Vixen’s Guide to Christmas

Chapter 1

kat

“What does your sweater say?”

A genuine smile comes across my face as I lean back against the high-top chair I’m sitting at to show Eddie, my date for the next one minute and forty seconds, my ugly Christmas sweater.

“I like them real thick and sprucy,” I say with a smile. “You know. Like the song?”

Now, I don’t like to judge a book by its cover. People shock me every day, and I think that’s great. So Eddie, a thirty-three-year-old pharmacist with thick glasses and a combover, could be a fan of 1990s hip hop and R there isn’t a man here for either of my personas. “But it’s nice to be able to meet people and put myself out there.”

Okay, that is a lie. Putting yourself out there is the worst.

Hazel looks around before leaning in closer. What is she about to tell me that she wants to make sure no one hears. “I know why you’re here, Katherine.”

Oh. That.

“You do?”

She nods, but does it with a smile. “I appreciate you wanting to show initiative and go the extra mile. And believe me, it’s noted. However, have fun tonight. Let your hair down. Literally. Have fun, and who knows, maybe find the one?”

The one? Oh that’s rich. Somehow I keep my face straight during my response.

“I’ll do my best.”

She puts her hand over mine. “I’m living proof that you find your person when you’re least expecting it.

Maybe it’s at a trivia night. Maybe it’s on the side of the road when he comes to tow your broken-down car.

Or maybe Santa brings him for Christmas.

But I always say to always be on the lookout.

Because you’ll never know when it’s your time. ”

I can see her point. The best things happen when you’re not looking. Though I’ve only ever experienced that in the professional world.

But the day when it happened changed my life.

I used to work in corporate land. Long days.

Longer weeks. Asshole, ladder-climbing douchebags as my bosses.

Every day was a competition to see who could do more, who could pitch the best, who could bring in the most clients.

Coworkers were fake friends since you knew they were your competition.

And well…let’s just say I know more than most why we don’t mix business with pleasure.

The whole experience was exhausting, and I’m pretty sure for the first three years of my career, I averaged four hours of sleep a night.

I had constant acne breakouts from stress.

I lived off takeout, caffeine, and the sheer determination to be the best. I thought I was doing the right things, working with the right team members, learning from those above me.

Until I wasn’t.

It was a cancerous situation that I’ll never go back to.

It’s why my life was changed the day my best friend, Logan Matthews, developed a little game called SpaceCraft.

What started as a college project boomed into the biggest video game in the world, and seemingly out of nowhere.

Before either of us knew it, SpaceCraft became more than a video game.

It was merch. Toys. Skins. Variants. You name it, we had it.

Soon, Logan was one of the youngest billionaires in history, and I was leaving my corporate job to take Logan and GameTech on as my sole client.

It was the best decision of my life. Not only am I living a less stressful life—mostly—I’m making more money than I ever dreamed. I’m working for my best friend. It’s perfect.

Especially now that I’m sleeping eight hours a night and my skin has never looked better.