Page 5 of My Secret Snowflake
“And thank you, Tessa, for reminding me how important it is to step out of my comfort zone and take risks to get what you want.”
“Even if it does result in some very bad art.” Tessa points to her paintings.
“But a very solid relationship,” Zeke says.
There is more glass clinking, and Zeke kisses Tessa. I don’t look at Sebastian. We’re work colleagues, so I can’t just wave and disappear. But it’s so awkward to be standing next to him as Tessa and Zeke share a very tender embrace.
Tessa and Zeke break apart, Tessa looking very flushed, and the music starts up again. Oops. I abandoned my music post; Maddie is doing it.
Lily joins us. “Did you two finally meet?”
Sebastian quirks an eyebrow and says, “We work together at Dream.”
Her eyes widen, and I can practically see her matchmaking gears clicking in her brain.
“I have to go give Rupert a hard time for missing our squash game again,” Sebastian says.
Yup, definitely Mr. I’m-Staying-Single Vibes.
“Thanks for your help out there,” I say. “I’m supposed to be in charge of the playlist, so I should relieve Maddie.”
“I’ll relieve Maddie.” Lily turns around and practically runs over to the DJ station.
“Are you taking song suggestions? Do you want Zeke’s ‘getting ready to go out’ song?” Sebastian asks.
“You know that?”
“No, but Rupert definitely does. I’ll ask him and report back to you.”
“Is Rupert going to share that with you?”
“Are you doubting my powers of persuasion?” His eyes twinkle at me.
“Yes,” I say.
“You’re on.” He heads straight for Rupert. Maybe I misjudged him. He doesn’t seem so standoffish now. He’s helped me twice, and now he left our conversation open-ended with a reason for us to talk again rather than moving on to someone else, as so often happens at cocktail parties.
I walk over to join Lily and Maddie because DJing really is my responsibility.
Sebastian is grinning at Rupert, and he seems like someone who’s a lot of fun. I’m sure he’ll persuade Rupert to reveal Zeke’s “getting ready for a night out” song. But amIready to pursue this feeling about him and possibly risk getting my heart broken again?
Chapter two
Iris
Ifollowthe“NorthPole” signs lining the hallway to the conference room to participate in the Dream Company’s annual office Secret Snowflake gift exchange. The conference room is decorated for all denominations for the holiday season, and Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” is playing in the background. A large menorah waits in one corner, ready to glow with light. A Kwanzaa candle display sits on the table, and a red-and-green half-decorated Christmas tree stands in another corner. Wearing an elf hat, which rather suits her, Jazmine is hanging some red bulbs on it. Amelia is supervising—with a tape measure in hand?
“I think they need to be two inches apart,” Amelia says. “Set decoration and production design are coming, and I don’t want this to look unprofessional. What if Xavier shows up?”
Xavier is the CEO of Dream Entertainment.
“I think he will understand this is more about thespiritof Christmas.” Still, Jazmine hangs the red bulb where Amelia is pointing.
Amelia checks her list. “I’m going to check on the drinks.” She hands Jazmine the tape measure.
“I’m so tempted to stick a purple bulb in the center of this,” Jazmine mutters as Amelia walks away. Still, we hang the rest of the bulbs, properly spaced.
I recognize a few people: some from marketing, IT, and the studios. It seems like a good cross-section of the company.
