Chapter 4 Catherine

The Christmas Eve Carol.

Detroit's biggest gathering of the year.

People packed every inch of the city square, bundled in coats and scarves, rosy-cheeked from the cold and filled with holiday cheer. Laughter echoed through the streets, the air thick with the scent of cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, and fresh snow.

But my insides were in knots.

I was supposed to be sipping mulled wine with Jayden, kissing under twinkling lights, pretending our relationship wasn't already on fire. Instead, I was here, wrapped in my thickest coat and lonelier than I had ever been.

"Why do you look like you're about to open the dam of tears?" Stacey nudged me, handing over a cup of hot chocolate. Snow sat pretty on her lashes, like she was part of a postcard.

I tried to smile, failed, and exhaled instead. "Because my life is about to end."

She snorted. "Dramatic much? Carol is dense, we all came to that conclusion the first week of college." Her breath misted in the air. "Still, what she did was next-level backstabbing."

I didn't respond. There wasn't much to say. I'd walked in on my boyfriend having sex with my friend... no amount of therapy or tequila would unsee that.

Stacey looped her arm through mine. "Look on the bright side. She saved you from ending up with a misogynistic manchild, you landed the biggest job of your career, Ellie got discharged early, and you get to spend Christmas with her."

She smiled, warm enough to melt the ice that had nestled in my chest. "Next year, you're starting out as a whole new woman. Fiercer, sexier, and maybe, just maybe you'll finally go for the silver fox."

I laughed despite myself. "I'm not going after my ex's father, Stacey. That's a mess waiting to happen."

"Just think about it," she fanned herself dramatically. "Hot, steamy office romance. It's giving power play."

I groaned. "Please. Can we not?"

"Fine, fine," she said, grinning like the devil. "But if he ever pulls a Christian Grey on you, just know I told you so."

I shook my head, smiling as we waded through the crowd to get a better view of the stage. A trio of elves... okay, teenagers in velvet costumes started strumming their guitars, and then the singing began.

The voices of hundreds joined in. It was beautiful, in a chaotic kind of way. And for a second, I felt lighter. Maybe Stacey was right. Maybe next year would be better.

Halfway through the second song, she leaned close. "I'm gonna grab us some candles."

I nodded, watching her disappear into the sea of people. I was still smiling when a voice from behind knocked the wind right out of me.

"Catherine."

My heart stuttered and I snapped my head back. Blue eyes like winter sky, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He looked maddeningly calm despite the noise and color and movement around us.

"Mr Turner," I breathed. A bystander shoved past, pushing me forward, I stumbled, but he caught my arm, steadying me with alarming ease.

"Call me Ronald, Catherine," he said, that smooth tone making my spine straighten. "We'll be working together for a while. Might as well get comfortable."

"In a business sense," he added.

"Sure... thing. Mr. Turner... I mean, Mr Ronald." I stammered, pulling gently away from his grasp.

"Just Ronald is fine."

I nodded too fast. "My friend's been gone a while. I should... probably go check on her."

I didn't wait for his response, I bolted like a deer escaping headlights. God, why couldn't I be as cool as Stacey? My cheeks burned as I reached the candle stand and scanned the crowd.

No sign of her.

I pulled out my phone, texting her as I walked, weaving through bundled-up bodies. I hadn't taken two steps when I slammed into someone.

"Ah... I'm sorry I-" the words died in my mouth as I laid eyes on the last person on earth I wanted to see.

"It seems you can't stay away," He drawled, flashing a sleazy smirk, the same one he pulled every time he was drunk out of his mind. There was a girl hanging off his arm... brunette, glitter makeup, dead in the eyes.

I rolled my eyes, despite the way my heartbeat thundered. There was no way I was going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me down. He was the one who messed up.

"This is a public space, Jayden. Not everything revolves around you."

He scoffed. "We're already over, Catherine. No need to keep pretending you didn't want it to happen."

I took a breath. "I didn't want to walk in on you screwing Carol on my couch, Jayden." My voice was louder than I intended and heads turned.

His grin faltered. The girl on his arm blinked.

I gestured to her. "If you have two brain cells, you'll run now and never look back. He doesn't know the first thing about commitment. And the sex?" I leaned in with false sweetness. "Wasn't that good. I had to fake every moan so his pride wouldn't cry itself to sleep."

The girl snorted. Jayden's face twisted. He yanked his arm away from her and stepped toward me. "You crazy b-"

He swung aiming for my face but the slap never landed. A hand gripped his wrist mid-air. My eyes snapped. Mr. Turner.

His usually calm expression was gone, replaced with something terrifyin... fury burning in his eyes.

"You've had too much to drink," he said evenly, but the threat in his voice was razor-sharp. "You're not thinking straight. Walk away before we both do something you'll regret."

Jayden yanked his wrist free, looking between me and his father.

"Is this some kind of 'good cop' moment?"

He shrugged, glancing at me. "Translate it however you want. Besides... she's not the one swinging fists."

Jayden sneered. "Whatever." He turned, grabbing the girl roughly by the wrist. "Let's go." She hesitated, then followed him.

The moment they were gone, Mr. Turner looked at me. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine," I said, even though it wasn't. "I think I've had enough drama for one night. Just need to find Stacey, then I'll head home."

"I'll stay with you until you're in a cab," he offered.

"I'll be fine."

"I insist."

I hesitated... then nodded. "Okay. Thanks."

We barely moved a step before the world split open.

A thunderous blast exploded in the center of the square with bright light, flames, people screaming, chaos blooming like firecrackers.