Chapter 2
Chapter two
Paul
"Hi, Mr. Ludlow."
The voice is so close to my ear that I jump back slightly. When I turn to see the owner of the hot breath that made my skin crawl, a floppy piece of mistletoe whacks me on the bridge of my nose.
"Ah, hello, Ms. Johnson," I say, trying to keep the annoyance off my face.
The edges of the plastic leaves are sharp, and the white pom-pom balls, meant to represent the buds, droop to one side. It doesn't hurt, but I'm still not pleased about being assaulted with it. The worst part of the situation is that it's affixed to Mindy Johnson's headband.
Mindy's breasts threaten to spill out of the low-cut top she's chosen for the party. She works in sales and is tenacious and goal-driven, consistently landing in the top twenty percent of our force. But she’s also the reason we had to establish an office dress code.
Apparently, holiday parties don't count under the new policy. A technical oversight that will be corrected next year.
I place my hands in my pockets and watch with irritation as she attempts to lean over the punch bowl, while keeping her eyes trained on me.
"Yum. I love punch." She takes another sip from her cup and performs a playful little shimmy, triggering a fierce competition between the mistletoe and her cleavage to see which one will trigger a wardrobe malfunction first.
I'm not sure how to respond at this point.
I don't like parties on an average day, and tonight is overstimulation for me, what with people wanting to connect at the end of the year.
I would rather remove my own fingernails than entertain Mindy's advances, but HR has asked me to "try to make people think you're glad they work here," so I grit my teeth and nod once.
It’s literally the best I can do.
As Mindy prattles on, I look around for the rest of the C-suite executives, who also happen to be my best friends.
The party is in full swing on the large main floor of our office space, which features an open second floor accessible by a grand staircase.
Mark, Hunter, and my offices are all on the second floor, primarily for the peace and privacy required by some of our larger clients.
We’re the founders and owners of EcoStarTech, a multi-billion-dollar tech company in the city.
We've been friends since the eighth grade, and those two are like my brothers.
Where the hell are they? Mark and Hunter are much better at all this mingling shit than I am.
"Excuse me, Ms. Johnson. I need to go."
Mindy stares at me in shock, and I briefly wonder what she was saying when I interrupted.
I turn on my heel abruptly and ascend the staircase to the second floor. Tapping lightly on Hunter's door, I find the guys huddled over a piece of paper.
"You need to get down there. We all know I’m not the best advocate of holiday cheer." I sigh heavily, sitting at the table in the corner of Hunter's office. I wouldn't say I'm a grinch at the holidays, but this year, I'm more irritable than usual.
"Later. This party is for the people. Let them enjoy it without their bosses getting in the way." Hunter turns, giving me a grin that instantly makes me suspicious.
"Did you get a different memo from HR than I did?" I grumble, wishing I hadn't wasted my time if they weren’t even going to bother showing up.
"Paul, we have something we need to talk to you about." Mark comes to join me at the table, while Hunter moves to his desk. It’s set up like a spaceship cockpit, with double-deck monitors six across, and a huge flat screen aimed at the rest of his spacious office.
Hunter is our chief technical officer, and his office is equipped with the best technology and gadgets money can buy.
Frankly, the setup gives me anxiety. I prefer a minimalist aesthetic, but he’s the genius with this stuff, not me, so he gets whatever he says he needs.
I lean back in my chair, waiting for Mark to continue, when a soft voice directly from my dreams echoes throughout the room.
I whip my head toward the TV screen. My heartbeat quickens as Skylar Miller stares at me with a smile.
It's a video we shot last year with our remote workers. One I’ve watched obsessively.
"I wouldn't say I prefer being alone, but I enjoy solitary hobbies. I guess I'm a bit of a homebody like that. I love to watch movies, and I read a lot."
Skylar grins at the camera, and it's like she's talking directly to me. The video pauses, and I look around to see Mark and Hunter watching me intently.
I clear my throat. "She gave her notice. We need to let her go."
"See, that's what we want to talk to you about," Mark says.
I roll my eyes. The three of us have had a mutual obsession with Skylar for years. She’s moving on, and Hunter and Mark are having a hard time accepting the inevitable.
"Now that she's no longer employed with EcoStarTech, and we all agree that her body is a wonderland of delight and sinful mayhem"—Hunter pauses, then stands to walk toward me—"we decided there was no harm in taking a shot."
I huff out a laugh, staring at Hunter and Mark in irritation. My friends stare back at me seriously, and I do a double-take. "No."
Mark leans forward, trying to get me to listen. "Paul, we've been tracking her for years. We know everything about her. Her favorite foods, her love for dogs, and, well, her taste in sexy romance books."
I continue to shake my head at the ballsy, asinine attempt to talk me into whatever they have planned. "No."
"She loves to read books about multiple men with one woman." Hunter sits next to Mark.
"No," I practically spit out.
Hunter ignores me, talking over my protests. "Over the last four years, she's read one hundred and twenty-seven of these books. Some twice. Our girl has a kink for sharing."
His grin of excitement enrages me. "Absolutely not. You are not going to touch this. Do you understand me?" I glare at my friends, but the look they exchange makes my stomach drop.
"We already made her an offer.”
I stare at Hunter in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"Told you he'd take it well." Mark grins at Hunter.
"This is why we didn't tell you," Hunter says.
"We thought you'd say no," Mark says at the same time.
I jump up, pulling at my hair to keep from wrapping my hands around either of their necks. "Of course, I would say no! Is the punch spiked? Are you out of your fucking minds?"
Hunter raises his hands in a condescending gesture that makes me want to physically harm him.
"Did you decide you want to bankrupt this company?" I turn to Mark, who is typically the more rational partner. "Children. I'm dealing with children. This is a nightmare!"
Hunter places his hand on my back, trying to steer me to an open chair.
I shake him off like he has the plague. "Don't you fucking placate me," I spit out.
I know without the benefit of a mirror that the vein in my forehead is bulging.
"This is an HR nightmare. We are going to get sued.
" I spin in a circle and raise my hands to the ceiling as I curse the gods above for subjecting me to these fucking idiots for so long.
"Are you done?" Hunter's deep voice cuts through my hysteria.
"Am I done? No, I'm not fucking done!" I whirl on them, then realize I have nothing new to add. I need to assess our situation. "What did you tell her?"
"That we’re going to make her fantasies come true," Hunter responds, his smile grating on my nerves.
"More or less," Mark adds.
"What is more?" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose as their words sink in.
Hunter grabs me, patting my chest. "I think the less you know, the better, Paul. Your head vein is freaking me out, and we need you to look like the all-American heartthrob you usually do in thirty minutes."
I shake my head, swallowing hard, but I don't take my eyes off Hunter. "What happens in thirty minutes?"
Mark sits at the conference table. "Paul, she's coming to the party."
I stare at him.
Mark eyes me steadily, his eyebrows drawing tight when I don't respond. "She accepted the offer."
My gaze skirts wildly around the room as I try to find words. Finally, I sit down. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"I can confirm that is a hard limit no," Hunter deadpans.
I turn to him in disbelief, furious that they've gone behind my back and made an offer before we've even had a chance to discuss it. I would have obviously said no. I'm not willing to risk the company, even for someone as incredible as Skylar.
"Just because she likes reading about it doesn't mean she wants to do it," I grit out.
"And yet"—Hunter hands me the stack of papers they were reading when I walked in—"she said yes."
Unable to process all the emotions coursing through my body, I stand abruptly and leave.
No.