Christmas Peril, page 1
Christmas Peril
M.N. Forgy
Copyright © 2019 M.N. Forgy
Edited by Ellie McLove
Cover by Love N Books
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
Created with Vellum
I dedicate this to all the ones on the naughty list.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by M.N. Forgy
1
LJ
“No, I don’t want to fuck you like a dog, LJ,” Adam grunts frustratedly, his naked body hovering over me.
I huff, blowing my root beer colored hair from my face. His dramatic reaction annoying me.
“I was just making a suggestion.” I wiggle insecurely beneath him, his weight becoming uncomfortable. Adam isn’t muscular or fat. He’s a normal build, with normal blonde short hair, with normal blue eyes.
He rolls over, dragging the checkered blanket over him to cover himself. I pull it up over my chest, suddenly feeling insecure. As silence falls upon us, I look around the barely furnished apartment that is drafty and unfamiliar.
“You think moving here was the best idea?” He second guesses our move. It was him and my mother who encouraged me to take the job at Apollo Legacy. Now he’s going to throw this at me?
“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” Frustration laced in my voice, I blow out the candle on the nightstand, and roll over on my side. My back to him. “I need to get some sleep,” I mutter.
His hand lightly touches my elbow, fingers of desperation tickling my skin.
“You sure you don’t want to… you wanna get on top?” he offers. He’s trying to satisfy me, I know he is, but I’m stressed and don’t see either of us enjoying anything tonight.
“No,” I reply breathily. I’m not in the mood anymore.
Sighing, he rolls over back on his side of the bed, the action making me feel more alone than ever.
He’s asleep, his hands resting on his chest in seconds. It will take a sacrifice to the gods for me to go to sleep, it always does. Rolling over onto my back, I stare at the ceiling
Adam and I have been together since high school.
First kiss.
First time.
First everything.
This is our first move together and I just don’t know if this move from Alabama to New York was the best idea.
2
Sitting in the canary yellow cab, the driver pulls up an inch from the bumper to bumper traffic. Great, my first day and I’m going to be late. Wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, I exhale. He has it so hot in here. His cappuccino skin is oily from the sweat dripping down his hairy arms. He must be trying to keep it warm for those coming in from the cold. Dipping my head, I look out the windshield and see Apollo Legacy just ahead. I can get there by foot way faster.
“This is fine!” I tell the driver, tugging a few bills from my purse. Stepping out, I hop over to the sidewalk and blend into the crowd. My heels clicking amongst the other women around me. Their chins raised, cheekbones prominent. I lift my chin a little and put some power into my steps like them. I place my black wallet purse under my arm and look up at the place that had me drop everything and move. Apollo Legacy.
It’s so big it blocks out the cold mist glazing everything in its path.
Smoothing down my black dress, the overly huge buttons down the right side making it seem fashionable. Well, my idea of fashion anyway. My whole wardrobe is made up of solids, including my shoes. That way I can mix and match anything and not have to worry about having anything singled out in my closet.
Heading inside the building, there’s a chrome desk taking up most of the area, and security check to the right with one large elevator behind that. It’s a pretty sleek layout, but bland. The atmosphere is very uninviting. There’re no flowers on the counter, or paintings on the wall. Where are the chairs for sitting?
My heels click against the marble floor as I make my way to the counter to introduce myself. Three women stand in black pant suits, all three brunettes with pale skin. Only computers sitting on a counter in front of them, they smile and stare blankly ahead of them.
“Hi, I’m LJ and I’m supposed to start today.” I speak to the lady to the far left, her confident eyes falling upon me.
She gives me a tight smile, and types on a keyboard in front of her, focused on the screen. A drawer suddenly pops open underneath the counter, slipping her hand into it, she slides a badge over the counter toward me.
“Floor nine. Welcome.” She takes a step back and clasps her hands in front of her again.
“Th-ank you,” I mumble, taken aback by her robotic demeanor. The badge has an unflattering picture of me plastered on the front with a barcode underneath it.
Grasping the badge, I head over toward the security area.
Placing my purse in a bucket, I walk through a metal detector. Watching others, they all swipe their badges across a black screen just before the elevator. Being cleared from security, I slide my badge across the screen and it flashes green. I then scan my badge across a digital screen.
I head into the overcrowded elevators. The cool air blowing through the vents heavy, but not enough to snuff out the perfume and cologne from the strangers around me. They’re taller than me and seem much more confident with their square shoulders. Jesus, I’m not in Alabama anymore.
“First day?” the girl next to me asks. She has thick black glasses on making her brown eyes look three times bigger. Her dark hair slick and flat, not doing much to frame her round face.
“Yeah, how can you tell?” I stammer and fidget with my purse-wallet.
“Oh, you can just tell.” She smiles, wrinkling her nose under her glasses. “I’m Maranda!” She holds her hand out, her black and white checkered outfit festive with her red scarf.
I shake her hand.
“LJ. I’m in asset management.” The elevator dings, the doors opening up to the ninth floor.
Maranda’s face pales as if I just told her I had lice.
“Oh, you’re on the ninth floor? Good luck with Julian.” She gives an unreadable look.
My brows narrow, and I hold my hand up ready to dissect that, but the crowd pushes me through the doors and onto the floor, allowing the elevator door to shut before I can ask her who the hell Julian is.
3
Wow! This floor is much different than the first. There’s huge black and white abstract paintings on the walls, the marbled front desk rounded with a flamboyant blond man sitting in a tall chair answering phones. There are glass offices everywhere with people working hard sitting at desks inside them. I feel out of place here. Nobody starts at a company this big, I should be in a cubicle next to a man who tosses a hacky sack into the air over and over while he’s on the phone with a friend instead of working.
This place is next level, I’m going to screw up first thing and be fired.
“LJ?” a quiet boyish voice asks from behind me, making me turn on my heel. A short guy with better hair than mine smiles at me. His black pants with shiny patterns on them matching his silky button-down indicating his passion for high fashion.
“I’m your assistant, Ross. I’ll show you around today. Get you used to things.” He looks me up and down. His dark, youthful looking eyes, sizing me up.
“Thank you, that’d be nice. I have no idea what I’m doing.” I smile humbly, and he just nods and begins to walk away. I follow. He waves at people in their glass offices, flipping his head back to get his dirty blond hair out of his eyes as he makes his way through.
“This is where you get coffee, Danishes, or you can send me. I never mind a little trip to the break room!” He laughs before wiggling his butt playfully. His left hand held out flamboyantly. “However, I will go for a Starbucks run as long as you get me a beverage as well!”
I giggle, loving him already. He shows me the copy room and mail room before stopping in a corner.
“And this, my dear, is where we are.”
A desk sits outside of a square glass cube, stepping inside of my office, I notice I have a view of the city. Aside from my desk, chair, and a wall full of empty shelves behind it, that’s all there is to look at in here.
“Yeah, this office is really sad. You want me to set up a mood board today? I totally can!” Ross offers.
“A mood board?” I’ve never heard of such a thing.
“Oh my God, yes. Just say yes!” He holds his right hand out, fingers covered in rings.
Laughing, I nod. “Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”
He claps his hands and turns around to go back to his desk. He stops suddenly, looking back at me.
“Oh, that spot up there.” He points to the shelving behind the desk, his finger narrowing at one space in particular. It has a light casting down upon the bare space, as if an award or something should go there. “Everyone on the office has the same shelving and they all put one of their most accomplished moments, or something they’re proud of, right there.”
“Umm…” Raising my hand, I stutter in thought, not sure what he’s getting at.
“So, what do you want me to put there?” he asks, pursing his lips.
My brows furrow in thought.
“Um, I’ll have to think about that one,” I reply timidly. His eyes blink a couple of times before he nods and disappears to his desk. I was going to say my cat, but I don’t want to come off as the cat lady. But I don’t really have anything exciting to show off. Would a college degree be something?
One foot in front of the other, I take in the large space. It’s very modern, but no privacy. My fingers run down the glass, wishing there was some curtains or something. I don’t know how well I’ll work knowing people are watching me.
“Man, I’m going to miss this view.” A deep dark voice startles me. Turning around, I find a tall man standing near the window. His chocolate hair layered perfectly on top of his head, fading into a short buzz. His larger than normal forehead leading into an angular jaw with a hint of five o’clock shadow. He has one hand slipped into his pocket as he looks out the window, his posture straight, making his upper back look immaculate.
He’s very handsome, the way he holds himself, almost intimidating.
“I’m sorry?” I ask with confusion. Am I partners with someone, is that why he’s in here? That wasn’t in the deal when I signed on. I was told I would have my own office.
He turns, his eyes making me suck in a sharp breath. They flicker with curiosity, a playful smirk fitting his face when he looks at me.
“This used to be my office,” he informs, looking me up and down with abrasive green eyes. “I thought I made the right choice taking the office across the hall. It's bigger, and brighter, but I find myself missing this view.” His stern voice slowly drifts off before he pulls in his bottom lip, nipping it, a hint of his white teeth making him every bit of charming.
“I’m LJ.” I hold my hand out to shake his, and he steps forward to reciprocate. His palm is large, and very warm when it takes mine. Jesus, I can’t help but think it would cover my entire left ass cheek if he placed it there. My mind drifts even further, imagining his hand grasping his cock. I wonder if it would take up the whole shaft and leave just the tip, or if his cock is as big as hands.
“I’m Julian,” he states, that rugged voice slipping around my neck and squeezing a blush onto my cheeks forcing me to come back to the conversation.
So this is Julian, the guy that woman was talking about in the elevator. Wow, I can see why women are warning others about him. His green eyes smudged with a sandy color that seduces you in a way only magic exists.
“Are you new to New York?” he asks, taking his hand from mine. My hand tingles all the way up to my elbow from the sudden void. I run my nails across my palm, attempting to scratch the unfamiliar feeling away.
“I am.” Tucking my hair behind my ear, I swallow the nervous lump in my throat, and clasp my hands in front of me.
He looks toward the window while brushing the hair away from his ear. Licking my bottom lip, I watch him in slow motion look back to me, a cosmic smile making butterflies swarm in my stomach.
It’s unnerving to think how much this man affects me. Did I feel like this when I first met Adam? I can’t remember, it was so long ago, but I don’t think so.
“Oh, by the way, LJ, we’re doing this Secret Santa thing. We do it every year, the boss knew you were coming, so he put your name into the drawing, and this is who you got,” Ross informs me, walking into the room like he’s walking the catwalk, a black note card in hand.
“If it’s me, I don’t take any thread counts under fourteen-hundred, just sayin’.” He glances to Julian, then back to me, his hand on his hip confidently.
“Noted, thanks so much, Ross.” Taking the card from him, I flip it open, a name sketched in gold lettering centered.
Conni.
Hmm. Maybe she’ll be cool. I could use a work BFF. What the hell do you get a co-worker you’ve never met for Christmas?
“Mmm, thanks for reminding me about that, Ross. I still need to buy my little elf something,” Julian states, and when he says little elf, his eyes literally slip up and down my body like massage oil.
“That’s what I do.” Ross blushes, his personality being so extra you can’t help but like him. He has that energy about him that makes you smile when he’s near.
“LJ, if you need anything, please let me know.” Julian tilts his head to the side, eyeing me intently before walking out. The heat of the room dials down a noticeable level as he leaves.
Holding on to the desk for a lifeline, I take in a deep breath, the black card still in hand.
Jesus, that man is something else. My entire body feels like I’ve been out in the desert without water. I’m flushed, sweaty, and my dirty mind came somewhere out of sin city. Glancing up, I find Ross staring at me through the glass, a knowing smile on his cocky face. Yeah, Julian affects me, and it’s in ways I’ve never felt before. Not even with Adam.
4
After looking at three different mood boards, I told Ross to just pick one and surprise me. I’m not very good at decorating, and his idea of it is the complete opposite of mine. I took my client list that was left for me and decided to call it a day. I’ll come back tomorrow and start laying down some ground. Walking along the sidewalk, little shops are decorated with Christmas lights and wreaths, people bundled up talking on their phones rushing by me like I don’t even exist. The breed of women that live here are different than back home. They’re so put together, broad, and confident. Back home we’re all about comfort, sass, and sweet tea. I don’t know if I’ll ever blend in here. No wonder Adam never leaves the apartment.
I dip into one of the department stores just as my phone rings.
It’s my sister Nevaeh. Which is heaven spelled backward. She was born on Christmas and is the youngest. Meaning, our parents’ favorite.
I try not to hold it against her.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Oh My God, hey! How is New York? How was your first day at work?” She rattles off question after question, my brows furrowing trying to keep track.
“Um, it’s colder here. My day was a first day I guess, kind of like the first day of school. Rules, finding where I’m supposed to go.” My teeth play with my bottom lip thinking about telling her the main event of my workday. Julian. “Um, but I did meet a big handsome man, oh, and my assistant is my spirit animal.” I half laugh, answer her questions, plus more.
“Wait, handsome?”
You can tell I got her attention with that, I knew I would. She doesn’t not like Adam, she says he’s safe, and that I settled. She doesn’t understand we fell in love at a young age, and we are different when it’s just us in our space. I don’t expect her to understand.
“Yeah, he’s just some guy I work with. His name is Julian, and he’s charming, but clearly a player,” I inform her as I look at the scarves the store has hanging from a rod. They’re all Christmas themed. Seems everyone around here wears these things, maybe I should get Conni a scarf.
