Hey, lovely readers, this is a Christmas special chapter, hope you enjoy. A Merry Christmas from me to you .
“I love the Christmas-tide, and yet, I notice this, each year I live; I always like the gifts I get, but how I love the gifts I give!”
~Carolyn wells
“One second,” I yell before getting up from the bed and going to the door after hearing a knock on it. I open the door, still rubbing my sleepy eyes, and when my eyes finally clear out, I see William standing at the door. He held his black suit over his shoulder with one hand and holding onto his suitcase with another. He looks a bit tired and worn, and I can’t blame him. Three days ago he received a call to be in the UK after the attack on the McQueens company that left many injured took place. Even though our tradition in this family during the holiday was to stay together, he had to leave. He promised to do everything he can on order to return to me in one piece and before Christmas day.
Today is the 24th day of December and after spending the whole day with the twins, fighting, playing, wrapping up the boxes, running and having fun with no news from William, I kinda lost hope, and although he has never been one to break his word, I couldn’t keep the faith for his return. Last we talked was yesterday, and he told me he would be offline the whole day today to focus and be able to wrap up everything to return to us.
Yes, he said he would be back, but when I heard the knock, the last person I had in mind to see was him. I am happy.
“Karen,” he calls out my name like he hasn’t seen me throughout the year and he takes a step towards me.
“William!” I call out, my breath becoming sharp. “You made it,” I say in a surprised tone.
He gives me one of his amazing smile and his grey eyes glitters, “Told you I would. You know I would let the company burn if it means I get to be with you and the twins, especially during the holiday.”
I close the space between us and throw my arms around him, for a small tight, “Thank you, I didn’t want to say it, but I didn’t want to spend the Christmas without you, and every day since you left I prayed for your return.”
He pulls away from me to give me a bright look. “I’m glad you waited.” he leans in and pecks my lips. “The twins, how are they?”
I take his hand and lead him further into the bedroom and towards the bed. “Very well. I put them to sleep not very long ago. They were up till past ten. Most of the workers took their Christmas breaks yesterday and other left today.”
“How many do we have left?” He asks, taking a seat on the bed and gently pulling me down to sit on his lap while he undoes his buttons.
“Only two, Cassandra and Simon. They said they will spend the holiday with us,” I reply while I help him untie his tie and toss it on the bed beside him.
“That’s still something you think?”
“Yeah, but not as last year. We had almost all the workers stay with us for Christmas,” I reply with a sad look.
His hands cup my face and make me look at him, “Well, we may consider our workers as family, but let’s not forget they also have families they want to spend time with outside there and it’s only fair.”
I lean in and kiss him while undoing the last of his buttons, before pulling away, “You’re right, you’re so wise, Christmas isn’t about how many people we have around us, it’s about the little we have and how we choose to look at it, and I’ve got you and the boys so that’s a lot.”
“Yes, my love, how did the gift wrapping go?”
“Great, the only one left is the one who has been touring the UK.” I joke, biting my lips gingerly.
One reason the boys slept late was because they were wrapping up their individual Christmas gifts while I was doing mine.
His eyes light up, but within it, I see the fire that burns. “Oh really? So does Santa’s little helper have her good and naughty list, then?”
“Killian is on the good list for sure, he’s a good boy but Willien takes after his father, he’s a very naughty boy.” the boys are all grown now, at seven they were already a handful with one more troublesome than the other. While they were much younger, Willien was the quiet one. I remember him not making a sound many weeks after delivery. I was so worried we went back to the doctors to complain and the doctors assured us he was normal. But after he turned four, he changed. He became the louder one, and even though he was compassionate, he was a little aggressive and being diagnosed with ADHD it is completely normal.
They both turned seven a few months ago and Willien was a handful, as ever. Killian's reserved and calm and observant. They are both amazing in their way and I will not have them any other way, but one was a naughty boy throughout the year. An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I guess.
His hands wrap around my waist and pull me even closer so that our lips are barely apart. “Oof, in what ways is his father naughty this year? “
This breath vibrates against the skin of my lips, sending goosebumps all over my skin and shivers down my spine and causing weakness to shoot through all of my body.
Damn, how I want this man.
I pull closer, brushing my lips against his and trailing it to his ears, “Not listening to my advice on keeping the old house, firing his secretary and not being as romantic with me as he used to.”
“Oh my,” he says, pulling back and I see the apologetic look in his eyes, “I’m sorry, let me try to get my name off your naughty list then.”
****
The sun is barely up when our door swings open and our room gets barged into by loud noises coming from the voices I know so well.
I growl loudly and bury my head deeper into the pillow.
“Two more minutes, please.” I groan, shutting my eyes. William didn’t let me sleep early last night. He was hell-bent on taking his name off the naughty list.
“Can you give me and your mummy two minutes to get prepared, please guys?” I hear William trying to bargain with his sons, but since he says it into the pillow, his words come out as a long growl.
“Willy, be quiet mom and dad are still sleeping,” Killian calls out in a hushed voice that already sounds remorseful.
“Not anymore, we are not,” William replies and I turn around grumpily in bed to look at my sons, the ones who decided I wouldn’t rest.
“Merry Christmas, mom and dad,” they say in unison with a wide grin on their faces, one that melts my heart even though I am sleep deprived.
“Guys, come on, two minutes.” William tries his skills at negotiating.
“You guys must be out in two minutes or we’ll be opening all gifts in your absence.” Willien sounds his warning before waltzing out of the room.
William craws over to my side, where I am unmoved. “Hey.” he wraps his arms around me and pulls me up to a sitting position.
“You’re sure we can’t give them back?” I ask, contemplating the choices I have. Sure I would miss them but I’ll have less headache.
I frown at William when I hear him chuckling the happiness dies from his face and he clears his throat. “We should call and check after we finish opening the gifts.”
“Were you able to do your?”
He nods and I’m surprised as I stare at my husband. After our romantic adventure last night, I felt too worn to do anything but sleep. William, however, helped me put my nightgown on before leaving for the living room, where we kept the unwrapped gifts. He sorted them out before finally coming to bed, which makes me wonder just how long he even slept last night.
“You’re amazing William, merry Christmas,” I say, leaning in and pecking his lips.
“Merry Christmas to you too darling, our boys are waiting.” he reminds me before carefully requesting as he pulls away, “should I carry you down?”
I pout my lips and nod, and he sweeps me into his arms and takes me out of the room.
The workers and the kids are all presents around the Christmas tree each holding onto the Christmas gifts they are hoping to give out just as we’ve done for years now, underneath the tree are about nineteen wrapped boxes with gifts in them and we always let William do the sharing of gifts.
“Can you stand?” he whispers into my ears and I nod and gently he sets me down on the floor.
He steps forward to stand before us, “This has been a long year, a lot of things didn’t go our way, the companies all over suffered depression this year because of the pandemic that struck the entire world, but one thing we remain grateful for is family. I am glad to have my wife here and our sons and you amazing members of this family. On behalf of the McQueens, we say merry Christmas.” he hands Simon and Cassandra their gifts.
“Thank you, Mr McQueen,” they reply in unison and gave the gifts they had in hand.
William hands his gifts to his sons. “Guys, these are yours.” they run over, collect it from him.
He picks up a purple box. “Karen, you’ve been amazing this year as a wife, a mother, a friend, and manager. This gift isn’t because you’ve been amazing, but this is just a Christmas gift.”
I laugh and collect the gift box from him. Then I open my box and there is a book in it, Mrs Wilson’s Replacement. I’ve always wanted to get this book but have either forgotten or it sold out before my arrival. I had complained to William many times about my bad luck, but never thought he would get it for me. “This is the best Christmas gift,” I say, wiping off the tears that peaks at my eyes.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s my turn,” I tell him before going to the Christmas tree and giving out the gifts I’d wrapped. After handing everyone theirs, I move to the back of the glittering and glowing Christmas tree and bring out a box I had kept hidden since yesterday and hand it over to William.
There is a surprise in his eyes. “Do I deserve one?” His eyes become serious, “I don’t think I pass the good husband test this year.”
I roll my eyes, but urge “Open it,” the smile on my face widening.
He does and pulls out a new Rolex before looking up at me. “Merry Christmas William McQueen, I’ve always got your back, and you were not a good husband this year, you’re the best husband.”
He pulls me closer, and his lips take mine in for a passionate kiss. “Merry Christmas, Karen, I love you. “
“Always.” I smile.
*****
Author’s appreciation: Thank you for reading this bonus chapter and sticking with the book. Please check out my latest book, “The CEO’s Contract With The Thief”. It would mean a lot to me.
Thank you.
God bless
Ever since a child, Karen had always been fond of her father's master's son and although there was an enormous gap between them, with age, social status and lifestyle, she just didn't see it. She grew up seeing Mr William McQueen II as her prince charming, her hero and knight, and shining amour, but William always treated her like his younger sister because that was the only thing she could be to him. William's parents died in a plane crash while coming back from a business meeting in Paris after he turned eighteen and, although young, he had to take responsibility for the family businesses and company worldwide as he was the only heir to all the McQueen fortune. His inexperience, coupled with his age, made everyone want to take advantage of him, everyone except Samuel Butler, his father's ranch keeper. William grew closer to Samuel as his father and took the advice and counselling to heart, and it did him well until he could handle the companies on his own. Samuel Butler died four y
I shake my head, not daring to turn to him, "I'm sorry, I thought you didn't want to be disturbed, you were watching the news." I answer with my head bowed. I listened as his footsteps approach where I'm standing and my heart speed up its beat and I try to keep myself from doing something silly. "Why are your eyes glued to the floor, kid?" I sigh, knowing he will not give up. William is not stupid and if there's something he is; he's smart, smarter than I can ever be. He walks even closer to where I am so now I can hear his heartbeat, as well as the heat coming from his body and all I want to do, is lean into him completely, but I can't. "Nothing William," I reply, hoping that would make him stay away, oh how wrong I was. "Then look at me," he breathes, but I can also pick up the order in his voice. When I don't obey, he cups my cheek in his hand, lifting it and when my eyes still don't gaze into his, he tilts up my chin and this time I'm trapped, staring at his beautiful, grey ey
Cassandra the maid called me to dinner that evening, but all I want to do is cry and avoid the man who owns and control my heart and the last thing I want is for him to discover how he makes me feel. I am barely asleep when a faint knock comes to my door and I’m barely able to pull myself up from the bed when it opens. I gasp and quickly cover my body as I am in my underwears which hardly covers anything on my body and I glance up to see William standing in my room, his hands behind his back, striding around my room like a captain I only see in epic movies. The next minute we spend in silent and I can sense the giant elephant in the room while I clench on the bed sheets hardly. He walks around, not looking at me. I mentally sing cold water by Justin Bieber in my mind while I wait for him to break the silence. “I noticed you weren’t at dinner.” he begins in a cool and concern tone and although he doesn’t glance my way, I'm certain his face will be filled with questions I’m not willin
I step back, trying to regain myself from the trauma I’ve been through in the last couple of minute and when my eyes finally clear up, I see the two guys struggling on the floor, and throwing punches at each other and more students gather around to watch. Although I feel grateful for being rescued, I do pity the boy who just saved me because I know he officially just ruined his life in this school. After a few minutes of endless fight, the new guy gets up from Bruce, battered on the ground and he walks towards me, his mouth bruised and there is also a cut a little above his brow and there. Although I can tell he is feeling some pain on his face, he still flashes me an amusing smile. “Hi, my name is Arthur O’Brien. I’m new here and I think I’m not in the wrong block.” He says with a thick British accent as he extends his hand to take mine. His blue eyes twitch in adoration as he stares at me and this is the first time someone has ever looked at me with this way and I can’t help smilin
Although I’d sent out all invitations for my little birthday party, as instructed by William, I am not sure anyone is going to come. William had promised that he would show up for the party, but I am no longer sure he plans on keeping to that promise, either. He told me he was travelling to Jamaica for a business deal in the morning but still promised to be around for my birthday. I set the party to seven p.m. to nine p.m., hoping that whatever happens, the few that will come will have fun. Chloe helped me get Arthur’s number, and I didn’t even know how she did it, but I invited him after apologising for the wrong way I had treated him the previous day. He accepted the invitation after making me promise to go out on a formal date with him. Cassandra knocks on my door at around eight in the morning and when I open my door, she hands me a pretty purple gown with white crystal design on the thin arms and around the waist. I collect the dress and notice a note at the side of it and pull
I get down from the stairs where I had fallen asleep on after everyone left and I climb up the stairs, heading for my room when I hear the door open, and with care I draw closer, making sure my feet don’t make any noise as I walk. I draw closer and I see William walk in and close the door and when I look at the clock on the wall and it reads two minutes past midnight. He is looking tired and quite exhausted and I can’t help feeling a part of my heart go out to him, but the other part refuses to feel sad or pity for him. He drops his suitcase on the brown leather sofa and moves around it to sit down. “I’m glad you’ve gotten. home now,” I spoke, making my presence known to him before turning and walking off. I hear him call out my name, but I don’t care to look at him as I walk in and slam the door. I walk to the bed and throw myself on it and close my eyes when I hear a knock on my door. I stay silent for the first few knocks that come to my door and just when I thought he had left;
Seven thirty A.M. The ray of sun on my face wakes me up and I pull myself off the bed to a sitting position and glance around the room strangely. Was it a dream, or did William kiss me last night? I smile harder when I realised it wasn’t a dream and I throw the covers off my body and get up from the bed in glee. I stop myself to ask what did our moment last night even mean. After a minute of not figuring the answer, I returned to being happy for the outturn of things last night. Today is Saturday and it prom day!! And I can finally ask William to be my prom date and I hope to heavens that he accepts. There is really no time to delay, so I run into the bathroom and I brush my teeth in a rush and take a quick bath; that’s if you’d consider thirty minutes bath ‘a quick bath’ and I come into my room and dry my hair and put on my casual wear, a pink skirt reaching my knee and a white crop top and I almost forget to put on my glasses. Talk about being eager. I meet Cassandra on my way do
At exactly seven fifteen p.m., the doorbell rings and as I hear it from my room, I know it’s none other than Chloe keeping to her word and trying not to get on the list of those she’s going to pluck their hairs off; I am prepared and ready for her. Tonight I am out in a simple black lace gown, which is almost reaching my knee, with a black three inches high heel. My hair I tie up in a ponytail and my makeup I apply light, besides there’s really no special person to make up for. A knock comes to my door and straightway. I walk over and open it up, and Cassandra greets me with a warm smile. “Chloe is waiting downstairs.” “Thank you, Cassandra, I’ll be down in a minute,” I tell her, running over my makeup table and grabbing my purse and walking out of the room. The stairs, like always, are a drag with my heels and my legs hurt and as I complete the impossible task, I climb down and there is Chloe in a red silk gown that is sleeveless and which goes all the way down. Her gorgeous blonde