“There should be a rule against that,” Brady said.
“But there isn’t. I proofed the invitations, so I would know.”
They approached the coffee shop and Brady held the door for her. When Ellie stepped into the warmth, followed directly by Brady, she was fairly sure nothing in the world could ruin her Christmas holiday at this point.
Fake relationship or otherwise.
Chapter Seventeen
Brady was in major trouble. Not just a little trouble, but huge, huge trouble. He sat at his desk the day before the gala and watched Ellie walk across the glass bridge outside the design room and then disappear around the corner toward her desk.
The smile on her face as she walked was contagious and he felt his lips turning up in accordance with hers. He needed the light that she exuded in his life. She was so calm and joyful and had no idea that anyone was observing her. She enjoyed old movies and everything Christmas and was the type of thoughtful person who noticed when others were in need and silently acted to right their wrongs, like she’d done for Grandmother.
She was exactly the type of woman he wanted to be his real girlfriend.
But did she feel the same? He was fairly sure she felt the electricity between them during their mistletoe kiss, but that was over a week ago and had yet to be repeated. Maybe it would be wise for him to hang mistletoe about the office, just in case they happened under it at the same time. What could go wrong with that scenario?
Well, HR would have a field day, for one.
Chuckling over the absurdity, Brady sat back in his chair and formulated a plan. He wouldn’t worry about going to HR until he’d gotten a confirmation from her. Somehow, he needed to get to the bottom of what Ellie was doing for the fake relationship, and what was coming from her heart.
Zane crossed the bridge next and Brady’s stomach constricted. He’d sent the images off to Gaines, but never bothered telling Zane. He didn’t want to get the guy’s hopes up in case Gaines chose to go a different direction.
But was it better for Zane to imagine Brady as the worst, most self-consumed boss of all time? Because he probably felt exactly that way.
He nodded his head toward Zane when he came into the room and got a perfunctory nod in return. What was taking Gaines so long to make his decision? Brady hadn’t seen the rest of the designs for Bear Mobile, but he knew Zane’s was probably in the final round of options. It was good.
Blowing out a gust of air, Brady jumped when the door opened and Ellie came inside. “Are you ready?” she asked.
Was his stare as blank as it felt? He had no idea what he was supposed to be ready for.
“The museum?” she prompted.
“Are we going over there today?”
“Yes,” Ellie said with a nod. “We’ve got to direct the set up. Or I can just go alone if you think you’ve got too much going on here.”
She glanced around the nearly empty office. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and a lot of employees had opted to take the day off.
“No, I’m ready. Just give me five minutes to close everything up here.”
“No problem.”
Ellie turned directly for Zane, pulling out a chair beside him at the large conference table and greeting him warmly. Brady was not a man prone to jealousy but watching her interact so easily with another guy was not easy for him.
“So, any news?” Ellie asked quietly, sitting beside Zane at the vast table.
“Nothing,” he said with a shake of his head. “I didn’t give up, but I really can only ask him so many times.”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you.” Ellie sat back in the chair, drawing her eyebrows together in concentration. “I did say something to him. But we’re just working on the gala together. I don’t have any pull there.”
“It’s not your problem,” Zane said. “I’m probably just being too sensitive about the whole thing. I just thought I had something good this time.”
“And you do. Someone will recognize your talent. Just don’t give up.”
“Are you ready?” Brady asked, approaching their table.
Ellie stood. “Yep.”
“You can take off for the day if you want, Zane,” Brady said.
He glanced up at his boss and nodded. “Great.”
“Well, shall we?” Brady’s eyebrows were lifted and his mouth set in a firm line. Ellie could cut the tension between the men with a plastic knife. It was clear Brady felt bad about his actions or he wouldn’t be acting so weird.
Maybe if she just asked him one last time…
“Merry Christmas, Zane,” she called as they left the room.
“Merry Christmas,” he called back.
Silence sat between them as they left the building and got into a cab. She couldn’t place exactly what was going on, but there was tension between them and Ellie had not felt it the day before. Once the cab pulled to a stop, she got out and faced him on the sidewalk in front of the museum.
“Hey, what’s going on? Things seem weird.”
“Nothing,” he said immediately. “I’ve just been contemplative.”
She didn’t know if she believed him, but she let it go. “Let’s go decorate a museum,” she said, trying to infuse her words with enthusiasm. “And no scrooges allowed.”
A small smile broke out on his lips.
“There we go,” Ellie said, feeling successful. “Come on, we’ve got a tree to put together.”
“Again?” Brady said with mock annoyance.
“Yeah, again.”
Monica stood near the entrance, a clipboard in her hand and the end of her pen resting against her lips. “I think over there in that general area,” she said, waving her pen like a wand.
A couple of men hefted up a large tree and began carrying it to the corner of the room.
“Hey, wait a second please,” Ellie called, stepping forward. “Monica, what’s going on over there? I was under the impression we were putting the tree in the center of the room.”
“I just think it’ll look nice beside those tall windows.”
Ellie drew in a breath for patience and then said, “I think we should stick to the original plan. If we shift something now, then we’ll have to shift everything and that seems like a lot of work.”
Monica’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Fine. Whatever.” She turned her attention to the workers with the tree. “The center of the room, please.”
“Thanks, Monica,” Ellie said. “I think it just makes it too complicated to make changes this close to the event.”
“I’ll oversee the tables,” Monica said. “They should be here any minute.”
“And I can begin creating the table settings. Where is everything?”
Monica pointed out the room where the decorations were and Ellie took off, Brady close behind her.
“Did you end up finding an ornament?” Ellie asked as she let herself into the room and began rummaging through boxes to inventory what they had.
“I did,” he said. “I ordered it online and it arrived yesterday.”
“What did you choose?”
Brady shook his head. “Nope. You’re going to have to wait. I want to see if you’ll be able to figure mine out without any help.”
“No pressure or anything.”
Brady chuckled. “On the contrary. Tons of pressure.”
Chapter Eighteen
Her dress was hanging on the back of the door and her heels were set out on the chair beside them with her purse containing the ornament she had bought in that tiny store. It was exactly like those sweet little cottages Beverly had in her tiny Christmas village and the moment Ellie had laid eyes on it, she knew it was perfect for the gifting tree.
She pulled her gaze back to the mirror, pinning the last few curls into place in the low gathered updo. Pulling out her mascara, she added an extra layer to her eyelashes and then sat back and observed her work. She’d spent ten times the amount of time on her appearance than she usually did, and she hoped it was sufficient.
Pulling on the long, powder blue dress, she slipped on her silver heels and surveyed the look in the long mirror against her door. When she’d chosen the dress originally, she’d been reminded of a snowflake.
Now she wondered if she had gone too fancy with her whole look that evening.
Snatching up her purse, Ellie left her room.
“Hey,” Kayla said, halting her in the hall, her voice low and her dark eyes serious. “I was just coming to get you. Your mom’s here.”
“Why?”
Kayla shrugged. “She doesn’t look happy.”
Ellie groaned. “Fine. I’ll handle this.”
Stepping into their small living room, Ellie found her mom pacing on the carpet in front of the TV. Her hair was scraped back into a ponytail, the bags under her eyes evidence of a lack of sleep.
When she noticed Ellie, she paused pointing her finger at her daughter. “I need to speak to you, and this cannot wait.”
“Can we make it quick? I’m on my way out.”
Mom scoffed. “Yes. I can make it quick. I’m sorry that I haven’t been the best mom, but how long are you planning to hold it over my head? I’ve been trying ever since your grandma died to step in and be there for you and all you do is push me away.”
Did the woman not hear herself? She didn’t even bother to be a parent until after the woman who raised Ellie had passed away.
Mom lifted her hands in surrender. “I know, I should have been better. But I didn’t realize how badly I messed up until then. Why can’t you let me make it right?”
Ellie stood in a long, shiny gown in the middle of her small apartment and stared at her mother. Why didn’t she just give the woman a chance?
Well, that answer was clear. She wanted justice. She wanted to punish her mother the way she’d been punished her whole life with a lack of relationship, when the only time her mom called her was to ask questions about her dad.
It had been heartbreaking as a teenager, but that was many years ago now.
Now, a woman stood in front of her with the desire to make things right.
“I am on my way to a work event, Mom,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m hearing everything you’re saying, but I need a minute to think.”
“You’ve had three years—”
“And you hurt me for the twenty before that, so I think I deserve a little bit of time.”
They faced off, the couch sitting in between them as though it was a barrier. Mom’s breath was coming in heaves and Ellie was proud of herself for remaining so calm.
“I know it's a long drive for you,” Ellie said, “but can you come back tomorrow?”
Her mom swallowed, nodding slowly, her eyes looking mistrustful. “I can.”
“Great. Then I’ll come up with a Christmas dinner and maybe we can just talk.” Her mom’s sudden hopeful expression was almost heartbreaking. Instead, she chose to see the potential in it, while simultaneously guarding herself.
And who was she kidding? She had an entire Christmas dinner planned for herself anyway since Kayla was going to her parents’ house. She could easily stretch it for two people.
She walked her mom to the door and waved as she descended the steps, closing the door behind her.
Kayla’s voice sounded behind her. “That was calm.”
“Yeah, I think I need to decide how I want to proceed here. But my mom made a valid point and I’m going to talk to her tomorrow. I just don’t have the brain capacity to tackle it right this second.”
“Of course not. You’re running a gala tonight for all of the major socialites and big wigs of San Francisco. Shouldn’t you get moving?”
She crossed the room and pulled Kayla into a hug. “Thanks for your support.”
“I’ve got your back.”
“I know. Are you heading to your parents’ house now? Merry Christmas.”
Kayla pulled back. “I’ve put your gift under the tree. Don’t you dare open it until tomorrow.”
“You know I won’t.” Ellie stepped away and checked her purse for her phone. She pulled on her coat and made it to the door. Turning back, she said, “And yours is hidden in your overnight bag.”
“Yeah, I saw it,” Kayla said unrepentantly. “And it is gorgeous.” She flashed her wrist to showcase the new watch Ellie had chosen for her.
Ellie rolled her eyes dramatically but sent her friend a smile before she left the house. “Glad you love it!” she called just before she shut the door.
Slipping her phone out of her pocket, she opened her ride app and clicked the button to send for a ride. Within two minutes a car was pulling up in front of her house and she hopped in the backseat and made sure her dress was all the way in before closing the door.
Clouds had slowly rolled in all afternoon. Ellie just hoped the rain would leave off until the party ended and all of her guests were safely home.
The driver let her out directly in front of the museum and she hurried inside, locating the coat check and dropping off her coat and purse with a museum employee. Monica was already there with the clipboard, talking to some waitresses, so Ellie began the rounds double checking the tables in the dining area and the cocktail tables in the mingling area to assure herself everything was set up accurately.
Next year she was going to strongly urge Mr. Gaines to hire professional party planners. They existed for a reason. But for being an intern, she felt like she’d done a pretty good job.
Guests began arriving and the strings ensemble they’d hired started playing Jingle Bells.
After Ellie made the rounds, she stopped at the oversized Christmas tree and looked at the ornaments people had hung already.
“I think I’ll take that little Santa if no one else gets to it first,” an older woman was saying behind her. “Isn’t that just the cutest little thing?”
Ellie had to smile to herself. The gifting tree was bound to be a success among the patrons.
She turned for the coat check to retrieve her own little cottage ornament and paused to wait for the employee to finish helping another guest. By the time Ellie retrieved her ornament to hang on the tree, there was a line of attendees out the door waiting to get inside.
Clipping across the floor at a healthy pace, Ellie convinced herself she would not trip in the too-tall heels and made it to the tree safely. She found a branch nestled in the tree a little more near a column and placed the cottage there. It wasn’t as though she was trying to hide it, exactly. But if she was able to take home her own ornament, she wouldn’t be too sad about it.
They’d placed about thirty ornaments on the tree yesterday for those who might have forgotten to bring one, and she would be happy with any of those, too.
Turning to watch the door, Ellie came face to face with Monica. It was inevitable to greet her now, not unless Ellie chose to slip under the Christmas tree Grinch-style. Which actually had potential with the silkyness of her dress.
Ellie pasted a smile on her face, which was easily done with the Grinch imagery fresh in her mind. “Everything looks lovely.”
“I really pulled it all together, didn’t I?” Monica said, glancing around with a self-satisfied smile.
Ellie chose not to respond to that. She looked around and found Mr. Gaines standing beside a regally dressed woman with white hair. “I am going to check in with some coworkers,” Ellie said by way of excuse.
She crossed to the couple and paused. Mr. Gaines didn’t seem to recognize her—or perhaps he was simply blanking on her name—but the woman with him smiled at her with welcoming grace. “Hello, Mr. Gaines. I hope you enjoy yourself this evening. We have canapes in this part of the room and the tree is just over there if you brought an ornament to hang.”
“I did,” Mrs. Gaines said, holding out a small white deer on a delicate gold thread. Her ornament matched the decor of the party effortlessly.
“How lovely. And you are Mrs. Gaines, I presume?” The woman nodded. “I’m Ellie Shaw. I’m an intern at Harver Allen Design. I
’m so pleased to meet you.”
She waited for Mr. Gaines to explain that the entire gala was Ellie’s brainchild, but since he probably didn’t even remember her name, he likely didn’t realize she had put so much effort into it.
“And I as well,” Mrs. Gaines said, before excusing herself to hang her ornament.
Ellie spent the next thirty minutes slowly circling the crowds, watching for Brady and feeling disappointed every time the door opened and he didn’t step inside.
A hand reached out and grabbed her arm and she turned to find Cassie standing in a long, green dress. She wore large diamond earrings and looked like she belonged. “Good job,” she said. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she asked, “Where’s your boyfriend?”
“I don’t know,” Ellie said. “And we need him to begin the next portion of the evening.”
“I did see him a minute ago, but then he disappeared.”
Ellie let out a breath. Well, at least he was here. “Hey,” she said, “where’s your boyfriend?”
“Right here,” Cassie said casually, with a flick of her wrist.
Ellie noticed the man just behind them with the immaculate beard. It was logger James in a tux. And he looked completely transformed. Her eyebrows lifted.
“He’s the one who got me in here. You think Gaines lets all of his secretaries into the gala?” Cassie asked. “James is rich.”
Ah. So Ellie had been right about that one thing. Cassie did date a guy with money.
They were nearing the time to lead everyone into dinner and begin the ceremony with the board members of Kids Afterschool, and she was growing anxious. “I better go find Brady.”
Had something come up and he had to go? She’d sent him a text message twenty minutes before, but it had gone unanswered.
Circling the outskirts of the room slowly, Ellie paused beside a column and waited.
She couldn’t find Monica now either, and her heart began racing. She didn’t mind handling everything behind the scenes, but she did not want to be forced to announce the amount of money they’d fundraised through ticket sales and donations, and she certainly did not want to invite the museum founder and Mr. Gaines up to the podium to deliver their speeches. Monica had asked for the job of leading the ceremony and Ellie had gladly agreed to it.
His Stand-In Holiday Girlfriend (Christmas in the City Book 1) Page 11