Claiming His Christmas Tree Topper
BY ALEXA RILEY
Nick Rudolph has been biding his time until he can fire the woman he loves… because the only way he can have her is if she doesn’t work for him. He’s also pushing her into the job she truly wants, so hopefully that will make up for the whole ‘you’re fired’ thing.
Getting fired at Christmas sucks, but when one door closes for Star Butterscotch, it turns out a winter wonderland is opening up. How are all of her dreams coming true just when she thought it was all over?
Warning: Ignore all those holiday plans and celebrate the most magical season with us! Can decorating a tree lead to lasting love? You bet your shiny tinsel!
To ABS Holiday Decor on TikTok - you totally inspired this story!
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One
STAR
“You’re fired.”
I stare at Nick Rudolph wondering what the heck he’s doing at my cubicle. I work on the bottom floor in the Human Resources Department of his finance company.
“Did you hear me, Miss Butterscotch?” he presses when I don’t respond to him.
I’ve only worked here for a month, and I’ve never even met him personally. I’ve seen him around the building a lot since I started, but he’s a hard man to miss. Sometimes I don’t even have to see him to know he’s near. As crazy as it sounds, I swear I can feel his presence.
The first time I saw him was on the elevator when I had to pop upstairs to one of the other offices. I needed to drop a packet off for a new hire, and we’d both been on the elevator alone. He didn’t speak a single word to me, and when I tried, nothing came out. I knew I’d only make a fool of myself if I actually got words out, so it was probably for the best.
Nick Rudolph might not be a movie star, but he’s well known in the city. He’s always making those top eligible bachelor lists and the women in the office—and a handful of men—are always talking about how hot he is or trying to get the scoop on who he might be dating. No one can ever figure it out, but personally I think he’s married to his job. He’s always the first one in and the last one out.
He has hundreds of employees in this building alone and probably thousands all over the world so yeah, it’s shocking he knows my name or would try to fire me personally.
“What did I do?” I finally ask because I’m barely off my probation period.
He takes a long breath, his irritation with me more than clear. I’m sure everyone is watching, but luckily it’s during lunch, so most people should be gone. I can’t see over my cubicle wall to know who might be at their desk.
“Follow me,” he orders before turning and walking away in his fancy suit.
I jump up from my seat and do as he commands. He steps into one of the empty conference rooms and closes the door behind me. I try not to fidget because I’m suddenly feeling extra ridiculous in my red and green holiday dress. It’s not the most professional, but it’s a dress.
“I’m sorry if I did something wrong. I’ll fix it, I swear.” I search my mind, trying to think of anything I could have done wrong.
The job is fairly simple, and I’m basically a glorified paper pusher at best. It’s not my dream job, but it pays the bills. Or it did until now. My mind is already racing with how I’m going to be able to keep myself afloat. I recently picked up a side job of my own which will help, but that isn’t permanent work.
“You’ve been booking other jobs on company time.”
“Wait, are you talking about for Star Tree-Topper?” I’ve gone back and forth on the name of my little company a few times. I thought it might be a bit vain to have my own name in the name of my company, but lots of people do it. When Nick nods, I rush to defend myself. “But it’s not a competing company, and I only did it on my breaks.”
I didn’t think that was against any of the company rules, and I’ve read them all a million times over. It’s my job to know them, and I would have found something like that. In fact, I could point out right now that Mr. Rudolph is breaking one of his own rules by having me alone in a conference room. He has a very strict no fraternization policy, and being alone with another employee who’s in a superior position is on that list.
“I’m standing firm on this, Miss Butterscotch. Since you are past your probationary period, you’ll be granted six months’ severance, and your benefits will stay intact.”