Chapter 19: Worst Christmas Ever

JAMIE

It was Christmas Eve, and I had rushed into the office in the freezing cold because of a last-minute business meeting.

Being Harry and Mason’s personal assistant, I didn’t really have a choice but to show up and do my job despite being on holiday.

I had left the comfort of my fleece Christmas Eve pajamas and slipped into a pencil skirt and blouse.

And just when I was getting into the spirit too.

My parents were expecting Jake and me soon for Christmas movies, homemade mince pies, and hot cocoa.

Meanwhile, here I am stapling booklets behind my desk.

The office was empty apart from the conference room filling up with businessmen.

“Almost done?” Mason asked as he walked toward my desk, looking just as irresistible as the last time I saw him.

“Almost. I can bring them down to the conference room when I’m done.”

I stapled another booklet of fifty pages together.

“All right.” He sighed and looked down at me. “Is everything okay here? Between you and me?”

He sensed that I was a bit off—that was bound to happen after our night of passion. It was hard, getting back to professionalism after everything.

“Sure. Everything is fine.”

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

~Because every time I look at you now I’m picturing that toned body and that massive cock.~

It wasn’t that seeing Mason Knight naked was an image I didn’t want—quite the opposite in fact—I was just trying to keep things on a professional level.

Rather a stupid thing to say after sleeping with him. Twice.

I looked up at him. “Well, I’m looking at you now. Everything is fine. It’s Christmas Eve and my family is waiting on me. I just want to get this done fast so I can leave.”

“Right. I’ll see you in there, then.”

He lingered at my desk for a couple seconds before walking toward the conference room.

Of course I watched him walk away, checking out his fitted suit pants.

Beforehand I never would have checked out his ass. Never. Now I just can’t help myself.

That night, after all the sex, we’d fallen asleep on his couch a bit after three.

I woke up and Mason wasn’t lying next to me. Just like in the hotel.

Total burn to wake up on a man’s couch the morning after to find he’s ditched you in his own house.

I didn’t wait around to chat, though—the deed was done and I knew the score.

I didn’t hear from him until this morning, when he texted to tell me I was needed at the office for a few hours.

I was now like all those other women, longing for another taste. And I absolutely hated that.

I’d told myself not to get attached to him. Two nights together—I didn’t think that was a possibility.

I just need to cut him out now.

He’s the man I work for, and that’s it. Forget the rest.

Focus on Ryan instead. Call him.

Like, soon.

I picked up the booklets and walked into the conference room, preparing myself to be in a room full of rich and randy men. I knew what they were like.

Just like him!

I pressed my back against the door and pushed it in, holding the booklets in my arms.

All the men were chatting casually. Mason was sitting on a comfortable chair at the head of the table, looking through the work in front of him.

I set the stack down beside his laptop. “Should I hand these out, Mr. Knight?”

“Please,” Mason replied, not looking up from his work.

Now who’s the one avoiding eye contact?

I made my way around and placed a booklet in front of each man. I recognized some of them as sometime business partners.

“Miss Harris, isn’t it?” A dark-haired man had turned in his chair and was looking at me. “I’ve noticed you around the place.”

I smiled uncomfortably and handed him the booklet, hoping it would shut his mouth so I wouldn’t have to open mine. Most of the other men were busy chatting among themselves.

“Do you like sushi?”

I shook my head. ~Don’t say more than you’ve got to.~ “I’m a vegetarian actually.”

“Veg. Wow. I know a place that does good veg dishes. How about you and me, New Year’s Eve?”

Unable to help it, I glanced at Mason. Of course he wasn’t paying attention. He was still glued to the work in front of him.

“What do you say?” The dark-haired man placed his hand on my leg. I pulled away.

“Sorry, I’m seeing someone.”

~Please take rejection easily~, I thought. I didn’t want him making a scene and I definitely didn’t want his hands on me.

“Oh, but you’re not tied down, you can spare one date.”

He placed his hand on my arm and leaned up to whisper.

“I know you’ve already given it up for the boss. I don’t mind having you after him.”

The cheek!

I don’t usually feel like slapping people, but I wanted to. I was scarlet as I slammed the files down on the desk.

“Excuse me.”

I walked out, absolutely shaking, probably the angriest I’d ever been.

I didn’t want anyone to find out about us!

Now they all know. Imagine what they think of me.

I grabbed my things off my desk and packed them into my bag. I didn’t care if I was needed; I had to get out of here.

“Jamie!” Mason strode toward my desk. “What the hell happened?”

I draped my coat over my arm and walked past him, but he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.

I was absolutely livid. I wanted to smack him too.

He’d obviously been telling the men about us, most likely every little detail.

“You told them,” I all but spat. “You told those men that we slept together. I asked you not to and you did it anyway. How could you?”

I pulled my arm away and walked toward the elevator.

Hadn’t I warned myself that this would end in disaster? Now look where I was.

Just another one of his women.

I pressed the button for the elevator continuously, hoping to get the hell out as soon as possible.

It was going to take an awful lot of hot cocoa to make me feel any better tonight.

“Jamie, please…”

I turned and looked at him as he made his way toward me.

Then I turned back around and looked at the elevator doors, willing them to open.

“I don’t have an excuse, Jamie. I shouldn’t have told him about us. But I think it was pretty obvious to everyone that something had gone on between us.”

Is that an apology?

I turned my head. “Is that really your way of apologizing to me?”

He shrugged. “I’m not the type of man that apologizes to people. It’s not what I’m used to.”

I shouldn’t be surprised—that’s just the person he is.

“You don’t care about anyone or anything other than yourself, do you?”

Mason released a long-drawn sigh. “What do you expect me to say here? I shouldn’t have told him, I’ve already told you that. I’m not sure what else there is to say.”

“Forget it,” I grumbled, “it doesn’t matter.”

The doors opened to an empty elevator and I stepped in. I turned around and looked at Mason.

“By the way, I quit. Happy holidays, Mr. Knight.”

The elevator doors closed and he was out of sight.

~Crap crap CRAP.~

~Well done, Jamie, now you’re without a job.~

I sighed, moving my hands through my hair. I really hadn’t thought that through.

Truth be told, I didn’t want to go back to work after the Christmas break.

I didn’t want to be around everyone who knew I’d slept with the boss.

But I didn’t want to be unemployed and looking for work either.

What the hell am I going to do now?

***

The hot cocoa had been consumed and the mince pies eaten. Dad was a sucker for the homemade ones Mum made.

Now he had coaxed Jake into a game of cards while Mum and I dealt with the dishes.

“You did what?” Mum shouted from her place at the sink. She stopped washing the silver spoon and paused, waiting on me to explain.

“I was angry with him, Mum. And humiliated. And I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.” I sighed, leaning back against the sink.

“Are you going to ask for it back?”

I shook my head. “It’s better if I leave. I’m not going to go crawling back to him. I’ll look for something else.”

I picked up my third mince pie of the night in an attempt to eat my feelings.

Mum opened the door to the brand-new dishwasher Dad had given her as an early gift.

“I’m just very surprised by your actions. Sleeping with your boss…what were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t! That’s the problem.” I sighed. “Please don’t tell Dad about this. You know he’ll freak out and get all judgy.”

“Bit late for that.”

I winced when I heard his voice.

Of course my dad was standing in the doorway looking absolutely furious.

“Please tell me I misheard you. Tell me that you’re not sleeping with that man, Jamie?”

I looked over at Mum, hoping she would save me. When she didn’t say anything I looked back at Dad with no words.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes.”

He rubbed the peppered stubble on his face. I held my breath.

“Your mother and I didn’t raise you to do things like this. What the hell were you thinking?”

“I’m an adult, Dad. I can make my own decisions.”

Even if I know I’m going to regret them afterward.

And I’m definitely regretting my decision to sleep with Mason Knight right about now.

Jake walked into the kitchen then, wearing his Christmas jumper and his ridiculous hat with braids. He looked between Dad and me.

“What’s going on in here? There’s an awful lot of shouting for a happy Christmas Eve.”

He was right. Christmas Eve had turned into the day from hell.

“I’ve been sleeping with my boss and Dad’s pissed about it. Apparently to him I’m still a teenager.”

My brother’s eyes popped.

“Sleeping with Mason Knight? Jesus, Jamie! The man gets around, doesn’t he? I knew it was only a matter of time…”

I rolled my eyes, groaned, and walked toward the living room. I’ve ruined Christmas. “I’m going to bed.”

“I don’t want you seeing that man again. He’s bad news,” Dad shouted after me as I ran up the stairs.

~Trust me, I won’t!~