My normally drab office is absolutely decked out for the Christmas season. I proudly take it all in. Cheryl from human resources helped me get everything set up, but I was the one who masterminded the whole operation. You could say I’m a little bit of a Christmas fanatic. I don’t know what it is, the songs, the decorations, the good spirit, but something about December just puts me into overdrive.

I have holly draped along the top of everyone’s office door and wreaths near all the water fountains. There is even a fun little story to be told if you follow a trail of reindeer footprint stickers that lead from the break room to the roof access. I set it up to look like the reindeer raided our fridge and tried to escape to the roof, but ended up having to use the fire escape window by accounting. I know it’s a little lame, and half the office makes sure I know by teasing me about it. I don’t care though. They can tease all they want because celebrating the holidays is just what I do. It’s who I am.

I send the last email of the day and rub my hands together excitedly. The Christmas Eve party is tonight and I can’t wait. I even bought a special pair of jade earrings with gold trim that are shaped like stockings for the occasion. The office buzzes with activity as everyone finishes up their last bits of work and gets ready to go out for the night. Pretty much everyone is going to be at the party, and we’ve been talking about it all week. If it’s anything like last year, we’ll be talking about it for months to come too.

Lauren opens the door to my office, smiling wide. “See you there!”

I smirk. “If you manage to stay conscious long enough for me to get there this time, you will.”

She waves a dismissive hand. “Hey, the responsibility is on you to get there before I’m blackout drunk.”

I roll my eyes but can’t help grinning as she leaves. I’ve never been much of a binge drinker myself, so I don’t understand Lauren’s compulsion to drink until she forgets everything. I’d rather have a few drinks to loosen up and take everything in. Besides, I have a tendency to make a total fool of myself when I get too drunk, so I’m careful to watch myself.

I can’t leave with my desk unorganized, so I take five minutes to straighten papers and put everything where it belongs, making a little stack of items that need immediate attention when I come back from our brief holiday break. The office rapidly clears out while I organize. There are cheers of excitement and loud laughter as people get ready for the party of the year. Harry is humming “Deck the Halls” in his deep baritone while he gets his coat on. I smile to myself, loving every second of it. I think the part that I love most about the holidays might just be seeing how happy it makes everyone. It lets me live in a world where people aren’t so cruel and nasty and grumpy all the time, even if it’s just for a little while.

I make one last check of my desk and when I’m sure everything is set in its place, I grab my coat to leave. The door to my office was already ajar, but I jump when I hear it slam against the wall. The man standing in the doorway is tall, broad-shouldered, and distractingly attractive. He has a perfectly defined jawline and dreamy hair that always seems to fall just perfectly out of place. His piercing eyes bore into me, making me feel self-conscious, like I suddenly can’t remember what I normally do with my hands.

“Adam…” I wince in embarrassment. “I mean, Mr. Wolfe. Sorry.” My cheeks burn hot. Why am I such a mess around him? He took over as CEO last week, and I still feel like jelly when I look at him. Stupid jelly that can’t put two thoughts together.

There’s a hint of laughter in his dark eyes as he slaps a heavy folder down on my desk. “I need this by tonight.”

My eyes fall to the folder. “Incident reports? Sir, with all due respect, can’t these wait until--”

“By tonight,” he says.

I swallow hard, embarrassment quickly melting to anger. I don’t care if he is Mr. Billionaire Big Shot, the fastest way to piss me off is by interfering with my holidays. “I had time to do these earlier today, why are you only just now giving them to me?”

He puts his hands on my desk taking command of the entire room, demanding my focus. My mouth feels dry as I take him in. He even looks rich. Why do all super rich people seem to have some quality to their skin and hair, like it’s just better? Am I just imagining that? Focus, Ally! This asshole is trying to ruin your Christmas Eve.

“What’s the problem?” he asks. “Are you afraid to be alone in the office with me? I won’t bite.”

Why not? Ugh! Stop it. I wish I could just be pissed at him and stop fantasizing about him disciplining me in his office. I lick my lips. “No. I just had plans.” My voice comes out sounding quieter and meeker than I intended.

He raps his knuckles twice on my desk and winks at me. “Now you have new plans.” Without a backward glance, he turns and walks from my office.

When the door closes, I pick up a stuffed Santa doll on my desk and throw it as hard as I can at the door and then slump down in my chair to pout. “Asshole…”