His First Christmas: The Lonely Billionaire - A Heart-Warming Romance Novel (9 page)

“Slaves to your lifestyle,” Anna echoed. She was intrigued by the parallels and discrepancies between her school life and that of a rich kid.
Social mobility versus maintaining the status quo,
she mused.

“When my parents died,” Jason said, clearing his throat, “I suddenly became aware of the pressure-cooker environment—just because I didn’t really have anyone who expected things of me anymore.”

Anna nodded. “Do you think most well-off kids have a similar experience to the one you had with your parents?” she asked, thinking to herself just how difficult it would have been for Jason, growing up with such distant and unsupportive parents.

“As in…not particularly close?” Jason thought about it. “I’m not sure. With my friends, I guess most of their parents were pretty busy, too. But maybe they didn’t take it quite as far as my parents did, missing holidays and such…” he trailed off.

Anna remembered the part in Jason’s story about being in the custody of a boarding school after being orphaned. “So…you really have no other family?” Anna asked somberly. “Whatever happened to Lucy, your nanny?”

Jason hesitated before continuing. “Well, she stayed with me at my house immediately after my parents died, until my parents’ will revealed that they had made no arrangements to keep employing her. When I first started boarding school, she would send me care packages and stuff. Then one day I got a letter saying she had to go back to Vietnam, as she couldn’t afford to live here anymore, not on the minimum wage job she had. She sent me some photos from Vietnam, once or twice, and then that stopped. And now I haven’t heard from her in years.”

Jason smiled sadly, then cleared his throat. “What about you? What are your family like?”

Anna leaned back on her arm, taking a moment to think before responding. “Well my dad is quiet and very loving. He likes typical dad things—beer and reading the newspaper. And he has a subtle humor about him,” she said. “He doesn’t say much, but when he wants to he can make me laugh like no one else. My mom…always pushed me to do my best, and I’m grateful that she did,” Anna noted. “She’s pragmatic, but never harsh, and very loving.” Anna continued. “And my baby sister Cathy is…well, Cathy. She tells things like they are, but she’s also very charming. She has a quality that draws a lot of people towards her. She’s always been popular, but she’s never let it get to her head, either,” Anna said approvingly. “I sometimes wish I could be more like her in that regard.”

“The not letting popularity get to your head part?”

“No, the being popular in the first place part,” Anna laughed. “Or being able to make friends easily, I guess,” she said. Anna would have never encroached on the fact that she was having social problems if she were sober; she would have been too embarrassed.

“I think you’re misjudging your situation. It would be hard for anyone not to like you, Anna,” Jason countered. Anna blushed, even as an image of Karen popped into her mind.

“Even Karen likes you!” Jason said, as if reading her mind. “And I’m sure you have qualities that your sister envies in you, too,” Jason continued, meeting her eyes. Anna smiled at him, then looked away.

Jason’s compliment, and the news that Karen liked her, had caught Anna by surprise. She was struck again by how different Jason seemed at the cabin.
Is this just the alcohol talking or…?

Sensing a lull in the conversation, Anna continued. “So that’s my immediate family. Then there’s my Uncle Robbie and Auntie Lynn. They’re wisecrackers through-and-through,” she explained. “And, last but not least, there’s my beautiful old dog, Bayou. He risked his life saving my favorite toy from the fire.”

Jason nodded thoughtfully, leaning back against the base of the couch. “It must be nice to have such a tight-knit family,” he said softly.

Internally scolding herself for painting such an idealistic family portrait, Anna added hastily, “But, wait, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. It’s not like everything is rosy all the time—we fight and bicker like any other family.”

She glanced at Jason, who seemed to be in deep thought.
More like brooding,
Anna thought. She bit her lip. She felt guilty for rubbing in Jason’s face the fact that she still had a family, even though that hadn’t been her intention. Without a word, Anna got up and seated herself next to Jason. She kept her hands chastely folded, leaving an arm’s length of distance between them when all she really wanted to do was comfort Jason in the form of a hug.
Resist,
she told herself, trying to ignore the drunken part of her brain urging her to
give your sad and inappropriately handsome boss a hug already.

They watched the fire in contemplative silence, sitting only inches apart. Time seemed to move differently as they sat staring into the glow of the fire together. Anna couldn’t tell how long she’d been sitting there when she begin to feel the creep of fatigue, and eventually broke the silence with a yawn.

Anna turned her face ever-so-slightly towards Jason. “You know how some people are an angry drunk, or a happy drunk, or like, the type of person who says they love everyone when they’ve had a few? I think I’m… a sleepy drunk. Not that glamorous,” she said, blinking her heavy eyelids.

“Well, if you ask me, I’d say you’re a cute drunk,” he said, grinning. “I’ll go get you a blanket.”

“You’re a cute drunk, too,” Anna murmured as he left the room.
Ugh, no, Anna. Stop with the lame attraction already
.

When Jason got back, blanket in hand, Anna was already snoozing. He laid the blanket over her tenderly and settled into the couch opposite, where he was soon fast asleep himself.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Where the hell am I?!
Anna thought as she blinked awake. She thought back to the previous evening, remembering slowly where she was and why she was there. Sitting up, she glanced through the window, smiling with relief as she saw that the storm had passed. Spotting Jason sleeping on the couch opposite, she decided it was time to make her exit. She gathered up her things and put on her jacket, before gently tapping Jason on the shoulder.

“Uh… Good morning,” she said awkwardly, as he blinked awake.

“Morning,” Jason replied, groggily. Anna couldn’t help but think that he looked really cute in his just-woken-up state.

“So…” she started, “It was really good, getting to know you better, Jason. Thanks for the dinner and everything,” she smiled. “Like I said before, I’m so grateful to you for looking after me through the storm—and for saving me from a freezing night in my car—but I really should be getting back to my family now. So, I’ll see you in the New Year, I suppose,” she said softly.

“Right,” Jason blinked again, still half-asleep. “It was really nice spending time with you, Anna.”

He got up and walked her to the door. Anna reached for the door handle, relieved to be finally on her way, but when she turned the handle and pushed, the door wouldn’t budge. Thinking it must just one of those nitpicky doors, she pushed harder, but to no avail.

“Uh, do you mind giving it a whirl?” she asked Jason sheepishly.

Jason had a similarly tough time getting the door to budge, but after a great joint effort between them, the door was heaved open and the cold air rushed in to greet them. Judging by the drift outside, the door had been blocked by at least three feet of snow.

Anna looked at Jason hopelessly, her hopes of being able to drive away fading.

“I’ll contact someone for help,” Jason said, moving quickly and returning a few moments later with a two-way radio.

Hello?” he said. “Can anybody hear me? Requesting assistance; we’re stranded in a cabin two miles off highway 101.”

“You’re through to Mountain Rescue,” a voice replied. “We’re currently experiencing a high volume of distress calls. Do you have enough supplies there to last you a week?”

“We do.”

“Okay. Given that your situation isn’t urgent, it may be a few days before a rescue vehicle will be available to come and retrieve you.”

A couple of days?! Yikes.
Anna gestured that she would like to speak and Jason handed her the radio. “Hi there,” she said, speaking hesitantly into the mouthpiece. “Can you please forward a message to my family to let them know I’m okay? Please just tell them I’m stranded in the cabin, but that I’m alright and will be there as soon as I can.”

Anna supplied the dispatcher with her family’s contact information before bidding her goodbye. The radio call for help had driven home the fact that she wasn’t going to be home anytime soon, but Anna felt far less anxious about it now than she had done the previous evening. Perhaps it was an easier reality to accept now she’d gotten to know Jason a little—now she knew that she actually enjoyed spending time with him. No longer lamenting their incarceration together, Anna’s thoughts moved to holiday-related scheming.

“Alright, so it looks like we’re going to be trapped here for a while,” she started, “but while we’re here, we’re going to make the most of it,” she said, mock-serious in the face of Jason’s raised eyebrow. “And this morning, it’s my turn to cook,” she smiled.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“It’s a miracle that you actually had blueberries,” Anna said, as she served up a fresh stack of pancakes.

“I’m surprised I did, too. Who knew frozen fruit would last so long,” Jason said.

“Ah…yes. The wonders of freezer technology,” Anna added sarcastically.

After chewing a mouthful, Jason said, “Wow, Anna, these are amazing. You’ve got to give me the recipe.”

“Sorry, no can do—my mom is crazy protective of her recipes,” Anna explained.

Jason held up his hands in mock surrender. After gulping down another mouthful, he looked up at her, locking her in with his icy gaze. “Anna…I don’t get it. Why are you being so nice to me? I doubt I would be so chipper had I been as delayed as you in spending time with my family.”

Anna considered the question. “Being nice to you, huh?” she mused, loading up a forkful of pancake. “I don’t know… I think I’m just being normal. It’s not like you intentionally got me stuck in here, so I have no reason to be hostile, right?”

“Well, you
did
accuse me of doing just that…” Jason smirked. Anna laughed, thinking of how the mood between them had changed so quickly.

  “No, really, though, I appreciate it. Let me make you some coffee, at least.” He got up. “You do drink coffee, right?”

“What kind of a workaholic doesn’t?” she said playfully. “I’d love some. I take it black,” she added.

Jason’s question about being nice reminded Anna of something that had been bothering her. “You asked me why I’m being so nice…but I kind of wanted to ask you the same thing.”

Jason looked up from the cafetière, confusion spreading across his face.

“What I mean is… at the office, you seemed kind of, cold and aloof, I guess? What I mean is, your demeanor was totally different from how you are now. It’s baffling,” she said.
Okay, I’ve done it now.
I just told my boss that he was cold and aloof.
All she could do now was wait nervously for Jason’s response.

He silently passed Anna her cup of coffee, frowning. “Was that really the impression I gave off? Cold and aloof?” he asked, slumping into a chair.

Anna sighed. She didn’t enjoy being the bearer of bad news. “Well…for one thing, you didn’t shake my hand,” she pointed out. “I tried to shake yours, but you left my hand floating there, like a limp fish…” she joked, attempting to lighten things up.

Jason groaned, putting his head in his hands. “I’m so sorry, Anna. I must become a proper curmudgeon around the holidays, but I’m not really aware of it.” He said, before adding, under her breath, “Well, more of a curmudgeon than usual, anyway.”

Anna sipped her coffee. “I have to admit you sort of have a reputation for being a year-round grump,” she said, as lightly as she could manage. “Why is that?” she prodded.

Jason shrugged. “I don’t know… Maybe a misguided attempt at maintaining professionalism? Like, there’s the person you are at work, and the person you are outside of work,” he said, looking at Anna. “I wasn’t really sure how to act, when I started. I guess I…kind of took my parents’ cue, on that front.”

Anna looked back at Jason thoughtfully. “You don’t have to act, Jason. I’m sure everyone would appreciate you—”

“Being myself?” he teased.

Anna crossed her arms and smiled. “
Yes,
Jason. Sometimes clichés have wisdom, you know.”

“That’s true,” Jason allowed. Noticing Anna’s cup was empty, he said, “Want a refill?”

“Sure,” Anna said, handing Jason her cup before he headed back into the kitchen.

She hadn’t been expecting such honest conversation so early in the morning. Certainly not while sober, anyway. Their frank discourse was refreshing: something more real than water cooler talk. It was something she’d been missing.

Jason came back with the two refilled mugs, passing one to Anna.

“Do you mind talking to me about…how you felt about taking over the family business?” she asked.

He pondered the question for a moment before replying. “Well at first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take on the role. I didn’t have a great impression of Hawthorne Estates…after seeing first-hand how much the work consumed my parents. But when I actually learned what the role entailed, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It really is an art—making deals, negotiating, and keeping relationships with clients and developers.”

“I agree. So many of my friends thought I was on my way to become a corporate cog,” Anna added enthusiastically, “but I really love what I do, too.”

“Ah. I’m glad to hear you enjoy working at the company, Anna,” Jason said dutifully. Anna bowed mock-graciously in response.

“And how are you finding Seattle, so far?”

Ah. His turn to ask probing questions.
Anna smiled politely. “So far…” she mused. “I’ve been here for half a year, almost. Practically a local,” she said. She looked down into her coffee, a polite smile still plastered on her face.

“That may be the case. But you didn’t really answer the question,” Jason pointed out.

Anna replied reluctantly, “Ah, well, you know… Coffee. Meg Ryan. Seahawks. Nature. Prime real estate. All that.”

Jason gave her a look that clearly conveyed his dissatisfaction with her superficial answer.

He’s been so honest with me, I might as well reciprocate,
she thought, conceding Jason’s unspoken point.

For the first time in months, Anna forced herself to put down her defenses. She sighed. “To be frank…it’s a great city, but I’m kind of finding it hard to find my niche. I…thought I would be perfectly adjusted by now, but I still don’t feel like I really belong,” she said, pursing her lips. 

“I’m surprised you feel that way, Anna,” Jason replied. “You’re certainly a great fit at the company.”

“Yes, and I’m glad for that. It’s just everything else that’s the problem, I guess,” she said, smiling wanly. “I think I maybe work too hard so as to distract myself.”

Jason nodded knowingly. “Yeah, I can understand that.” He looked at her carefully. “But I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Anna. Someone like you…it’s only a matter of time before people start flocking to you.”

“Thanks,” she said warmly. She was slowly becoming less shocked to receive compliments from Scrooge. She looked around the cabin, trying to avoid staring at Jason again. “So…have you ever sold a house yourself?” she asked. Jason shook his head.

“Oh, well that’s my favorite part of the job, hands down. There’s nothing like the look on someone’s face when they land their dream home,” Anna said wistfully.

Jason regarded Anna carefully. “You really are a big-hearted unicorn,” he said.

“Now, that’s something I haven’t been called before,” she said, amused.

“I mean that in a good way! Maybe I should try selling a house sometime… I might learn something valuable from it,” he mused. Anna couldn’t help but feel pleased at the compliment, strange as it was.

Jason took a sip of coffee. “And, you know, on some level, maybe staying in this business is a way for me to connect to my parents.”

Anna nodded thoughtfully. They looked at each other for a moment, then Anna took her eyes off him and onto the ceiling, searching for something to say. “So…what do you normally do when you’re up here?” she asked. “It’s not like there’s any TV, internet, or phone signals to distract yourself with.”

“There isn’t that much to do,” he said simply. “I guess I eat, hunt, and drink.”

The thought of spending the holidays in such profound solitude, without even the comfort of a book or a movie, made Anna feel melancholy. She looked at Jason, and placed her hand on top of his. She felt comfortable with the intimate gesture after they’d shared so much about themselves—and Jason’s expression indicated that he felt the same way. “Alright. I have a proposition for you: I help you have a proper Christmas this year, the way I know it.”

Jason frowned. “Err, I don’t know, Anna… I’m quite used to my old Scrooge routine. I basically invented it to avoid ever having a “proper Christmas”.”

“But how would you know if you’d enjoy it or not? You’ve never had one.”

“I just really don’t see the point of doing a bells-and-whistles Christmas. I don’t mind doing it the solitary way, honestly.”

“The point of Christmas is not bells and whistles. The point is… celebrating life, and community and…connectedness.” She was going to say
and love
, but thought that Jason might not be ready for such cheesiness—and she definitely didn’t want to insinuate anything.

Jason shrugged. “But I’m not going to die if I don’t make a fuss over celebrating those things, am I? It’s nice of you to offer, Anna, but I think I’ll manage how I always have.”

Anna groaned.
I really am working with a bona fide Scrooge.
“Look—you already tried my mom’s pancakes. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Well no…” he conceded.

“Okay, so all I’m proposing—is just a few more nice, random traditions like that. If you just give it a shot, you’ll see for yourself how fun it can be!”

“I don’t know about this…”

“C’mon Jason, what’s the worst that can happen? You overload on merry times and delicious food?” she teased.

He sighed, resigned. “Alright, alright. I’m still not convinced, though.”

“Yes!” Anna said, pumping her fists. Jason chuckled at her enthusiasm.

Anna finished her coffee, and got up. “After you finish that, we’re going to get started right away. First task for today is some good ol’ spring cleaning—and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”