A Christmas Contract

Chapter 2

I pressed silent on my phone for the millionth time. My mother was persistent. She wanted me home for the holidays. I wanted anything but that. I detest the Christmas holidays. All the cheeriness gave me nausea. I stopped celebrating the moment I left my parents home. I only returned home every few years to make my mother happy and to show my face.

The life I had built here was all the cheeriness gave I needed. If I wanted happiness, I called a woman to comfort me for the time allotted and dismissed her when I needed to. Going home for the holidays was out of the question. Besides, all mother would do is question me about getting married. I didn’t want to break her heart by telling her that would never happen. So I placated her with small lies, like, I haven’t found the right one yet. I get the sense she was starting to grow tired of that line. But I had nothing else to give her.

I was the last of my siblings and unwed. I enjoyed my bachelor life. The freedom of being able to move as I pleased and not answer to anyone.

It’s not that I didn’t have a good example growing up. My parents are the picture of marital bliss. They’ve been married for thirty years now. Love at first sight they called it. I never bought into that idea. It just didn’t seem like reality.

Reality is, some people got lucky in love and others didn’t. I was of the latter. I didn’t sit around and feel sorry for myself though. I came out on the other end virtually unscathed. And rich. Not to mention I had the pick of the women. None I held to closely though.

I got up from my desk, leaving my phone to vibrate with yet another call or notification. I walked over and looked through the floor to ceiling double paned glass. It was a one way glass that overlooked the entire club. Workers were rushing around preparing for tonight’s event. One reluctantly let them talk me into. It was a Christmas themed party. They insisted the turn out would be great for business. Not that business was hurting, but it would be a change to attract new patrons. Seeing it all come together made me feel a certain way. I would allow them to have their fun tonight. The decorations would disappear as soon as the club closed tonight.

Admittedly they were doing a great job of getting the place ready. They didn’t stray far from the decor of the club. They had event sections spaced out throughout the area. I wasn’t sure how they planned on corralling a bunch of drunk people to participate in each area long enough, but it would be interesting to watch at least.

Hearing my office door click, I turned around. It had to be my brother. He was the only one bold enough to enter without knocking. One day that would come back to bite him.

“I’m assuming mom sent you” I say quirking a brow at him. He was like the family messenger. He was also the oldest. I didn’t envy him his position. Better him than me.

“Actually no, is there a reason she should?” He asked giving me a questioning look.

“It’s the holidays Haiden, you know how she gets” I answer with a knowing look.

He seems to think about it for a moment before ultimately nodding his head in agreement.

“Has she called you much?”

“Only about a hundred times” I say walking bat to sit at my desk.

“Just answer her” he says like it’s that simple.

“And tell her what?”

“I don’t know, maybe the truth”

He’s now sitting in the chair across from me.

“Mom doesn’t want the truth and you know that” there was no way I was doing that. “Besides, it would break her heart” I finished with a pained look.

I couldn’t see myself doing that to her. I could just see her face dropping now. No doubt she’d give my father hell about his youngest boy.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right about that” he agrees settling back in the chair.

We sit in a beat of silence before he remembers that he came here for a reason.

“So have you thought anymore about what I asked you?” He’s now straightened up a bit with his question.

A few months ago, he asked to help out with part of my business. He wasn’t strapped for cash. He just wanted to expand a little more. I imagine the wife had another ambition in mind and he wanted to make her happy. Another reason I swore of marriage. I didn’t want that responsibility of catering to another’s whims. But I’m not one to get in the way.

“Yes I did” I say pulling a Manila envelope from a desk drawer and handing it to him.

“So what are your thoughts?” He asks, accepting the envelope.

“Open the envelope and see brother”

He does so hesitantly. I give him a moment to go over the documents I had prepared. I’m not sure what he was expecting, but it must be different that what he thought. His face is one of surprise.

“Are you sure?” He ask swallowing a bit. “This is quite a percentage”

I smile at my brother. I would do anything to make his life easier. And what I’m offering him is not really much of what I have. I’ve never divulged all my businesses and earnings with my family. But they have an idea.

“Yes I’m sure” I laugh. “Now go talk it over with the misses, let me know your decision after”

“I will, thanks again Braile” he says getting up to walk to the door.

He stops and turns to look at me with a quizzical look. Envelope in his hand in mid air. I follow his line of vision to the costume hanging on a rack. It’s a green costume in the likeness of The Grinch. I shake my head before giving him an explanation.

“My employees thought it was fitting given tonight’s theme”

“Ah” is a he says before laughing and exiting my office.

I look at the costume again frowning. There’s no way I was putting that monstrosity on tonight.

…

The club had opened its doors a little over an hour ago. It was already packed to the brim. They were right, the turn out was bigger than usual. Everyone that came through the door adhered to the dress code for the theme. They were even participating in the different activities offered. I decided that I’ll have to get input from my staff for more often.

I stood at the window watching the patrons enjoying themselves. I liked seeing it. I made my success feel more real. Just as I was about to walk away from the window, a flash of wiggling red caught my eye. She wore her hair up, its coils sitting in a purposeful point. Her make up was minimal. I could tell she didn’t even need it. She wore a red dress with white fur trim. The skirt barely passing her ass. Leading down to short legs that ended in impossibly high heels. She was dressed as Cindy Lou Who. She danced with another woman as if no one was watching. But I was watching. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her as the song ended and she grabbed her friend’s hand and headed to the bar.

I looked at the costume hanging up in my office. Swearing before going to put it on.