December 10
With each passing day, Rosalind found it more difficult to concentrate on her work. While her authors and most of her fellow employees attributed her befuddled mental state to pre-holiday stress, Sara, her secretary, expressed concern about her employer's health.
"Are you feeling all right? You're not coming down with the flu, are you? There's nothing worse than being sick at Christmas."
"I'm feeling fine. I merely have a lot on my mind right now."
As yet, she had told no one about either her secret admirer or the bizarre gift he had sent her.
Throughout the afternoon, Rosalind did her best to focus on the David Knight manuscript, all the while keeping a close eye on the clock. For one of the few times in her life, she was anxious to leave work.
When she got home, the first thing she did was run into the living room, take the Advent calendar off the mantel and open drawer Number 10. Like a corny stage magician, she reached inside and took out the Loro Piana scarf she had admired in Neiman Marcus the previous month, the one she resolutely resisted purchasing because of its four-digit price tag.
Unfortunately, her joy at owning the expensive fashion accessory was eclipsed by the fear that her secret admirer might have been stalking her for some time.
