must take minutes but feels like hours before we all descend from that stage. Once we do, Jase stops Jackie and me.
“I hear your mother is feeling better,” he says.
Jackie hesitates but nods. “A little.”
“That’s great news. But,” he pauses, his eyes flickering to me before he looks at Jackie again, “we at Cypress should’ve been more attentive during your family’s hour of need. I recognize our shortcomings, and while I’m certain a monetary benefit can only go so far, I’d like to notify you that we’ve signed off on tripling the bonus promised to you at the beginning of your tenure with Cypress.”
Jackie gasps, covering her mouth with her free hand. Again, Jase looks at me, and I nod.
“Are you serious?”
He nods. “Yes, of course. Also, I’m not aware if Mark has told you by now, but we’re promoting you as well. To the director of our project management team. You will essentially be in the lead throughout this entire merger process and after that.”
“Thank you,” she says, her voice still sounding in disbelief.
“Thank you for the effort and work you’ve put in in such a short time with Cypress. We’re all looking forward to great things in the future. Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year.”
I dip my head at Jase as he leaves us.
“I can’t believe it. I wasn’t even sure I still had a job. Did you hear him?” She looks excited.
“I did. Congratulations.”
“You too.” She bends, kissing me, but before long, pulls back, gasping. “Do you know what this means?”
Shaking my head, I say, “No, what?”
“It means I can buy the house. Or, I can buy a new house for Mama and I. Probably not as big as the one we live in now, but so what. We’ll be free from under my father’s thumb.”
“Why would you want to buy a house for your mother that she already owns?” I ask.
She looks at me, confused. “Mark, I told you …”
Her voice peters off as she watches me pull out a folded paper from the inside of my tuxedo jacket.
“What’s that?” Her eyes lock on the thick, manila paper in my hands.
“Open it and see.”
She takes it from my hand, staring at me as she unfolds. Slowly her eyes travel from mine to the paper in her hands. I see the moment she realizes what she’s holding. Her eyes begin to water as she shakes her head.
“How?” she whispers. “How did you get the deed switched to Mama’s name?”
“A little Christmas magic.”
“Is this real?” she asks, looking at me.
I nod. “Your mother owns that house outright. She can keep it, sell it, or tear the whole thing down brick by brick. It’s hers along with the investments your father left behind.”
“Really?”
I nod. “It seems your Uncle Will received more money than he led you to believe. Around 1.4 million from your father’s estate. He signed that over to your mother.”
Again, she wears a confused expression. “Why would he sign that over?”
“Another Christmas miracle, baby.” Smiling, I wiggle my eyebrows.
“How did you get all of this done? Seriously.”
I pull her onto my lap. “I have a few connections. Being Connor O’Brien’s little brother comes with its perks.” I chuckle, knowing eventually I’ll have to tell Jackie of the many investments my brother put my name on; investments that come with connections all over the city.
“Either way, you no longer have to worry about providing for your mom. She’s taken care of, and your uncle will never darken our doorstep again.”
She looks at me with her mouth wide open. “He’s not dead, is he?”
Shaking my head, I say, “No, he’s still alive minus the money and property he and your father tried to hold over your head.”
He may never walk normally again once he gets out of the hospital, but Jackie doesn’t need those specific details right now.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she says into my neck as she tightens her arms around me.
She holds on for impossibly long.
“Um, baby?”
“Yes?” she asks but doesn’t move.
“You know I have a broken spine, right?”
“Wha— Oh my god! Am I hurting you? Hugging you too tight?” She pulls back, looking horrified.
I can’t even keep a straight face as I burst out into laughter.
“Mark, that’s so not funny!”
“I know. I know. But you were squeezing my neck hard.”
“Jerk.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, well, I couldn’t give you this one last gift with you squeezing me so damn tight.”
“Another gift? You can’t be serious.”
Shrugging, I say, “I have to make up for missing our first Christmas together.”
“Speaking of, where were you?”
“Had to take multiple trips to get these forms signed in person. Two of my lawyers are traveling with their families for the holidays. I had to track down many people over the past few days to get all of this done. Including my jeweler.”
I pull out the black, velvet ring box from my pants’ pocket.
“You have a jeweler?”
Nodding, I say, “I do,” before opening the box that bears the rose gold band with a pear-shaped diamond in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds on either side.
“And he’s good enough to fit this ring for me in a few short days’ notice.”
“Mark.” Her voice quivers.
“Ten!”
I glance around the room to realize the New Year’s countdown has begun. Everyone around us is staring up at the screens, watching the ball fall.
“I thought you hated me.”
“I thought so, too. But even when I thought I hated you, you were always my greatest temptation. The same way I’m yours. Will you marry me?”
“Five!” the crowd yells.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“Two!”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Happy New Year!” the crowd yells around us as streamers and confetti fall from the ceiling.
And as the clock strikes midnight, ushering in 2021, I cup my hands around my fiancée’s face, bringing her lips to mine. This is how I plan to spend every New Year for the rest of my life.
The End
Looking for updates on future releases? I can be found around the web at the following locations:
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Rescue Four Series
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No Coincidence
The Townsend Brothers Series
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