She led me through the crowd, smiling and calling people by name. I tried to absorb every name and face like I was studying for the most important test of my life. Marketing directors, IT specialists, matchmakers—the actual heartbeat of Cupid’s Arrow, according to Norma.
“Ina!” A tall man with an infectious grin and perfectly styled hair materialized in front of us. “Finally! I’ve been dying to meet the woman who’s going to keep our fearless leader in line.”
“Lucas Michaelson,” Norma said with obvious affection. “Head of PR and professional party planner.”
“Among other talents,” Lucas said with a wink. He took my hand and gave it an enthusiastic shake. “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that you’re joining us full-time after the holidays. Dane desperately needs someone who can manage his schedule and, you know, remind him that sunlight exists.”
I laughed. “I’m excited to be here. This party is incredible.”
“Oh, this is nothing. Wait until you see what I have planned for Valentine’s Day.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “It’s going to be legendary. But tonight is just about fun and spreading some holiday cheer before everyone disappears for Christmas.” He looked down at the present in my hand. “Looks like you’re ready for the Secret Santa exchange.”
I held my gift out to Lucas. “Yep. Although I have to admit, I don’t actually know who DK is. I assumed it was someone’s initials?”
Something flickered across Lucas’s face, like he felt sorry for me or I just announced I would be taking a flying leap out the window.
Before I could question his expression, Norma gently took the gift from my hands. “Here, let’s put it on the table with the others. Everyone’s been dropping them off all evening.”
I followed her to a long table laden with wrapped presents of varying sizes and degrees of wrapping expertise. Some looked professionally done, all crisp corners and designer paper. Others were more… creative. Mine fell somewhere in the middle. I had bought pretty festive paper covered in tiny gold stars, tied with a red ribbon I’d spent far too long making look just right.
And I meanjustright. Giving gifts was special to me, a tangible way for me to express that I cared and had been paying attention. That was certainly harder for a Secret Santa exchange with someone I’d never met before, based only on their initials, but I’d given it my best shot. Hopefully, DK would appreciate the thought. If not, I at least hoped they wouldn’t hate it.
The next twenty minutes passed in a blur of introductions and small talk. Norma was my guide, and she navigated the introductions like a pro, and even shared some personal insights on some of the employees, like how I could get on Gracie’s good side by asking to see pictures of her kids whenever I ran intoher in the break room, or how I should never ask Jason for help when he had his headphones in.
I made mental notes of all the tidbits of wisdom she shared with the intention of writing it down later. If I remembered anything.
A Valentine’s Day Campaign came up in side conversations often, but I couldn’t follow the context, and I didn’t want to show how green I was by asking questions about something everyone else was clearly excited about.
I would have to ask Norma about it later. For now, all I had to do was soak it in. Be present. Be myself. Not act like I didn’t belong.
Easier said than done. Even with all the friendly smiles and kind words of welcome, I felt like I was living some other woman’s life. The heels, the dress, the expensive restaurant. Yes, I’d yearned for a moment like this every minute of every day back in Wyoming, but now that I was here, I was feeling something my daydreams missed.
The pressure to not mess up my new life before it even properly began.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Lucas’s voice rang out over the crowd, somehow managing to sound both commanding and playful. “If I could have your attention for just a moment!”
I could tell the guy was trouble. A real flirt. Like a cute football jock back in high school who knew he could get away with anything. All he had to do was flash those pearly whites and cast a smoldering look and he would waltz right out of any consequences.
The chatter died and everyone gave him their attention. He stood near the gift table, holding a glass of champagne with one hand and gesturing dramatically with the other. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I know it’s been a crazy week, and I know half of you are already mentally on a beach somewhere warm.But before we all scatter to our holiday destinations, we have one very important matter to attend to. The annual Secret Santa gift exchange!”
A mix of cheers and good-natured groans greeted this announcement.
Lucas beamed. “Hey! I handpicked these matches myself, and I have a very good feeling about this year’s pairings.”
Norma leaned closer to me. “Lucas lives for this stuff. Company culture, team building, party planning—it’s like catnip to him.”
I smiled, watching as Lucas began calling names and directing people to the gift table. Each person would retrieve their gift, open it, and then there would be the obligatory oohs and aahs or teasing depending on what was inside.
I was so focused on watching the exchange unfold that I almost didn’t notice when the energy in the room shifted.
“And next up, we have a gift for our fearless leader himself. Boss man, come on up here and claim your present!”
The applause that followed was louder than earlier. I found myself looking around forboss man.Someone in a muted suit, perhaps, with a combover and silver-framed glasses. Most likely gray around the temples or already balding. Basically, I searched for someone who looked like he would only be invited because he was the guy who wrote the checks.
Then I saw him.
And I stopped breathing.
Not bald. Not muted. Not a pity invite.
