Take Me Home for Christmas

by Aiden Frost

  “Good!” said Shandra, her voice suddenly chipper. “Because I’m speaking to Max today. There’s no sense putting it off another minute. He’ll either say yes, or he’ll say no.”

  “Good,” said Amanda, stepping into the elevator. As she turned around, she could see Shandra still standing there, a worried look on her face. Amanda reached forward, grabbing the elevator door before it closed. “Come on,” commanded Amanda, “you’re holding everybody up.”

  Shandra smiled and stepped into the elevator, allowing those behind her to enter too. “There’s my girl. You just needed a little nudge.”

  “Well don’t nudge too hard today. I’m feeling ornery.”

  Shandra chuckled quietly. “I can see that.”

  “Do you think there’s any chance they’ll cancel work before we get to our floor?”

  “What’s with you?” asked Shandra as the elevator dinged and they stepped out onto their floor. “Usually your conquests make you happy. What’s different about this one?”

  Amanda looked at her, uncertain. “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know.”

  Chapter Nine

  MAX SAT AT HIS DESK. His desk, he thought. Not for long. He’d gone over to his father’s house last night. His tryst with Amanda had set him on edge. If she wasn’t the person his father spoke to, then he really didn’t know why she was suddenly all over him. It wasn’t more than some sort of plan on her part, he tried to tell himself. But he could tell the difference. He’d been with enough women to know when they had an agenda and when things were different. And with Amanda, things were different. They’d sat together for a few minutes afterwards. Coming down from the high of sex, wrapped in each other’s arms. She’d felt relaxed against him, like they were old lovers, not new. Were they lovers? Max didn’t know. But then it was like she’d suddenly remembered she had somewhere to be. She’d jumped from his lap, never giving him a second glance. She’d barely finished dressing before she left his office. She was up to something alright, Max just wished he knew what.

  But he didn’t have time for such things. He needed to shut it out of his mind. Right now he needed to figure out how to keep his job, how to keep the business. He spread out the papers on his desk. Janice had this pleased with herself smile when she’d brought them to him. More unpaid papers. This time though, it was all the papers for the office Christmas party. He was going to need to tell everybody it was canceled. Then he’d live up to his reputation. He’d be the asshole that canceled Christmas. And office bonuses, he thought as he continued to shuffle through the papers. Not only was he going to lose his job, he was going to do it in style. He laughed sardonically to himself. People may covet his position, think he was handed this job because he was the boss’s son, but they have no idea what was involved. They had no idea what he has needed to do to get them as far as he has.

  The business tanked after his father got sick. Andrew Avery was many things, his best trait being that he was stubborn. He gets what he wants. Which was why he was always a great business man. It was also why he pushed himself way longer than he should have. He worked through the pain, through the sick days way longer than he should have. He hid it from everybody. Trying to keep the business afloat while he fumbled. Max guessed that he really owed his father’s life to Ana. She knew something was wrong. She was the one who finally forced him to be seen by a doctor. And then after his diagnosis, she was the one who convinced him to hand over the business to Max. Max was handed a business in despair, but hardly anyone besides himself and his father knew. He wasn’t about to tarnish his father’s good name. He’d rather them all think he was a failure.

  Max scrubbed his hands across his face, realizing he’d never shaved this morning. He looked down at himself. He was wearing fresh clothes at least. Yesterday’s clothes smelled of sex, and Amanda. It surprised him she didn’t wear perfume like most of the other women in the office. He liked it. She just smelled like her. Sweet and innocent, despite the façade she had in place. She may portray herself as rough, but he saw her countenance slipping when she was with him. Deep down she was scared.

  Max couldn’t force himself into a clear thought. His office held memories that would never scrub clean. The chair beneath him had felt things that would never go away. He felt himself harden at the thought of her pale legs wrapped around him.

  He growled, slamming his hands into his desk. He needed to focus. He lay his head back, taking in an leaving off deep breaths. Trying to calm the raging heat in his pants and trying to figure some magical way to save his father’s company. His father said he had no money left. Max sat up, an idea suddenly coming to him. He had money though, lots of money. He swore he’d never touch it, but perhaps his mother would forgive him this. It was the money from his mother’s estate. He didn’t want to profit from her death. He didn’t want blood money. So it had remained untouched, and forgotten about for the past fifteen years. Max promised himself he’d work for every dollar he made, just like his father had. His mother struggled to make a name for herself, coming from an affluent family. But Max was afraid that still, he was thought of as an entitled rich kid. People assumed, and he didn’t do anything to change their minds. His mother would want him to do this. He held the phone in his hand, uncertain. His mother loved his father. If she were alive, she’d have done this herself.

  Max dialed, the phone ringing once before a curt voice answered. “Cristo and Cline Financials.”

  “Linda?” Max asked, although he was quite certain he recognized her voice, even after all these years.

  “Yes?” she said, tentatively.

  “This is Max Avery.”

  The line was silent a moment. “Amelia Avery’s boy?”

  Max chuckled. “Not a boy anymore.” He cleared his throat, feeling his voice hitch. “But yes, I’m Amelia Avery’s son.”

  “You want access to her estate?”

  Max scrubbed his hand across his eyes. He wished his mother was here. He wanted to hear her say it was okay. His eyes heated. “Yes, please.”

  “Max?” said Linda, her voice now soft, losing the proper phone voice she always employed. “Your mama would have wanted this for you.”

  Max swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Can I come in today to sign for a proxy to attend to the accounting?”

  “Max,” she asked, suddenly concerned. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m going to make sure everything is okay,” he said.

  “You’re a good boy, Max Avery. Your mama would be proud.”

  Max nodded to himself before hanging up the phone.

  Max took a deep breath, then jammed his finger into the call button on his phone. After the forth ring, Janice finally answered. She wasn’t out of breath. He knew she’d been sitting at her desk, right outside his door, right next to the phone she’d left ring. The woman infuriated him, and not in a good way. “Get Shandra in here,” he said when she finally answered. He hung up without waiting for a response.

  He listened quietly, not hearing her immediately ring for Shandra. Things needed to change around here. He’d kept things the same, trying not to stir the pot after his father abruptly left, but he was fighting a staff that didn’t respect him. He pulled open his desk drawer, flipping through a folder before he found Shandra’s name and extension. Shandra Njinga. He hadn’t even known her last name. If things were going to change, he was going to need to make some changes too.

  He punched Shandra’s extension into his phone. After nothing happened. He hung up the phone. He flipped though the file, trying to find the directions on calling an extension. “This is why I have an assistant,” he grumbled.

  He stood, flinging open his door. He startled Janice, who was lazily flipping through files. She grabbed the phone as she saw him. “Don’t bother,” he growled. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Leave for the day?”

  “Leave forever,” he said.

  “You’re firing me?” she asked, h
er eyes welling with tears.

  “You hate it here,” he said.

  She looked up at him, startled. “I do,” she admitted.

  “Then go,” he said. “Find something you enjoy.”

  A small smile lit her lips. She stood, packing up her bag and putting on her coat. “Will you give me a reference?”

  “No,” he said. “I won’t. You’ve never proven yourself to me. You may request one from my father.” He handed her his father’s home office number. “I’ll see to it that you’re sent your Christmas bonus and a month’s pay to get you through the holiday season and the time to find a new position elsewhere.”

  Her lip quivered. “You found a way to get the Christmas bonuses?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Thank you,” she mumbled. She turned, taking off quickly down the hall.

  Amanda looked up as she heard a woman crying softly. Janice hurried past her desk, her head down.

  Carter grabbed fast to her as she approached him. “What happened?” he asked.

  “I can finally go,” she said.

  Carter leaned over, kissing her on her cheek and wishing her well before releasing her from his grasp.

  “Hmmm, curious,” he said as he peered over the divider to Amanda.

  Amanda just shrugged. “Can you see him?” she asked, for where Carter was standing, he had a direct view of Max’s office door.

  “Yeah,” answered Carter, his voice low. “He’s just standing there.”

  “Does he look upset?”

  “Shandra!” Max suddenly hollered.

  Carter dipped his head down, looking away from the door. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I’m pretty sure he’s upset.”

  “You!” Max hollered directing his attention at the boy who always ran errands for Shandra. “Find me Shandra. Now.”

  The boy nodded up and down, his long curly hair jostling over his eyes.

  Max turned, slamming his door shut behind him. He sat on the edge of his desk, tapping his foot repeatedly on the floor. Then he stood, moving behind his desk, leaning against his chair. He sat, then bolted to his feet. He didn’t need thoughts of Amanda right now.

  He moved again, sitting in one of the chairs that faced the front of his desk. Two quick knocks sounded on his door before it was opened. Shandra’s spicy scent preceded her into the room. “Sit,” he commanded as he glanced at her over his shoulder.

  Silently, Shandra moved across the room, placing herself in his office chair. His lip curled. He loved her boldness. It would take her places.

  Shandra crossed her long legs, dangling one of her high heels down from her foot. “You called?” she purred.

  Max leaned back in his chair, suddenly completely at ease with his decision. “Do you like working for me?” he asked her.

  Shandra’s smile faltered, uncertain where this conversation was going. “I love working here,” she said. Her voice tried to shake, but she cleared her throat, steadying herself.

  “What do you want to get out of being here?” Max asked. He waited for her to lie to him. To tell him that she wanted nothing more than to be here, in her current position, forever.

  Shandra uncrossed her legs, leaning forward. “The truth?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “Someday, I want to be you. I want to be the one in control. I want all of this,” she said, spreading out her arms.

  Max’s lip curled into a smile. Shandra was a woman he could trust. “Since I’m not going to hand you my job,” he winked at her and she gave off a brilliant smile, “would you settle for being my assistant?"

  Shandra’s smile broke, she tilted her head up, thinking. She leaned forward, her long, lean arms splayed across his desk. “No,” she said.

  He cocked his head at her, uncertain he’d heard her properly.

  “Give me a minute,” she said. She stood abruptly, storming out his door and slamming it shut.

  He pursed his lips, amused over whatever was about to transpire. He could see Shandra’s shadow in the front of his door. She remained silent a moment, before she shouted, “No! I will not take no for an answer!” He heard the shuffling in the office, and he imagined everyone turning to look at her, silence ringing out as they stared. She stormed back in his office, slamming the door once again.

  He stared at her, intrigued. “I demand to be given the assistant position,” she said, loudly.

  Max slammed his fist down on the desk. He could hear mumbling going on outside the door. He nodded at Shandra.

  “Good!” she said. “I’m glad you see it my way.” She started to move from him, her posture tall and assured.

  “Wait,” he said, his voice firm but quiet. “I need a favor. And I need it kept quiet.”

  Shandra smiled. “My first task as your assistant?” When Max’s face remained impassive, she sat down quietly next to him. “What do you need?” she asked.

  “I need you to go with me to my financial planner’s office.” Shandra’s eyebrows raised, but she remained quiet. “I have a large estate holding there.” Max paused, uncertain. “My mother left it to me when she passed.” Shandra reached over, placing her hand on top of his. “We have no money for Christmas bonuses, for the Christmas party...for anything.”

  “All the unpaid notices?” Shandra asked.

  He nodded. “Can I tell you a secret?” he asked. Shandra nodded, wrapping her hand around his. “You are probably one of the few people that know my father was sick.”

  Shandra pursed her lips, quite uncertain what this meant. When suddenly, she realized. “Everyone thinks it's your fault the business isn’t booming. But you’ve been trying to pick up the pieces for the last year.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’d ask why, but I already know,” she said. “You’d rather everybody hate you then let them think any less about your dad.”

  Half of Max’s mouth turned into a smile. “Is that crazy?” he asked her.

  She shook her head, suddenly sad.

  “Do you have a family, Shandra? My dad, he was very fond of you, but he didn’t seem to know much about you, besides that you were a hard worker and loyal employee.”

  “How is your dad?” she asked, deflecting.

  “Happy,” said Max, beaming. “He loves being at home. Don’t get me wrong, he still works, a lot, mostly consulting now, be he makes time during his day to have lunch with his wife, he’s never late to dinner, they travel... ”

  “His wife is a good woman.”

  “Yeah,” said Max, morose.

  “You resent her?” asked Shandra.

  Max nodded his head. “I know I need to stop though. She doesn’t deserve it.”

  “Then make the effort,” said Shandra. “Family is always worth the extra effort.”

  He turned to her, wondering if she’d left that as an opening for him to ask a little about herself. He wasn’t sure, but he asked anyway because he found himself wanting to know. He asked again. “Do you have any family?”

  He could see the subtle cringe that passed over her face. This was a sore subject with her. “I have parents, a sister back home,” she said, quietly.

  “In Angola?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s it like there?”

  “Poor. Unforgiving. It has the lowest life expectancy of any other country in the world. If that tells you anything.”

  Max shivered, unable to even imagine. “But you got out?”

  “I did,” she said, but her smile was sad.

  “You miss your family?”

  “Everyday,” she said and stood suddenly. “I’ll get my coat. Meet me out front in ten minutes.”

  She walked out of his office and Max leaned back in his chair. His father couldn’t help but care for the people in his office. He’d always come home with stories about his day. And not stories that involved what deals he’d made or what contacts he’d made, but about the people he surrounded himself with. Not only did he know who was married, who had kids, he knew their names, their ages, the
ir favorite hobbies. He treated everybody like they were his friend, yet he was a professional and powerful business man whose legacy would continue on long after his death.

  Max had only wanted to be like him, but he was met with such resentment when he took over, he pushed back. He pushed everyone away and focused solely on running the business. It hadn’t gotten him anywhere.

  Max put on his coat, taking his time buttoning it before opening his office door. He knew the looks he’d get after firing Janice and the supposed fight he’d just had with Shandra. He held his head high, walking down the hall without a glance at anyone. He slowed slightly before he approached Amanda’s cubicle. He hadn’t seen her since she left last night. He wanted to look at her face, to see her smile at him, for him to know everything between them was alright. His heart beat faster as he turned to face her. He stared at an empty seat. He wanted to look around, to find her, but he continued walking to the elevators and then out into the cold where Shandra already had a taxi waiting.

  Chapter Ten

  “HE WAS LOOKING FOR you,” said Carter as Amanda slid back into her seat.

  “Who?” she asked innocently.

  “Don’t you who me, missy. You’re boinking our boss.”

  “Boinking?” asked Amanda, amused. “Is that what you kids are calling it these days?”

  Carter waved her off. “You know exactly what I mean. This is a bad idea. You’ll hurt him and then, poof, we’re suddenly living under a dictator’s regime.”

  “He’s far off from that already?”

  “Oh, you young people and your naivety. What are you and Shandra up to, anyway?”

  “We’re not up to anything.”

  “Yes, you are,” Carter insisted. “Ever since the night you came to my house. Things have been different; I can see it. Now I know my wife’s cooking is great, and I’ve always been a fantastic conversationalist, but we’ve never been quite that moving before. So spill it.”