The Billionaire's Lessons in Christmas

by Holly Rayner

  “Pretty much every Main Street shop is award-winning. My mom’s cupcakes just won best in state for the second time this year.”

  “They give awards out more than once a year?”

  “There’s a lot of cupcake shops.”

  “I see,” he grinned. “And might we be able to try one of those cupcakes today?”

  “I thought sugar was poison,” Annabelle said, casting him a wry glance.

  “I believe the rule of thumb is ‘everything in moderation,’ right? If sugar is wrong, I don’t want to be right anymore.”

  Annabelle laughed. “I really did have an impact on you, didn’t I?”

  “More than you’ll ever know,” he said, his voice soft.

  They meandered through town, and Annabelle fell into her natural tour guide role, telling him the history of the buildings they passed as they made their way through the neighborhood, towards Aunt Rose’s house.

  Annabelle stopped at the white gate in front of the place, bracing herself for whatever reaction her family was about to have.

  She tilted her head up and looked at Chase. “You ready for this?”

  His smile was encouraging as he reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I know what I’m doing, Annabelle. Trust me.”

  TWENTY-THREE

  Foregoing a knock on the door, Annabelle turned the knob and the two of them stepped into the house. It smelled of home-cooked food and scented candles.

  Everyone was too busy chatting to notice them entering at first, but when Kate saw her sister walking in, hand-in-hand with a handsome stranger, she instantly ended her conversation with one of their cousins and made a beeline for them.

  “Hi Belle! And who’s this?” Her eyes were bright, and it was clear she was already feeling the mimosas.

  Annabelle smiled as she met her sister’s gaze. “This is Chase Frost,” she said.

  As expected, Kate’s eyes glazed over as she processed that little piece of information, then she laughed. “Very funny, Belle! But not like, the Chase Frost, right? The one everybody hates?”

  Chase held out his hand for her to shake. “That would be me,” he said, his tone jovial.

  Kate frowned, staring at his hand before she looked at Annabelle. “Belle, what’s going on?”

  “What’s going on is you forgetting your manners. Are you seriously going to leave him hanging like this?”

  Chase’s hand was still held out, and Kate frowned down at it before she quickly gave it a shake and stepped back.

  “You know everyone’s going to freak out, right? Like Armageddon come early? Did you really think this was a good idea?”

  Annabelle began to question that herself when her parents joined them, looking concerned as they noticed Kate’s body language.

  “What’s going on over here, girls? Do we not approve of Belle’s new suitor?”

  Annabelle’s dad gave Chase a friendly look before he realized just who he was looking at.

  “Chase Frost?”

  “Yes, sir. You must be Belle’s father. It’s so nice to meet you.”

  He stuck out his hand again, and Steve gave it the same look Annabelle’s sister had before he shook it a little too firmly. “You have a lot of nerve showing your face around here,” he said before releasing Chase’s hand.

  “I know. I’m hoping that I might be able to change your minds about me today. Belle was kind enough to let me try.”

  “Change our minds!” Steve said. At his raised voice, the room at large began to quiet down.

  Annabelle could feel her face turning bright red as her family’s attention began to center on her and her mystery date.

  “You mean like how you forced your oil rig onto this town without any consideration for its residents? Or how about how you spit on anyone that tried to get you to see that what you were doing was destroying lives? Did I misconceive you basically flipping the bird to my daughter as she spent her life protesting people like you, and you yourself, in fact!”

  Steve turned to his daughter, his eyes full of anger. “Is this some kind of joke, Annabelle? Did you think it would be funny, bringing him here, now that we’re not underwater anymore?”

  Annabelle sputtered. She had expected her family to be upset, but to see them this worked up, and at Christmas, had her immediately regretting her decision.

  Chase placed a gentle hand on her arm, and her mother’s eyes darted to where their skin touched.

  “This isn’t Belle’s fault,” he said calmly. “I asked her to spend Christmas with me, and she invited me along as a gesture of kindness.”

  “You conniving rat. You’ve somehow found a way to trick my daughter into liking you. I won’t have it, Frost. I won’t!”

  A small crowd had gathered, and Chase looked up and addressed them all.

  “Hello, everyone. As you might have heard, I’m Chase Frost. Last year I nearly ruined all of your lives with my oil rig. I can understand if you want to tar and feather me, but I hope you’re willing to hear me out, first.”

  The room settled into an uneasy silence. Annabelle was acutely aware that she was still holding hands with her family’s mortal enemy, and considered letting go, but she just couldn’t make herself do it.

  “Last year I was petty, materialistic, and cruel. I took what I wanted, no matter the consequences. You are some of many people who were affected by this behavior. This time last year, I met Annabelle. Well, I say met; I don’t know if she told you this, but she found a way to sneak into my office, where she attempted to sabotage my most important meeting of the year.”

  “You did what?” her mother cried.

  “Oh, bravo!” Kate said, crossing her arms and grinning in approval.

  “Annabelle was angry. I could see that. She masterminded a scheme that entwined our lives, forcing us to talk, to understand one another.”

  “Last year? Belle, was this your Christmas Eve date last year?” Kate exclaimed.

  “Maybe…” Annabelle whispered.

  Kate snorted. “You sneaky little…”

  “Anyway,” Chase interrupted. “She made me see the man I had become, and that shook me. We made a deal that she would help me in exchange for the removal of the oil rig in your town, and I agreed. By the time we parted ways, I knew that I’d been wrong in my actions. Annabelle helped me see that.”

  He glanced down at her, and she caught the affection in his eyes. It would have warmed her spirit if she wasn’t shivering beneath the cold gaze of her entire family.

  “Annabelle changed me,” Chase went on. “She’s an amazing person, clearly raised by amazing people. Because of her, I worked to bring prosperity back to this and every town my drilling has affected, and I have directed all of my business efforts into green energy. I don’t expect you to forgive me for putting you all in the position I did, but I wanted to apologize to you all in the hope that maybe, today, we can turn over a new leaf.”

  The family stared at him for what seemed like eternity before Kate belched loudly, breaking the spell.

  “Kate, cover your mouth!” Deborah chastised.

  Everyone erupted into chaotic conversation until finally Steve put his fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle.

  “Everyone, hush up for a second!” He stared hard at Chase. “That was a moving speech, Mr. Frost. You’re really quite the public speaker. Having seen our town’s fortunes improve over the last year, I have no reason not to believe you in what you say, and it is Christmas, after all. What kind of people would we be if we didn’t allow Scrooge to sit at our table?”

  There was a heavy pause, and then Chase laughed. “Well you certainly wouldn’t be the Bob Cratchit we all know and love, that’s for sure.”

  The tension broke, then, and Annabelle and Chase were ushered inside, and met with a line of people excited to hear the whole story.

  “Did you seriously pretend to be his girlfriend, in front of a boardroom of old rich guys? Belle, you’re my hero!” Kate proclaimed, before sh
e ran off to play with some of their younger cousins in the backyard.

  “Food’s ready!” Aunt Rose called out to the group.

  All at once, Annabelle’s family headed towards the kitchen, where they filled their plates and found anywhere they could to sit and enjoy the generous meal. There was quiche, ham and turkey, cranberry sauce and pies; everything one could want on a cold December morning. They ate heartily, Chase taking an extra slice of pumpkin pie.

  “You better be careful, or you’ll be telling everyone that I made you fat with my bad influence,” Annabelle joked.

  They found a small corner to themselves, and Chase stabbed his pie with his fork, dipping it in fresh whipped cream before taking another bite.

  “Worth it,” he said, closing his eyes as he savored the flavors.

  “Thanks for what you said back there,” Annabelle said, her tone hushed.

  Chase’s eyes met hers. “What do you mean?”

  Annabelle shrugged. “You said a lot of nice things about me to my family. I’m glad that our conversations meant something to you, but I think you should take some credit for the changes you made.”

  “Oh I do. In fact, I really take all the credit, but your family looked like they were about to skin me alive, so I thought it prudent to compliment one of their own to save myself.”

  Annabelle slapped him playfully on the arm. “I take it back. I would like to take all the credit, and then a little extra for getting you to eat pie like a normal person.”

  “Is that a deal you’re looking to make there, Belle?”

  “Depends on what you want in return, Frost, though you’ve pretty much already given me all the credit to anyone who matters. Our town is very small, and you’ll be running the gossip mills for quite some time with that little stunt you pulled.”

  Chase stared down at her meaningfully, and for a moment, Annabelle thought he might kiss her.

  “I’ll think about it and get back to you,” he said.

  Annabelle swallowed, her throat suddenly quite parched. “I’m going to get some wine. Would you like some?”

  “Of course. It’s Christmas!”

  Annabelle grinned. “It most certainly is.”

  ***

  After everyone had enjoyed their meal and rested for a bit, it was time for parlor games.

  “Get ready to lose, Frost. I don’t take these games lightly,” Annabelle warned.

  Chase scoffed, brushing off invisible dirt from his shoulder. “Your words are meaningless. Victory shall be mine!”

  They joined her family in the living room for a rousing game of charades, which, to Annabelle’s surprise, Chase was actually really good at. It was during the second round, when he guessed within seconds that Steve’s weird little gestures were in reference to Full Metal Jacket, that Chase was readily accepted by her dad.

  Of course, the wine might have had something to do with that as well.

  In the end, Chase and Steve won the game, and Annabelle frowned, crossing her arms.

  “Clearly you cheated.”

  Chase grinned at her. “Clearly, you’re a sore loser.”

  “I am not!”

  “Prove it. What’s the next game?”

  Next up was Pictionary, and much to Annabelle’s delight, she ended up winning the game with Kate.

  “Boo-yah!” Kate yelled, as they sealed their final victory. She wagged a finger at Chase and Steve. “You think you’re unbeatable, but you have failed! Women for the win!”

  She high-fived Annabelle, who eyed Chase pointedly as they did so.

  He nodded his head graciously in defeat. “Fair is fair. I can now officially say that I have tied someone.”

  “Woah, that wasn’t a tie. We straight up won!” Annabelle laughed.

  “You won one game, and I won the other. We must now be considered equals.”

  “If you insist,” Annabelle said, plopping down on the couch and leaning into him. The wine, her family, and Chase’s general good spirits were enough to make her comfortable enough to get closer to him.

  Chase didn’t push away. In fact, he looped his arm with hers and they cuddled together, watching other family members keep up with the games.

  As the afternoon wore on and the alcohol wore off, there were yawns all around the room.

  “We should get going before we have to carry Kate home,” Deborah said, glancing at Annabelle’s sister who was laying on the floor, her eyes closed.

  Steve poked his younger daughter, and she started before slowly getting up and saying her goodbyes to everyone. Annabelle and Chase stood, joining Annabelle’s family as they made their exit.

  “Thank you for the wonderful spread, and the exceptional company,” Chase said to Aunt Rose, and Annabelle swelled with pride.

  She had been scared half to death to bring him, and the way her family had responded at first had validated her concerns. Over the course of the day, however, he’d managed to win everyone over, including her, and she was happy to see her aunt smile broadly at the man by her side.

  “You can come back any time, Chase. Anyone who can beat Annabelle at charades is well worth having on board.”

  “Aunt Rose!” Annabelle protested, but her aunt just kept smiling as she hugged her close.

  “Maybe you found what you’re looking for with this one, eh?” she whispered into Annabelle’s ear before pulling away, planting one last kiss on her cheek before allowing the Williams family to walk out the door.

  They began the short walk back to Annabelle’s parents’ house, enjoying a companionable silence. Kate waved to them halfheartedly before stumbling inside.

  “She’s going to need a nap and plenty of water later,” Annabelle observed with a grin.

  Her mother sighed. “This is the first year Kate got to enjoy being legal at Christmas. Good thing we’ll never let her live it down, huh?”

  “A very good thing indeed,” Annabelle grinned.

  Annabelle’s father turned to Chase. “Young man, you have redeemed yourself today. While you may not have always been an honorable man, it gladdens me to see a change of heart is always possible. You’re welcome celebrate with us any time.”

  He held out his hand for Chase to shake, which he did, with gusto.

  “Thank you, sir. You have a beautiful family.”

  “Yes, I do. See that it doesn’t get hurt.”

  “Dad,” Annabelle protested.

  Her father’s meaning was clear. It had been obvious to everyone that day that there was something unspoken between Chase and Annabelle, but as they hadn’t actually said whatever those words were, she felt royally embarrassed by the insinuation.

  “I promise you, I won’t let that happen,” Chase said, looking into Steve’s eyes with a serious expression.

  Steve released his grip and nodded before Deborah bid them farewell, and Annabelle’s parents followed Kate into the house. Annabelle and Chase turned to head back to her place before she remembered something.

  “Wait here. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

  Annabelle entered the house through the kitchen and headed through to the bakery side. There, sitting in a large, clear container, was a fresh batch of coconut crème cupcakes. She opened the plastic lid and pulled one out before heading back outside and handing it to Chase.

  “One of our most popular flavors,” she said with a grin.

  Not willing to wait until later, Chase peeled the wrapper from the base of the cupcake and broke the bottom off, placing it on top, eating the cupcake like a sandwich.

  “For someone who swore off sugar, you certainly know the expert way to eat it,” Annabelle said.

  Chase grinned, his top lip covered in frosting. “What can I say? I have a natural talent.”

  “You are also the king of humility. So far, you are the best at games and have a natural talent for eating cupcakes. Anything else I should know you’re the best at?”

  “I imagine you’ll find out someday,” he said, his tone suggestive.

 
“Oh stop,” she said, and Chase chuckled. “No seriously, stop walking for a second.”

  He paused and looked down at her. Reaching up, Annabelle ran her thumb along his lip, where the frosting was sticking.

  “I can’t take you seriously when you have frosting on your face,” she laughed.

  His grin revealed a dimple, and Annabelle fought the urge to run her thumb along that part of his face, too. They walked the rest of the way to her apartment, stopping just outside the door.