Secret Santa - A Christmas romance

Secret Santa

Last Christmas, Nancy received a special gift. However, until recently she didn't know who it was from.

It was a small carved statuette, a key chain. It was shaped in the form of a young lady who had her two hands on her waist. That was Nancy's habit, and in the office, she was known for that pose. She'd heard and seen some of her female colleagues make fun of her, so she tried to stop.

However, the present she received last Christmas came with engraved words on the bottom:"You're perfect just the way you are".

It touched her so much, it brought her to tears. She ran to the toilet and cried holding the key chain in her hand. All the pressure of trying her best to fit in, or at least not to stand out, suddenly fell off her shoulders. Nancy was comfortable just being her usual self, silly and bubbly. That was exactly what she needed, she fell in love with it. She proudly carried the key chain everywhere she went, reminding herself that she didn't need to change anything about her.

She didn't pay attention to the comments anymore, so she heard less of them. Even when she did, she'd think about the key chain, smile, and let it slide. It was the best Christmas gift she had ever received.

All Nancy knew, up until recently, was that it was from her secret Santa. At the office the CEO started this new thing were the secret Santa remained a secret. The gifts were not given hand by hand, but put on or under the Christmas tree, with the name of the receiver on it. It was fun to see everyone look for their gift. Hers was not easy to find, but when she eventually did, she took time to appreciate the care put into the wrapping of the gift. 

She wondered for a while about who it could be, but she eventually gave up. However, three months ago, she found out it was Steven, a senior executive at work. He confessed his feelings for her then, finally, shyly admitted he was the one behind the gift. Actually, he had noticed her for awhile now, but didn't know how to approach her. So he was happy when he found out he'd be her secret Santa. That's how their story began.

Since then, after everything was out in the open, he had been flirting with her, and she knew he was officially going to ask her out at the Christmas party this evening. Exactly a year after he had given her the gift, his way of being romantic.

******

Here we go, Nancy said to herself. Yet, she stood still in front of the building. She didn't know what she was going to say to Steven. What do I do ? I don't...

"Aaaah!!"

She screamed as she felt something cold being put on her neck. Without looking back she already knew who it was.

"Matthew!" She said through her teeth.

The young man chuckled with the remaining evidence of his crime still on his hands.

"Calm down, it's just snow," he said, trying not to laugh anymore.

"I know what it is Matt!" Nancy replied facing him as she put her hands on her waist.

He did the same while pouting his lips. She furrowed her brows trying to show that she was not joking. However, he tilted his head still with his pouting lips, they stared that way at each other, but not for long because she couldn't hold it in, she laughed.

"You look silly," she said.

"And you look cute," he replied with a half smile. "As always."

Embarrassed, her smile disappeared and she hit his arm, then folded her arms imitating his pouting look.