“Didn’t think there was anyone on Pluto. Didn’t you tell me our solar system had no aliens on it?” Mark frowned.
“It doesn’t,” Frosty smiled and Mark laughed.
“You mean SOB!” He took a sip as there was a knock on the door and Holly peaked in.
“Food is here and so is Carl.” Holly said. He nodded as she opened the door for Carl. Frost hated the fact the man stared at Holly.
But the good thing was that Holly ignored him as she pointed to where the food should be set up.
“So, what’s up boss?” Carl said, only glancing at him once.
“This came in yesterday. I’d like you to fly down there today and check out what they need from us. If my hunch is right, this could be another big account like Mr. Tork’s here and I want you on it right away.”
Carl’s attention turned toward him finally, taking the paper. “Really? You’re allowing me to handle this one?”
Frost shook his head and sat back in his chair. “It’s time to allow some of my staff to earn their keep. You get this company for us, and as big as I think they’ll be, then we can talk about maybe a vice president position in advertising.”
The man stood there for a minute. “I’m leaving now and I promise I won’t let you down.” Carl almost ran out of the room, ignoring Holly, which made Frosty smile.
“As I said, you’re an SOB. Now, let’s go see what this new place has to offer for food. I’m starving,” Mark said, standing and heading over to the tables where Holly was setting up.
Chapter Four
Holly smiled and helped the delivery guy set up the food, while inside she was frantic. One of the judges that oversaw the adoption process had called her, which was normal. But what wasn’t normal was the fact that the judge wanted money for his signature on the documents allowing her to take Dylan home.
She had two days to come up with the $100,000 or he’d vote no on her adoption. “Mario, would you see yourself out? I need to run out for a second,” Holly didn’t give him a chance to answer. As she ran for the door, her stomach was ready to lose the little breakfast she had eaten earlier.
Of course, it didn’t help that she ran smack into the advertising geek who wouldn’t leave her alone this morning, almost throwing her to the floor. “Sorry,” she stumbled backwards and bumped into another body.
“Crap,” she covered her mouth and dashed away from her boss. She pushed right into a bathroom, not caring whose it was, but by the urinals on the wall she had a pretty good guess as she just made it to the bathroom sink.
She heard a toilet flush as her stomach heaved and tears slid down her cheeks. Her phone started to beep in her pocket.
“Get out. Wash your hands at my sink,” Frosty’s voice came from behind her as she looked up in the mirror. He held open the bathroom door for the man to leave and slammed it as soon as he was out, turning to her.
The concern in his gaze made her lips quiver as another set of dry hives came upon her.
“Here, take this,” Frosty said. “Did you eat their food? Is that why you’re so sick?” Frosty tried to joke, but once more fresh tears rolled her cheeks as she shook her head, wiping her face.
“I’m fine, Momma,” Holly said, as Frosty helped her out of the bathroom and into his office where he guided her to the couch.
On the phone, her mother asked, “What’s wrong? Did someone hurt you? And don’t you tell me your fine. I can feel how nervous and worried you are. Do I need to come there?”
“Momma…” Holly barely got the words out before her mother appeared before them, waving her hand at the men in the room, freezing all of them, except for one—her boss.
Her mother stared at him for a second, then smiled, before turning to Holly and kneeling before her. “Now, tell me what has my baby so upset? Did Frosty upset you?” she asked.
“You know Mr. Frosty?” Holly glanced back at her boss, then to her mom.
“He is one of your brethren’s friends that used…” Her mother turned her gaze on him, and he stepped back.
Holly couldn’t help but laugh. “Momma, quit giving my boss the evil eye.”
“Fine, but you will tell me what is bothering you?” her mother once more turned her attention to her.
“Only if you promise you won’t tell Daddy…” she moaned, as her father appeared behind her mother.
“Who do I kill?” he yelled and Holly swore the windows shook. She knew the floor did. When her father was pissed, everyone stepped back. “You will tell me right now, Holly Ann Berry. Who hurt you?”
Holly fell down on the couch, moaning. It was just like she was a teenager again. “Daddy, you can’t do this. I have to do this.” She sat up and glared at her father. “Did you contact one of the judges?” she growled.
Her father frowned. “What? No, you told me to stay out of this and I have. I told you what happened and I don’t break my promises. But…” he leaned forward. “Is one of them giving you a hard time?”
“Wait?” Frosty said, finally getting his bearings back. “You’re Chris’s little sister?” he asked, and she nodded. “What is this about judges? Maybe I can help. I know a few of them.”
She shook her head and moaned. “I wanted to do this on my own. Momma, he’s expecting to come home with me in two days.” Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as her mother sat down beside her and hugged her.
“And your Dylan will come home with his new Mother. Believe in Christmas miracles, baby.”
She snorted. “Right, ones that are blackmailing me for a hundred grand,” she let it slip out, before slapping her hand over her mouth, to peak up at her dad. Sure, enough his skin was turning a nice orange.
Even Frosty stepped back, obviously knowing when one of their kind was about to blow. “Please don’t destroy my building,” he said, earning a glare from her father.
“Walter, you promised no more killing. We’re trying to correct things,” her mother said.
“But she’s our baby,” he growled.
“I know and I have no problem with you showing him the error of his ways, but no killing. Plus, it’s Christmas time and you know I won’t have it.”
Her father glared at her mother, then took a deep breath, turning to her. “I promise I won’t kill the man, but you will have my grandson in your arms in two days, that I can promise, without having to pay any human.” His father informed her speaking in their language before turning his focus on Frosty.
“We will see you at Chris’ for Christmas?” her father asked and Frosty nodded. “Good, you can bring Holly and Dylan.
“Dad! He might want to bring a date or something. And how do you know I wasn’t planning on bringing someone?” she glared at her father.
“Who?” Both her father and Frosty said at the same time.
Her mother stood, but not before giving her a kiss on her cheek. “I expect you and Dylan the day before Christmas to help pass out the gifts and food. It will do the boy good to see this.”
“Well, actually I was going to kind of do that here, with the homeless shelter and the orphanage. I’ve been making blankets, scarves and buying toys every week. Just haven’t figured out how to do the food though,” Holly frowned and her father smiled at her.
“She is just like you, baby. Our Christmas baby,” her dad said, and she rolled her eyes.
Her mom looked over at Frosty and nodded, before glancing at the man who was still frozen. “Good, he knows about us,” her mom released him. “Frosty, you and your friend can help my daughter Frosty set up a dinner for those in this town. It’s not too big. You’re lucky you’re not in New York, now that would be a mess, but Rochester will be the right size for the three of you.”
“I’m off. I have a judge to take care of.” Her dad leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “We’ll send some turkeys and hams to start you off this year. I’m proud of you, baby.”
“Daddy, are you really going to try this year?” she asked, and he sighed.
“Yes, but
before I can do that, I have to get rid of a few people.” He ran his finger down her scar. “I won’t have them coming after my family again. Our plan is to be legit by next year.” He turned once more to Frosty and his business associate. “Make sure you are there on Christmas early since your sister Beth misses her brother. If I’m not mistaken, your parents will be there too,” Her father glanced at her mom, who nodded.
“I can’t wait. I haven’t seen them in ages.” Her mom said, waving good-bye and disappearing from the room.
“Take care, Frosty,” he growled.
“Dad, get lost,” Holly countered, growling too, which made him laugh and put a smile on Frosty’s face.
Chapter Five
Frosty stared at Holly, now seeing the resemblance to her brother. It was hard to believe the little princess he had seen on occasion was sitting here in his office, and she was a princess. She just seemed to refuse to acknowledge it.
“Are you going to let me in on what that was all about?” Mark asked him, jarring him out of his thoughts.
“We were just volunteered to help Holly here with the homeless and orphanage the day before Christmas,” Frosty said, smiling at his friend.
“Do you know how busy I’ll be that day?” Mark asked.
“I’m sorry, ignore what my father said, really. I’ll mange fine.” Holly got up and swayed a little.
“Easy there, Holly,” Frosty said, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“Thank you.” She looked up at him. “Please, Mr. Frosty don’t let what my father said influence anything you two do. I’ve worked hard to get where I am and I don’t need his interference.” She growled and looked around her as if her father would hear her and Frosty knew it was true.
He reached up and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “What if I want to help and take you to your brother’s?”
Holly stepped back. “But then how would I know if you were doing it for me or because of my father?” She smiled. “Either way it would seem I have no say. Please, the both of you. Eat and finish your business. I have some calls to make and the others will be coming back from lunch soon.” Holly stepped out of his office, shutting the door.
“You want to tell me what that was all about?” Mark asked.
Frosty grabbed a plate, bound to have some of this food that Holly said was so great. “On our world, her parents are royalty. Her father left our king to come here following his son and me. But her father is nothing like Chris, Holly, or me. When her father gives an order, you follow it,” Frosty smiled.
“Why are smiling? We were just threatened.” Mark sat down with a plate of food across from him as he stared at the clock on the wall. “Wait, it’s 1;00 already?” he glanced at him, and he smiled.
“As I said, they are royalty, and with this, they can do a few things: stopping time, making you freeze where you stand, and so on.” Frosty glanced up at his friend to see him go pale.
“Well, it looks like I’m going to be helping with the food give away…” They both jumped when behind them hundreds of gifts suddenly appeared, all wrapped and ready to be given out.
Frosty laughed. “Welcome to our world. Where the human’s so-called drug lord is really a prince that could destroy this world at a glance.” Frosty said.
“I think I’m going to follow Holly’s lead and get sick,” Mark said.
“No, we’re going to get our business done and then try and figure out a way to help Holly with her goals.” He glanced at the door and smiled.
“Oh, you got it bad, really bad,” Mark said.
“Yea, I do, and I have a feeling that this has to do with something that usually happens on our home world, not here.” Frosty said, taking a bite of the gyro on his plate and moaning.
“Okay, Holly will be ordering my food from now on,” Frosty said, as Mark nodded his head.
“And we didn’t even know of this place. What other little gems have we missed?” Mark said, stuffing the last of his sandwich in his mouth.
“Agreed, now let’s get this plan done so we can figure out what we are going to have to do to pull it off.” Frosty pulled out the last papers he had been going over, burying himself in the work he had, while in the back of his head he was trying to wrap around the fact that Holly Berry could be his!
Chapter Five
Holly curled up on her couch, wearing her favorite silk teddy that she loved to wear to bed. It always made her feel sexy inside, even though there was a little doubt in her mind that she looked like a whale in it.
She took a sip of her wine and went over the very long day she’d had which ended with Frosty insisting on walking her to her little car. He had taken one look at her little red bug and smiled.
But what had ended her bad day good, was the kiss he placed on her cheek and his words. “No, your family has no say in how I feel or the things I do, my Holly Berry.” With that he had spun around, going to his car.
The fire cracking and the smell of wood burning always had a calming effect on her.
“Holly, I would like to speak with you if you don’t mind,” her mother asked.
She sighed and covered herself with the blanket waiting for her mother to appear. “What can I do for you, Momma?” she asked as her mother sat down next to her on the couch.
“Do you remember any of my teachings at our old home?” her mother asked, reaching over and taking her glass of wine and sipping it. “Hmmm, this good. What is it?” she asked.
“A little Italian place down the street has the wine brought over from a family vineyard in Italy...I like the small places, they’re more personal, you know. There is more on the counter if you would like your own glass.” By the time she’d finished, her mother already had a glass of the wine in her hand and was taking a sip.
“We will have to visit this place. Now tell me what you remember about males finding their soras,” she asked.
“Soras?” Holly frowned taking a drink of her wine. “Isn’t that something like a mate thing? Like shifters have?”
Her mother nodded. “But more. Where we come from you know you are a princess, right?” her mother gave her a look and she rolled her eyes.
“Yes, but we are not on our old world, and I have no intention to go there anytime soon, so what does this have to do with me?”
“When a member of the royal family finds his or her Soras, even here on this planet, your grandfather is somehow informed. We don’t really understand all the stuff of it, but anyway, you have met yours and your grandfather has informed us that he and your grandmother are coming for Christmas. They will meet this man of yours.”
“What? I don’t even know who it is?” Holly got up and started to pace around the room. “All I wanted to do was adopt Dylan and have a quiet Christmas with my son. No fuss or nothing big, but no! Now I have some kind of mate thing going on and I don’t even know who the hell he is!”
Holly stopped and turned to her mother.
“You know who it is, don’t you?” she squeaked the last part as her soft cuddly PJs covered her body as a knock on the door made her turn around. “Let me guess, my boss?” Holly asked.
“Yes, and Holly he’s had it rough. I’m going to show you a little bit of why he is bitter a lot of the time.” Her mother said, as a rush of visions popped into her head.
“How could Chris take that witch’s word?” Holly growled and stomped over to the door, going to give her brother a piece of her mind.
“Have fun, but not too much,” her mother said, disappearing from the room as Holly opened the door to see Frosty there with a notebook and what looked like a fruit cake.
She laughed and took the fruit cake out of his hand. “Come on in. Seems we have a lot to talk over.”
Frosty stepped into her condo and whistled. “This is amazing. Did you decorate it yourself? I know some of this is from our old world.” he asked as she shut and locked the door.
“I love some of the old buildings from our old world. I have pictures and such, but I
really don’t remember going there at all, even though mom has told me we’ve all been there a few times, visiting our grandparents.”
She went into the kitchen and opened the fruit cake, smiling. Little did Frosty know, fruit cake was one of her favorite things.
“So, it’s true, you do love fruit cake?” Frost asked, coming into the kitchen with his coat off.
The man was a hunk, that was for sure. In a suit or jeans, any woman would catch themselves drooling.
“Afraid so. It was the one thing that would keep me quiet when I was a child. It’s most likely why I’m a little plump all around too,” she muttered, popping a piece in her mouth.
“But the curves on you are perfect, believe me, you are full woman,” Frosty said, his gaze traveling down her body.
Holly laughed and poured him a glass of wine. “You do like wine?” she asked.
“Yes, and thank you,” he said, taking the glass and following her into the living room, where her glass waited for her.
“I’m still having a hard time here recognizing the fact that you are Chris’ little sister,” Frosty said, taking a seat across from her and grabbing the notepad he had brought with him.
“Chris was pretty much out of the house when I was born. It’s going to be hard for you to visit them, isn’t it?” she asked, covering her legs with her blanket.
“Very, but for my sister and my parents, I’ll be there. Plus, I have to escort the beautiful princess and her son. You know that it’s going to be risky taking a little human boy up to meet Chris?”
“Not really. Dylan is only six and we’ll just be visiting my brother who lives a little bit away so he won’t even notice us going there. So, tell me what is a soras? Am I yours?” she asked, hating to beat around the bush.
Chapter Six
Frosty just about choked to death on the wine she had given him with her question. He hadn’t heard the term soras in over 400 years and for this pretty little one to bring it up, well surprised wasn’t the only thing he was. How the hell did you explain this? And did he really believe it?
Frosty, Inc Page 2