What a New Year's Eve

by R. E. Laurel

  “Here.” Maren shoved another box of ornaments at him.

  “More?” He looked at the box as he grasped it and then at her innocent face.

  “It’s a huge tree.”

  Sighing he opened the, he swore a hundred boxes of blown glass ornaments from Germany to place among the branches with the other he believed to be over a thousand.

  “There. Next?” He turned to find her reclining on the couch, her legs stretched out watching.

  “Ribbon to begin at the top to unroll down to the bottom.”

  “You did this by yourself before?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m beginning to wonder,” he muttered.

  “Here.” She stood to hand him six rolls of gold glitter ribbon. “I love you.” She added with an extra sweet smile.

  “I love you too, gorgeous.”

  Maren stood back with arms crossed watching the progress they made today. Despite the many kiss breaks and reclining on the couch and look at the tree before decorations and during decorations, they got a lot accomplished.

  As Maren turned on the television to check the latest weather report, Victor retrieved his laptop and placed on the coffee table as he turned it on. They sat near each other as she grabbed the remote.

  “The governor is asking people to stay off of the streets and highways since the roads are still impassable. Six more inches is expected overnight bringing the total of snowfall to fifty-six inches. The high winds are drifting snow and bringing visibility near to zero and hampering with the roadways but are expected to decrease overnight.”

  Victor released a low whistle at the news. “Unreal.”

  “It isn’t that bad. If you can’t go anyplace then you just stay in. I just always feel bad for those who think that they can be out in it and get stranded,” she said, gazing out the window at the darkness.

  “Probably helps to have someone to be with too.”

  “Mr. Whiskers is my company,” she laughed as he began checking e-mails. Her phone rang, the ringtone being Belinda. “Hey girlfriend,” she answered.

  “Hey back. Just checking on you to see if you have power and if not keeping warm.”

  “We’re fine. Lots of food, especially cookies. Maybe I’ll bake some more tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  We decorated for Christmas. Not everything is up yet, though.”

  Victor shot her a look of amazement then shifted his gaze around the room at everything. The mantle had a row of old nutcrackers in various sizes standing among a pine swag. At the fireside stood more of them in various sizes. The crystal chandelier had greens intertwine, as did the ones in the other rooms, the windows had more pine swags and mini white lights hidden among them. The entryway had Christmas bears sitting here and there among tons of silk poinsettia bushes. The banister had more mini lights and pine swags with single poinsettias placed here and there. The wide staircase was practically covered with planters of silk poinsettias and that was just these two areas done so far.

  “It looks like a gift shop in here,” he teased.

  “Just wait,” she returned as Belinda laughed.

  “Okay. It appears you are in good hands.”

  “Am I ever,” she murmured, gaining another puzzled look from him. She laughed out as Belinda began to laugh. “Talk to you later.”

  Victor grinned at her words, especially since he could hear Belinda’s comments too. “Damn,” he muttered, seeing mail from his father and mother. “What the hell?” He checked his phone to find many calls from them. Curiously he pushed the voice mail and listened, and got pissed off.

  “Son, what are you going to do about the loss of the stores regarding Black Friday? Get back to me asap!”

  “Fuck him,” he swore to gain a surprised look from Maren.

  “Problem?” She rarely heard him use that word.

  “More like a royal pain in the ass.”

  She nodded her head as he continued listening and clicking delete on many of them as he released another curse after each one. Then he fell against the back of the couch, staring at the ceiling as he continued to listen.

  “Victor, what is this about you seeing a girl? Who is she? Is she from money? Where did you meet her? Is her family from a good name? What is her name?”

  And the list continued until he ended that message and a few others from them. He shook his head with disbelief then noticed Maren staring at him.

  “Mother.” He grated the word through clenched teeth.

  “Aw, that’s nice she called you.”

  “You didn’t hear the message.” He returned, sitting forward to check emails and not surprised at the many from his father. He read the first one and last one and then deleted the fifteen other ones. He sat back rubbing his hands on his face. “I don’t know about you but I am tired.”

  “Me too but we had a productive day,” Maren added, getting up to turn off the lights and keeping the mini lights turned on at the mantle, banister, and the tree before returning to his side on the couch.

  Victor eased Maren to stand as he shifted to place his back against the arm, his right leg bent at the back of the couch, his left leg on the floor. With his hand in hers, he guided her to lean against him, her butt between his legs. She laid her legs on the couch, feeling so content laying her back on his chest as his arms went around her. In silence, they looked at the beauty of the tree. She moved as his chest rose and fell with the long sigh he took in.

  “I never realized how good this could actually be,” he stated. “Sitting with someone you love in the quiet and just be with them.”

  “I have often dreamed about it but never thought that it would happen to me,” Maren softly confessed. “Were you really that bad of a boy?” Her brow furrowed thinking and wondering how he had been.

  “Sadly so. I only cared about myself, what I did, where I went. Lots of times we would travel in a mixed crowd of men and women. Hook-ups happened but they were meaningless, at least for me. Many of the women wanted more from me and I wasn’t interested in that. But, once I looked at you and you changed all of that.”

  “Really? One look? I find that hard to believe.”

  “One look from you and those first words after I said good morning from you.” He laughed out. “I have no idea what you were doing.”

  “Staring at you. You caught me off guard.”

  “Correction, you caught me off guard. I haven’t been the same since I first noticed you getting on the elevator still wearing your coat and then later folding clothes and rearranging. Despite Stan trying to get me back to my old ways. I realize how lost I was.”

  “I was an overweight teenager and into early college years who really didn’t receive a second look. Then I discovered jogging and running and loved it. The weight started coming off before that. I think my metabolism kicked in at a later age or something,” she laughed.

  “How overweight?”

  “Not much. Perhaps twenty-five pounds but it was enough to not be one of the in-crowd which I didn’t care about anyhow.”

  “On another note, I’m really sorry about your job. I fought with the old man to keep you and everyone but the order came from the father of the President.”

  Maren twisted in his arms to look in his face. “You didn’t! Weren’t you afraid of getting fired for insubordination?”

  “To be so lucky,” he muttered, gazing long into her face filled with concern. “I can handle him.”

  “I’d be frightened to have to face the boss let alone argue with him.”

  What about having sex with him, he thought since he was her past boss. His arms tightened around her in a hug. “Would you want to return to work there?”

  “No. I need to help mom and dad or perhaps open my own business here. There is a building next to there’s that has been empty for the past few months. Every time I walk past it I stop and peer in the windows. It’s so old fashion inside and I just love it.”

  He grinned at the enthusiasm in her voi
ce. “What kind of business would you be interested in?”

  She released a breath, “I love vintage clothing. There isn’t a lot of clothing stores. Most of them are knick-knack collectible kinds with sweatshirts, T-shirts, memorabilia style of items. I really love steampunk.”

  “The more you talk the more amazed I am with you. Steampunk?”

  “Belinda got me hooked on them. There are a lot of styles ranging from Victorian to Renaissance. Of course, the whole store would not be steampunk but a section. I’d have a catalog that people could order from. Then there would be the vintage jewelry section. I do own a few clothing myself. I have them in one of the closets. And of course, today’s styles would be there too.”

  “Do it,” he coerced noticing her whole face light up just talking about it.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Check into small business loans or even get a backer to become a partner in it.” He suggested, his finger tracing her lips then her jaw.

  “Oh, sure, like who could afford that.” She scoffed.

  “You’d be surprised.”

  “Well, I did receive an outrageous amount in my severance pay. I tried to deny it and return to Mr. Neal the Sixth but Stan refused to declare that being my severance. It’s a lot to consider especially with purchasing the building or rent. And then purchase the items to stock the store. Mannequins of various sizes and sex and display. But I did notice a lot of nostalgic display cases inside when I looked in the window. I’d want an eclectic amount of styles for customers to choose from. Advertising, hell that is expensive too. I have my clothes upstairs and I could use them as a display.”

  “You’re considering checking into it?”

  “I don’t know. I doubt it.”

  Victor pressed his lips together as an idea formed.

  CHAPTER 22

  The sound of loud persistent knocking mixed with the chimes of the turn bell coming from the front door woke them. After an evening of snuggling and talking well into the late hours as they lay in bed, they finally fell asleep in one another’s arms. Opening her eyes, she blinked from the brightness inside of the room from the sun reflecting on the newly fallen snow.

  “Who could that be?” She muttered while sliding from the warmth of Victor’s body.

  He sat up watching with appreciation her naked body rushing into the closet. Seems she has quickly gotten over the shyness about not showing her figure in the all-natural. He grinned as she began cursing at whoever was knocking. Still the lady with the rough edge, too.

  In a flash of gray sweats and a black baggie sweater, she rushed past the bed to the hurry down the stairs all the while adding expletives under her breath. With a shake of disbelief of his head, he rose and stretched before heading to the bathroom. Dressed only in denim he ascended the stairs to find Rick standing in the foyer.

  “Hey, Victor!” He greeted, sticking out his hand to receive a handshake. He shot Maren a speculative look at how Victor was barely dressed and he followed her down the stairs. She returned his look with a grin.

  “Rick. I guess the roads are passable?” Victor asked, their hands locked in a shake until Rick finally withdrew, giving his hand a slight shake.

  “Still questionable in some areas, mainly the outlying roads. Many are one and a half lanes. They can’t find where to put the snow. So I’m going to go and plow out the driveway.”

  “The big pile is my car just in case you forget.” Victor laughed as Rick chuckled, still shaking his hand.

  He left as Maren turned to look at Victor. “Did you give him a tight grip handshake?”

  “He started it again. And good morning, gorgeous.” He said, wrapping his arm around her waist as he pressed a kiss on her lips.

  She embraced him, enjoying his affection. “Good morning, handsome,” she answered when he released his lips from hers, easing away adding, “I’ll get you something quick to eat then we can go and shovel the snow from the porch and steps.”

  With winter coats and caps on along with sunglasses, they followed the path Rick made to her porch and then followed his blade trail to the garage to remove shovels and then cleaned the steps and porch. The drifted snow reached halfway up the door. The rear of the house was protected from the initial snowfall but the blowing wind drifted everywhere.

  Victor shoveled the snow from his SUV then moved it to the garage door so Rick could push the snow to the edge of the yard. Walking to the back porch he glanced out the driveway to the nearby road and noticed the vehicles moving. He hated to but knew he needed to get back to his apartment in Buffalo. Entering the house, he instantly smelled cookies being made. Good Lord but she has energy, he mused.

  “I made chocolate chip cookies for you.”

  “You’re going to have me so spoiled, gorgeous” he paused. “I’m going to have to go back to the city tonight. Looks like cars are moving around.”

  Maren wrapped her arms around his waist to hold him. She didn’t want him to go but knew the store would be opening tomorrow and he needed to be there.

  ***

  Victor was being such a bear that he noticed Stan even walking a wide path around him. The past few days were filled with returned phone calls from companies he did business with. He returned to his office with e-mails bursting through his computer. He knew he should have checked his laptop better but he didn’t want to be bothered. He had the goof up from Black Friday in control. The company who printed the price guides were going to compensate for the amount lost. Thank god for Merle. He sure knew how to keep paperwork in proper order.

  His cell phone rang. Reaching for it on the desk, he recognized Wally, his personal accountant’s number. Pushing accept, he answered.

  “Hey. What did you find out?”

  “They took your offer. The building is yours. Uh, tell me again why you wanted this particular building in Concord Hamlet?”

  “It’s for a special friend. Her birthday is this month and I’m hoping to get it ready for her new business.”

  “Okay. Keep me informed what is next.”

  “Once I get the key and get inside I’ll know the next step. I’m going to assume a good clean up. Bye.” He ended the call as Stan bustled through the door. “Yes?”

  Stan plopped onto the chair across from Victor. “Is it safe to talk?”

  “Sure. I’m sorry about being a prick. Father sent tons of emails.”

  “I understand now why you were being nasty. The place is a madhouse. This after the storm sale is a huge success.”

  “That’s good news.”

  “You don’t sound enthusiastic about it.”

  “I’m trying to figure out how to let Maren know who I am. I already know she’s going to be pissed off about it. We talk and when I feel like I’m going to tell her I back out.”

  “Why not invite her to your apartment? Hell, that should do it.”

  Victor rolled his eyes up to look at Stan. “You may have something. I can do that.”

  “You will do that.”

  “No time than the present.” Inhaling a long sigh, he dialed her number. It didn’t take her long to answer. “Hi, gorgeous. Were you sitting on the phone?”

  “It’s in my pocket. I’m still at work,” Maren confessed.

  “I can’t make it this weekend so I want you to come to my apartment if you don’t have plans.”

  Stan’s eyebrows shot up. Is Victor being polite? Jesus, he did change. He watched his facial expressions and watched a grimace appear before he ended the call. He dropped his phone on the desk then rest his chin in a hand.

  “She can’t make it?”

  “She can.”

  “What’s wrong then?”

  “I don’t want to lose her. But she has to be told. Speaking of telling. Have you and mother been in contact?”

  “I’m sorry, Vic. It just came up in conversation.”

  “No more. Anyway, Maren is coming this evening. I guess I need to get my ass home and face the consequences.”

  ***


  Maren’s GPS followed the map to the address Victor texted to her. After a tiny argument with a guard and a call he gave to Victor, she drove into a parking garage, parking at the top level as he told her. Turning off her car, she remained seated glancing at the high-end vehicles of BMW’s, Lexus, Cadillac’s. Blinking, she read Lamborghini on a few and Mercedes-Benz. Glancing around she recognized his SUV. Puzzled she got out and went to the elevator and pushed the P as he told her. Biting her lower lip, she watched the lights blink as she moved up.

  Victor paced with worry. He went over so many times what he wanted to tell her that he felt it was too rehearsed. He needed to let it come out naturally. It would be heartfelt that way. He got a call from the guard and gave the okay to let her pass. His bare feet slapped on the marble flooring in the corridor that opened to the doorway. Soon, too soon she would be on the other side of that door and he already knew with a confused look on her face. The ding of the elevator sounded louder than usual. Soon the chime rang and he knew she was there pushing the button.

  Walking to the door, he easily opened it and smiled at her. She returned with an uneasy smile as he stepped aside to permit her entrance. Closing the door, he took her purse from her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. Tilting her head back, his mouth claimed hers in a long, sensuous kiss. Her hands gently touched his chest where his shirt was not buttoned. Pulling apart, he guided her further inside onto hardwood floors of oak of his living room.

  “Did you have trouble finding the place?” He asked, his eyes never leaving her face, waiting, watching her reaction.

  “I thought I was in the wrong place.” She laughed, “Am I?”

  “No.”

  “You’re only renting this right?”

  “No,” he shrugged. “Come on in and have a seat.”

  Curiously she studied the living room. She eyed the black leather couch and matching furniture. Her hand touched it. Not fake, she mused giving him another look.