by Aiden Frost
“Okay,” said Amanda, exasperated with Carter’s questions. She spun her chair around to fully face him. “Shandra and I made a pact to do things we’re scared of. Hence the yelling with Max. Hers was to tell him she wanted to be his assistant.”
“Hmmm,” pondered Carter. “I didn’t know that’s something she wanted.”
Amanda shrugged. “Apparently so.”
“But what about you? You’re not scared to sleep with men, why was your thing to sleep with the boss?”
“Oh, no,” said Amanda. “That was just a dare from Shandra. And then the next time was a favor...”
Carter shook his head. “You sound like my daughter. Pacts, dares...”
“What can I say,” said Amanda. “It gets really boring around here.”
“Okay!” said Carter, suddenly excited. “Give me a dare.”
Amanda’s lip curled in amusement. “You really want a dare? From me?”
“I’m not going to sleep with anybody,” said Carter, suddenly concerned over what he’d just gotten himself in to.
Amanda chuckled. “Okay, then. I want you to tell your wife that you hate galleries.”
Carter looked at her a moment, ready to deny it, when his shoulders slumped. “Was it that obvious?”
“You had this zoned out, zombie look on your face when you got back home. So either it was really past your bedtime, or you were bored out of your mind.” Amanda sat back, waiting for an answer.
“I hate them,” Carter suddenly gushed. “I go because she likes them, but they are literally the most boring way to spend an evening.” He shook his head. “No, I’m not going to tell her. She’s going to be furious with me for lying to her all these years.”
“You’ve been lying to make her happy,” said Amanda.
“Still a lie,” countered Carter.
“Okay, suit yourself.” She spun her chair, turning back to the computer. She could feel Carter still standing behind her.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll tell her. But when my wife kicks me out of the house, I’m coming to live with you.”
“Fair enough,” said Amanda.
“Hey,” said Carter as he turned to walk away. “What’s the thing you’re going to do that makes you scared?”
Amanda groaned. “Call my mother.”
Chapter Eleven
MAX RETURNED TO THE office without Shandra. He gave Amanda a surreptitious glance as he walked past her cubicle, but she busied herself in her desk drawer, pretending not to notice his presence. Pretending not to breathe in his scent as he walked so near to her.
Amanda had no idea what the two of them were up to. She’d be worried for Shandra, but she knew she could handle herself.
She heard Max’s office door close, but then not a moment later she heard it reopen. She tentatively tipped her head up and over the divider. She looked to him and their eyes met. She held his gaze as all the other people in the office melted away. He looked saddened, forlorn. She wanted to move to him, to push him back through his door and wrap her arms around him. She pulled her eyes away from him, settling back down into her chair.
“I have an announcement to make,” came Max’s voice, firm and loud above the crowd. People shifted in their seats, or stood, trying to get a better view of him. “This Friday’s checks will also hold a separate check for your Christmas bonuses.” Murmurs ran through the room. “I’ve decided to give them out early so that everyone can get a jump on their holiday shopping this upcoming weekend.” Clapping circled around the room.
Carter slipped into her cubicle, kneeling down beside Amanda. “What’s going on?” he asked. “I thought we weren’t getting bonuses?”
Amanda shrugged.
“Maybe you sleeping with him is a good thing,” Carter mused.
“I didn’t suddenly give the company a whole bunch of money,” Amanda said. “According to Janice, we weren’t getting bonuses or a Christmas party this year.”
“Well, then the money came from somewhere.”
“How rich is Max?” she asked.
Carter shrugged next to her. His shoulder pressed against the side of her leg as they remained hidden behind the divider. “His family is from money. At least his mother was.”
“Did she pass away?”
Carter nodded, straining to hear what else Max was saying. Max suddenly raised his voice again. “I’d like to invite all of you, and your families, friends if you wish, to the office Christmas party this year. I’ll have more details soon, but I can guarantee there will be plenty of food, plenty of drinks...” he paused as a handful of people cheered, “and I’m pretty sure we can manage some games for the kids with prizes and maybe some monetary prizes for the adults.” This got a spattering of cheers and clapping from the crowd, and Amanda couldn’t help but smile in spite of her distaste for the holiday season. She wouldn’t mind having a few drinks and a chance at winning some money.
Amanda turned, smiling at Carter. “You’ll bring your wife, the kids?”
“What’s going on with you?” he asked. “You’ve been boo-hooing and bah-humbugging Christmas since the day after Thanksgiving.”
“That’s because of this dreadful Christmas music,” she said, indicating the speaker above her cubicle. “It’s like some kind of haunted death march. Whoever picked this out only wants one thing, to bore us all to sleep.”
Carter wrinkled his nose before standing. He straightened his slacks and turned to stare up at the speaker. “It is quite dreadful, isn’t it? But yes, to answer your question, I’ll be bringing the family to the Christmas party. Although, this is the first year that kids have been invited. Usually we need to find a sitter, which isn’t all that easy this time of year.”
Amanda looked to the back wall of her cubicle, to where she could still hear Max’s voice. First he’s sad, and now this? Christmas bonuses and an all-out party. Amanda suddenly wondered if he was buttering them up for some terrible news. She didn’t want to need to get another job. This one was just fine. She was sick of change. She thought maybe she should just ask him. It seemed like a reasonable question, to ask if her job was in jeopardy. She started to stand, and then sat back down. She wanted to ask him, but she didn’t want to go back into his office. Not in the middle of the day, at least. She chastised herself for such thoughts. She’d already broken her broken rule. She needed to focus before she dug herself such a deep hole her job would be in jeopardy upon her own doing. A closing company she could deal with, but the company slut she was not going to be known as. Maybe she would have him just one more time, she mused to herself. A tingling sensation started between her legs as the thought of him inside of her.
“Amanda James!” boomed Max’s voice.
Amanda startled. Her face heated. She knew her too light skin had brightened to a shade of red that was lighting her up like a stop light. She wanted to be invisible. She wanted to be too busy to respond. Her heart thumped in her chest as she stood. The few people who looked at her did a double take. It was like there was a sign on her forehead: I was just thinking dirty thoughts about Max Avery. She left off a heavy breath and strode with purpose across the room. She brushed past him without any acknowledgement and slid into a chair across from his desk. She could sense him move into the room behind her, before he closed the door.
He moved around his desk, staring down at her before he sat. She took a moment to clear her mind before she looked up at him. But looking at him was a bad idea. She saw the desire in his eyes. He rolled his shirtsleeves up as he watched her. She didn’t want to watch him, but she did. When she brought her eyes back to his face, she saw that he knew. He knew what she was thinking. He knew that she wanted him. And she hated that. She hardened her gaze. “What can I do for you, Mr Avery?”
His lip twitched into a smile. “Well, Ms James...”
His voice was husky. Amanda wanted to press her breasts to his lips. She wanted him to call her name in pleasure. “Huh?” asked Amanda when she realized Max has stopped talking and
was waiting for her to respond.
He smiled at her. “Go out with me tonight?” he said.
Amanda’s face fell. Even worse than sleeping with someone again, was going out with someone after you slept with them. “I...umm... have something to do tonight.”
“Okay,” said Max, nonchalant. Amanda stood to leave the room. “That’s not why I called you in here,” Max said with a chuckle.
“Oh,” said Amanda, as she sat back down into the seat. “Of course.” She folded her hands in her lap, waiting for him to speak.
Max watched her. He was unraveling her tightly wrapped exterior, he could see it. He wanted to rip free all of it, to expose her. To have her be his. But he saw it in her, she’d fight him. But he was ready for the fight. “I need you to plan the Christmas party,” he said.
Amanda looked at him, uncertain. “But you said there would be games for the kids, prizes...”
“And there will be, as soon as you set everything in order.”
“Oh,” croaked out Amanda. Then, “Why me?” She cocked her head at him. “Is it because we...” she trailed off, uncertain of the word she wanted to use.
“Got naked?” Max ventured.
Amanda’s lip curled in amusement. “Yeah.”
“No, this is not because I’ve seen you naked. And liked it,” Max added. Amanda’s face flushed pink and he silently rewarded himself for unnerving her. “It is because I need a last-minute party planned, and when I asked Shandra who I should get to take care of things, she told me you. So, I am trusting her and asking you to plan our party. Do you feel like this is something you could take on?”
Amanda sat up straighter in her chair, her diminutive height stretched as far as she could muster. “Of course I can,” she said. “What’s my budget and what day are you planning for?”
Max took out his wallet and pulled out his new bank card. He pressed it into Amanda’s outstretched hand, taking an extra moment to allow his finger to rub across the soft skin of her thumb. Her hand trembled, but she hid it with her brusque attitude as she stood.
“You’ll find that card will cover things sufficiently. Days are flexible but aim for the end of next week. Anywhere is fine with me, but I’d keep it within a five-block radius from here, for those who will be traveling right from work to the party.”
Amanda nodded curtly before leaving his office.
He smiled to himself after she’d shut the door. He’d unnerved her. He liked that. She was wound too tight. He needed to find a way to get to her, and way to make her nice and loose for him.
Chapter Twelve
“WHAT DID HE WANT?” whispered Carter through their barrier. He startled her as Amanda tried to slide the card secretively into her purse.
“Nothing interesting,” she said. “Just something about an upcoming project he’s thinking about taking on.”
“Oh,” came Carter’s voice, deflated. “That’s not gossip-worthy in the slightest.
“Nope,” said Amanda. Her phone suddenly vibrated in her purse. “Damn it,” she grumbled as it rattled against her tube of mascara. “Hello?” she asked without looking at the screen.
“I’m coming with you to view the property after you’ve decided where to have the party.”
She pulled the phone away from her ear, looking down at the screen. A local number with no name. “Max?” she asked when she put the phone back up to her ear. “Why didn’t you call me on my desk phone?”
“Can’t figure out this damn phone,” he grumbled. “I know how to call out, not call inter-office. I knew how to call Janice, that was it.”
Amanda shook her head, amused. “I can show you how to set up your speed-dial for other numbers,” Amanda said. “But otherwise, you need to dial # and 4 before calling in-house.” She heard Max scribbling. “Why do you need to see the location I choose if you’re leaving the planning up to me?”
“I prefer not to be surprised when I’m the one who’s throwing the party.”
“Ah,” said Amanda. “So you’re using me?” She regretted her choice of words as soon as they left her lips.
Max remained silent on the other end of the line. Then he said, “Come into my office before you leave today to set up my speed dial.” Then he hung up without another word.
“Shit!” Amanda cursed to herself. “Don’t ask, Carter,” she called out before he could question her.
Carter started singing, “Trouble ahead, trouble behind. And you know that notion just crossed my mind...” Amanda suddenly wished they’d turn up the Christmas music so it would drown him out.
Amanda looked down to the mound of papers covering her desk. It was all stuff she had no interest in dealing with. And none of it was really time sensitive. She decided maybe starting to plan the party would put her in a better mood. She typed in her passcode to access the internet, then brought up a trip planning site on her screen. The number one hotel in the area was Bartol’s. She grumbled to herself, not really interested in attending yet another event in a hotel conference room. She re-searched, this time bringing up the top-rated restaurants. A local diner was rated at number one. Although she too enjoyed their homecooked food, it wasn’t really office party appropriate. She scrolled down the screen, not coming across anything that really piqued her interest. She went back to her town’s main screen, clicking on another hotel before closing out the screen.
Where the party was located was going to be more important than anything else. She knew she could book a reception room at a local hotel, even on this short of notice, but that was...bland. She wanted something magical. She cringed, then chastised herself. Amanda Lynn James did not call the holiday season magical. She didn’t know what had gotten into her lately, but she didn’t like it. Even still, she wanted to plan something special. Even if she was the only one who would know she’d put this all together, Max would know, Shandra would know, and she wanted to take their breaths away.
She tapped loudly on her desk, trying to break free an idea. She didn’t have much time to plan this. She’d be lucky if she found a caterer with availability on such short notice, plus she’d need waiters and a bartender. Plus decorations. Everyone would expect the place to be decorated.
She searched again, this time looking for resorts that had some sort of reception hall. She clicked on a page for a resort and spa, before looking at their mediocre space and clicking back to the search results. She scrolled through the image results, coming upon a photo of a hall with cozy log cabin style walls, and three-story vaulted ceilings. The photo was from last year, boasting a twenty-five-foot Christmas tree. She clicked on the image’s site. It took her to a place right outside the city. It was gorgeous, and perfect, if only it wasn’t past the five-block radius rule that Max gave her. She searched around a little longer, suddenly becoming discouraged that the only thing she would find would be a hotel reception area.
“Bleck.” She sat back from the computer. She clicked on the page again with the log cabin style retreat. She wondered if other people in the office would find it as endearing as she did. It epitomized Christmas. There was a large fireplace, plenty of room to mingle, a game room, full staff available, and it was already perfectly decorated. If they were available, the only thing she’d need to do would be to speak to them about the details. Everything would be in one place—no relying on a dozen different companies to come through for her.
She picked up the phone and poised her finger, ready to dial. She replaced the receiver. She should talk to Max first. She stood. But he trusted you. She sat. But he said close by. She stood. But maybe it’s not available. She sat. She got an odd glance from one of the women across the way. She gave her a lopsided smile.
She’d just find out if it was available. She grabbed the phone and dialed. It rang through to a voicemail. Amanda was just about to hang up when a hurried voice came on the line.
“Hello? Hold on. Let the message finish.” They both waited until the message finished and the beep sounded. Amanda heard some shuffling
and a mumble, then the line was silent. “Okay,” said the soft, elderly voice. “How may I help you?”
“Hi,” said Amanda. “I’m inquiring as to whether your facility has any openings available before Christmas.”
“Oh! Oh, my! Let me see.” Amanda remained quiet as she listened to the tapping of a computer. “About how many guests?” asked the woman.
“Well, I don’t exactly know yet. Could we plan for one-fifty and I could get you a closer count later?”
“Certainly. Evening?” asked the woman.
“Yes. This would be an office party.”
“Adults only?”
“No,” said Amanda with a laugh. “For some reason the boss has decided this is a family event.”
The woman chuckled. “We have something great for that. There’s staff available to man the game rooms, set up holiday-based activities, and generally give the adults some time to themselves. Whatever you need for your event, we provide.”
“Wow,” breathed out Amanda, “that would be perfect.”
She could practically feel the woman smile through the phone. “I can email you a list of our packages. You won’t need to spend your time picking out specific dishes or specific drinks, unless that is, you have a special request. We’ve been holding events here for the past fifteen years. We know what will make the guests happy.”
Amanda blew out a breath. “That would be amazing.” She lowered her voice. “I need to impress my boss.”
“That’s what we’re here for. I can guarantee this will be an event people will talk about for a long time after. We have a ninety-percent re-booking rate here. Once people hold their events here, they don’t go anywhere else.” Amanda could hear the pride in the woman’s voice.
“So,” said Amanda. “Please tell me you have an opening.”
The woman chuckled. “I wouldn’t have built all that up just to disappoint. We have an opening next Friday. You’re welcome to start the event anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. But, if you’re having children come, I’d start early. That way those who are bringing children can still participate, but don’t need to have too late of a night.”