Heartfelt Holidays Series

HER CHRISTMAS WOLF.

* * *

"Will there be anything else, Sir?"

"No, Myron. That will be all, thank you. Please lock the door on your way out."

"Of course, Sir, and goodnight."

"Goodnight, Myron. Don't forget to bring your wife Raquel over. It is that time of year."

"Yes, Sir, and thank you. See you tomorrow."

Vince nodded at his still smiling boyish-looking personal assistant while thinking about the other things that are left to be done on their daily to-do list. He knew Myron was completely capable of fulfilling all the duties and responsibilities that were expected of him, but he knew that the man was already performing almost like a butler, and that was unfair, to be honest.

After all, he was a loyal member of the pack and married, to boot. There were more things for him to take care of than just typing up letters, making appointments, and filing documents.

I really should look for additional help. Probably my own executive secretary…

He had heard the jokes made about him before by friends and fellow businessmen. Whenever they had the time to meet up in conventions or special events, he could only laugh along with his business partners and contacts when talking about secretaries.

"Aw, poor V! Still without a secretary, huh? You will probably never find one who won't find herself jumping you and even forcing you to marry her, eventually.

Being rich and single…

"Yeah, that's a lethal combination!"

Yep, that had happened. Good thing V knew how to get out of those situations easily…

And it was normally the woman who backed out the minute she found out what he truly was.

But yes, it can get kinda lonely since he just didn't need sex or any woman for a wife… He needed a mate.

"You still can't find THE woman, Roth? Or are you just holding out on me and being idealistic?"

The deep voice inside his head huffed in mock amusement and a bit of chuckling. Roth has heard a lot of jokes like this from him over the years, enough to be entertained instead of being insulted.

Do you want me to remind you of how finding a mate works, V? Or should I just give you a mental recording with the right amount of sarcasm?

"Well, bah humbug to you too, Roth. I just can't believe this is the 32nd Christmas that we won't be having anyone celebrating the holidays. I was hoping you've already made up your mind by now."

When I find her scent, you will be the first to know. Meanwhile, it's bah humbug to you too, Vince. So, are you going to continue working as you usually do, or go home and rest, which I know you dislike at this time of year?

V whipped his classy leather executive chair around so he could see the full view of the city's nightlife from the one-way glass wall behind him. It truly was a magnificent sight to see, especially since he was in one of the highest buildings for miles around.

Unfortunately, he suddenly felt the loneliness of having no one to share this beautiful sight with.

He sighed before answering the voice in his head…

"I'll work for a few more hours on some of the company contracts. Then I'll probably go straight to bed."

No dinner?

"Not hungry, Roth."

Suit yourself. I will hunt for something if you insist on doing this to us continually.

"Be my guest."

Well, I have to make sure we're still alive and have not died of hunger when we finally meet her.

"To be honest, I'm already desperate enough to write that wish down on one of our Christmas Angels and hang it on the company Christmas tree this year."

Roth's laughter was full of mirth; I'd like to see you try.

"Is that a challenge, wolf?"

Yes, it is.

***

Meanwhile, in another part of the city…

“I can’t believe a simple oil change for my car is priced this high! It’s just a Prius for goodness sakes. Can’t you guys give me a discount? It’s almost Christmas, after all…”

“And that’s exactly why our prices are so high, ma’am. It’s during the holidays that materials and solvents are so expensive that we won’t break even with our labor and cost if we give you a lower rate,” the elderly and balding mechanic explained patiently. “What I could suggest, though, is you can just use public transportation during December and then come back middle of January for your oil change just to avoid paying a higher price…”

My boss will kill me if I’m late again this month so no way can I use a bus to get to work, the anxious single mom worriedly thought. There’s a five-minute walk to each bus stop to and from work so I would have to run or skip breakfast with my kids if I choose to do that… And I hardly spend time with my baby twins as it is. Sigh…

“Or you can continue to drive your itty-bitty ride without the oil change through December and half of January BUT with risking your vehicle eventually breaking down…”

And pay a larger fee for repairs? No way Jose will I give you more money just to save a small amount today!

“Okay, you win. Just finish the oil change now because I need it to get to work tomorrow. But it has to be done today or I’m not paying you people a single dollar, are we clear?”

“Crystal, ma’am! Hey, Kyle, get this car an oil change, pronto!”

I can pay for this but I hardly can scrounge enough of my pay for me and my kid’s Christmas dinner. Borrowing money is out of the question, even asking my worthless ex-husband won’t do. Oh well, I’ll just cross the bridge when we get there. After all, it will be December first tomorrow and that leaves twenty-four days to figure out a solution and hope for a miracle. Maybe even pray for a Christmas miracle for me and my babies…

It was the first day of December. The alarm on her phone started desperately screaming in her ear, so she shook off the tiredness of the long hours she had to work the previous days and the ones that she had ahead.

A little over the sound of the ringing noise, she heard giggles that soon were accompanied by soft, cute voices.

The reason for her trying every day had just woken up.

Or more like, the reasons.

And they giggled as their small feet hit the wooden, carpeted floor of the place they were renting. Siel could never sleep with the door closed. The little humans that inhabited the room right next to hers might need her, or even just might want to go and jump on top of her tired body as a good morning greeting.

James and Rose were her twin toddlers, just turned three, and she still called them babies. They were truly her babies anyway.

Even if they could already take their crayons to put a few letters together and draw basic figures, like the many drawings in the fridge that showed their mom running around, in all of them…

Still, babies.

Her children rushed into her room as soon as they heard the alarm. They ran on their enemies - white with red dots pajamas - climbed the bed, and threw themselves on each side of their mommy, warming her up with their love and their little bodies that she was still amazed to see and feel. Their little faces, their almond-shaped, light brown eyes, black, straight, messy hair…

They were her small miracles.

Their tiny hands caressed her face and made her smile, even if she felt tired and desperate for an opportunity that kept her looking for better work… and an opportunity that had never been given to her. And yet, they were the reason, after all, that she never lost hope of a finer life for her little angels.

If it was just her, she would have just given up on everything when her ex-husband started hitting her… But she had them.

"Oh no, I'll be late!"

She jumped off the bed, took each baby in one arm, and ran to the kitchen. They were comfortably and skillfully placed in their high chairs while their mom sprinted around to make a quick breakfast for them.

After feeding the three of them, she cleaned the food that they spread on their faces and changed them into their little and charming day clothes. Later, at night, the three of them would take a relaxing and bonding bath, but in the morning, that was out of the question.

Cleaned and dressed, they were placed in their playpen and kept looking at their mom as she rushed from the dining table to clean up, then the bedroom to the bathroom in quick succession.

The doorbell announced the babysitter. Nella was just in time, but Siel was too late for work to even say a proper hello.

My boss is gonna be up my gut again, for sure. He really doesn't need much to get mad at me anyway… always threatening to fire me just so he sees me getting scared… yet, he never really has followed through on it… Shit! I need to go, or he might actually fire me today!

"Bye, Nella! The usual stuff is in the microwave and the fridge… Mommy needs to go, my lovelies… Goodbye, love you! I'll see you all late tonight… "

Just once, I wish I could say early evening instead…

Finally, out of the house and into her small, red Prius, she took two deep breaths to calm herself and focus. She needed to get back home safe so getting into an accident due to panic is definitely out of the question.

***

She arrived at a very hectic, almost toxic, office atmosphere. That was the day of the monthly meeting with the company executives, but she had no time to worry about that.

"SIEL!!!"

Screams exploded from her boss's office as soon as she stepped into the department's area at 7:01 A.M.

It didn't help that she seemed to have stepped on chewing gum on her way into the building, and her right shoe kept getting stuck on the gray carpet. She was so annoyed, fighting with her four-inch-high heels and the offending piece of gum, that it was obviously a losing battle for her.

As a matter of fact, Siel was so engrossed with her personal footwear war, that she didn't notice the handsome man in a black suit right in front of her, who was greeting other two well-dressed gentlemen…

Until she crashed into his muscled chest with full force.

She lost her balance, and still out of herself, didn't fully notice what had happened until she felt two strong hands holding her firmly by her arms, and a pair of blue eyes, staring deeply into hers.

"I'm… I'm very sorry, Mister…"

"Vincent Riegel. V for my friends," he said with a sweet smile that could melt stone.

She could not understand why he was looking at her in that peculiar, dreamy way at her or why he would introduce himself like that. However, the stunned secretary crashed back to reality upon hearing the approaching screams coming from the other side of the muscular, good-looking dirty blond executive in front of her.

"Siel, are you finally here? The contracts! I need the contracts to be signed today in the afternoon! What are you…"

Roderick Wright, labelled by many as the worst boss in the whole of Silvercrest Enterprises, was barreling towards the group when his face suddenly got ashy. Also, his voice, and steps, came to a complete stop…

He finally got close enough to notice who was holding his employee upright, since her knees seemed to have turned to jelly due to the recent "accident".

This man was not just a visitor. Not even his direct boss…

It was the CEO and owner of their company! The very same one who decided to join the executive meeting and had only informed everyone about it at the last minute.

Roderick tried to speak properly, but started stuttering instead, "M-Mr. Riegel, has this c-clumsy one b-bothered you in any w-way? I'm very sorry! I apologize…"

"No need to apologize for her. Wright, am I correct? The meeting room should have been opened and ready by now, so we wouldn't have to stand in the way of the people coming into your department," Vincent interrupted, making Roderick freeze and almost swallow his own tongue.

Wright gazed angrily at Siel as if it was her fault that the meeting room was closed. She managed to squeeze herself out of this situation, and out of V's arms, to quickly skitter to her desk.

"Special day for Roderick, huh? Did you catch his newly torn-down Christmas spirit?" Diwa Denar, her close friend and desk neighbor, greeted her with a small smile, trying to cheer her up, as she did every day.

If the twins were her engine, this lady was her fuel. She was there through thick and thin, even taking care of the babies when the tyrant who played the boss in their office didn't let Siel go home to her small family.

"Tell me about it. One minute late, Di. One minute! I swear, that guy sits in front of his office clock and waits to see if I'm late," was Siel's answer.

"I know, he's that much of a loser," Diwa giggled, finally making Siel giggle along.

There it is. I made her smile. My job as a friend is done. At least, for this morning…

"You know what day is today?" Di continued.

"Ah, Di. I really don't wanna think about it."

"Why?! It's my very favorite month! We have to plan on matching ugly sweaters and Christmas hair accessories. You always manage to look good in them no matter how ridiculous they are. Besides, green and red have always looked great with your pearly-white skin!"

"You say that every Christmas, Di. This year it's not gonna work," Siel sighed.

"What is it now? Don't tell me your ex is bothering you again?"

"No, Di. Or well, not just that. This year I don't think I can manage with my current salary. I'm so tight that I don't think I'll be able to get anything for the twins, and that goes double for me," she said, her voice breaking.

"Then, why don't you hang their wishes on the office tree? You know, the angel wishes? They will light the tree today, and I think they've given everyone until December the tenth to hang their angel wishes on it."

Diwa opened her hand, and there were two little paper angels with a golden cord attached to each of them.

"Think about it, at least?" her friend finished, seeing how her friend's eyes filled up when talking about her twins while making a superhuman effort to not let the tears fall.

Without saying a word, Siel threw her arms around her friend, who wrapped her in a hearty hug as well. Diwa knew that her co-worker and best friend would not accept any other kind of financial help. Siel wasn't proud, but Di knew how difficult it was to make money, so she didn't even think of offering a loan to help her friend.

That would definitely be viewed as an insult by Siel, and that is the last thing the poor single mom needed to deal with at this time.

Other than another verbal attack by her tall and thin boss…

The screaming man came stomping back into his office, grabbed a few printed documents from his desk then walked over to Siel's table.

"You'd better have the two contracts checked and ready to be signed in two hours, Siel! If we don't have them on time, the client will look for another outsourcing company. You know how much money we would lose between the support, maintenance, and computer parts if we didn't sign.

"Yes, sir, I know how much the contract brings in," the flustered woman answered, almost mumbling to herself.

"Then get it done!" Wright hissed/yelled at her, noticing that their CEO was still looking his way. Or he thought it was his way…

Maybe it was someone else he was looking at. Shit, better get out there and start the meeting or I'm dead.

Meanwhile, Di saw the way Roderick didn't fully yell at her friend and followed his line of sight, noticing that Vincent was still looking their way. She smirked and raised an eyebrow at the CEO. In response, Vince slightly blushed, and she could see it clearly, even from a good distance away.

Eventually, the flushed man finally looked away because he was already being invited by the Wright, along with the other suited executives, to enter the meeting room.

Still smiling, Diwa turned again to her friend.

"Just think about it, OK? While you do, just imagine how your kids' faces are gonna light up like the sparkly lights on a Christmas tree when they get their wishes. Promise me you will, OK?"

"Alright Di, I will," Siel sighed, right before immersing herself in her work.

One call with an on-floor technician, one phone meeting with their warehouse, a few trips to the Legal Department, and a few contracts in the works later, and it was past her supposed shift's end. For some reason, she couldn't help but glance at the meeting room whenever she went past it. And she would find her eyes automatically drawn to a certain lightly-bearded man in a black suit…

After a few more hours, she was now sitting at her desk, alone in the office, tired and worried because she was still rechecking the contract details before leaving it on her boss's desk. She took a break by drinking her favorite cinnamon coffee brew, which she always had on hand in one of her desk drawers.

Stopping for a minute, she looked at the angel-shaped pieces of paper that her friend put in her hand which were now on her table. A small smile lit up her face, right before her mobile phone rang…

"Hey Siel, you might want to come home soon, not that I'm rushing you… But your ex-husband is here… and he wants to play with the kids."

"OK, I'm going. Just stay there until I get home," she replied as she picked up the documents which she was still studying. Finally satisfied, she entered her boss' private office and placed them neatly on top of his desk, her mobile still stuck between her cheek and shoulder.

"Hell, I'm staying until he leaves, girl."

"You don't need to, Nella. I can't pay you for the extra hours."

"Then don't pay me for that. It's a favor. Besides, I get to use your internet for free, and I need that for my thesis. That's why I gave you dirt-cheap rates, remember?"

"But…"

"No, buts. I still need to finish a chapter, so I'm staying. Will be waiting for you."

And the call ends…

At this point, Siel had already mindlessly stuffed random items on her desk into her bag, had put on her coat, and was now rushing out the door and into the elevator. Soon, she was already at home, parking her car in the garage.

Maybe because she was a little too panicky, Siel was totally unaware of another vehicle following her all throughout her journey. It slowed down as she parked and then zoomed away as her home's garage door started to close.