The Wisdom of Bug (The Christmas CEO Collection #1)

Chapter 1 Deck the Halls with Blurry Budgets

Deck the Halls with Blurry Budgets

Evelyn

Evelyn sat forward in her chair, staring at her laptop. Squinting, she closed her left eye and tried to concentrate on the screen. Still blurry.

Closing her right eye and focusing with her left eye yielded the same result.

“I’m not wearing those bloody glasses,” she mumbled to herself.

“Can I ask why you’re winking at your laptop?” Maggie asked as she walked into Evelyn’s office, sitting herself ungracefully into the chair opposite her boss. “I hope you’re not having video sex,” she added with a smirk.

“The chance would be a fine thing,” Evelyn answered, still trying her hardest to get her uncooperating eyes to focus on the number in front of her. “Anyway, I’m not sure what kind of video sex you’re used to, but I can’t say winking would really get the job done.”

“How should I know what you’re into?”

Evelyn pushed back from her desk and rested her head on the back of her ergonomic chair. “When would I find the time to have video sex? I’m here all the time.”

Evelyn Crawford had been thrust into the CEO spot two months ago when her father, Richard Crawford, CEO and founder of Crawford’s Pet Supplies, announced he was off on a world tour with his new floozy, Lyla, and shouldn’t be expected to return anytime soon.

“You don’t have to be here all the time, Evie,” Maggie stated.

It wasn’t the first time Evelyn had heard those words from her assistant, and it wouldn’t be the last. Truth be told, Evelyn did need to be there twenty-four seven. Her father had buggered off at the busiest time of year, dumping Evelyn in the deep end.

Now, Evelyn loved her dad dearly, but sometimes his laid-back attitude really clawed at her nerves. How he’d built a multi-million pound pet supply empire was anyone’s guess. Evelyn always thought it had been her mother who was the real brains behind the operation.

Roslyn Crawford was a magnificent woman.

The world was a much darker place without her, especially for Evelyn, who had always been close to her mum.

It was nearly three years since Roslyn passed away from cancer.

Richard had grieved, Evelyn knew that, but she found it in poor taste that he seemed to replace her mum so easily.

Lyla—the floozy—was half his age and clearly in it for the money.

Evelyn shook her head, dislodging Lyla and her dad from her mind. There wasn’t enough space for them to take up residence, not when she had a company to run. With Christmas around the corner, there was a mountain of work to get done.

“There’s a lot to get done, so lay off, Mags,” Evelyn grumbled.

Maggie Peach was one of Evelyn’s closest friends.

As soon as Evelyn had taken up the mantle as CEO, she’d contacted Maggie and begged her to work as Evelyn’s personal assistant.

Maggie had been a receptionist for five years in a small law firm and Evelyn knew she was ready for something different.

Maggie jumped at the job offer, and, as they say, the rest is history.

“Yes, there is a lot to do, but overworking yourself isn’t going to get anything done faster. In fact, you’ll do a terrible job and I know that’s not what you want.”

“I’ll finish by ten tonight, I promise. I need to complete some things for the Christmas line.” Evelyn was coming to hate the festive season. All it did was put her under more pressure.

As well as the work she had to wade through, Evelyn knew she had to keep the board happy.

Her father hadn’t consulted them at all about her appointment as the new CEO.

Evelyn wasn’t stupid. She knew there were a couple of board members who were pissed she’d got the job.

Her job security would never be in question, not when her dad owned fifty-one percent of the company, but that wouldn’t stop the board causing problems for Evelyn if they so wanted.

Christmas was the company’s golden goose. Every pet owner in the UK went bonkers for cute sweaters, new toys, and treats. Crawford’s had a stellar reputation for quality products at reasonable prices—no wonder they were the number one pet supply store in the entire country.

This would be Evelyn’s first Christmas in the big chair, and she didn’t want it to be her last. Even though she hadn’t asked for the job, she wasn’t about to mess it up.

Evelyn took pride in her family’s hard work and the company they had built.

Evelyn herself had started at the company straight out of university, officially.

Unofficially, she’d been coming to the office since she could walk with her mum and dad.

So, as much as she was irritated at her dad, she wanted to make him proud. Her mum, too.

“Okay, tonight it’s ten. Tomorrow, you’re clocking out with me and we’re hitting the pub,” Maggie stated.

“Mags, come on,” Evelyn whined.

“Nope, it’s non-negotiable. Tomorrow is Friday, it’s the law.”

Evelyn chuckled, “It is not the law, you idiot.”

“I’m pretty sure it is. Anyway, stop arguing. Tomorrow, you and me and a few pints or several glasses of wine. Whatever, I’m not fussy. Oh, and one last thing—” Maggie stood and made her way to the door “—put your bloody glasses on.”

As soon as Maggie was gone, Evelyn let her head thump to the desk. How was she going to get through the Christmas season in one piece? The trill of her phone echoed through her office.

“I have to change that ringtone,” she grumbled. Without moving her head, Evelyn removed her phone from her blazer jacket and sighed. “Hey, babe,” she said, trying as hard as possible to sound upbeat.

“Where are you?” Mindy huffed. These calls were becoming a frequent occurrence. Evelyn had told her girlfriend the next few months were going to be tough, and at the time Mindy had said she understood.

Apparently not.

“I’m in the office, Min, you know that.”

“It’s nearly nine o’clock. Are you coming home tonight at all?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll be out of here by ten at the latest.”

“Ten?” Mindy screeched. Evelyn pulled the phone away from her ear. Her head was still firmly planted on her desk.

“Yes, ten. I have a budget to approve and it can’t wait.”

“Fine, but this needs to change, Ev. Seriously, when was the last time we had an evening to ourselves?”

“Last Saturday,” Evelyn answered.

“Oh, you mean the hour I got between you working on your laptop and your phone?”

Evelyn hated fighting with Mindy, but what was she supposed to say? The company had to come first for a little while.

“Min, I swear, as soon as this god-awful season is over, I’m all yours. We’ll take a trip, somewhere tropical. I just need you to support me, just for a bit longer.”

Silence filtered down the phone. Evelyn was far too tired for this, but she didn’t want to lose her girlfriend. They’d been together eighteen months and mostly it was good. This was just a blip.

“I support you, Ev, I do. I just want a little more time with you. Is that so bad?”

Evelyn’s stomach dropped. Of course it wasn’t a bad thing. They should spend time together, but it just wasn’t possible at this exact moment in time.

“Just a few more weeks, okay? That’s all I ask.”

“Fine, I’ll see you later.” Mindy didn’t wait for Evelyn to reply before ending the call.

“Great,” she huffed to no one.

It was almost eleven thirty by the time Evelyn crawled into bed. Mindy wasn’t waiting for her. Hours later, Evelyn was jolted awake by a very drunk Mindy stumbling in the door.

“Baby, you’re home,” Mindy crowed far too loudly. Evelyn flipped over her phone, noting the time.

“Jesus, Min, it’s half three. What the hell?”

“Oh, hush. I just went out with a few friends. It’s not like I had anything else to do.”

Evelyn was not about to get into it again with her drunk girlfriend. “Can you just come to bed? I’m wiped and I still have a full day’s work tomorrow. Sorry, scratch that: in three hours.”

Mindy didn’t seem to be paying attention…or she was ignoring Evelyn. Ten loud minutes later, Mindy finally crawled into bed and promptly started snoring. Evelyn lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. There was not a cat in hell’s chance she was getting back to sleep now.

Turning her head, Evelyn studied Mindy. The light from the bathroom, which Mindy had left on, illuminated the room.

Her short black hair was sticking out in all directions.

Her lips were slightly swollen. Screwing her eyes shut, Evelyn tried not to think about the reason her girlfriend had swollen lips.

Not for the first time, Evelyn questioned their relationship. Mindy was eight years younger than her. They’d met in a bar, and Evelyn had been swept away by Mindy’s energy. They’d dated for a few weeks before making it official. A year later, Mindy moved into Evelyn’s penthouse.

Their lives were good. Not great. Evelyn struggled with Mindy’s need to go out all the time, but they got by.

Getting by wasn’t the standard a relationship should be based on, but Evelyn hated being alone.

At thirty-five, she thought she would be married, possibly with a dog of her own.

Evelyn didn’t want children, but a house full of pets would be perfect.

Finally, Mindy’s snoring became so loud Evelyn had to leave. Grabbing a quick shower, she made herself a coffee, snatched up a protein bar, dressed in her usual pantsuit, and called a car to take her back to the office. If she wasn’t going to sleep, she might as well get some work done.

Coffee should be listed as an essential food group on medical websites or something, in Evelyn’s humble opinion.

Without it, she would crumble into a useless heap within minutes of waking up.

The thing is, though, Evelyn liked good coffee.

The machine in the office kitchen produced black sludge.

It was only just turning six a.m. though, so unless she wanted to leave the office and trek to the nearest coffee shop herself, Evelyn was stuck.