Ella had tried pleading with her dad after the whole debacle with Derek Cummins had happened, but he’d taken his wife’s side. Granted, he had to live with the woman, but still. They’d all made unfair accusations about Ella stealing Derek right out from under Pris’s nose.
Truth be told, Derek had shared with Ella how manipulative Pris was while they’d been dating. How he loved being around Ella because she didn’t belittle him or make him feel incompetent just so he’d stay with her. After he and Pris had broken up, he’d gone to Ella as a friend, because he’d needed someone to talk to.
Then, after spending a few afternoons together, sparks had flown between them. He’d kissed her. Asked her out on a few dates. Of course, it had looked like she’d been his rebound.
Ella could still hear the shrieks and nasty things Pris had said to her once Pris had found out.
She and Derek had tried to continue dating after that, to show Pris and Stina the pair had no control over their lives, but after things continued going downhill, Derek and Ella had agreed to end it, for both of their sakes.
And then Ella had been denied entrance into her childhood home altogether.
“I’m sure you have somewhere else you’d rather be than with the rest of us,” Stina had snarled from the half-opened front door one year on Christmas Day when Ella arrived for the family gathering. Ella had spotted the Christmas tree behind her. Music had wafted from the open door, along with the smells of cinnamon rolls and ham. Then Stina had left her on the doorstep like a traveling salesman.
Stina had a sniveling way of turning things around, of making it sound like she was trying to be considerate of Ella, but there was always something underlying, something that sounded and felt not quite right.
Even now, Stina didn’t have to schedule her—or anyone—on Christmas Eve. She could have said no to whoever this owner at Highland Heights was.
With a sigh, Ella tried looking at things from the positive. The only person she could control was herself. Her mother had always insisted as much. At least Stina was letting her go to the ball. There was that.
“I still haven’t decided if I’m going or not,” Ella said.
Stina paused as if just realizing Ella was still standing there. Her tone shifted from honey to vinegar in an instant. She rose from her chair and jabbed a finger in Ella’s direction. “You’d better not miss this. You’re my reliable one; I need you there on that job.”
Ella lifted her hands, realizing too late how it’d sounded. “Stina, I was talking about the ball.”
Her stepmother sniffed, seeming to comprehend the slipup. “I don’t care whether you go to that ball or not,” Stina said. “But I expect you to go to the Highland job, or you’ll be hunting for a new one.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Two more days until Christmas. Hawk was definitely pushing it. He should have had the candy delivery to Harmony Children’s planned out before now, but dealing with financial advisors arguing with him about costs, with the expansion into commercial stores, not to mention other matters concerning the ball, he’d let it slip through the cracks.
His financial advisor’s insistence clamored through his brain even now. Donating candy to the children’s hospital was too much. An unnecessary hassle.
Hawk refused to believe it. Not only was a charitable donation good for tax purposes, but candy for these kids wouldn’t cut into that many costs. He needed Production to get on this order as quickly as possible or they’d be out of time.
Chances were, however, it was already too late for that. He wouldn’t let that stop him. If he had to, Hawk would pay out of pocket for the gift bags and the confections to fill them.
The notion sparked something inside of him. Hawk paused in his chair, resting his hands against the edge of his desk.
“You know,” he said to his empty office, to the Christmas tree in the corner. Light from the window glinted off the bright, red and gold bulbs. “That’s not a bad idea.”
In a flash he was up, buttoning his suitcoat and texting Clary to stop by any of his shops and pick out an assortment of goodie bags. None of this waiting-for-approval business. This was his gift to the hospital, and the old adage rang true. He wanted something done. So he was doing it himself.
How many? Clary asked.
Hawk did a mental calculation of the hospital’s youthful residents. As far as he knew, there were over fifty children currently receiving treatment. The woman on the elevator had stated a number close to that. The hospital staff might like a Christmas treat too, though.
Better make it 200, he answered. Hopefully, that would be enough.
Will do, sir.
Hawk’s steps were lighter than they’d been in days. What, with the stress he’d been under lately, it felt good to be doing something for someone else. He’d already gotten gifts for Faye, his parents, and the designated sibling from his family’s annual gift rotation, but ordering candy for these kids seemed different somehow.
It was the woman in the elevator. In some roundabout way, he felt as though he was doing this for her.
How are you planning on delivering these to the hospital? Clary texted. Would you like me to do it?
Everyone was taking the day off tomorrow and then again Christmas Day. This really should have been put into motion sooner, but with the other demands he’d been dealing with, it’d slipped his mind.
No, thanks. I’ll handle it, Hawk replied. He wanted this to be a personal gesture.
His candy was nothing short of charming. It was what made the goods unique, special, and what had made him a billionaire in the first place. His boutique stores speckled the East Coast, but it wasn’t like these kids could venture out to one, no matter how close it might have been.
Too bad he
