by Layla Hagen
Every new report just brought worse news. I’d thought I could wait until after Christmas for the board meeting, but it was becoming increasingly more obvious that it wasn’t feasible. They’d have to make a decision much sooner than I’d hoped.
“Earth to Mr. Statham,” Sienna called. We were in my office one afternoon. She’d been giving me the rundown of a few ideas she’d just added to the rebranding campaign. I’d been listening in the beginning, but then had been too captivated by those gorgeous lips, the way she moved around the room, to pay attention.
As usual, I couldn’t help but smile when Sienna was around.
“What did I tell you about calling me that?”
“Well, you’ve got all that broodiness going on again, so I’ve downgraded you all the way to grouchy boss again.”
I cocked a brow. Sienna met my challenging stare with one of her own.
“What? You’re scaring everyone again.”
“I’m under a lot of pressure.”
“I know.” Her voice was softer. “Talk to me.”
“I’m going to have to meet with the board sooner than I hoped. I’m flying to Burlington this Thursday.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah... Can you come?”
She shook her head. “I have an important meeting in the morning. No way can I cancel it. Anything I can do to help right now?”
I tilted my head. “Help? Close the door and come closer.”
She licked her lips. “Not such a good idea—”
“Close the door, Sienna.”
She did as I said, and when she turned around, I noticed her cheeks were pink. She was still across the room, though.
“Come closer,” I repeated.
She shook her head. “No, I know what you want to do.”
“And what’s that?”
She played with the ends of her hair.
“Sienna. Come. Here.”
Sighing, she started walking toward me. I pushed my chair back from the desk, pointing to my lap.
“Winston!”
“Now I’m Winston again?”
She looked over her shoulder. “What if someone comes in?”
“No one dares come in without knocking. I want to hold you, Sienna.”
She looked at me suspiciously. I deserved that. I didn’t want to just hold her, but... baby steps. She closed the distance, pulling her skirt up a bit before climbing in my lap, placing her knees at the sides of my thighs. Just the smell of her perfume, breathing her in, feeling her touch instantly relaxed me. She was my beacon of light.
But I needed more than that. I needed to kiss, touch. I ran my fingers on her bare arms, watching her chest move up and down rapidly as her breath quickened. And then I leaned her back slightly so I had all the access I wanted. I kissed from her jaw, down the column of her neck, skimming my lips over her clavicle before moving my mouth even lower on her chest, where fabric met skin.
“Winston...,” she whispered in a shaky voice. I opened my mouth, dipping my tongue a little, tasting her skin. She made a small sound, somewhere between a moan and a gasp that went straight to my cock. I’d never get enough of her, and I wanted her right here, on my desk.
Grabbing her ass with both hands, I lifted her from my lap to the edge of the desk.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked. I laughed in her ear, drawing my mouth all the way to her jaw.
“What does it look like?”
Straightening up, she scooted further away. “We’re not having sex on your desk.”
I made to step closer, but she placed a hand firmly on my chest.
“No, not even one of your smoking hot kisses will change my mind.”
Sienna had me wrapped around her little finger, which would be completely fine with me, except the troubling realization that I couldn’t talk her into surrendering to me.
“Clearly, I need to refine my technique.”
She laughed, lowering her hand. “I agree. I’d give you pointers, but that would totally undermine my endgame.”
“Which is?”
“Grow immune to your charm at the office.”
“I’d say you’re succeeding.”
She sighed, throwing her thumb over her shoulder. “If I was, I wouldn’t have closed that door.”
I caught her hand, nudging her legs further apart.
“I see.” I was so close now that I felt her breath on my skin. I watched her intently and could almost tell the second I got through her defenses. She inched even closer to me. I moved my hand from her ankle to her knee, then further up under her skirt.
“Fine, one kiss. But only one. And not scorching hot, or I’m downgrading you to Mr. Statham for the entire week.”
I chuckled, cupping her jaw. I’d smiled more in the ten minutes Sienna had been here with me than the rest of the day.
“I’m not giving you carte blanche,” she warned, but her playful smile told me otherwise.
“I’m claiming it anyway, Sienna.”
Chapter Thirty
Sienna
The day Winston flew to Burlington, I had a meeting in the morning. Afterward, my productivity suffered, because I was checking my emails and messages compulsively. He should have finished with the board by now. So far, I hadn’t heard from him. I wished I’d gone with him. I couldn’t change the outcome of the meeting, but at least I could be there for him, pampering him when he came out.
In the afternoon, Angela from HR came into my office.
“Sienna, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure.”
Angela came in, closing the door behind her. Oh, shit. Something serious had gone down.
“What’s wrong?” I asked at once.
“I’ve just received an email from the board, and I haven’t been able to reach Winston. Since you’re closest to him, I thought maybe you could give me some insight as to how to deal with the news.”
“Okay. What did the board’s email say?”
My heart and stomach constricted almost to the point of pain.
“The store will be shut down. Everyone still has a workplace for the next three months, and everyone will get a severance package. Size will depend on how long they’ve worked here.”
I clasped my hands together, drawing in a deep breath.
“I’m not sure if Winston will be back. The board mentions that one of them will oversee the closing process and that they’ll try to find work placements for as many employees as possible within the chain, if they’re willing to relocate. And at the end of the email it also says that Winston will be in charge of the European stores from now on... and that he’ll do that out of Paris. It doesn’t say when he’s leaving, and I can’t reach him. What did Winston tell you?”
Nothing. I was too stunned to reply. In fact, I could barely focus on my thoughts.
“Let’s wait for Winston to call,” I said, finally.
“Okay. Will do.” She sighed, looking around the room. “I’ll be so sorry to leave this place.”
Shaking her head, she left the office. The initial shock started to wear off the second I was alone. A low pressure built in my chest. I swallowed hard, attempting to focus on the spreadsheet I’d been working on. I refused to jump to conclusions. I’d just wait for Winston to call and explain what had happened.
I managed to hang on to that thought for all of ten minutes, after which I asked Angela to forward me the email from the board. Midway through it, I realized it had been a mistake to read it. Seeing the words in black and white made everything ten times worse.
My chest was so heavy that I could barely draw in deep breaths.
I minimized the window with the email, staring at my desk and trying to rein in my thoughts, to not let my fears get the better of me.
It wasn’t working.
My body was heavy, as if I was tied to the chair. I couldn’t even get up to walk off the tension building inside me.
Why hadn’t Winston told me any of this? He’d always
said he had a backup plan, but never mentioned that it required him moving away. And yet, the board had included it in the newsletter as if it was agreed upon and set in stone. He’d never mentioned any details. Was it because he hadn’t seen a future together for us? That couldn’t be.
The way he held me, loved me... the way he spoke to me was always so heartfelt. Just thinking about us, our conversations, our snuggles and sexy shenanigans made me smile. My whole body felt lighter, warmer, overpowering the sense of foreboding for a few seconds.
And yet, that damn email was weighing on me, rooting me to the spot. I just had to stop thinking about it and push it as far to the back of my mind as possible.
I pressed a palm to my forehead, forcing myself to think about something else.
Oh, yes! I was supposed to go pick up the bags Pippa had ordered for her daughters today. I’d ordered a similar one for Chloe. I shimmied in my seat imagining the happiness on their faces when they’d see the bags.
That’s right. I would focus on my family. Reaching for my phone, I dialed Victoria’s number. We were meeting today so I could give her the bag for Chloe, but we hadn’t yet decided on the place.
“Hi! Done with work already?” Victoria said in greeting.
“Yes. Decided where you want to go?” I asked.
“What are you in the mood for?”
“No clue.”
“Put her on loudspeaker,” Pippa’s voice sounded in the background.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Pippa and I went to pick up some furniture. Wait, I’m switching you to loudspeaker.”
Several seconds later, I heard my sister’s voice loud and clear.
“Want to grab something to eat?” Victoria asked.
“Sure, sounds good.”
“Wait a second. You sound a little off.” That came from Pippa.
I chuckled. Pippa’s people-reading skills were forever surprising me but gauging one’s mood through the phone was a new high.
“I’ve had better days,” I admitted.
“We need to cheer you up. Say no more. I know exactly what you need,” Pippa said.
“And what’s that?” I was super curious since I didn’t even know myself what I needed.
“Nadine is at her store today. I’m sure we can talk her into staying open a while longer for us. We’ll call the rest of the girls and see who can joins us, and we can have a girly evening.”
My favorite girls and our usual wine in cups? Yes, yes, yes.
“Pippa, you’re a genius.”
“I know, right?”
“I already feel better just thinking about it.”
“Mission accomplished.”
“I’ll just wrap up things here and head to Nadine’s.”
I practically jumped out of my chair as soon as I hung up, gathering my things. I was so excited to leave the building that I almost forgot to pick up the bags. I was already at the entrance when I remembered and made a short detour. By the time I left the Statham building, Pippa had sent me a message.
Pippa: The party is ON. Ava and Alice will join us.
Nadine’s store was ten blocks away from Statham. These days, Nadine was rarely in the shop. She was usually in her studio, designing new gowns, or supervising the sewing team. Everything was handmade.
Her dresses were sold in department stores countrywide, but she also had two shops, one in New York and this one in San Francisco. The latter had hosted many a girls’ night out. We loved it there; we were out of a house, but still in an intimate atmosphere.
“I’ll be right out,” Nadine called the second I entered the store and the bell above the door rang.
“Take your time. It’s just me.”
I loved it here. All these beautiful dresses, the comfy seating area in the front. Nadine also shared my love for Christmas decorations. Her store looked like Santa’s workshop. Everywhere I turned were either twinkling lights, globes, or fake tree garlands sprayed with white.
Nadine appeared right away. She was wearing a stunning red dress, and her dark hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders.
She had a little twinkle in her eye. “So, I haven’t told the girls to bring any wine because I have eggnog. Is that okay?”
“Is the sky blue? I love eggnog.”
I beamed, already feeling lighter than I had in hours. Away from the Statham building, it was easier to forget that damn email.
“Thanks for keeping open this long.”
“A girls’ evening was long overdue. We can all relax a little. The weeks up to Christmas are always so stressful for everyone. Delivering orders, hitting targets. Not to mention all the holiday preparations.”
“But it’s the good kind of stress, right?” I said.
“You’re right. You always know how to put things in perspective.”
That was usually true. But right now, I was still fighting to find a perspective that wasn’t bleak. Any second now I’d come up with it. Any second now. I was sure of it. Besides, eggnog boosted creativity and positivity. It was basically Christmas in a bottle.
Pippa and Victoria arrived a few minutes later, followed by Alice, who was carrying two huge bags filled with take-out boxes.
“Do I smell roast duck?” I asked, already rubbing my stomach.
Alice winked. “I couldn’t come without everyone’s favorite, right?”
“Gimme, gimme.” I took the bags from Alice. She’d brought paper plates and cups too, as usual. Within minutes, we’d spread everything on the little coffee table between the armchairs.
“Before I forget, here are the bags for your girls.” I handed Pippa the package.
“They’ll be so happy. I didn’t tell them I managed to place an order before they sold out. Thanks for making that happen.”
“You’re welcome.”
We’d just begun eating when Ava walked in too.
“Is it too early for eggnog?” she asked, her eyes lighting up when she noticed the duck.
“The answer to that will always be no,” Pippa answered on a laugh, pouring Ava a glass.
“Hard day?” Nadine asked.
Ava joined her palms in a prayer. “Please, please, please talk to your husband. I’ve been talking budgets with Logan the entire afternoon. He’s still every bit as stubborn about every expense as he was when I first came to Bennett Enterprises.”
Nadine held up her hands. “I don’t want to interfere in your budget war.”
Ava dropped her chin to her chest, sighing dramatically. “Sebastian says the same. Why’s no one on my side?”
Pippa batted her eyelashes. “We all are. You’re just braver than the lot of us. Any chance you can take over the budget negotiations for my department too?”
Ava’s jaw dropped open. “Traitor. You’d do that to me?”
“Better you than me,” Pippa said on a grin.
Ava took a sip of her glass, closing her eyes, sighing again.
“If you give me enough eggnog, I might start to consider it.”
“Atta girl.” Pippa held her glass up. The rest followed, and we cheered.
“To my brothers, who all married brave women,” Pippa declared. I couldn’t agree more. I loved these ladies.
“I have no idea how you girls handle everything,” I said. “Careers, kids, and everything.”
“Well, we do have pretty amazing husbands,” Ava said dreamily.
Victoria nodded vigorously. “I wholeheartedly agree. They’re amazing.”
“Except when they’re in caveman mood,” Nadine said, but she was grinning. “Nah, even then. They’re cute. Anyone up to pranking them?”
I perked up. “Yes, ma’am. What do you have in mind?”
“Not sure yet. Let’s see if the eggnog will help with inspiration.”
Several cups later, everyone was throwing ideas around.
“If we tell them that we’re surrounded by a group of guys out for a bachelor party, they’ll show up at the door within the hour,” Nadine sa
id.
Victoria laughed, almost spilling eggnog on herself. “They’ll be here in twenty minutes tops. Christopher, at least.”
Ha! Yes, he would. There was a general murmur of agreement that the bachelor idea was the best, but we decided to wait until later to put everything in motion.
By the time I was on my third eggnog, I had thoroughly relaxed. Or was it my fourth? I couldn’t tell. Nadine kept refilling my cup like it was her job.
Once the food was gone, someone suggested we put on music. I danced with Victoria, Ava, and Nadine, while Pippa and Alice watched us, heads together, whispering. I had the slight suspicion they were talking about me. I wanted to pick the girls’ brains, but I just couldn’t bring myself to think about everything. Then Kylie’s “Santa Baby” came on, and all my worries slammed into me. The next second, Pippa patted the floor.
“Come on, girl. Sit and tell us what has you all worked up.”
My shoulders felt heavy again. Sighing, I sat between Alice and Pippa.
Victoria followed, sitting across from me. Well, the more the merrier.
“The Statham store in San Francisco is closing,” I began.
“But I thought Winston met today with the board?” Victoria said.
“He did. And then the board sent an email informing HR of the outcome... and that Winston is going to Paris.”
“Holy shit. Since when did you know this?” Pippa asked.
“Since HR told me. Winston never mentioned it.”
“Did you talk to him today?”
“No. No one’s been able to reach him.”
My lower lip was trembling. The eggnog was not helping. Instead of boosting creativity, it only seemed to magnify my fears. I was clinging to every thought that filled me with love and warmth.
The way he kissed me every time? Oh, yeah.
His insistence on taking care of me after the miniburn? Definitely.
His smile when he gave me the green light to buy Christmas decorations for his apartment? The image was playing on repeat in my mind.
But was I having positive thoughts? No, sir, I was not. All I could see ahead were dark clouds.
“Why hasn’t he told me about these plans? If the board sent it in an email right after the meeting, it means that they’d discussed it before.”