"It's beginning to look a lot like--ahhhh!"
The snow whirled around the setting sun in the city. On the snowy steps, a woman sang her heart out for her friend, who recorded it for social media. However, a man brustling past her without a care and a scowl on his face knocked her down to the ground.
The woman barely had time to turn and scream at the man before he disappeared into a waiting limousine. The man, with his chiseled chin and fresh-cut face did not notice. The man, with a suit costing more than the woman's rent, did not care. The limousine sped off as if no one else existed.
"Motherfucker!" Screamed the woman. "Merry fucking Christmas!"
The man inside the limo looked out the window, bored.
"I hate this season," he said.
"I'm sorry, sir?" The driver said.
The man responded by closing the separation window between them. He idled with his phone for a moment before calling someone.
"Steven, it's Jay," the man said, adjusting his tie. "You got the number?"
"Jesus, Jay, it's Christmas eve."
"Great. No one is doing important work, then. Getting that number should be easy."
"No, Jay, it means half the staff are off and the other half are leaving early."
"Stev--"
"Because it's Christmas Eve, and I'm sorry if the mighty Jay Roberts can't find enough emotion in his hollowed-out heart to enjoy the festivities, but others can and do. So, your precious numbers will have to wait until after the holiday."
Jay scowled. "Are we talking day after Christmas or--"
"After New Year, Jay."
"There are plenty of days in between!"
"And there is no one that is going to work hard enough in those days. And, even then, the other offices are closed the entire week. So, if you want to pay the employees to come in and do no work--"
"No, no. Fine. Fine!" Jay said, throwing his hands in the air. "I guess we don't need to run a business!"
"We will, Jay. Our infinite growth can wait until the new year. I promise it will still be there."
"You are lucky you are my right-hand man, Steven, or I would have you fired for talking to me like this," Jay said with a sigh. He rubbed his forehead and reached for the small bar fridge. Using his fingers, he cracked open a small bottle of some sort of alcohol.
"Jay, are you drinking already?"
"No, Steven, I'm celebrating. Celebrating the fact I now have a week of no business, no numbers, no nothing."
"If only you had friends and family."
"I'm starting to think I can live without a right hand."
"I get away with talking to you like this because you need it. And you know it. You replace me with one of those young yes-men and they'll be so far up your ass you'll either start to like it and get yourself a p-spot vibrator or miss the days when I would chew you out for failing at being a human being."
Jay gulped the bottle. He gagged. "P-spot?"
"Nevermind," Steven said with a sigh. "Are you going to be okay?"
"What do you mean? We beat last quarter's earnings by--"
"No, I mean you."
"Besides suddenly having a vacation I didn't ask for, yes Steven."
"It's the holidays, man. What are you going to do for the holidays?"
Jay shrugged and emptied the bottle. He let loose a loud burp. "I don't know. Maybe I will go to Vegas. Or, have a few women come up to my place."
"Even some escorts take the holidays off, Jay."
"Not the ones I pay for, Steven. They'll do as I say."
The limo pulled up to a large, sleek, glass building.
"I'm home, Steven. Make sure the crew is back working double-time when all this nonsense is done. I want those numbers at ten o'clock in the morning on January 2nd."
Jay heard a loud sigh. "Yes, my friend. Try to have some fun and joy this holiday season?"
Steven received no response.
"Merry Christmas, Steven."
The doorman opened the door with a smile and a nod.
"What am I supposed to say to that? Bah humbug?"
"Love ya too, pal."
Jay smiled and disconnected the call.
"Hello, Mr. Roberts!" Bellowed the cherry man. "And how are you on this fine Christmas Eve?"
"I just heard it was that today," Jay said, stepping out of the vehicle and buttoning up his jacket. "Miserable time of the year."
"Oh, I think it's full of magic and wonder myself, sir."
"And that's why I have the penthouse suite, and you are working this holiday," Jay said with a shake of his head. "I like you Derek--"
"Danny."