Page 53 of A Cozy Kind of Christmas

FIFTY

MEG

Meg positioned herself next to Matt. The intoxicating aroma of his aftershave mingled with the scent of pine and spices. The Christmas beer went to her head. She leaned into his body for support, wishing she could summon the courage to just come out and ask what the deal was with him and Lucinda.

Were they a couple, or was all of it—the party, the weekend, their relationship—simply a PR stunt for the company?

But the right moment refused to come.

Every time they were alone for more than a minute, someone else would come by to wish him happy birthday or congratulate him on his promotion.

“Hey, I wanted to say thanks for the gift,” Meg said when they finally got a brief moment without interruption. “How did you know about the snowy owl? Did you talk to Gam?”

“Gam?” Matt scrunched his face in confusion. “No, why?”

“It’s uncanny—she was telling me about the symbolism of the snowy owl a few days ago, and then you gave me an ornament. What are the odds? It’s hard not to mistake that as a clear message from the Universe.”

“We must have a mind-meld.” He nodded. Then his face hardened slightly, turning serious. He glanced away before looking back at her, his gaze intense. “What about the letter? Or do you not want to talk about it here?”

Before she could answer, Lucinda cut off the band, grabbing the microphone from the lead singer’s hand. “Hello, hello, my party people. Raise your hand if you’re here to celebrate our newest VP, Matt Parker, tonight?”

Hands shot up around them.

“I didn’t realize it was a done deal,” Meg whispered.

“No, it’s not.” Matt stole a gaze in the direction of Lucinda’s father. He returned the look with a stoic frown. Matt tried to gesture to catch Lucinda’s attention, but she continued.

She tapped the mic twice and blew into it, sending a painful static across the ballroom. “Hello, yellow, hello, Christmas people. Give it up for Christmas! Who’s here for Christmas?”

A few cheers erupted.

“And let’s hear it again. Who’s here for our Boy Wonder’s birthday?” She twirled the mic, slurring slightly. “Give it up for our guy, Matt—hey, hey, Mattie, get your hot ass up here.”

“Oh, God. She’s drunk.” Matt was looking deeply uncomfortable, and his cheeks were turning a dark shade of red.

“Meet the man, the legend, the myth, and the new Blazen VP—Matt Parker.”

Giant cheers erupted now. The room went wild, except for Meg.

“Hey, not so fast.” Matt was shaking his head and he set off towards the stage, but the crowd were blocking his way, stopping him to congratulate him and clapping him on his shoulder as he tried to struggle through.

What was going on?

“Obviously, tonight is a cause for massive celebration,” Lucinda continued, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she spoke and swaying from side to side like she was on a cruise ship sailing through choppy waters.

“Our very own Matt Parker is turning the big three-oh. Happy birthday, Matt; tonight’s for you and for the company, of course.

Everything we do in the Hinton family is for Blazen.

Blazen, Blazen, Blazen into the future, yeah?

” She flashed Matt a tipsy grin and ducked out of her dad’s grasp.

He tried to take the mic away, but she held up a finger, circling it in the air like a conductor. “All together now, let’s sing.”

Then she proceeded to lead the crowd in a slurred version of “Happy Birthday.”

Howard Hinton managed to wrangle the mic from his daughter’s hands as more cheers broke out at the end of the song. Meg craned to see Matt closer to the stage now but still wrestling his way through happy well-wishers.

“Thanks, my darling girl.” Her dad clutched Lucinda’s hand.

Whether it was in a show of solidarity or an attempt to keep her upright, Meg couldn’t tell.

“As Lucinda said, we have so much to celebrate tonight. I’m thrilled to announce something bigger.

Something that will change the landscape of Blazen as we blaze into a new decade.

” He paused for effect, his eyes landing on Matt.

“I’ve offered Matt Parker more than the position of VP.

Tonight is my official retirement announcement.

Assuming Matt agrees to take over the company”—here he gave Matt a firm look—“I know you’ll be in good hands.

Matt, why don’t you come up here and join us? ” Howard asked.

Meg couldn’t watch this.

She needed to get out.

Now!

But the crowd had surged forward toward the stage. Bodies were packed so tight she was completely corralled in. There was no way out.

She tried to duck and elbow her way between two burly guys wearing matching plaid flannel shirts, but they wouldn’t budge.

Her stomach swirled. Panic tightened in her chest like a vice.

Just get through this.

Just breathe.

Up on stage, Howard Hinton beamed, clapping Matt on the back as he handed over the mic. “Matt, why don’t you say a few words.”

There was a long pause. Matt turned to the crowd, with an expression on his face that looked both strained and deeply sorry. Meg frowned in confusion. He didn’t look like a man about to propose. He looked like he might try to bolt.

“Uh, I—I…” Matt stuttered and stopped. “I want to say I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the company for the last seven years. Working here has changed my life for the better and taught me so much.”

Here it comes.

Meg braced herself.

“Working with you has felt like much more than a job. It’s felt like a family, like I’ve been part of something bigger.”

Meg clutched her stomach.

He felt like part of their family, and now was he about to become part of the family?

It was too late.

She should have spoken up sooner. If only she’d told him how she felt, maybe, just maybe…

No, don’t go there.

“That’s why this is particularly hard.” Matt cleared his throat.

His face turned an unnatural shade of white as he shifted from one foot to the other.

A hush fell over the crowd. No one moved.

“Howard, I’m so sorry to do this—now.” He paused and turned toward his boss, speaking directly to Howard Hinton.

“I tried to explain my reservations about announcing this before the party got started. I wasn’t sure I wanted this job, grateful though I am for all you’ve done for me.

It’s been an amazing experience working for you and Blazen.

But I am sure now. I can’t take the promotion. I’m leaving the company.”