Another boring board meeting concluded, and the stockholders slowly filed out of the conference room. The only highlight was the approval of Aaron's proposal to expand into Monaco, passing with a 9-2 majority vote.

Aaron and his five "dummy" shareholders—all but his father and Samuel—had, unsurprisingly, voted in favor. He suspected Alistair, his father, had voted against the profitable plan simply to spite him. He knew he couldn't control his son and resented it. Aaron attended only events deemed "absolutely vital," otherwise ignoring his father's wishes. He'd bought his own apartment and hired his own staff immediately after college, making his distance from his parents abundantly clear. A controlling man like Alistair Hale would certainly disapprove.

Their biggest point of contention was Aaron's marriage. He'd rejected every potential candidate, waiting for Keeley to reciprocate his feelings. His father, however, simply saw him as obstinate.

"Aaron," Alice called as he left the boardroom.

"Yes?"

"Good job on your proposal," she said with a wink, having noticed Alistair's furious reaction to its approval.

He understood her implication but kept his response innocuous while other board members were nearby. "Thanks. Any exciting Christmas plans?"

"The Kellys are skiing at an exclusive Vail lodge. What about you?"

"I'm attending the von Dynes' party on Christmas Day."

He hoped to spend Christmas Eve with Keeley. His parents had no plans for him that day, and he knew she'd let friends join her for holidays in the past. Robert's approval might help.

"Oh yes, I've been to one of their parties. Should be quite entertaining," she replied, her tone uncertain.

Alice was enigmatic; she fulfilled her professional duties impeccably, yet her true feelings remained inscrutable. Her ever-present professional smile didn't mask the fact that he suspected she was unhappy in her marriage—just like Keeley had been.

The similarity pained him, though he could do nothing for his colleague. Brock Kelly, a philandering scoundrel who disregarded his wife, had only pretended to protect Keeley. If she ever decided to divorce him, Aaron would help her find a reputable lawyer unaffiliated with the Kelly legal empire. It was the least he could do, considering her service on the board.

She departed, and Aaron subtly signaled Cameron to accompany him to his office instead of returning to the analyst department. Roger and Kyle returned to their desks; their roles, unlike Cameron's and Aiden's, were less demanding. Their primary duties involved holding his shares and voting accordingly at board meetings; otherwise, they functioned as regular Hale Investments employees.

Fifteen minutes later, Cameron entered Aaron's office, where he was reviewing reports.

"What's up?" Aaron asked.

"What did you get Jennica for Christmas?" Cameron responded.

Aaron's brow furrowed. "You called me in here for that?"

"Answer the question, Cameron."

"Fine. I got her some original cast musical soundtracks she didn't have and a charm bracelet."

Aaron drummed his fingers. Keeley wouldn't appreciate those gifts. He shouldn't have delayed his shopping. She preferred meaningful presents, but nothing suitable came to mind.

Cameron understood. "Find something related to her interests; it doesn't have to be extravagant. I'll check her recent Facebook likes."

Aaron's fingers stilled. "You're Facebook friends with her?"

"Yeah, she added me a while back. Probably to check my profile for Jennica's sake; my sister does the same with our dates."

Aaron didn't care about the reason. Why was Keeley friends with Cameron, whom she barely knew, but not him? Unacceptable.

He'd tried adding her before, when she'd been hostile. This time, he sent the friend request confidently. It was accepted immediately; she must have been online.

He felt a surge of smug satisfaction. Take that, Cameron! He was now friends with Keeley, too.

"Anything else, or can I get back to work?"

"You can go."

He scrolled through Keeley's posts and found something useful. Three days prior, she'd lamented dropping her phone, cracking the screen beyond repair, but being unable to afford a replacement. She had an older iPhone, a free upgrade from an even older model with minimal storage.

Why not get her the latest model with a fun phone case? Her current case featured R2-D2. He could easily find another Star Wars case.

Perfect. Practical, yet fun.

Aaron spent nearly thirty minutes choosing from the overwhelming number of "Star Wars iPhone cases" before selecting one he thought she'd love: a whimsical design featuring a black floral background with lightsabers, the Millennium Falcon, and a Stormtrooper helmet.

He couldn't wait to see her reaction.