The Christmas Elf, A Secret-Santa Story

Chapter 5 - Are we there yet?

Friday 16 December

Eileen dropped her bag on her desk and flipped open the file Peter had left. She scanned though his notes, smiling when she realized that there was nothing of substance to change. She had gone home, crashed for a few hours, showered and changed before heading back out. Thankfully it was Friday and casual was allowed for anyone who didn't have to interface with the client. Emerald green sweater and jeans with hair in a ponytail was her exhausted take on office casual.

Her team started straggling in around ten.

"That was some all-nighter," Kevin joked, stifling a yawn.

"Midnight isn't really an all-nighter, is it? You younger folk have no stamina..." Kayla teased him. "It's a good thing Eileen gave us permission to come in later, I don't want to see what you would have looked like at eight a.m."

He threw a paper-clip at her, "It's a good thing we mostly wrapped up the file by midnight then, huh?"

Kayla shot Eileen a speculative look, "And yet she didn't give herself the same permission, did she? Bet you she'd been here for hours already."

Eileen looked up, raised one eyebrow and said, "Another couple hours of work should take us to the finish line – and then it's time for...?"

"Drinks...drinks...drinks!!!" the team chanted.

It was a mad dash, but by four p.m. the final T's were crossed and I's dotted. The finalized accounts were in the hands of the client and Peter was thanking them all for their hard work.

They all accepted gracefully, but waited patiently until he left before saying, "Where are we going for drinks Eileen?"

"Guys," she protested, "I'm kinda really burned out. Wouldn't you rather go have some face time with your family?"

"Come on Eileen," Kayla said, "you have been saying all along that we are in this together. You have been amazing to us. You shielded us from most of the drama, client and partner, coached and mentored us and made sure our effort got recognized."

"It's thanks to you we have extra face time with family to look forward to, way more comp time than we were expecting!" Kevin added.

"We have all gotten clearance from our significant others and otherwise to have a drink with our amazing boss! So, come on!!" Kayla chimed back in.