Holly Garland on Santa's Lap [COMPLETE]

Chapter 27 ~Midnight magic~

We make our way back to the party and find Tony stationed at the buffet.

No surprises there.

"I was starting to get worried..." he sighs as we approach.

"Yeah, you look super worried," I tease, my eyes flicking to his plate, which is piled high with finger foods and hors d'oeuvres of all kinds.

"What? Stress makes me hungry!" he defends instantly. "And it was either eat or go looking for you two and walk in on God-knows-what..."

"Uh-huh... I was just giving her a tour of my childhood home," Nick says, looking a little awkward. "The manor's huge, that's all..."

I chuckle softly as I help myself to some food.

"Yeah," I add, grinning. "And that super long tour worked up my appetite!"

Nick winks at me and steals a few bites from my plate.

Mr. Paxton Senior—"Dan"—joins us next.

"Ah, there you are! I've been looking for you!" he exclaims. "For a moment, I was worried you'd decided to leave because of Melinda. She can be... a bit unpleasant at times."

Unpleasant? What an understatement. I'd go with vile, brainless witch, a superficial, rotting harpy, or a nasty, hypocritical shrew.

Honestly, I could write a whole Victor Hugo-style novel listing her flaws.

"Oh, really?" I reply dryly. "I hadn't noticed... Actually, I was just... uh..."

I start blushing like I'm in front of the principal, caught skipping gym class.

"Your son was showing her his, um, childhood bedroom," Tony chimes in with a mocking smile.

I shoot him a death glare that could pierce his bulletproof vest.

"Ah, I see," Nick's father says, clearly amused. "Did he show you the amazing view from his balcony? It really is stunning. Just like you... I must say, I'm quite pleased to see Nick finally with a woman who's not only beautiful but also clearly intelligent. Now, tell me more about how you manage our business, hmm? What's your secret, Miss Garland?"

I glance at Nick, silently pleading for backup. Where's all that teamwork he was preaching earlier? Because right now, he's about as helpful as a mute fish.

Is this payback for leaving him to fend for himself with my brothers and dad?

Or is he just as stuck with his father as I am with my sisters-in-law, needing me to bail him out?

Okay. Time to roll up my imaginary sleeves and rise to the occasion.

"Well... there's no real secret," I start confidently. "It's all about discipline. I like things done on time, and I push to see projects through by exploring every possible angle. I encourage my team to innovate and think outside the box to solve problems—or better yet, prevent them."

"Interesting," Mr. Paxton muses, offering me his arm. "How about I give you a tour of the rest of the manor while you tell me more about how you've applied those principles to your recent projects?"

Of course... Why did I think a basic answer would satisfy him? He made it clear earlier tonight that he intended to dig deep.

As we walk, Nick and Tony exchange a look, their worry practically radiating. Are they worried about some hypothetical killer? Or is it just... Mr. Paxton?

Pfft... Seriously? Nick said there's nothing to fear tonight. Instead of overthinking, I take Mr. Paxton's arm with a reassuring smile for my two companions.