Must be Santa (COMPLETED)

51

1 month has passed
November

Wynter

"Wynter? You got a minute?" Elizabeth's soft knock vibrated against my office door. I quickly closed the tabs titled "how to get over a breakup" and signaled her to come in.

"What's up?" I grabbed my bottle of water from the floor and pushed it to my lips. Lizabeth had a huge box of something.

"The final palette mock-up just arrived!"

"Ohhh! let me see!!" I stood and ran over to help her open the box.

She took one out and pushes it into my open palms. "Ohh I can't look! Wynter. Tell me how it looks! I can't force myself to look at it"

I chuckle lazily and looked down at the palette. Almost immediately, a rush of unusual nostalgia rushes to my core.

On the cover was a picture of Nick as Santa.
I was sitting in his lap, whispering a secret in his ear as he stuffed a palette into my purse on the floor.

It looked amazing.
We looked...good.

"How do you like it?" Elizabeth's eyes were still closed. She bit her lip nervously, waiting for my critique.

I was speechless.

"You hate it? Don't you?" She finally opened her eyes and looked at the mock up.
"Wynter! I'll scrap the idea. Nick said you would hate it and I know you and him didn't end on good terms. Maybe I should have listened—-"

"Elizabeth. Stop" I said, finally regaining my confidence to speak. I looked at the palette again before looking up at Lizabeth. "I love it." I whisper, running a finger across Nick's outline. I hated how confused I was with my emotions. I was supposed to be over Nick Claus.
He was dead to me.
He had no right to my heart ...but as I stared at the image printed on the palette, I couldn't shake the feeling of...uncertainty?

"Wynter?" She stares into my eyes , "do you really like it? Cause we can change the blueprint and the picture? Maybe use the one of just Nick?"

I turn around to hide my tears as she continued on.

"No...no everything is perfect. I mean it" I wiped the tears from my cheeks and try to maintain my composure.
Who was I kidding.
I missed Nick! I wanted him to be here as we giggled at the palette together. I wanted to feel his soft lips against my skin.
I missed him.

"Oh! And And I made one last minute alteration to the name. Nick said to change this one to "Wynter" Elizabeth pointed at a small color that held a rich hue of brown with glittered intertwined into its base. "He says it reminded him of you."

I tried not to let my goofy smile show as I cry into the colors of the palette.

"Wynter are you okay?"

"Yea... I just... love it so much." I try to hide the trembling in my voice. "You did great Elizabeth. I mean it" I try to maintain my composure. Nick would not make me unravel.

"If you will exuse me?"
I gathered my Celine purse before making my way to the elevator into my car and speed away
I needed to go somewhere. Anyway but here

Lizabeth

And there Wynter went, hosting the afternoon meeting as if nothing was wrong. As if she wasn't crying just a few hours ago.

That was Wynter.

Her head was high as she pointed to the chart with trending figures. She was the boss in charge and demanded her respect.
Her fingers looked as if she was moving mountains; her stance? Fierce.

But behind all this, she was sad. I had known Wynter for 7 years. She more than just a boss, she was my friend.

"Okay guys. Let's let's put it in production!" Wynter commanded. Our small group of workers nodded and stood to begin their tasks.

Wynter held up a palm, halting the actions of the employees. "Before we go, I want to give praise.
Elizabeth?" She looked over at me.

"Yes" I stood.

"You went above and beyond. From the photoshoot to the palette and now production. Good job and keep up the good work."

"Thank you Wynter." I nodded. She forced a smile before grabbing her leather binder from the table.

"Okay guys! Let's sell these palettes. Christmas is in coming soon!" Her heels clicked as she turned and left the room.

"Good job Lizabeth.
Great job!
Love the palette"

"Thanks everyone!" I blushed, relieved at the recognition and praise. I decided to linger back for a while, content in just sitting and basking in the silence.

When I knew the coast was clear, I took out my phone and lit the screen up.

I see a newspaper article of Nick C.
The tabloids called him "the playboy entrepreneur of the 21st century"
Apparently he owned many companies in the Midwest and a joint shareholder to many Fortune 500 companies.
What was a wealthy man like Nick doing modeling for a makeup line?

I tap out Safari and go to the phone app. It was time I learned the truth about Nick C.
I click Drew's name, deciding to give him a call.

"What's up Lizabeth?" He asks. I heard wind in the background.

"Hey we have an issue. It involves your brother and my friend"

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