Mistletoe, Baby. Donna Hill

symbiosis. Her nipples tingled inside her lace push-up bra. She gave her head a shake and willed her senses to dispel their fix on Graham.

      She drew in a long breath of resolve, rolled her shoulders and targeted all of her concentration on the task at hand.

      * * *

      Alexis glanced up to see Claire walking into her office. She had a folder in her hand. Alexis pushed back from the desk and noticed the time on her computer. She’d been working for nearly two hours straight. It was almost three o’clock.

      “You need to take a break,” Claire said.

      Alexis stretched her arms above her head and her tight body sighed in relief. “You’re right and I’m starved.”

      “Do you still want to go out or would you rather order?”

      “Hmm, I think I’ll order. Touring will have to wait for another day. Do you have any menus?”

      “Sure do. I’ll be right back.”

      While Claire went for the menus, Alexis did an assessment of what she had accomplished. She broke the project down into six steps each with its own components and time frames. During the time she had her nose to the grindstone, Claire had prepared the last of the contacts and uploaded them to the shared drive. She opened the file and scanned the individual names and organizations and was mildly disappointed that there weren’t any names that she was acquainted with.

      Claire returned with the menus, a veritable Who’s Who of dining.

      “Wow,” Alexis said on a breath, as she flipped through the stack. “Any recommendations?”

      “Roof, if you like Thai.” She plucked a menu from the stack.

      “Sounds fine.”

      “I can order for you.”

      “Would you? Some kind of rice and chicken.”

      Claire grinned. “Okay. Anything else?”

      “Some green tea.”

      “Hot or cold?”

      “Hot.”

      “You got it. Give them about twenty minutes.”

      “Thanks.”

      Claire walked out to her desk to call. Alexis pulled herself up, stretched and walked to the window. The first full day in New York City was almost behind her. She felt a sliver of accomplishment. Yet, looking down on the rushing world below she knew she was only a minor player on the New York stage.

      “How was your day so far?” Alexis spun around.

      “Mr. Stone.”

      “Graham. Please.” He walked into her office. “Getting settled?”

      “Yes,” she said on a breath. She sat behind her desk. “Claire is the best.”

      His eyes said he agreed. “I won’t keep you.” He slid a hand into his pocket. “Remember, everyone is at your disposal, eh?”

      Including you? “I’ll remember. Thanks for stopping by,” she said to his back.

      Claire and Graham passed each other in the doorway. She had Alexis’s lunch and placed it on the desk. As hungry as Alexis was, she would first have to calm her jangling nerves following Graham’s impromptu visit.

      After a few minutes, Alexis opened the bag containing her food and peered into one of the cartons. She tasted a spoonful of the delicious stir-fry rice, then noticed that her green tea was missing. Her forehead pinched in annoyance. She returned the carton to the bag, grabbed her purse and walked out. She stopped at Claire’s desk.

      “Everything okay?”

      “Yes, fine. But they forgot the tea.”

      “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll call them.”

      Alexis waved away the offer. “No worries. I could use a walk. I’ll be back shortly.”