Page 2 of Mistletoe Mistake
“It can't be that bad...” he started to say, but quickly clamped his mouth shut as he saw the scowl on my face. “I trust your judgement, of course, but maybe with a few adjustments...”
I shook my head emphatically. “There's no point. I've fired the company. We're going to have to start over.”
He groaned as he ran his hand through his hair. He’d done that for as long as I’d known him; where I would release tension by swearing, he’d take his frustration out on his hair. “Okay, I'll start looking tomorrow. There's got to be somebody out there whose style you like.”
“We should just bring in our usual team from New York.” I’d been saying that for the last six months and he'd shot me down every time. He had an annoying way of getting me to do what he said, even though, as his boss, I made the final decisions. It probably had to do with him usually being right.
“You know we can't,” he reminded me. “We want to use a local firm to show that we're invested in making this a part of the city, not just a big American company coming in and setting up another soulless hotel in the heart of London.”
Since I'd heard it all before, I simply grunted. “Then find me someone whose work doesn't look like a soulless computer program spat it out.”
“You're exaggerating, as usual, but Iwillfind someone else. Tomorrow. For now, let's forget about it and get ready for this party.”
I sighed at the reminder as the elevator doors opened to our floor. I had almost forgotten about the party. My company owned part of the hotel we were staying in and they were holding their staff Christmas party that evening. For some reason, Jackson had promised we would make an appearance.
He veered off to his room while I carried on to my suite at the end of the hall, my home for the next couple of weeks. Passing through the living room, I headed straight to the bedroom to check my appearance. Since I’d already worn a suit for my meetings that day, at least I wouldn’t need to change. A quick shave and a splash of fresh cologne should do it, even though I hated going to these types of things alone. Having a woman on my arm usually helped to ward off any unwanted advances. However, I'd only arrived in London the night before, so I hadn't had a chance yet to reach out to any of my contacts here to help me find some suitable companionship. For the time being, I would have to rough it.
With my minimal amount of effort complete, I returned to the hall and knocked on Jackson's door. He appeared a moment later, having swapped out his tie for a new one decorated with Christmas lights in shades of red and green.
“Honestly?” I asked wearily. The Christmas season had just started and already, I was tired of it. I hated this time of year; too many bad memories, and it seemed to start earlier and earlier each year. It was only the first of December, for fuck's sake.
Jackson just grinned, not at all bothered by my disapproval. “We're not all Scrooges like you, Cole. Come on, let's go get a drink.”
At least that was a suggestion I could get behind.
Making our way back to the elevator, we headed downstairs to the conference room floor. The elevator doors opened into a hallway with dark carpet, designed to cover any spilled drinks, and neutral beige walls, where people in suits and party dresses stood milling around. On either side of the hall stood a set of closed double doors in a dark wood that matched the floor, with muted music and talking drifting through them from the rooms beyond.
The doors on the left had a large sign reading 'Lytton Hotel Christmas Party', the party we were here to attend, so we started to head in that direction. Before we got there, however, the doors on the right opened and a woman walked out, immediately distracting us both.
Unlike everyone else around us in their formal attire, this woman wore a skimpy red Santa dress and hat, immediately drawing my eyes to her hourglass figure and the way the black belt cinched around her waist. Long, wavy red hair cascaded down from beneath her hat and over her bare shoulders. Her green eyes seemed to sparkle from within, and her plump lips were painted a shade of rusty red which matched her hair almost exactly.
We all reached the centre of the hallway at the same time, and we all stopped short simultaneously to avoid a collision. As my feet stopped moving, I couldn't help but stare at her. She was fucking gorgeous.
Her eyes met mine for a brief second and her mouth formed a warm smile before she turned the same look on Jackson. “Merry Christmas, gentlemen.” Her British accent had a slight drawl to it that told me she'd already started drinking. One hand moved to her chest and my eyes followed it, taking in the swell of her breasts, just visible at the edge of her low-cut dress. A second later, I blinked in surprise as I realized several candy canes hung from the fur lining. She plucked two of them out and offered them to Jackson and me.
Jackson took his readily, giving her a wide smile in return. “Merry Christmas to you. Mrs Claus, I presume?”
When she saw his tie, her eyes lit up even further, which shouldn’t have been possible. “Looks like someone is already in the Christmas spirit.” She gave him a nod of approval before her eyes moved back to me. “Your friend, on the other hand, could use some work.”
Since I hadn't taken the candy cane from her, she reached up and tucked it down my suit jacket, hooking the end around my lapel.
“A little better,” she assessed, her eyes lingering on my chest for a moment before she looked back up at my face and gave me a wink.
I remained silent, trying to figure out what this might be. Did she work here? Part of the entertainment, perhaps? And if so, would there be a chance to pay extra for a little private entertainment later? The view I had down her dress was more than a little enticing.
“He's a lost cause, I'm afraid,” Jackson was saying. “I'm Jackson and this is Cole.”
“Cole?” she repeated, still looking up at me with her twinkling eyes. “Like the lump of coal you get in your stocking? That sounds appropriate.”
Jackson laughed in genuine amusement. “You have no idea.”
Her smile seemed to light up the whole room as her eyes remained fixed on mine. “Lovely to meet you both. I'm trying to find my friend, Holly, but I hope you enjoy your party.”
“Holly?” Jackson asked. “Who does that make you? Jolly?”
With a laugh, she turned her charming smile on him. “Wouldn't you like to know?”
Winking at me one more time, she sauntered off down the hallway away from us. Jackson and I both turned to watch her go, taking a moment to appreciate her legs and ass in the short skirt of her dress and her high heels.
