Page 1 of Say Merry Christmas, Boss

The Barnwas nothing like any of the barns I had seen while in South Carolina this past winter. This “barn” had unblemished white walls made of vinyl that tried its best to look like wood. Perfectly cut beams held up the structure on the inside. They were decorated with Edison bulb string lights dangling from corner to corner, and they even had wooden wine barrels placed throughout the space. Everything was too perfect, and far too polished to be classified as a ‘barn’.

I chuckled a little to myself, the southern charm of South Carolina’s French Quarter really rubbed off on me while my brother married the woman of his dreams.

Back home in California, I missed them. Garrett and Stacey had made the decision to move not long after they got married. I was nothing but happy for them, but since I still had my apartment leased for the next year, I decided to stay. Why forfeit the money I had already sunk into it?

Christmas music drifted around everyone here in soft notes. Green garland had been wrapped around any and every exposed beam that could house it, red and silver ornaments dotted the evergreens, and I felt myself getting dizzy from the way my eyes bounced every-which-way.

“Let’s eat, say hi to your boss, and go.” A man’s attempted whisper hit my ears from behind me. I swiveled my head that way, he was speaking to Carol from accounting, must be her husband.

Same buddy.

I may be a charismatic guy, but I loathed having to interact with so many people at once.

I had no intention of going tonight. I hadn’t been into the office in a few years anyway, so they wouldn’t miss me. That was supposed to be the benefit of working remotely, no forced social interaction under the guise of a ‘holiday party’. I thought I was off the hook, until my lovely assistant, Ash, told me it would be a good idea if I went. She had done everything she could over the course of the last few weeks to get me to dust off my best suit and show up.

So, I did.

Ash had become one of the most important people in my career, and I hadn’t even met her yet….face to face, that was.

She was a virtual assistant, someone heard and not seen. It wasn’t that I didn’twantto see her, it just didn’t make a difference. We had no need to video conference when an email was all that was needed in order to communicate effectively.

We both understood it. Honestly, I thought she preferred it. Not once had she asked me what I looked like, or how old I was, nothing. She just did her job, and she did it fantastically.

“Look who decided to show up!” A definitely feminine voice said from behind where I stood.

Turning to get a look at her, she smiled and I opened my arms. Becks had been my boss and mentor for almost twelve years. I started not long after she developed her non-profit. Then, as a lowly summer intern while she toiled away at her dream. Now though, I was her chief financial officer.

Spending those college summers at home wasn’t a bad start to climbing up the corporate ladder.

Take that, Garrett.

“Ash said you probably wouldn’t come.” Becks said, her silver hair was curled and slicked back at her ears. Always a classy lady.

“She bullied me into coming.” I gruffed. “Told me, and I quote, ‘you owe Becks everything, the LEAST you can do is show your face and say hello, you big hermit.’”

She laughed and I smiled. There wasn’t much I wouldn’t do for Becks. The woman who took me under her wing and helped shape me into the man I was today.

“You look like you walked through a glitter factory, Becks.” I said, bending down and placing a kiss on her russet cheek.

“It’s Christmas, you peacock.” She said the nickname I earned years ago with such love I couldn’t help the cheeky grin that pulled my lips upward. “I see you dressed for the occasion.”

It was true, I pulled my crimson jacket and pants from the back of my closet and paired it with my black leather shoes. I even ironed a white button down for this shindig, and wore a tie. It had been a while since I had put on a suit. With the exception of Garrett’s wedding, I didn’t think I’d put one on at all this year.

Wild.

I still remember when I was interning, how every man in the building for M&W Enterprises dressed in their best every day. That all changed when Becks decided she didn’t want a skyscraper with giant windows to be our home base.

So, everyone who wanted to work from home could, and those that didn’t, had an office in an old hotel she had bought and renovated. Becks was the best person I had the pleasure of knowing, and I was honored to call her a genuine friend.

“Mingle, dear.” She said, as she lightly patted my arm with her hand in a gesture that meant she would be busy for a while.

She turned, greeting more guests who had walked in the door, and once again I was on my own. Winter here wasn't that cold. Mild I’d say, and in this full outfit I was already starting to sweat, reminding me why I hated suits. People trickled in, all M&W employee’s and family.This party wassomething else. I had almost forgotten how over the top Becks tended to make these parties. Especially after she made the decision to go mostly remote, it was her way of keeping her employees and their families close, in spite of the distance.

Becks even had a Santa brought in. Complete with elves with pointy ears, a sleigh, and gifts. Which Santa was giving out to guests like candy. Children squealed and tittered as they unwrapped their toys, and the joy on their faces must’ve been the reason Becks went to all this trouble. It was adorable, and I had no doubt Becks picked out, and wrapped, every gift herself.

The bar was located on the other side of the room from Santa, and he looked a little too rosy to me. If I was hot, I couldn’t imagine how hot he was sitting there, fully Santa suited up, under spotlights to take pictures with children.

I walked toward the elf with the camera, slowly so I wouldn’t startle her. She wore bright green tights under a red sweater that had tinsel wrapped around it. When she moved bells jingled, and after she had snapped a few pictures I tapped her lightly on the shoulder.

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