Mia, the younger and more mercurial of the two, leaned against the mahogany banister, tapping a manicured nail against her tablet. "And the caterer forgot the white truffles for the appetizer. I told you to double-check the manifest, Julian. Now Christmas is officially ruined."
"Julian! The vintage Moët isn’t chilled to forty-four degrees!" Chloe’s voice drifted from the grand parlor. She was draped in silk, surrounded by a mountain of designer gift boxes she hadn’t even bothered to unwrap yet. To her, the thrill was in the acquisition, never the possession. LifeSelector-XmasWithYourSpoiledStep-Sisters.rar
"Tell us a story," Chloe said softly, her voice losing its sharp edge. "Not a business report. Something… real." Mia, the younger and more mercurial of the
It was a game they played—a choreographed performance of helplessness designed to keep him in orbit. But tonight was different. The storm had knocked out the main power grid, and the backup generator was struggling to keep the lights flickering. Now Christmas is officially ruined
Without their screens, their deliveries, and their frantic schedules of vanity, Chloe and Mia seemed smaller. "It's freezing," Mia whispered, her bravado slipping.
"The truffles are stuck in a snowbank three miles away," Julian said, stepping into the dim light of the parlor. "And the wine is as cold as it's going to get without a freezer. Maybe for once, we just… sit down?"
The heavy snow muffled the sound of the world outside, but inside the mansion, the air was thick with the scent of pine needles, expensive perfume, and the simmering tension that always defined the holidays.