The CEO’s Christmas Wife

1. Joy To The World

JOY TO THE WORLD

K andi

ME: Yes, Mama, I’ll be heading to your house after work.

MAMA: Why don’t you go home, pack your things, and come back here?

ME: In one week, I’ll be there every day for the next two weeks. Besides, you see me all the time. I only live fifteen minutes away.

MAMA: I know. I just can’t wait for the festivities to start. All your dad has been talking about is your matching Christmas sweaters.

I groaned and shook my head. But a smile danced around my lips at the thought of being with my family and doing all the familiar Christmas traditions.

ME: I can’t wait to take pictures with him. Mama, I have to go now. TTYL.

“You are truly filled with the spirit of the season,” Portion quipped as she slid behind my desk.

“Who wouldn’t be? It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I declared cheerily as Andy Williams’s velvety voice crooned the song whose title matched my words from the overhead speakers.

“I hope our CEO feels the same way,” Portia professed.

“He’d better. Especially after you and I spent the entire evening up here decorating last night.”

She giggled as I lifted the phone to my ear. “Thank you for calling Scenic Vista Landscaping. This is Kandice Jolly. How may I direct your call?”

I listened and then routed the caller to the correct person just as two delivery men arrived. One was here to fill the vending machines, and the other was here to service our copier machines. The phone rang again, and I answered it.

“Thank you for calling Scenic Vista Landscaping. This is Kandice Jolly. How may I direct your call?”

I listened to the next caller as the elevator doors opened. I turned my attention back to the vendors and the caller as I gave the caller instructions.

“You simply need to go online and click the ‘Careers’ tab. All of our open jobs will be listed on that tab, and you can click on the one you’re interested in to apply online.”

While I gave instructions to the caller, I signed the vendor’s form, permitting him to tend to the snack machines with my right hand, and at the same time, I pointed the copier vendor in the direction of the copier that needed to be serviced.

I continued instructing the caller, handed the snack vendor his form back, and waved at the copier vendor.

Within a few seconds, the world seemed to stand still.

Broad shoulders and muscular arms filled out the charcoal bespoke suit that was created for the man.

The large, gold herringbone chain with a tornado emblem hanging from it shone against rich, sepia skin, and two diamond studs glittered from his ears.

When those sleepy bedroom eyes rested on me, every cell in my body vibrated with intensity, awareness, and sexual attraction. His tongue flicked out just a little bit and licked those plump, wide lips. Then, three things happened at once.

First, I wished that I was licking his lips.

Second, I wished that I was the one being licked by his tongue.

And finally, the piped in music transitioned from Andy Williams’s smooth tenor singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to Aretha Franklin’s powerful mezzo-soprano voice singing “Joy To the World.”

I didn’t know if it was the jazzy upbeat of the tune or her powerful voice, but it was almost like a record scratched. His eyes went from perusing me to narrowed as he looked around the office and took in the décor.

From the large Christmas tree in the corner to the tinsel and holly draped on the reception desk, to the Christmas pictures of lake scenes hung on the walls, his scowl engraved itself deeper and deeper upon his bold, handsome features.

“Welp, I guess you have your answer,” Portia muttered.

She was standing beside me, filling out forms for a visitor that she expected to arrive later.

“Yikes,” I mumbled after he passed me.

“Hey, you tried,” she replied with a shrug.

I busied myself for the next few minutes with visitors and the phone. I had finished the final call, and Portia was giving me details about her expected visitor when Carmen, the COO’s administrative assistant, walked up to my desk.

“Kandi, Mr. Kayn would like to see you in his office immediately.”

“Okay, let me finish this, and I’ll be?—”

“Immediately,” Carmen repeated and widened her eyes for emphasis.

I nodded and stepped from behind the desk to follow her.

“Would you please watch the front desk for me, Portia?”

“Sure.”

“And pack my things while you’re at it. I’m sure I’m about to be escorted out of here,” I whispered loudly.

“Or, he might be giving you a bonus for your creativity,” Portia responded with a wink.

I smirked, shook my curly hair over my shoulders, and hurried after Carmen. When I arrived at his office, I knocked, and it was followed by a gruff, “Come in.”

I pushed the large mahogany door open and stepped inside.

Black and gold carpet covered most of the hardwood floor, and black Italian leather furniture took up the majority of the office.

A large sectional and two armchairs faced the onyx-encased fireplace.

A large L-shaped glass desk sat behind the seating area and in front of a wall of windows overlooking downtown Cherokee Springs.

“Yes, Mr. Kayn. You wanted to see me?”

“This place becomes a madhouse at Christmas. Every year, it’s the same thing.

This is a business we have to run, not some nursery schoolhouse for everyone to display their arts and crafts.

I hired an interior designer to decorate this place, and now it’s covered in gaudy lights, silvery baubles, fake snow, legendary characters, and horrible music.

I don’t recall design being in your job description.

If that’s not bad enough, they expect to have a Christmas party and gifts.

“And then . . .” He slammed his fist on his desk and caused the coffee cup to jump before he continued.

“I still have to send Christmas gifts to our business partners. People are walking around with their hands out, expecting something. We’re running a business, not a gahdamn charity.

And on top of all this, my schedule is crazy, and there’s no good help around anymore.

They want to take extended lunch breaks, talk on the phone, and check their social media.

That’s not what I’m paying them to do. They need to do that on their time. ”

My body was one rigid muscle, and I wished that I could disappear.

I was uncertain why I was the recipient of this tirade and allowed to witness his meltdown in his inner sanctum, other than the fact that I was the one who had probably set it in motion.

I was certain my Christmas decorations and music had set the stage for his little tantrum.

But I would accept it as long as I could keep my job.

Then as if he could read my mind, Mr. Kayn commanded, “Oh, yeah, and I need you to find someone to fill the job as the front-desk receptionist.”

“But-b-b-but, Mr. Kayn—” I stammered. I had only been in my job for eight months. I couldn’t afford to be unemployed again. “That’s my job.”

“That was your job.”

“You’re serious?”

“Now!” he thundered.

“Are you firing me?” Because if he was, I was ready to tell him exactly what his staff members thought of him. Not me, because I didn’t feel the same.

Unfortunately, I always melted whenever his gaze was upon me.

Disappointment filled me whenever he didn’t come into the office for the day.

Hearing his voice over the phone whenever he called in from outside of the office filled me with fantasies.

I wondered what his voice would sound like as he whispered sweet words to me.

So I had no negative thoughts to share with him of my own but plenty of thoughts about what everyone else felt about him.

Thoughts about how in the hell I was supposed to finish my Christmas shopping if I was fired blocked everything else out.

There were bills to be paid, savings to continue, and God, I couldn’t afford to lose another job.

This was my fourth job in seven years. I needed, no, I craved job stability and financial security.

“Yes, you’re fired.”

“Mr. Kayn?—”

Lucky for me, I didn’t open my mouth too soon because his next words changed my fear and disappointment to wonder and awe.

“I need you to find someone to fill that role. You have to start your new role as my executive administrative assistant immediately.”

My jaw dropped, and I stood speechless before him until he said, “You’ve got a damn Christmas party to plan, gifts to send out, and you have to fix my itinerary for my out-of-town business trip next week. You ain’t got a lot of time. So you might wanna pick your jaw up and get to moving.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What’s your name?”

“Kandi. Kandi Jolly.”

“God, help us.”