Must be Santa (COMPLETED)

32

A few hours later
After the shower 👀👀

Wynter laid in my arms as I typed away on my computer, answering some business emails.

"How many guardians are there again?"

"10 but only 7 are coming to the banquet. Do you remember their names?" I ask, testing her for any last-minute discrepancies.

"There's the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, the—-"

RINGGGG

My phone vibrated just beneath my left pocket, interrupting any possibility of any follow-up questions.

"I wonder who that is?" she sighed before rolling her eyes. She already knew it was Kringle.
I brighten the screen, sliding the call button to answer.

"Hey Kringle" I try to whisper so Wynter wouldn't hear, but my efforts proved futile.
Wynter sat up, watching me before rolling her eyes.

"Yes, Kringle.
I know...I know. I said I would come to the office. Yea...something came up"

Wynter crawled to my chest, carelessly opening my blouse before pressing her lips against my skin.  After a couple of minutes, she moved to my jaw, kissing every inch and teasing me as I spoke to Kringle

"No no! Kringle  Come on!
No that won't be necessary, I'll figure it out.
No, don't add him.
Kringle! Kringle, please!
Whatever you don't add Mit—-
——Heyyyy Mitch!!" Kringle had joined an already angry Mitch.
"Yea, I know Mitch. Yes. Yea...I got it"

Wynter moved to my lap, straddling me before grabbing my jaw. She continued teasing me, daring me not to make a sound.

"Yea, mhhmmn" I nodded, kissing her back. I grabbed her waist, pulling her closer as she deepened her embrace. She twisted my ringlets between her fingers, making me unravel under her spell.

"Nick are you listening?
Nick!!!" Mitch fumes.

"What!" I shouted. "I'm listening!"

She giggled and broke away, gently kissing my neck.
"No you're not" she whispered, refuting my claim. As she attempts to stand from my lap, I pull her close refusing to let her go.
I cherished our closeness and time spent together.

Kringle continued to lecture me about things to do regarding the factory while Mitch screamed his head off.

I rest my head on the back of the couch, listening as they lectured me. Being the next Santa was not all it cracked up to be.
The endless hours, horrible work conditions, and no days off were more than any man could bear.
I didn't know how my father and the Claus men before me did it.

Before I had a chance to respond to Mitch's question, Wynter intervened.

"Hi Kringle and Mitch, this is Wynter, the future Mrs . Claus?"
I try to grab the phone back but she stands and runs away.

"Yea, today was supposed to be Santa's day off.
Until 8 am tomorrow, you shouldn't call him. Technically, he put his hours in since Friday so you calling him is against North Pole regulations."

Wynter hums, nodding her head as she heard their babble.

"Yes, Nick knows he's behind on the Mattel order but perfection takes time. He will get it done.
CC the stock inventory and factory IPO to his email tonight. Once he sees the dates, he'll process the stock and get it shipped. Yes, cc the shipment log too.

I am so glad we could agree Mitch. Bye now"

She hung up and rolled her eyes, throwing the phone in my lap.

"I can't believe you shut up Mitch!" I sighed, staring at her in awe. Mitch wasn't the type to let anyone get a word in.

"I hate macho men like him who make everything a thing"

"A thing?" I question her terminology.

"Like bosses who call an in-person meeting to discuss an upcoming meeting. Or coworkers who have to announce to the office what they do. You know. A thing." She explains.

I smirked, admiring how business always found a way to her.

She sat beside me again, grabbing her phone and texting someone.
She turned her head once she saw my prolonged gaze.

"What ?"

"Nothing... for a moment... You just reminded me...
Never mind" I blush.

"No tell me!" She smirked, leaning an elbow against the couch.

"I mean you reminded me of my mom? She always takes over when my dad is swamped with work. You had more tact of cours

She smiled, staring into my eyes before letting her head fall into my lap.

"Do you think you could do it every day?"

"Answering your calls and telling Kringle off?"

"I mean...giving up your life on earth, living in the North Pole forever? Taking over the legacy? Being Mrs. Claus and all it entails?"

She looked to the fire, pondering my words, I mean... Nubia Place. I built that company from the ground up. It's my baby Nick
I don't know?
I don't want to say yes but also don't want to say no"

My heart was selfish hearing her words. I knew if she wasn't willing to be a part of my life, that meant no future for us. It was imperative that any future Mrs. Claus resided in the North Pole and fulfilled their duties. I wouldn't tell her just yet but I was curious to see her openness to the idea.

"It's a good thing this is just... pretend right?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, shocked she even brought up the scenario.

"We'll... we're just pretending. We get married...we divorce and we go our separate ways?"

"Oh...yea..right" I grumble, refusing to meet her eyes.

"Nick... what we have now is new...it's fun. Fresh. I wouldn't want to do anything that, compromises that."

"Yea. Sure" I scoot away from the couch, standing to make coffee in the kitchen.

"Nick...I didn't mean it like that" she frowns, her eyes followed me as I take two mugs from the cupboard.

"I do like you Nick... a lot. But"

"Yea. You're right.  This was supposed to be a pretend thing. Don't worry. It'll be done as soon as the council approves of you"

She stood from the couch, watching me at a distance but before she could come and hug me? I snatched my jacket from the rack and go outside. I needed some time alone to think.

I didn't wonder why her words stung me.
I knew the very reason they crushed my heart.

I was falling in love with a girl named Wynter Ryder.