Catching a glimpse of a legendary all-white reindeer is supposed to bring good luck.
Not for Georgia Greene.
As Georgia makes her way home for Christmas, a white reindeer dashes across the road in front of her, causing her to crash her car into a...
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Georgia
The world was alight with magic. A fresh snow was falling, blanketing the streets, dusting the tops of lampposts and parked cars. It softened the holiday music that drifted out of open shop doors as shoppers rushed about. Even rosy-cheeked shoppers seemed to be affected, as they offered well-wishes instead of curses if they bumped into each other. Everything in the city felt different, as if it knew this Christmas was destined to be something special.
Poor Georgia Greene, head down as she pushed through the crowd, didn't have time to notice any of it. She had more important things to do.
She did not look at the charity Santa manning his donation box, ringing his bell. She did not catch the tempting scents of baked goods and roasted chestnuts being sold on every street corner. She did not see the bright lights strung across every roof and post, twinkling in the snow.
Her gaze was focused on the entrance to the shiny office building up ahead. She went to jump into the rotating door, but bumped into a couple just stepping out. They had been too busy staring into each other's eyes to realize they were standing directly in the way of the door. She dodged around them with a huff, too out of breath to apologize. That was for the best, especially since the words that wanted to come out of her mouth were anything but season's greetings.
Instead, she jogged across the lobby and threw herself into the first available elevator. As its shiny silver doors slid shut, she released a sigh.
She had made it.
The elevator began to crawl upwards, giving Georgia a moment to catch her breath. She looked into the elevator's mirror wall and grimaced at the sight of herself. Her mad dash across the city had left her more than a little dishevelled. Several strands of dark hair had slipped out of her usually immaculate bun, and dark circles had started to form beneath her clear hazel eyes.
Georgia frowned at her reflection. Even if she had completed her almost impossible task and made it back to the office in record time, that was no excuse for her appearance. Her boss would find any reason to criticize her—including for what he called looking 'sloppy.'
Studying herself in the mirror, she straightened her posture and smoothed the wrinkles in her black pencil skirt before tucking the stray hairs back into her bun. She reached into her purse to pull out her tube of emergency concealer, gently dotting it on and tapping it into place. Next came the lipstick as she smoothed on a fresh coat of sharp, cherry red.
By the time the elevator reached the very top floor, she was back to looking perfect, just as was expected of all employees of BEAUMONT HOTEL GROUP. The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped out, her sleek heeled boots clicking as she walked over the polished marble floor. There was no sign of the harried woman who had run through the lobby only moments before.
As it was less than a week before Christmas, the office was in a state of high activity. Assistants and interns were rushing about with files and messages and cups of coffee. Even with the impending holidays, work at Beaumont was never done. In fact, most of them would be working right up until Christmas day. If she hadn't booked her vacation time off months ago—only a few months after last Christmas—Georgia knew she'd be right beside them. As it was, she'd soon be free.
