LOGINOver the next few days we auditioned dozens of kids. We tried to find a place for anybody who wanted one. If they couldn’t sing or act they could still be street urchins or workers in the background of Scrooge’s factory. Today we were taking applications for the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. I looked around and spotted Emma and Ethan in the audience, waiting for Emma’s turn. I waved at them and they waved back, Emma smiling cheerfully. The first auditionee was one of the high school students and very fashionably goth. Today she’d gone for the corpse bride look—black lace gown, long black hair, dead white makeup, heavy black eyeliner. She swept to her mark and gracefully extended a slender arm, pointing at Matthew. Who made a note on his tablet. “Thanks, Elfreda, we’ll get back to you,” he said with a smile. She smiled back, completely ruining her spooky goth vibe.The next candidate was a tall, skinny middle-schooler carrying a scythe with a silver-painted cardboard blade. The o
I grabbed a handful of tissues and wiped the tears from my face. I was glad nobody else was in the house. I looked like a wreck. This was full-on ugly crying, complete with gut-wrenching sobs, swollen eyes, and snot running out of my nose. My eye makeup would be destroyed, if I was wearing any. It was hard to find the motivation to get fixed up and go out anymore. Most days I sat in the dark, watching TV. I heard the sounds of someone coming in the front door, and then the thump-thud of Claire’s boots walking towards the living room. Dammit. I liked it here because she had a bigger TV and a comfier couch. I was usually back in the cottage before she got home from work. I’d got caught up in the show I was watching and didn’t look at the time.“Oh Savvie, darling!” My sister sat down next to me and put her arms around me. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine how hard it must be.”I sniffled, and continued to watch my show over her shoulder.“Do you want to talk about it?” Claire patte
The view was spectacular. Bernard and I were in the Arden International conference room on the fiftieth floor, and from here I could see the whole city. It was spread out before me like a smorgasbord and I saw something that looked very tasty indeed.Bernard handed me the report. “The valuations on their regional distribution centers are inflated,” he said. “But if we squeeze their supply lines for another thirty days, their board will capitulate. We can buy them out for sixty cents on the dollar.” His voice was missing its usual zest. He enjoyed this kind of corporate maneuvering as much as I did, if not more. “If we act now we can get this done by Christmas.” His voice was flat, his gaze distant. He could have been talking about the weather in a city he didn’t live in. I leaned back in my leather office chair, thinking. Sixty cents on the dollar would be a bloodbath for Walker and Sons. They were a family-owned business, started by their great-grandfather back in the thirties.
“Hi Claire, great to see you back!” Madison smiled at me. “I guess we’re going to have to start budgeting for extra Claire drama,” I said. “It looks like this is my life now.” She frowned. “Being kidnapped is not ‘Claire drama!’ We were worried sick.” She leaned across the reception counter and put her hand on my arm. “I think it’s because the foundation is doing such a good job. The bad guys are trying to stop you.” Her glance slid over to Victor, who was standing beside me, and she stood up straight. It was probably unconscious, but her new posture lifted and highlighted her breasts, serving them up like fruit on a tray. “Kurt’s been helping us out while you were recovering,” she continued. “He’s in his office, if you want to talk to him.” She gazed expectantly at Victor.“This is Victor,” I said. Something told me not to spread his full name around. “He’s Savannah’s boyfriend. I’m showing him around; he was thinking about helping out.” He gave her a friendly smile and a nod.
The Uber ride was heavy with anticipation, scented with pheromones. When we walked into my apartment I found myself seeing it through his eyes. How the warm colors, the impeccable taste and presentation, almost succeeded in making up for the lack of personal photographs and mementoes. Matthew walked across the living room to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at the glittering city skyline. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “And it keeps your secrets well.” I poured out the Scotch and handed him a glass. “Can’t have a blabbermouth apartment,” I said. “True,” he said, turning to face me. He set his drink down on a side table, stepping into my personal space. “But eventually you need to tell at least one person the truth.”When he kissed me, the last remnants of my carefully constructed control dissolved. His lips were smooth and firm, his hands gripped the small of my back and pulled me tight against him. It was a slow, intimate exploration, a grounded connection that I didn’t rea
Goddammit, Derek, I thought. You’re going to fuck this up again. Claire is actually starting to like you! But I guess you can’t help acting like an entitled little fuckwit. I sighed and threw away my uneaten popcorn. Now I had an empty evening. I hated that. Hated staying home staring at the four walls—as elegantly decorated as they were. I couldn’t do anything more here. Everything was perfect. If I wanted to add anything I’d have to take something away, and I didn’t want to do that. I’d been looking forward to spending the evening with Derek. He was my best friend. The teeny-tiny crush I had on him didn’t get in the way of that relationship. Just added a sweet little frisson to the time we spent together. He had no idea I was gay, of course. It was ridiculous, being in the closet at my age, well into the 21st century. But there it was. The corporate world liked to pay lip service to the idea of being “LGBTQ+ friendly.” That only meant that they liked our money just as much as a
I looked up and saw my sister staring at me, eyes goggling and mouth open like a goldfish.Shit. This was the last thing I needed. Victor was speaking in a low voice, his tone perfectly controlled, like it always was when he wanted me to listen. Even in a public place his effect on me was undeniab
“Darling,” Savannah said, eyes coyly downcast. “I need to go to the little girl’s room.” “Now?” I asked, glancing at my watch. “Claire and Emma will be out soon.” Her mouth tightened. “Yes,” she said. “I won’t be long.” She placed her hand protectively on her belly and gave me a luminous smile. “
I looked at the bitch I married. She was as beautiful as ever, maybe even more so. Her blonde hair glowed in the dim light, her bright eyes flashed. I wanted to grab her, press her to me and devour her lovely, lying mouth. “Come home with me,” I said, my voice rough with the emotion I was doing my
Savannah’s stare was a challenge, and there was a time I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from responding. I’d matured since then. It was so freeing to realize that all I had to do was stop playing her games. They were all rigged. And they weren’t any fun.Adrian clasped my hand gently, calm







