Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Avery
I’d just walked into the house where all our Christmas décor had been delivered by Jim’s staff and smiled when I saw they’d already set up the twelve-foot tree in our living room.
Our house in the Hills never failed to take my breath away at moments like this.
Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the living space, giving us an endless sweep of Los Angeles glittering below.
At night, it always looked like the city was showing off just for us, a blanket of diamonds scattered across the valley.
The high ceilings gave the whole place a gallery feel, modern and grand, but it wasn’t cold or unwelcoming.
Jim had insisted on clean lines and minimalist architecture, but I’d layered warmth into every corner.
With throws draped across the leather sectional, oversized coffee-table books stacked in uneven towers, and candles clustered in groups that painted the glass walls with flickers of gold, it all helped to bring in that homely feel I loved.
Our home was virtually a masterpiece of our unique and independent lives colliding, and it was warm and beautiful.
Now, with the scent of fresh pine drifting from the twelve-foot tree, the house looked like something out of a holiday spread in Architectural Digest. Thousands of tiny white lights glowed across its branches, multiplying into hundreds more reflecting in the tall windows, as if the house had captured a constellation and kept it for itself and us to get lost in.
This was why I loved our home, not because it screamed wealth, but because it felt alive.
It had carried the sounds of our girls racing down the stairs in their pajamas, the late-night arguments Jim and I had over work calls, and the quiet reconciliations of early mornings with amazing sex.
It was our fortress, our refuge, and now, apparently, the battlefield for this ridiculous holiday war Jim had started, all because his ego was damn near impossible to keep in check.
“The tree always looks so pretty in the corner, don’t you think, girls?” I said, still captivated by the beauty I was looking at. “I love how it’s surrounded by the windows that reflect everything. It’s almost magical.”
No answer.
Of course, they’d already vanished to their rooms, bracing for another night of homework. Addy would be holding back curse words, while Izzy would be thrilled that she had another fun project.
“Who’s going to help me put ornaments on the tree?” I called, hoping to bail them out and keep the mood light and cheery tonight.
“Who’s going to do my homework for me?” Addy shot back, marching down the steps with her backpack slung over her shoulder, already headed to her homework office of doom and gloom. “That’s the real question.”
“Why don’t we wait until the weekend, after Dad gets back from Madrid, to decorate the tree?” I asked. “For now, I’ll be here to help with homework if you call for it. Until then, I’m going to go over more of the cool stuff Cat sent for me to bring into my party plans for Dad’s company.”
“C’mon, Mom. Can you at least give us a hint about what you’re planning?” Addy asked, flashing the first pre-homework smile I’d seen in ages.
“Nice try. You joined Team Dad, and I’m not revealing a thing to be reported back to him,” I said with a grin. “That cute little fake smile isn’t fooling me either. I’m not saying a word about what I’m planning.”
“That’s why Dad says you’re a cheater,” Izzy chimed in, full of sass.
“Excuse me?” I responded. “How is it cheating if I don’t give away my secrets for you guys to copy or top for your party?”
“We would never copy you, Mom,” Addy said. “We already know our idea’s better.”
“And you’re a cheater because you know what we’re doing already, but you won’t even give us a hint about what you’re doing,” Izzy declared, all drama.
“Your dad told you this, I’m sure?” I asked, arms crossed.
“He didn’t have to,” Addy said, eyes sliding toward her sister like two of Jim’s soldiers teaming up in his absence. “You know what we’re doing, and you’re probably already copying it.”
“Yeah, and so?” I pressed.
“That’s how you cheated,” Izzy finished.
“Do you two want ice cream before bed? Eggnog flavored?”
“Nice try, Mom,” Addy said sweetly, then disappeared into her office.
“What about you, Izzy Bear?” I asked with my best smile.
“Nah,” she said with a cheeky grin.
I narrowed my eyes at the two rooms my sneaky girls had vanished into. Jim had these girls armored up and working for him to get to me already.
He’d orchestrated some mental operation to throw me off while I was making good headway on his anti-festivity ass. Even so, he was now stuck in Madrid saving an acquisition, behind on his planning, while I’d be two steps ahead.
Was I cheating? Hell yes. And I was perfectly fine with it. I would’ve done the whole event myself, until my husband and his ego dragged our daughters into this war. So, yeah, I was cheating. Who cared, call the Grinch on my ass…
I was about to find out if my latest scheme had actually worked.
Time to call Nat and get the update on how Spence managed to put Jim on that flight to Madrid instead of taking it himself.
As Jim’s VP, it wouldn’t have been unusual for Spencer to go in his place, especially because Spence was a bulldog, and nobody pushed him around.
Nat picked up after two rings. “Avery, honey,” she said over the phone, “everything’s rolling flawlessly. And even better news, Spence got everything from Cat approved.”
“I can’t believe we pulled it off,” I chuckled, slipping out onto the terrace with a glass of wine.
I needed privacy away from Jim’s little spies, and outside was the most private place to be for these discussions, away from any nosy little girls.
God, tonight was beautiful. The night air was cool, brushing over my skin as I leaned against the railing. Below, the city stretched vast and endless, a living map of glittering city lights, where we sat hidden in the hills to observe it all in its beauty.
From up here, LA felt like it belonged to us alone, sprawled out beneath the canyon.
The terrace had always been my favorite place to think.
I always loved snuggling up on our oversized sectional pulled close to the outdoor fire pit.
I loved the faint rustle of eucalyptus from the canyon, and the muted hum of the 405 freeway out in the distance.
It was all private, yet vast, like it was our kingdom in the clouds.
“Actually, I can believe it,” I said, smiling under our patio lights. “Jim’s such a control freak, and there’s no way he’d let Spence take over closing the Madrid acquisition once he was made aware of it.”
“Spence even offered to go himself so Jim wouldn’t catch on to it, but Jim refused,” Nat laughed. “Now, he’s stuck overseas, while we build the Dickens set at Paramount.”
“This is so good. And honestly, he can’t even blame me. He’s the one who is still putting work before the holidays, as usual. He’s going to fall on his own sword with this one.”
“Typical man,” Nat said. “Their egos run their lives…straight into the ground. That’s why he’ll lose this whole ordeal that he turned into a war, instead of letting his wife bail him out.”
“Exactly.” I grinned. “I’m so glad Spence told you about the Madrid deal, and you told me.
The best part is that your husband went along with our plan and pushed it straight to Jim this morning.
Of course, Jim took the bait. Now, he’ll be consumed for the next four days, jet-lagged, and the last thing he’ll want when he gets home is to do Christmas planning. ”
“I know you were skeptical about Spencer’s allegiance, but I never had a doubt he’d make the right decision. Besides, if there is any chance to prank Jim, he’s in. Plus, now I get my husband for the week. That’s my bonus in this confetti-and-popcorn war you two started.”
“Hold on, that’s Ash calling me.”
“I’ll let you go. Spence just got home, and we’ve got Nobu reservations,” Nat said.
“Enjoy your week with your husband. I’ll enjoy beating mine’s ass while he’s gone.”
We laughed as I clicked over to answer my call-waiting. “What’s up, babe?”
“I heard Jim was rushed off to Madrid,” Ash giggled. “You’re starting to play dirty.”
“No, no. This was all Jim. I just worked an angle to bait him on how important his Christmas planning was. When Nat told me Spence might have to fly over to stop the deal from falling through, I asked if there was a way to involve Jim. Of course, my husband took the bait without one damn question. Spence even offered to go in his place, and Jim refused.”
Ash laughed. “That’s where you’ve got your husband by the balls. He’s Mr. Mitchell first, and Mr. Claus never.”
“Exactly. He’s juggling the wrong arena. But the girls? They’ve been dangling the word cheater over my head like mistletoe, waiting for me to crack. So, I’m not entirely in the clear. Jim’s got eyes on me, even if it’s just through our daughters.”
“Well, Jim’s no fool. He had plenty of time to think during that twelve-hour flight. What did he say about Cat’s Phase Two and the costs?”
“Nothing. I asked if he had looked at it, and he said yes and left it there. Didn’t bring up costs, Paramount, nothing.”
“Not even the Aspen snow machines or fresh-cut trees?”
“Not a word,” I smirked. “Which means he’s got something up his sleeve.”
“Is that Av?” I heard Jake in the background.
“Of course,” Ash said.
“Put her on speaker,” Jake said as Ash switched over. “Hey, Av, you’re gonna love this…”
“Go on,” I said.
“Collin and I found an exact replica of Eddie’s RV from Christmas Vacation. A guy in Arizona had one. I bought it and it’ll be here the week before Christmas.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, this is the cake topper! You are absolutely insane.”
“That’s not even the best part,” Jake teased.
“What, did you hire Randy Quaid to show up as Eddie?” Ash laughed.
“No. But Collin and I need you to act like your event is cancelled at the last minute—like, day-of type chaos. You’ll figure it out. Jim’s Scrooge suit will be waiting for him after Collin and I pull off his grand entrance in the RV.”
“Okay…” I said, trying to follow.
“The plan is this: you tell Jim you need to take a drive because you’re upset and depressed after losing to him, of course.
He’ll believe that while sitting smugly on his couch, drinking his bourbon in what he assumes is his victory.
However, amid all this shit, you must insist he’s in Christmas Eve pajamas—”
“Oh, fuck.” I covered my mouth. “And a robe. Frank Shirley’s outfit from the kidnapping scene!”
“Nailed it,” Jake crowed. “You guys still do the pajama exchange on Christmas Eve, right?”
“Yes. That’s exactly why this will work!”
“And I’m guessing you and Collin will barge in, kidnap him, and haul him to the Christmas Carol lot?” Ash asked.
“Don’t forget Shirley was tied up in a rope,” Jake laughed.
“You two are lucky I need you for shit like this,” I said.
“No. You’re lucky you have us, kid,” Jake shot back. “We’re talking full-scale comedy here. We’ve already got the ‘Merry Christmas, shitter was full’ sign ready to hang on the side.”
I nearly spit out my wine. “Jake! You’re seriously doing this?”
“Hell yes. Jim’s going to step outside, expecting peace on earth, and instead find Cousin Eddie parked on his lawn. It’s poetic.”
“Honestly,” Ash cut in, laughing so hard I could hear her wheezing, “the second he sees that RV, Jim’s blood pressure is going to spike higher than a mother fucker.”
“Exactly,” Jake said. “And then—bam—Scrooge pajamas, rope, and the grand reveal. He’ll never live this down.”
“You two are ridiculous,” I said, laughing so hard my cheeks hurt. “And I love it.”
“Jim will never see this coming,” Ash said.
“God, I hope not. At this point, it’s less about winning and more about the hilarity. Everything Jim deserves for trying to screw everyone is his company on the holidays this year.”
“It’ll make headlines,” Ash said.
“Cat made sure of it.” I laughed. “NDAs all around until he steps into the Christmas Carol world.”
I sipped my wine, smiling. This was better than I’d imagined. It wasn’t even about beating Jim anymore; it was about surprising him. About turning him into the characters he hated being compared to since he started all this shit with his cheap gift for everyone in his company this year.
And while he was gone in Madrid, I had all the time in the world to get the work done, without him sneaking up and figuring me out.