Seducing Santa (Holiday Series Book One)

Chapter Thirteen~Do You Hear What I Hear?

Mary Brownstone stood next to the window of her office, overlooking the town square while she imagined the layout of the upcoming Snowflake Festival. There was still much to do and the clock was ticking but so far she had not received any calls that her plans had gone amiss. She had handed out tasks to a number of volunteers and even to the mayor himself, everything going smoothly so far. She had almost all the festivals down to a science and each year she would add a few new things but mostly the people of Holiday loved their traditions. They had to have their skating rink, cookie baking contest, and various snow-themed games. She had been checking the weather and there was no snow in the forecast, but she had her backup ready encase it was needed. She rented out snow-making machines to be placed on the roofs of the buildings around the park where the festival would be taking place. So, if all else failed it would still be a white Christmas this year. It was going to be perfect.

She sighed and walked back to her desk, her thoughts turning away from the festival as she checked her phone for the seven hundredth time that morning. She was waiting for a very important text and she would not be able to rest easy until she received it. She turned to her computer and checked her e-mails, not seeing anything but junk mail, and was about to give up and go to the café to pass the time when suddenly her phone buzzed. She snatched it up and opened the text from an unsaved number, knowing it was what she has been waiting for.

From Unknown:

Here is a preview of what you asked for. I will hand over the rest once you keep your part of the deal.

She scoffed, smart little bugger. She went to the attachment file and had her phone download it , opening it and waiting for it to play. It was security footage from Holiday’s Inn on the night of the charity event. She could see Grayson carrying the blonde chit who had purchased him up the stairs and to his room. The video stopped right when he reached the door and Mary knew there had to be more! She quickly pressed respond, setting up a drop location with the sender to bring them what they wanted.

This might be what she needed to defame Grayson! Everyone saw him as some sort of saint that pined after his deceased wife and would possibly never marry again! His whole platform was based on family, how would his supporters feel if they knew he had taken a girl he had just met up to his room? The more conservative voters may change their minds about voting for him.

A knock came from her door, distracting her from her plotting. She set down the phone, confused who could be coming to see her without sending her a message first. Everyone knew that Mary much preferred to meet anywhere other than the tiny office room they had given her in this old run-down town hall. It was cramped and not at all befitting a woman of her stature.

“Come in!” she called, trying to sound welcoming and not irritated.

To her surprise, the blonde whom she had just seen on the security footage poked her head in, smiling at Mary and opening the door the rest of the way. She was wearing a beautiful white pantsuit but it appeared to have had a mishap with some coffee. How cliché, a blonde klutz.

“Are you Mrs. Brownstone? I was sent over here by Mayor Holiday to talk with you.” She stated.

Mayor Holiday? Who was this woman and what could she possibly want with her? Was she perhaps trying to get on her good side and spy for him? Since Mary might be willing to do the very same thing she could not put it past him. In fact, she already kind of was.

“I am, what can I help you with?” she asked, putting on her best customer service smile.

“Oh, well, I heard you were the person to talk to about getting a booth for the Snowflake Festival. I know it’s rather last minute but I was hoping you might find some space for me?” The blonde asked.

“A booth? I believe I might have a place I can squeeze you in, what exactly will you have at your booth?” Mary asked, confused what Grayson’s game might be.

“Oh, how rude of me! I have not even introduced myself! I am Holly McCormick, a representative for McCormick Attractions.” Said the blond while walking farther into the room and extending her hand.

Mary took it, shaking the hand gently before motioning for her to take a seat. Holly smiled and sat down, reaching into her purse and pulling out a business card before handing it over to her. Mary took it and at first glance, she could see what looked to be a blue roller coaster swirling over the white card and spelling out McCormick Attractions, in the corner was Holly’s name and contact information along with her title, Event Planner. Wait, was Grayson looking to replace her with the blonde klutz?

“I still don’t understand, what do you need the booth for?” Mary asked, trying not to sound too defensive and keep on that customer service smile.

“My company wishes to build a holiday-themed theme park here. The Mayor has graciously given me a chance to present it to the people to get their thoughts on it. I want to have a booth explaining the project and all the jobs and potential opportunities it could bring to the town of Holiday.” Holly explained.

Mary was dumbstruck that Grayson had not turned down that idea immediately. She knew he was against tourism, thinking it would only destroy their small town. They had gone back and forth about this in debates and her close friend Evelyn had tried to bring people over to her side, needing more customers for her Inn than just the small amount of regulars who knew about the best-kept secret in Rhode Island. There was so much potential to make this town the number one destination for all Holiday lovers throughout the year, but Grayson and his family were determined to keep it a small lumber town.

He had never really explained why the Mill had even closed, only that the people had left with the money and he needed a new company to take over that he could trust. It has been two years since he said that and no progress had been made. The people were getting anxious for a solution and Mary knew it was her time to bring up her idea of tourism again, this time people were more likely to listen now that the mill was closed.

This dumb blonde could be just what Mary needed to bring back up her idea. However, she was not about to let some big corporate company come in and take what was rightfully theirs. Holly McCormick was just a tool she fully intended to use. She smiled sweetly while she reached into the drawer beside her, pulling out a form and handing it over to Holly.

“That sounds so wonderful! Just fill this out and I will get you set up with all the information you will need to know. If you don’t have a table and tent we can rent you out one from our storage! I am excited to see your presentation! A theme park! How exciting!” Mary said, putting her high school acting career to good use.

“I am so happy to hear you say that! I hope I will see you there so you can sign the petition for the Mayor to see!” Holly enthused while she reached out and took a pen from a cup on the desk.

She placed down the form in front of her and began filling it out, Mary laying out her plans for how she was going to destroy Grayson and get the blonde out of town all in one strategic move. Her phone pinged and she picked it up, smiling when she saw a reply from the unknown number telling her that they would be there and be ready to hand over the full video.

This time, she would not lose.