“Silence now,” Ms. Fields calls, clapping her hands together sharply. “Pay attention to Mr. Sinner.”
Everyone falls silent, gathering around Icarus.
Lashonda and I elbow our way to the front.
Icarus clears his throat. “Thank you for all your hard work over the weekend. We’re coming up to the start of the Christmas week, however, which as you know is a crucial one here at the Omega Hotel. It is in fact viewed by the owners as the jewel in their crown. They expect their guests to check in for this week and enter a wonderland of sumptuous food, nests, and entertainment. They don’t expect any problems but rather a fairytale. It’s our job to ensure that is what they receive.”
My chest is tight.
I’ve heard this speech before but in different ways from Maya as I grew up.
From her, however, it was a source of pride.
As a kid, I would adore seeing the decorations and excitedly finding out what performances were being put on.
I had no fucking clue, did I?
Because now I know that these staff have nothing but paper and pinecone decorations and not even a Christmas lunch to look forward to themselves. Yet they will work themselves to the point of exhaustion to make a Christmas dream come true for the guests.
The Betas’ expressions are blankly polite; it’s me who feels like my heart has been pulled bloody from my chest.
“I personally can’t wait for the Christmas performance on Monday night to kick off the week.” Icarus smiles at me. “Our Omega elves on the shelves will be the stars of the show.”
The Betas laugh, while I groan.
“Kill me now,” I mutter. “Can’t I be a reindeer like you Betas?”
“How is being a reindeer better?” Lashonda grumbles.
I narrow my eyes at Icarus, who is still chuckling.
Then a wicked idea hits me that makes me feel a lot better about my tight elf costume.
I try to look innocent. “How can there be reindeer without a Santa Claus?”
I know the moment that Icarus understands what I’m trying to do by the panic that sheets across his expression.
He takes a step back. “No. Absolutely not.”
Lashonda nods. “Reindeer pull a sleigh with only a special Alpha on it, right? We wouldn’t want the guests to think that we weren’t giving them the proper fairytale.”
The Betas, enjoying being able to be mischievous for once and get away with it, enthusiastically agree, calling out:come on, Mr. Claus.
Perhaps, Icarus is right and I am a bad influence on them.
Scratch that.
Iama bad influence.
And that’s a good thing.
“Don’t be a Grinch, sir,” Michah bravely calls.
Icarus casts me a look that saysthis is war.
I chuckle.
At last, Icarus holds up his hand to quieten the staff. “All right. Owing to popular demand, I will be taking an active part in this year’s performance, it would appear.”
