Page 97 of Santa's Baby
“What shall I say?” Evelyn asks. “The queue is massive. Shall I tell them to come back later?”
Fucking hell, this can’t be happening. Please, God, fucking no. I don’t have time to think, time to act, time to collect myself together. Not with Bryson and Charles outside.
“Shut the grotto,” I tell Evelyn. “It’s closed, as of right now.”
“Shut the grotto? For real?!”
“Yes. Shut the grotto. Disperse the queue. Head off now, Toby, the day is done.” I suck in a breath as everyone jumps into action, cursing myself for ignoring the chat thread. I should have seen this fucking coming.
Bry pokes his head around the grotto doorway a few seconds later. He’s hardly smiling with festive cheer.
“Gooday, Santa. Thought we’d drop by for a quick hello.”
Fuck!
25
TIFFANY
Ican’t hold back the grin on my face as I wander through the mall and it blows my mind to see how so many people grin back at me, especially young kids – waving at the happy elf in the bobble hat. I could get used to this. For real.
I get the charity work thing now, and why Reuben spends so much time as benefactor for other people. I’m used to serving humanity by getting people off to their wildest fantasies, which is cool, but putting effort into charity from the goodness of your own heart gives me a different kind of glow. I’m beginning to love my elf garb. I’m also loving the mall, too. This place is magnificent.
To think this whole complex belongs to Reuben is beyond impressive. The whole bloody mall is owned by the man who owns my heart. I’m buzzing, alive.Me.And it’s all because of him.
The memory of first walking into Santa’s grotto and seeing him on his sleigh is burnt into my soul – Reuben’s stunning grey eyes staring at me in instant recognition. And now, here I am, having just fucked him in that same sleigh. What a crazy fucking ride.
I sit down and chill at Janie’s Bakes, and Jen’s recommendation was spot on. Their cappuccino and carrot cake are fucking yummy. I’ll be a regular customer, that’s for sure. I’ll be trying everything on their menu.
I survey the surroundings, no longer intimidated by the love in people’s eyes as they share snacks with their young families. I’d usually be glued to my phone, busying myself with social media, or browsing through my proposals, but I’m not interested. I replied to yet another message from Josh earlier, giving lame excuses about taking some time out.Busy with friends.
He’s going to get on my case soon, and I know it. If it was the other way around, I’d be climbing the walls wondering what the fuck was up with him. But I suspect he knows the truth.
I’ve met someone. Finally. That’s what he’ll be thinking.
He must be itching for me to blurt out the news and share the details. Him and Ella would be over the moon to see me happy and settled with someone cool. But they wouldn’t be quite so over the moon if they knew that someone cool just happened to be one of our bosses. Their congratulatory smiles would turn to horror and a serious round ofare you fucking insane?!
The answer is yes. I am fucking insane.
But it’s making me happy.
Not theI love cock because I’m a dirty bitchkind of happy. Or theI have the best besties in the worldkind of happy. Or thelook how nice the view is from my Belgravia apartmentkind of happy.Actuallyhappy.
Realhappy.
In lovehappy.
That term still gives me the heebies along with butterflies, but I eat the rest of my carrot cake regardless. Delicious.
I hope Reuben’s got a filth fest planned for later on, even though I’m still battered from last night. Santa makes me a veryhungry girl, and it’s not for carrot cake. I want another late session where the founder side of him comes to the fore, and he sends me to subspace with a smile. I’m down for some risky exhibitionism after the session in the grotto. Maybe he could take me back to the trash bin site one night and fuck my brains out far better than my client did. I’d like that.
It feels like a lifetime ago, as though Reuben has been in my life for years, not just weeks.
I get tingles remembering him standing there in the club as I went out for my session with my client…
I want to call up the proposal, just to bring the memories back, so I take out my phone for a cursory glance over things while I’m finishing up my cappuccino. May as well take a minute to check out what fresh proposals are actually coming through. Client 2906 – the guy from the trash bins – has sent me a new proposal. So have a whole plethora of my regular clients. Not one of my clients has turned down the proposals Reuben shunted without me knowing, and there are a load of others I don’t recognise. I could fill my calendar up until at least March with a series of thumb clicks… but that isn’t the only reason I’m on here. Not if I’m honest with myself.
I’m also checking for any correspondence or questions from Orla about my founders’ postponement. Luckily, there is nothing from her. My message inbox is up to date.