All Chapters of The Christmas Contract : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Logan arrived at the office earlier than usual, the city still wrapped in that muted calm that only existed before the rush of ambition took over. The parking garage was nearly empty, his footsteps echoing as he made his way to the elevator. He liked mornings like this, quiet, uninterrupted, predictable. They gave him a sense of control before the chaos of the day set in.By the time he stepped into his office, his jacket was already off and draped neatly over the back of his chair. He loosened his tie, rolled up his sleeves, and powered on his system. His screen lit up instantly, flooding with emails, financial summaries, board notes, and reminders. Today wasn’t just another workday. There was a board meeting in less than an hour, and several unresolved issues still sat at the back of his mind. He had so much he needed to take care of before leaving for the Christmas holiday.His receptionist fetched him his cup of coffee. He doesn't start his day without his coffee, he likes it blac

The car slowed as Blake pulled up in front of the wrought-iron gate, its black bars looked like it just recently got painted. The neighborhood was quiet, she's always dreamt of getting a place in a safe neighborhood where she could go running early in the morning. Melody glanced out the window, her heart beating a little faster as she checked her phone again.She was expecting to come here and see Logan's car, but it looks like he's not here yet. She picked up her phone and texted him.Melody: Hey Logan, are you here yet? I’m outside.The reply came almost instantly.Logan:I’m close.She exhaled, relief washing over her. She could not bear to listen to Blake talk nonstop about how he couldn't stop thinking about her.Blake shifted in his seat, glancing at her sideways. “You still haven't told me who you'll be meeting with, does the person have a name?”“No,” she said simply.He nodded, not wanting to sound nosey. They both sat in silence, watching the snow fall softly. He didn’t tu

By the time Melody zipped up her coat, she could feel it deep in her chest, the kind of excitement that had nothing to do with noise or crowds and everything to do with memory. The kind that warmed you from the inside even when the weather tried its hardest to freeze you out.Tara was already pacing the living room, phone in hand, checking the time for the third time in two minutes.“Relax,” Melody said, laughing softly as she slipped her scarf around her neck. “We’re not late.”“I know,” Tara replied, rolling her eyes. “I just don’t like crowds, people bumping into me like they're kind of blind. And I hate the stupid traffic.”“That’s because you’re a grinch,” Melody teased.Tara shot her a look. “I work almost twenty hour shifts surrounded by sickness and death. I’m allowed to be a grinch.”Melody smiled, because that was Tara, sharp on the outside, soft where it mattered. She grabbed her gloves from the table and paused, looking at her friend.“You look really good,” Melody said s

Melody stirred under the heavy weight of her blankets, her body still aching from last night’s exhaustion. She didn’t want to open her eyes. Not yet. Not because she didn’t want to face the day, but because she simply needed more time, more warmth, more silence. The sunlight crept lazily through the curtains, painting soft lines on her pillow. She could hear the faint hum of the city outside, cars, distant chatter, the occasional bark of a dog but it didn’t bother her. She was cocooned, tucked away from the world for just a few more minutes.Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She groaned, turning over to silence it, muttering a half-hearted, “Not now.” But the buzzing didn’t stop. A second, insistent ring forced her to roll over, groggy fingers fumbling for the device. She glanced at the screen and her heart sank slightly. It could be Logan, but it wasn’t.“Hello?” she croaked, voice thick with sleep.“Melody! My darling! Are you awake?” Cynthia’s voice came through, groggy but

The moment the private jet touched down in Paris, Melody felt it. She was freezing. It wasn’t subtle. It slipped through the seams of comfort and wrapped around her bones the second the aircraft door opened. She instinctively pulled her thick jacket tighter around herself, silently thanking herself for listening when she packed it. New York cold had nothing on this. This was sharp, clean, biting but not unpleasant. Like she had truly arrived somewhere else.The runway was busy but calm, the kind of quiet efficiency that came with money and order. There was no rush, no crowd, no shouting. Just movement that made sense. Men in dark coats waited beside sleek black SUVs, doors already open, engines humming softly as if they’d been waiting the whole day for their arrival.She turned around her slowly, taking it all in.“Welcome to Paris mama,” Logan whispered softly into her ears as she smiled.This was her life. Right now.Logan stepped beside her, naturally placing a hand at her lower b