A Billionaire Boyfriend For Christmas - Holly Rayner Page 0,49

what happened.”

They rushed into the next room, praying a window hadn’t been broken.

Saved by the crash, Adison thought wryly. Maybe that was a good thing. Taking more time before she confronted Ken might help her get her thoughts in order, her head on straight.

It would also help her brace for the fallout that was sure to come. After she told him she had figured out he was using her, everything would be different. Their relationship would disintegrate. She might not have a job at the Montoya Foundation come the new year.

Time was always a good thing…as long as you used it wisely.

As it turned out, thankfully, nothing had been broken when one of the cocktail tables tipped over. After that little mishap, there was a mini crisis about once per hour. First the lights on the tree weren’t working, then there were patches of ice in the driveway that couldn’t be cleared. And then the caterer was short-staffed by two people and had to call in emergency bartenders.

Finally, by the grace of the party-planning gods, it all came together. Guests arrived at the entrance to Ken’s property, where the valet parked their cars while the horse and carriage chauffeured them up to the house.

Inside, sparkly white lights and electric candles welcome everyone, and servers walked around with trays of spiked punch and hors d’oeuvres. White birch saplings strung with fairy lights marked the path to the connecting living and den area, which had been cleared of all furniture save cocktail tables. Here, a live band played Christmas music while bartenders mixed drinks along the wall.

Adison stood in the corner, soaking it all in and feeling the happiest that she had in a very, very long time. Even with the gut-punch she’d taken that morning, she could have sworn she was walking on air.

“Adison, everything looks spectacular.” Someone touched Adison’s shoulder, and she turned to find Ramona, the office manager.

“Thanks. It all came together.”

“It seems like you just started at the company.” Ramona shook her head, smiling.

“It feels like forever ago to me.” The morning that Ramona showed her around the Montoya Foundation had only been a handful of weeks earlier, but the memory already seemed foggy. Maybe because so much had happened since then.

Coworkers came around in waves, introducing their partners or stopping by to congratulate Adison on a job well done. Jazzie had brought her brother as a date, and had the circumstances been different, Adison might have thought him cute.

“He’s single,” Jazzie whispered under her breath.

Adison smiled politely. She was probably going to need to take a real break from dating. Like months. Or years.

Someone walking with a familiar, sure pace caught Adison’s eye, and she didn’t have to see their face to know it was Ken. He crossed the room and stepped onto the platform the band was set up on.

As he sidled up to the mic, Adison went weak. Despite everything, his appearance still made her heart flutter. It hurt to see him standing there smiling like everything was all right.

“Good evening, everyone,” he said into the mic, and the crowd grew quiet. “I hope you’re having a good time.”

The house erupted in whoops of agreement and applause. Adison clapped so lightly it probably wouldn’t be heard even if she were the only person in the room.

Ken went on. “I don’t want to tear you away from your fun, so I’ll make this quick. I want to thank all the hardworking people who made this possible: our band, the caterers and bartenders, the valet and the horse minders…the crew who plowed the roads so we could all get here today…and our brilliant party planner, Adison Hale.”

Ken gestured right at her, and all the attention in the room turned her way. She nodded her head and smiled, not having expected Ken to thank her publicly.

“Enjoy yourselves,” Ken said. “And Merry Christmas.”

With that, he left the stage and disappeared somewhere in a swarm of people.

Adison turned, ready for a drink. She couldn’t relax fully, since she needed to be at her best in case there was another party catastrophe, but a small glass of white wine would be nice. It would relax her and give her hands something to do.

“Adison.”

That voice like butter and warm winter nights stopped her in her tracks. Rotating, she found Ken standing behind her.

She had to swallow before speaking. “Hello.”

“Everything looks beyond amazing.”

“Thank you.” She knew that was true, and that was the best part. She’d truly exceeded expectations for this party, and