Accidental Santa by Celia Aaron

Author:Celia Aaron [Aaron, Celia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celia Aaron
Published: 2019-12-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Crane

Three weeks since I met her. Two weeks of us spending our nights together. And now I wonder how I’ll ever go without her.

“You’re chipper today.” Henry walks into my office. “Why are you smiling? Did you mow down some reindeer this morning?”

“What do you want?” If I did have a smile, it’s gone now.

“Higgie and I have been running the numbers, and we think that keeping the store open on Christmas Eve may cost more than Marley’s will make.”

“This again?”

“Yes, this again.” An edge of irritation finally creeps into Henry’s voice. It’s unexpected, mainly because getting irritated about a thing means you care about a thing. I’ve been under the impression that all Henry’s ever cared about is Henry. But, to his credit, he’s been at work every day since the holiday opening, sometimes getting here before I arrive in the mornings and staying after I leave. But I’m certain it’s just a phase. He’ll get bored soon enough.

“You and Higgie should focus on what we intend to do next year. This fiscal year is pretty much finished. Look forward, not back.”

“Is that right?” He approaches, anger in each step he takes. “You want me to plan ahead for next year. Why? So you can get an even better offer from a potential buyer?”

I finally meet his eyes. “What?”

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you? You think I’m an idiot and that you can do whatever the hell you please when it comes to this company.”

“Yes.” I shrug. I mean, wasn’t all that obvious?

“You’re wrong, Crane!” He slams his hand on my desk. “I found out about your plans, how you’ve been floating the idea of a sale through backchannels. People talk.”

“Give me names, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Right, because firing people is the answer. If you don’t find them useful anymore, just cut them off. Well, big brother, you can’t fire me.”

“Are you certain about that?” I page through my emails. “As CEO and chairman of the board, I find that there’s no limit to what I can do in the confines of my Marley’s prison cell. In this hell, I am the devil, and what I say goes.”

“If you hate it so much, why don’t you just leave?” he yells.

“So you can run it into the ground?” I stand and meet him face-to-face. “I can do that just fine without your help. And, yes, I will be selling this company as soon as I get a bid to my liking.”

“I won’t let you.” He steps closer, both of us toe-to-toe.

“You can’t stop me.”

“I can if I force a proxy fight.”

“I see you and Higgie have been conspiring against me.” I step back to my desk and press the page button for Beverly.

“Yes?” she answers.

“Higginbotham is terminated. Have security escort him from the premises immediately.”

“Crane.” Henry’s eyes are wide. “Don’t do this. It’s a week till Christmas. He has a family and you can’t—”

“It’s done.” I hit the button to end the call. “Now, do you

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