check the turkey.
“Yes.” Valentina cuts me a sideward glance that saysEnough already.
Usually, all I have to worry about is picking up a pumpkin pie and a few other sweet treats en route to Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. Once I’m there, I help Harrison peel the potatoes and prepare the greens while our parents fight over how to roast the turkey and other trimmings. But nope, I stupidly decided it would be a good idea to give them the year off after all I’ve put them through, which also allows Christopher to join us after he visits Andrew at the hospital. His Friendsgiving plans were understandably canceled.
It's added more stress than I need right now, when I’m meant to be relaxing and unwinding, now that all my commitments are done for the year. The cooking, the decorations, the bedroomissue. I had to move out all of my stockpiled goods from the fourth bedroom to the garage just to accommodate everyone, since Christopher is still occupying one of the guest rooms. But at least I found the dozen cranberry and apple candles I’d stashed away. Small wins, I guess.
Right. The food is being prepared. The bedrooms are sorted. The table and decorations are set. I just need to change into my Christmas sweater and then I’m good to…Shit. The snacks. The goddamn snacks.
