Christmas Billionaire Page 5

  I hadn’t even found either of my parents yet, and I was already trying to slink toward the door to get some fresh air.

  It took about a half hour to make my way to the back door, and by that time, the dress I had thought might be too cold now seemed to have too much material on it.

  I didn’t want to sweat since I had spent so much time getting ready and hoped the winter air would help soothe both my claustrophobia and my perspiration.

  Once I could burst through the doors, I took the largest breath of air the formfitting dress would allow and rested against the columned railing that separated the patio from the garden.

  I grinned as I remembered how many summers my friends and I would spend out in that large, sprawling garden, and, for the moment, wished I could return to the carefree nature of my childhood.

  It wasn’t that I regretted coming to the party; I had simply forgotten how judgmental my father’s friends and associates were.

  I remembered all too well now.

  Growing up, everyone assumed I would take over the business and work my way through the ranks of the marketing company. Yet, when everyone found out what my plan entailed, they were far less impressed.

  In fact, now that I was remembering why I had stopped coming to these stupid parties to begin with, I also distinctly remembered Mr. Myer telling my father to stop telling their business associates my plans. He had told my father it was bad for business, but being that he was proud of me, he told Mr. Myer that he was being ridiculous.

  That was one of the few times that my father stood up to Mr. Myer, but that was the most important time to me, and he had done it.

  Laura, on the other hand, was universally loved for taking an interest in the business and aspiring to work at the company.

  Since we were friends since we were young, she was known around the company almost as well as I was.

  Once our true personal paths became known, Laura gained even more, esteem. I didn’t mind, though. I was happy for Laura. I didn’t want all that attention anyway, but it would be nice to go to a party once and not be snubbed for what they felt was a poor decision.

  I rolled my eyes and grinned as I breathed in the fresh air and gazed up at the brilliantly starry night. I found it funny that with all the money and power that was in the room behind me, not one of them had taken a moment to enjoy the true beauty of such a crisp, clear winter evening.

  “I should’ve known I would find you out here,” a voice that I couldn’t quite place called from behind.

  I stopped, trying to carve out the face in my mind but was unsuccessful, so I turned around.

  “Oh my God! Dexter!” I called.

  Seeing him with his perfectly pressed suit and stunningly devilish disposition, with his arms out wide, made me remember instantly what was so attractive about him.

  While he looked like he could charm a snake, perfecting his father’s stoic nature, at least around me, he was also able to maintain a boyish charm that I wondered if he showed to everyone.

  Only thinking of how handsome he looked and how wonderful it was to see him, I raced into his arms and hugged him tightly.

  “It’s great to see you, but wait. Find me? Were you looking for me?” I teased, arching an eyebrow.

  “Not exactly,” he admitted as I pulled back from him, “Like I assume you were, I was hiding. Too many stuffy dicks ready to blow their load on the first deal they can morph into millions.”

  “A charmer, as always,” I jeered, “How do you get away with saying such things?”

  “I know who I can be myself around,” he responded genuinely, and the dormant butterflies that ruled my entire adolescence instantly returned.

  I tried not to blush, or think too deeply into the comment.

  “So, how have you been?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.

  “Things are…static? I don’t know,” he insisted, “Your father’s doing great, my father’s still a dick, and I’m trying to stay out of the way.”

  “So, everything is exactly as it was when we last talked? Laura pretty much has the same opinion.”

  Dexter’s shoulders rose and fell easily and unconcerned.

  “Unfortunately, there’s not much else to report that you don’t already know.”

  “That’s so strange,” I admitted, “Growing up, to hear your dad talk, he couldn’t wait to hand his shares over to you so that he could retire and enjoy the spoils of everything he and my father built.”

  “Tell me about it,” Dexter rolled his eyes, “Some days I think he genuinely doesn’t think I’m ready, and some days I think he just likes the ability to tell me what to do. I think if he retired now, without having anyone to boss around, he’d go crazy. Plus, my mom…”

  “Oh God!” I insisted, instantly feeling an ache in my heart filled with fresh grief, “Yes. I’m so sorry, Dex. She was a wonderful woman.”

  “Thanks. Yeah, she was the only one who could love my father, not that he deserved it, but when she passed, my dad got worse. His work became even more important to him, and my presence faded into obscurity,” he shook his head.

  “I’m sorry,” I offered again, “I have so many great memories with her. She really did know how to do it all.”

  A saddened grin spread across Dexter’s lips as his eyes turned away from my gaze.

  “Yeah, she was one of a kind, that’s for sure. Anyway, how are you doing? I hear you’re a teacher, right?”

  “Yes, second grade.”

  “Good for you!” he expressed with genuine enthusiasm, “You were always too good to get caught up in this rat race, especially with all the shit Laura has to dodge.” He shook his head, “But, she does a good job, and I’m glad you were able to find your calling.”

  “Thanks,” I replied, feeling pleased that at least someone here appreciated what I did instead of looking down on me for not choosing to follow the money, but rather the passion.

  “Second grade, huh?” His eyes grew wide, “How you do it, I’ll never know.”

  “Yeah, some days, I don’t know either, but I love it. I have no doubt that this was what I was meant to do.”

  Dexter shook his head in agreement.

  “I didn’t have much of a choice. I was destined to do this, come Hell or high-water.”

  “Yeah, but from what I hear, you’re good at it,” I assured him.

  “Sure, but that doesn’t mean I want to be,” he retorted, but quickly added, as though he felt I might get the wrong idea, “You know, though, it depends on the day. When my dad is being an ass, I can’t stand it, but when I close a big deal, I’m on top of the world. Give and take, you know?”

  I simpered, but before I could say anything more, I heard my father’s voice call from behind me.

  “There you are, Mazie.”

  Both Dex and I turned to greet him.

  “Hello, Dexter,” my father answered, “I am so happy you could make it. Mazie, dear, I heard you were here, but I couldn’t find you anywhere,” he laughed.

  “Sorry, Dad,” I answered, “I couldn’t find you or mom either and needed to get some air.”

  “Of course,” he replied, “Can I have a word with you, though?” my father returned his attention to Dexter, “I apologize for stealing her away.”

  “Not at all,” Dexter answered with a broad grin. “We were only catching up.”

  I beamed and hugged him before returning to my father.

  “It was great to see you,” I offered and followed my father inside.

  Chapter 7

  Dexter

  The rest of the weekend went by without incident, and I was happy.

  When I woke up on Sunday morning, after a long night of shaking hands and pretending to be the model employee and owner’s son, I was pleased to see that Garrett had found somewhere else to lay his head for the time being. I was certain he’d be back eventually, but for the moment, I was pleased to spend the day entirely alone.

  After last weekend, I was pleased to hav
e some uneventful downtime.

  Monday was boring and predictable, but Tuesday, I received the call that I was waiting for.

  “Yes, Mr. Wilson, I completely understand,” I replied, trying to hide the extent of my excitement.

  After all, I didn’t want to play my hand too quickly. Business is all about poise, and if I let on how eager I was to get this deal, he might have second thoughts.

  “That’s good to hear, and thank you for being so patient with me. I know that you want to close this deal and to be honest with you, so do I, but I also want to be sure I’m making the right decision.”

  “Absolutely, Sir!” I exclaimed, “I am certain that the presentation will assuage all of your doubts and if you have any questions, I will be there to answer them personally.”

  “It is great to be able to work directly with you. There are so few companies that are truly father and son anymore, so I am interested in your dynamic as well as what you have to offer.”

  “We are truly one of a kind,” I assured, although my meaning varied slightly from what I allowed him to take away from the comment.

  “That’s great! I look forward to our meeting,” he insisted before ending the phone conversation.

  Upon hanging up the phone, I felt a surge of excitement shoot through me. I grinned as I stared down at his name disappearing from my darkening cell phone screen.

  Each time we had a conversation, I felt as though Mr. Wilson was warming to me more.

  Of course, that was exactly what I wanted, but it was nice to feel that connection fortifying.

  I was sure that he trusted me and for as much as I skated around the idea that my father and I were best buds with the intention of winning Mr. Wilson’s favor, I did feel that we could help his company.

  After pretending that my father gave a rat’s ass about me and my wellbeing, I was partial to want to talk to him in person, to tell him what I was sure was good news.

  I knew it wasn’t the signed, sealed, and delivered check that he wanted so badly, he could nearly taste it, but it was a major leap in the right direction.

  Therefore, I wanted to make sure that he knew, so I walked to my father’s office and found the door opened, but the phone receiver pressed to his ear.

  He seemed deeply involved in a conversation, so I waited patiently for my chance to speak.

  At first, the excitement I felt fueled the ease I found in waiting there for him to be done with his conversation, but eventually, the awkwardness of me standing there started to weigh on me.

  My father continued as though I wasn’t even there and after a while, I felt a prickle of embarrassment supersede the feeling of excitement.

  By the time my father addressed me, all I wanted to do was get out of that office as quick as possible.

  “Excuse me,” he finally said to the phone and whispered, “What is it, Dexter?”

  As he acknowledged my presence, he put his hand over the receiver and the earpiece against his shoulder as though he only had a moment to talk, which completely discouraged me.

  “I only wanted to tell you that I am taking the day off tomorrow, nothing important,” I answered, trying to sound nonchalant and unmoved by the obvious lack of interest in my presence.

  My father nodded once before returning to his phone call.

  I hastily turned and walked away, saying goodbye as I normally did but getting in my car as efficiently as possible.

  I spied my gym back in the backseat as I took a moment to enjoy being alone and remembered that I was supposed to meet Garrett at the gym.

  “Shit!” I muttered, simply wanting to go home and lie down, but knowing that I would never hear the end of it if I decided to ditch him.

  So, I drove to the gym, begrudgingly changed, and met him at the weight station.

  “There you are!” Garrett exclaimed as I wordlessly took up my allotted weights.

  “Yeah, yeah, I didn’t forget,” I grumbled.

  “Nice to see you too,” he narrowed his eyes, “What’s got your goat?”

  “Nothing, everything…I don’t know.”

  “That sounds like a personal problem,” he teased, “Hey, did you see Mazie on Saturday night?”

  “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I did.”

  “Oh?” His eyebrows rose with suggestion, but I cut him off.

  “I said I saw her, but that’s it. We talked, and she went off with her father.”

  “Did you ask to see her again?” Garrett urged.

  “No! I haven’t seen the girl in two years.”

  “Which is why it’s a perfect time to reconnect…or, is she married?”

  I narrowed my eyes, trying to remember if I saw a ring on her finger.

  “I’m not sure,” I answered finally, “I didn’t ask, and she didn’t say.”

  “Huh…then, it might not matter. You should ask her out.”

  “Nah,” I answered, though I’d been thinking about a what to approach that subject ever since I saw her, “Besides, even if I wanted to, I can’t get in touch with her. We didn’t get that far, and she didn’t offer.”

  “Ask Laura,” he answered with a slight raise of his shoulders, as if the answer was blatant.

  “She can’t stand me.”

  “You’re not asking for her number.”

  I thought about it but only realized I didn’t want to have this conversation any longer.

  “Besides, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t because of your dumb ass!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I signed up for that Santa thing, and I’d hate to lie to her about my availability to avoid having to tell her that you got me arrested because you think with your dick and not your head.”

  Garrett shook his head.

  “I sure as hell didn’t make you hit anyone.”

  “I had to back your ass up, so you might as well have.”

  “Hey, I was doing fine on my own,” he retorted.

  “That doesn’t mean that I was going to watch you…what kind of friend would I be?”

  “No friend of mine.”

  “See, that settles it. I’ve known you too long. If you start a fight, I have to fight, and the same goes for me…but I’m not as stupid as you are.”

  Garrett barked a laugh.

  “Sure, buddy…I might think with my dick but at least, nine times out of ten, thinking that way gets it some action.”

  “I have plenty of action,” I spat defensively.

  Garrett rolled his eyes.

  “Whatever you say, my friend.”

  “What? I do!” I insisted.

  “Sure, but do me a favor, when you’re working on the chain-gang down at Santa’s Village, try to pick up a MILF or two; I’m sure you could find a few who put a sweet Santa sugar-daddy on their Christmas list.”

  Not sure how to respond to that, I simply stopped and stared at him before shaking my head and returning to my reps.

  Chapter 8

  Mazie

  I woke up to the rapping of paws walking across my sheets, but I didn’t open my eyes until I felt a padded paw swat at my arm and a small meow call from my right side.

  I grinned as I returned to conscious thought, turning over and hugging Mittens close to me.

  “Good morning, Mittens,” I greeted her as the cat wriggled out of my grasp and leaped off the bed.

  Obviously, she was more interested in breakfast than allowing me to have a moment to snuggle with her.

  Oh well, I thought as I slid out of bed, easing into my slippers and putting on my robe.

  The cat’s lack of socialization wasn’t going to bother me today. I was too excited!

  Today was the day we got to take the kids to see Santa!

  I wasn’t sure why I was so enthusiastic about this field trip, but as I went through my normal routine, I found that I only grew more ecstatic as the time wore on.

  I knew the kids were going to be excited and that made even more enthralled. I loved to be able to do things that gave the ki
ds good memories.

  Of course, I would like to think that there were good memories and an endearing amount of life lessons playing out in the classroom, but today was special.

  Whether the kids grew up loving school or not, whether they achieved their dreams or not, this was one of the rare occasions I could abandon all academia and simply allow the children to have fun. There was no lesson attached. There was nothing that I expected them to take away from this experience except for a good time which hopefully would be shared with their friends.

  Perhaps I was being a little bit idealistic, but when I went to school, opportunities to leave the classroom were few and far between, much less to do something like this.

  The closest we ever got to doing something that was holiday-based in my school was going to see the Nutcracker.

  I was a fan of the theater and enjoyed it immensely, but a lot of the other kids didn’t remember it quite so fondly.

  Some of them even fell asleep and missed half of it, but even with my positive experience, I would have still loved to take nearly an entire school day to go see Santa!

  I arrived at my classroom early, and thus, I had the opportunity to decorate it the way I wanted. I took everything that we had learned from the different cultures and tried to incorporate as much as I could into the decorating. I wanted to maintain creativity while still reinforcing what we had learned in a fun, positive manner.

  The kids were ecstatic from the moment they walked in, and their wonder was compounded by the explosion of holiday décor that illuminated the spirit of the room.

  It took them a little longer than normal to settle down, but I understood and didn’t want to do anything to tone down their level of excitement.

  After all, the only thing I planned to do before the trip was to take attendance. I knew that regardless of how cooperative the kids were, there wasn’t enough time or attention span left to do anything else.

  Therefore, after I finally narrowed down who was here and who wasn’t, I allowed the kids to have a little free time before we were loaded onto the bus.

  After driving to the mall, with the bus driver blaring Christmas carols that many of the kids sang along to, the whole mass of students and teachers practically ran to see Santa.