Page 19 of Santa's Little Helpers

“Put the snack tables along that wall and make sure there is another large table for the cookies,” I instructed Moses and the other men who were helping with the heavy lifting. The banquet hall had never looked so festive. Everything was coming together beautifully. Derek had given me full control of the decorating, and I was having a blast. This was going to be the best Christmas party to date.

Squeals came from the entrance, and I turned to see Sadie bounding in, followed by a couple of other girls. “Oh my gosh! It looks amazing, E! I’m so excited Daddy finally let you take control. Men just don’t know decorations like women.”

The girls nodded in agreement, adding their own words of praise.

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” I warned, taking a deep breath. “Do you ladies need something? I have too much to do, and I can’t have distractions.”

“What’s left? Everything looks great,” Sadie assured.

“I need to check the deliveries, make sure the cookie-decorating party is all set, finish Santa’s village—I ticked off the list on my fingers—“and take the suit to get cleaned.”

“Oh! we can do that. Give me the suit. Let us take it for you,” she offered way too eagerly.

“I’m sure you have enough to keep you busy. I can’t pawn my chores off on you.”

“You aren’t! I promise. Daddy told me to come see what we could do to help. Something about idle hands or whatever.”

She wasn’t lying, Derek told me when we discussed the plan to catch the little trouble maker and her cohorts that he was going to send her in. There was no doubt she was the mastermind, but there was no way she was working alone.

“Okay,” I sighed, “but take it straight to the cleaners, nowhere else. I swear, if I screw up one more thing, Jared is going to spank me himself.” I retrieved the suit and handed it to her skeptically. “Straight there, got it?”

“Got it. You can count on me.” She winked and took the hanger and bag before turning and skipping out the door. She was good, I would give her that, but we had her figured out, and she was about to step in it, big-time.

I went back to work, smiling. Since my adventure in the elevator with Jared the night before, I was walking on a cloud with all the stress lifted off my shoulders. My faith in myself was strengthening again, and I was way less worried about screwing up. Jared thought I was perfect, and he wanted to spend time alone with me. I couldn’t think about all of the implications that could have, or I would get lost in the daydream. Even if nothing ever came of his words, his approval meant the world to me, and nothing could take that away.

A few hours later, I went to pick up the suit and sure enough, the beard was missing. Jared’s plan was genius. I took it back to the office, not bothering to hide the skip in my step.

“Hook, line, and sinker,” I announced as I closed the office door behind me. Jared and Derek, who had been hunched over building plans when I walked in, shook their heads.

“Little stinker,” Derek muttered. “Well, now that we know for sure, gather them all. I will make myself scarce and let you two get your revenge. Erika, I will have my pager if you need me to come back for any reason.”

I nodded and headed toward my office.

“Little lady,” Derek called.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Come here for a moment, please.”

He was not upset, and the look on his face was almost sad.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I approached his desk. Jared sat silently watching my every move.

“Nothing’s wrong, Erika, but I do need to apologize to you. Remember earlier in the week when you told me you didn’t know what was going on? I should have listened to you better.”

“Sir, I didn’t really give you a reason to listen. I was frustrated and out of sorts.”

Derek nodded. “That may be so, but either way, you took a serious punishment for crimes you did not commit. And for that, I’m sorry.”

I rounded the desk and threw my arms around him in a hug. “I forgive you, Sir. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. Now, go call the girls and get the payback you sorely deserve.”

“Sorely is right,” I teased as I skipped into my office to call for the girls.

One by one, the summoned group of girls, who had been teasingly dubbed Santa’s Little Helpers, entered the office. They had no idea what was going on, and their unease was tangible.

“Well, Little Ones, I have some bad news,” Jared sighed. “I am very sorry, but I cannot play Santa at the party tonight because Erika has misplaced some of the pieces to my costume. You have all behaved exceptionally well this week, and you don’t deserve to be punished for her negligence.” I watched discreetly from Jared’s side as he scanned the group of girls fidgeting in front of him.

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