‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds (A Holiday romance Book 1)
‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds: Chapter 5

(Six months later)

My favorite time of the year is the holidays. Especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The two occasions I’ve always looked forward to the most.

My mom being Catholic Indian, we used to celebrate with big traditional dinners, opening presents, and dancing to music all night long when I was a kid.

Until my parents split apart.

I was only twelve years old when they went through an ugly divorce. The repercussions of it shattered my happy and bubbly world. My favorite holidays became a living nightmare.

Between their fights and animosity, I slowly faded into the background until they forgot about me completely. Laughter turned into bitterness; affection was forgotten until I learned the hard way that I had to grow on my own while they moved on with their lives.

While it irrevocably changed my views regarding marriage, I didn’t let it make me bitter about the little things in life. Or walk around with a chip on my shoulder.

I promised myself to live it to the fullest and appreciate those who made the effort to be in my life, like my best friend Tina and her family.

Her parents think of me as their adoptive child and never made me ache for the love and tight-knit bond of a family. Their love for me showed every year, when they celebrated Christmas and did all the traditions after hearing through Tina about the tainted memories of my past.

They took it upon themselves to replace those sad and lonely days with laughter and cheer so I didn’t feel like I was alone. The first time they had surprised me, I had cried, overwhelmed with their affection and thoughtfulness.

It’s why I’m a little sad that this year, I will be missing the holidays with them. I’ve decided to cross off one item on my bucket list, which is embarking on my first ever solo trip.

To none other than Switzerland.

It’s going to be even more special and amazing and thrilling.

I’m too excited and tempted to lose myself in the beautiful scenery, rustic and vintage villas, snow, and small-town rituals.

And if I’m daring enough, I might even check off my naughty list.

Like I said, this year’s celebrations will be different and hopefully… a whole lot kinkier. With a perfect stranger, if luck is on my side.

Yep, I’ll be ending this year with a literal bang.

A wham, bam, thank you, sir.

The phone ringing yanks me out of my depraved daydreams. Tina’s name flashes on the screen and I pick it up to answer on the second ring.

“What’s up, Tina?”

“Do you know that Switzerland isn’t even in the top five places to visit for Christmas or New Year’s Eve?”

I hold back a laugh. “Let me guess… New York is?”

“Hell yeah, which is why you should come with me.”

My ever-so-protective best friend isn’t so keen on me traveling without her, especially during New Year’s.

“The villa I booked is nonrefundable and so are the flight tickets,” I explain. The woman has been trying to persuade me to go with her to New York, which she planned with her colleagues. It will be the first time we’ll be celebrating separately. “Besides, you know a solo trip has been on my bucket list and Switzerland is one of the destinations I’ve always wanted to visit.”

“Of course I know,” she half grumbles, half complains. “I can’t believe we won’t be together. Who will be my drinking buddy now?”

“I’m sure you’ll find someone.”

“But you’re my favorite.”

“And you’re mine.” I smile. “When I return, we’ll get drunk together.”

“Yeah, your ass better be on the next flight home right after New Year’s Eve.”

“Promise.”

After discussing more mundane stuff and the latest office gossip, we hang up. I pack the last of my things and check to make sure I have two copies of my itinerary. My heart is beating so wildly, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.

A handbag is all that remains to be packed, which I’ll finish a day before the flight.

As for my small business, I’ve already posted on my website and social media pages that the shop will be closed as I’ll be going on a much-needed vacation. Over the months, my community of customers and online followers has become a close-knit family where I can just be me.

I not only post behind-the-scenes cooking shenanigans, but also share little tidbits about my personal life, my dreams, and my fears. Sometimes, I even go live while packing orders.

When I receive some of the messages saying how they relate to me, look forward to my lives, or how much they love watching me, it fills me with pride and incredible joy. Reminds me that I’m not alone in my struggles.

Quitting my corporate job was the best decision I ever made.

It was dragging me down rather than lifting me up. If I had forced myself to continue, it wouldn’t have been long before I became a depressed cynic.

I’m much freer, calmer, and more motivated than ever.

There’s a lightheartedness in my bones, a skip in my steps that wasn’t there before.

I guess it comes with doing what you love and being fortunate enough to make a living off of it. Not a lot of people can say the same in the world.

After scrolling through my phone for a few minutes, I decide to call it a night and put it on sleep mode on the nightstand. Rolling my suitcase to a corner in the little walk-in closet, I skip to the bathroom, do my nightly routine, and slide underneath the covers on the bed.

Dousing the room in semi-darkness by switching off the lights, I lay my head down on the pillow and gaze up at the ceiling. I seem to have picked up a nightly ritual, which is seeing Julian’s face as soon as I close my eyes.

He hasn’t stopped taking a place inside my head. He’s constantly lurking in the background, waiting to pounce to the forefront, demanding that I regret letting him walk out of my life.

I mean, what other choice did I have? I couldn’t out my best friend’s secret. She isn’t one to ask for such favors, which is why I know it was important to her.

Even if somehow, I had confessed the truth, I’m not searching for a relationship either.

Julian was.

So why, oh why, did destiny have to be so cruel? Why did I have undeniable chemistry with him? Even the back and forth between us was so playful and flirtatious despite my efforts for it to be the opposite.

Somebody, please kick him out of my memories.

It’s absolute torture.

On my way home, I had texted Tina to let her know everything went according to the plan. The very next day, she had called to confirm that whatever I did indeed worked. Julian didn’t want to go on another date, saying we desired different things for our future.

For some strange reason, his rejection stung as soon as I heard about it. It pierced straight through my heart, even though it wasn’t personal. I was pretending to be Tina, purposely being rude.

Or am I just lying to myself?

Because while I accomplished the mission I went there for, failure is all I taste.

Failure to forget about him.

His smirking eyes.

Our kiss.

It was the shortest yet single best kiss of my life. I felt it to the very tips of my bones. His roughly whispered expletive, fuck this, right before he slammed me against the wall and locked our lips.

Goosebumps dance on my skin.

My clit pulsing.

How far would he have gone if we hadn’t stopped? If I had yanked him back toward me? Begged him to kiss me a second longer?

Disaster.

Because my cover would’ve been blown. Our attraction would’ve sizzled to dust. Nothing good could’ve come out of telling him the truth.

Nobody wants to date a liar.

A catfish.

Everything happens for a reason and ending things before they could start was for the best.

Except when I shut my eyes, I see his foolishly handsome face smirking at me flirtatiously. I groan in frustration at the ceiling. Turning on my belly, I bury my face into the pillow and will myself to sleep.

I can’t wait to fly to Switzerland and find a sexy and burly Swiss man.

Fuck him until this stupid crush is out of my system.

By the time I return, I’ll be like… Julian who?