Under the Mistletoe

Bruise

The car ride back to Holms Enterprise was eerily silent. My nerves were on high alert. Adaline, who was never quiet, sat staring straight ahead, her expression a mask of fury and disbelief. I braced myself for the inevitable fallout. I knew I would be thrown under the bus for this, and while I was prepared to stand up for myself, I also knew it wouldn’t matter in the long run.

The daunting question loomed over me: what would happen next? Would they fire me? Disown me? The worst-case scenario played out in my mind—what if they told the press that the company had to shut down due to my “bad decisions”? That would make finding another job nearly impossible.

Sighing quietly, I watched the city blur by outside the window, the tall buildings and bustling streets a stark contrast to the tension in the car. My heart raced as I mentally replayed the meeting, the confrontation, and Ben’s piercing gaze. I had done what I thought was right, but now I felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.

Adaline finally broke the silence, her voice low and seething. “You really had to make a scene, didn’t you?”

I turned to her, trying to keep my tone steady. “I didn't do anything. I gave them the finance that you gave me.

I'm sorry you or whoever wrote that proposal failed at hiding the lies."

Her eyes flashed with anger. “You little b***h. Do you know what's going to happen now? What mum and dad are going to say? Now look where we are!”

I clenched my fists in my lap, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Guess the consequences of pretending to be a CEO is about to get real for you,” I shot back.

Adaline scoffed, shaking her head. “You think you’re some kind of genious? You’re just making things worse for yourself.”

As we approached the office building, I steeled myself for whatever was to come. I wouldn’t back down, but the reality of my situation loomed heavily.

When the car stopped, Adaline was already out and hurrying into the building. I took a moment before following, thanking the driver before slowly entering the lobby. The familiar hustle and bustle of Holms Enterprise felt like a distant memory as I made my way up the elevator to my desk.

I noticed Adaline’s door was closed, and I rolled my eyes, assuming she was on the phone with our dad or her mother, trying to figure out what to do next. Ignoring that, I dove straight back into the mountain of paperwork piled on my desk. I started drafting emails to Adaline and Ralph, detailing the ridiculous costs and necessary improvements that needed to be addressed.

I was so zoned into my work that I didn’t notice my father and Jennifer standing above me until Jennifer’s skin-crawling voice screeched, “Excuse me.”

I jumped, my heart hammering in my chest. “Oh, hi. What are you doing here?” I questioned, puzzled, even though my stomach plunged. I sensed it was time for the reckoning.

“Adaline’s office. Now,” my father barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I felt a chill run down my spine. “Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to gauge the situation, but deep down I already knew the answer.

“Just move,” Jennifer said, her impatience palpable, her expression one of disdain.

With a reluctant nod, I stood up and followed them, each step feeling heavier than the last.

The second the door closed behind me, my father whirled around. “What happened today?” he growled, his face slightly red and his body tense. Jennifer stepped forward, her expression a mix of concern and irritation.

“I did everything you told me to do, Mum,” Adaline said, her voice soft and sweet as she batted her eyelashes at our dad. “I let the two men do the presentation, I dressed up, but it didn’t seem to affect the CEO. He must be gay.”

Her tone shifted, the sweetness replaced by something sharper. “They seemed interested, but as we left, May stayed back a bit too long with them.”

I raised an eyebrow at her feeble attempt to blame me. “What did you do, May?” my father growled, his tone accusatory.

Anger surged through me. “I did nothing! I handed them the finance documents that Adaline gave me and answered their questions. Then I was told to leave, so I did and went to the bathroom,” I shot back, my voice steady despite the frustration boiling inside me.

“Why are you embezzling money anyway? Have you seen my emails? I could fix this poor excuse of a mess if I were in charge, and we would be just as successful as Miles & Co.”

“Enough!” my father interjected, his voice rising. “You are not CEO! You’ve ruined enough as it is with your failed attempt at sealing this proposal!”

"I'm not the CEO! Adaline failed to seal the proposal not me. I wasn't even aware of this happening. I am not the blame for your lack of teaching and Adaline's ignorance". I seethe.

I could feel the beat of my heart in my ears. Jennifer scoffed before adding, “You’re a disgrace to this family. You can’t even manage simple tasks without creating chaos.”

“Maybe it’s time for a change, and you start holding Adaline accountable,” I said, trying to defend myself. “Maybe it’s time for you to face the consequences of your actions.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stood frozen for a moment, disbelief washing over me. “Dad, please—” I started, but before I could finish, a burning pain exploded across my cheek, whipping my head to the side. The impact was so strong that I barely managed to catch myself. My dad just hit me! No, not my dad. He wasn't my dad anymore.

“Leave!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the small office.

Tears threatened to spill over, but I held my ground. “Fine,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Gladly. I never wanted to come back anyway. I was delusional to think you would be my dad again. But he died the moment the cancer diagnosis came in.”

As I turned to leave, I thought I saw my father's expression falter, but I marched out the door, hearing Jennifer’s derisive laughter behind me. “Good luck finding another job, May. You’ll need it.”

I walked out, my heart racing, knowing that this battle was far from over. I quickly grabbed my bag and raced to my car, adrenaline propelling me forward. I was determined to go home and collect the rest of my belongings before they could stop me.

When I arrived at the house, I didn’t hesitate. I dashed inside, relief flooding me that I had the foresight to pack a few bags earlier. I grabbed the last of my belongings—clothes, a few personal items, and my laptop—grateful that I hadn’t fully unpacked. With everything in hand, I got straight back into my car, determination fueling my every move.

As I drove away, one destination filled my mind: my sweet café, Buttercakes Bread. It felt like a sanctuary, a place where I could escape the chaos of my family and start fresh. The thought of Rachel, the comforting atmosphere, and the smell of freshly baked goods filled me with a sense of hope.

Pulling into the café’s parking lot, I took a deep breath, feeling the tension ease slightly. I stepped inside, the familiar ambiance wrapping around me like a warm blanket. The soft music, the smell of coffee, and the sight of colorful pastries on display made me feel a little lighter.

“May!” Rachel called from behind the counter, her face lighting up with joy. But her expression quickly changed when she noticed me more closely. “Oh my God! What happened to your face?” she gasped, her eyes widening as she spotted the bruise forming on my cheek from the slap my father had delivered.

I instinctively raised a hand to touch it, feeling the pain throb beneath my fingertips. “It’s nothing,” I said, trying to brush it off, but the tremor in my voice gave me away. “Just a family argument.”

Rachel stepped closer, concern etched on her face. “That doesn’t look like nothing! Did your dad do this?”

I sighed, the weight of the day crashing down on me. “It’s a long story. I’m just… I’m done trying to fix everything."

“O honey! You know you are always welcome here,” she replied, her voice filled with warmth. “Let me get you some ice for that bruise.”

As she hurried to the back, I took a seat at the cozy corner table, feeling the comfort of the café envelop me. When Rachel returned with a bag of ice, I pressed it gently against my cheek.

“You relax here. I've got an hour left of my shift then we can talk and kick your familys ass", she said, ferociously before returning to the counter. A small laugh left me. That was Rachel, always a firecracker.