by Holly Rayner
“He did give me his extra pancake at breakfast,” she said.
I smiled then and said, “That must have been it.”
Jeffrey helped me and we handed out presents marked “Male” to the boys and “Female” to the girls. When all the gifts had been handed out, we also gave them little bags of Christmas cookies that looked homemade. When we left, they all had smiles on their faces and my heart felt full and happy. We traveled the city for the next few hours spreading the same kind of joy. After the first couple of stops, the formerly stoic chauffeur was smiling from ear to ear and laughing at all my jokes.
Carrying the packages in and passing them out was no small task and I began to wonder if my mystery boss was afflicted somehow and that’s why he’d hired me to do this. He was definitely a wealthy, generous man. The kids were getting toys and clothing that kids in two-parent homes may not have been able to get because of the expense and the elderly were receiving robes and slippers and for some of the men, boxes of cigars that I know didn’t come cheap. I’d tried to prod information out of Jeffrey along the way, but he wasn’t forthcoming with any.
On the way to one of our stops, I said, “I know you can’t tell me who this man is, but can you answer just a question or two about him?”
“Hmm, that would depend on the question, I believe,” he said with a grin.
“Is he always so generous, or only at Christmas time?”
“He’s a very generous employer throughout the year,” Jeffrey said. “He does always give quite a bit to the community during the holidays.”
“Why doesn’t he take the presents out himself?” I asked. Jeffrey looked sad.
“Christmas is a time of year that our boss doesn’t care for. He avoids Christmas and everything he can that goes along with it. He wants to give back to the community however and this is a way he can do that. He usually just hires people to deliver them. I like this idea better.”
I had a hard time imagining anyone who didn’t like Christmas. Christmas was literally my favorite time. I enjoyed it when I was a child even more than my birthday.
“Why doesn’t he like Christmas?” I asked him.
Jeffrey chuckled and said, “You’ll have to ask him that yourself when you meet him.”
“What should I call him when we meet?”
He laughed outright again and said, “Tricky Miss Robyn, but I’m not falling for it.”
We took care of our last stop, a residential care facility for the elderly. More than one of the old ladies and even one old man got tears in their eyes when they received their gifts. I was touched to see that my secret employer had also thought about the elderly who weren’t able to intake sugar because of a medical condition. He’d sent sugarless snacks that looked as appetizing as the sugared ones.
I realized after we left the care home how tired I was. I also realized that it was after one o’clock and neither Jeffrey nor I had lunch yet. I was about to ask him about it when the car phone rang. Jeffrey put it on speaker and I heard my mystery man’s beautiful voice float out.
“Hello Robyn, how is the day going?”
“It’s been so much fun,” I told him, sincerely.
“Good,” he said, sounding amused. “And how did you like the costume?”
“Loved it!” I said.
“Really? That’s great,” he said, sounding surprised. I could tell that he found it strange and amusing that I hadn’t been embarrassed to dress like an elf. “How would you like to go to the offices and hand out the presents to each department in full costume?”
“I’d love to,” I told him, “You must be one of the executives…” He didn’t answer that. I was fishing, I hadn’t expected him to. But then I said, “Just as long as I can have lunch first.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m sorry,” he said, actually sounding remorseful. “I should have thought about lunch. I suppose you could have Jeffrey go in and get it.”
“Why couldn’t I go get it?” I asked.
“I was just thinking of you. You’re still in costume, correct?”
“Yeah, but I don’t see the problem. I like the costume and it fits very nicely.” He was obviously not one of my friends or close acquaintances or he would know that I loved to have fun and very little embarrassed me.
He chuckled, but I could tell he found it odd. “Okay then, have Jeffrey take you out to lunch. On me, anywhere you’d like to go. Then he’ll take you to the offices.”
“That sounds perfect,” I told him. “And when do I get to see you?”
“Have fun Robyn,” he said, and then he hung up.
I could see Jeffrey’s face in the mirror, he was smirking. “What’s so funny?” I asked him.
“Nothing, Miss.”
***
After much cajoling, I convinced Jeffrey to join me for lunch at a nice steakhouse. He’d wanted to wait for me at the car. He seemed a little uncomfortable about it as we were walking in and I asked, “Are you embarrassed to be seen with an elf in public?”
He smiled and said, “No miss, but I was thinking about what a picture an elf having lunch with a chauffeur might present.” I laughed.
“I hadn’t thought of that, we’ll have to ask our waiter to take a picture of us. Everyone at work will love it.” Jeffrey just shook his head and followed me inside. I think he was as surprised as our mutual employer for the day that I wasn’t uncomfortable at all in the outfit.
We enjoyed our lunch, Jeffrey told me about growing up in the U.K. and that he’d met his employer just after coming to the States for his mother’s funeral. He’d had to stay in New York to care for his ailing father and when Jeffrey told him his predicament, the man had hired him on the spot. He’d also helped Jeffrey obtain his work visa and eventually his citizenship.
“He sounds like a wonderful man this Mr…?”
Jeffrey actually stuck his tongue out at me. It cracked me up because I’d be willing to bet he hadn’t done that since he was five. He said, “When will you figure out that you can’t trick an old English chauffeur like me?”
“I’m persistent like that,” I told him.
I felt so much better after lunch, my energy was renewed. I was wondering if I’d ever get to meet this man or not as it would already be almost the end of the workday when we finished at the office. I wondered what he looked like and if he was as handsome as his voice sounded. I hoped that I’d get the opportunity to meet him and find out first hand.
Jeffrey drove us to the offices of Winters Inc. and I set about my task delivering the gift baskets to each department. Jeffrey followed along behind me and I showed everyone the picture of Jeffrey and I having lunch and took a few orders that I promised to take straight back to Santa Claus. It had a great time and was starting to think I’d like to add something like this to my yearly Christmas
Traditions. I had some of my own already that I’d been putting into practice since I was a kid. No one that knew me seemed the least bit surprised that I was dressed like an elf, and the rest of the staff found it amusing. I ran across Gary when I was in the building and looking me over he said, “Who was it that beat me out last night?”
“I have no idea,” I told him.
“Really?” he asked, suspiciously.
“Really, I haven’t met him; I’ve only spoken with him on the telephone.”
“Hmm, the guy is obviously loaded,” he said. “It would have to be someone from upstairs.”
I shrugged, “I don’t know. He’s generous, that’s for sure. I better get back to my task.” I could feel Gary watching me until I was out of his sight. Sighing, I wondered if he would ever give up.
I finished handing out the gifts at work and Jeffrey drove me home. When he opened the car door for me he had another package, similar to the one he’d given me this morning in his hand.
“What’s this? A present for me?” I asked, like a child on Christmas morning. I’d always rather give gifts out, but everyone likes one of their own sometimes. Jeffrey smiled.
“I think whatever it is; you deserve it for your hard work today.” I surprised him, not for the first time that day, by giving him a hug. I really liked the old guy and because of him my day had been more enjoyable.
“You worked just as hard. Thank you, Jeffrey.”
“You’re very welcome, Miss Robyn.”
I carried the box up to my apartment and I was about to open it when my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hello Robyn, how did things go at the office?” It was him, the mystery caller. My belly fluttered just at the sound of his voice.
“Spectacular,” I told him. “Everyone was so pleased with their gifts.”
“Good, Jeffrey said you should be commended for the job you did today. So, I commend you. Thank you for taking care of all of that for me.”
“You’re welcome, I enjoyed myself. I hope Jeffrey will also be commended. He’s great.”
“He will be. I’d like to take you out to dinner as a reward for a job well done if you don’t have an objection to joining me?”
“I’d love to,” I said. Not only did I believe I deserved a treat after my long day, I was so excited about meeting him. I was really hoping that he was as beautiful as his voice.
“Great. We have reservations at a very exclusive restaurant in Manhattan. Put on the outfit I sent for you and I’ll send Jeffrey around to pick you up at eight.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then,” I told him, before hanging up. Finally, I pulled open the box. Inside was a cornflower blue silk dress. It had a designer label that I recognized. It was a very expensive dress. It had probably cost him over a thousand dollars. It was beautiful and when I slipped it out of the box, I realized there was a lovely matching scarf, stockings and shoes.
I took it into my bedroom and held it up to me in front of the mirror. It was the exact shade of blue as my eyes, and the soft material of the dress would cling to all of my curves, no doubt. I wondered if this man had matched my eyes on purpose. Did he actually go shopping for it himself, or did he hire someone to do that? I looked at the size of both the dress and the shoes… both perfect. Who was this man? How could he possibly know my shoe size of all things? I looked back at the dress and realized suddenly that the only thing that had bothered me about him all day was that he didn’t trust I had enough sense and taste to dress myself for a night out. I loved it, but it wasn’t me. I was never one to be anything or anyone other than myself. I got an idea then… it was a terrible, awful idea…
CHAPTER FOUR
~
ROBYN
I really did like the dress a lot, but the fact he’d told me to wear it was nagging at me. Since I was in kindergarten, I had my own sense of style. I used to drive my mother crazy with some of my choices. I choose my clothes because I like them and I’m comfortable in them. I wear what’s appropriate for the occasion, but rarely what everyone else would be wearing. Designer labels didn’t impress me either. I’d found dresses at second-hand stores that were just as nice.
When he simply said, “Put on the outfit I sent you,” that was when the idea came to me. My mystery man had sent me two outfits today. He told me to wear the one he sent, but he hadn’t specifically said which one. It made sense to me that he couldn’t really be offended if I happened to wear the wrong one then, right? I took a bubble bath while I considered it. By the time I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel, I’d come to a firm decision. I was wearing the elf outfit. If he was offended… oh well, what had I really lost?
As I fixed my hair and did my make-up I thought about what he’d said about going to an “exclusive” restaurant. I decided that I’d take the dress with me and I would change after I played a little trick on him. There was no harm in a little fun. I didn’t know if they had a dress code though and I may get asked to leave. This way I would have the dress to change into.
My hair and make-up were ready for a night out. I put on the elf dress with the shoes that went with the dress and then slipped the elf slippers over them. I wore a pair of diamond stud earrings that my parents had given me when I graduated high school, they were my favorite pair, and I’d always thought they’d brought me good luck.
I chose a delicate silver chain that would complement the dress and after I put it on, I tucked it inside my elf suit. Jeffrey arrived right on time, and when I opened the door and saw his face, I wished I’d had my camera at the ready.
“Um, Miss Robyn… did you open the other box?” The poor guy looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel in his head.
“I did, I like this one better,” I said, as I slipped on my black trench coat.
“Oh, well…” I couldn’t keep a straight face. Jeffrey looked relieved when he realized I was laughing. “Oh, it’s just a joke, thank goodness,” he said.
“It’s a joke on your boss, Jeffrey. I am wearing this to dinner.”
“Oh, I don’t think… I’m not sure you should… well he’s kind of…”
“Serious?” I finished for him.
“Yes miss, he’s very serious. I don’t think he’ll be pleased.”
“Too bad,” I told him with a wink. “It sounds like he needs to learn to loosen up a bit.” Jeffrey didn’t say any more about it, but I could tell it made him anxious that I was going through with this. I couldn’t imagine a man so generous that didn’t at least appreciate a little humor. Besides, he wasn’t really my boss. What was he going to do?
When Jeffrey drove the limousine up in front of the restaurant, I almost lost my nerve. When he’d said exclusive, I had no idea he was talking about Per Se. It was THE most exclusive restaurant in New York and if he didn’t own his own table here, then he’d made these reservations either weeks or months ago. When Jeffrey helped me out of the car he raised an eyebrow.
“You’re sure about this miss?” he asked.
I looked back at the fancy restaurant and all of the fancy people going inside and I suddenly realized that I was sure. If this man couldn’t take a joke, what have I lost? A fancy dinner? I’d obviously not met him after nine months of working at Winters Inc.; I’d likely not see him too frequently after this. He probably works somewhere up near the top like everyone seems to think, judging from the fact that he was obviously wealthy so I doubted we’d have to mix and mingle much. I was going for it; I thought it would be fun.
“I’m sure,” I told Jeffrey with a deep breath and a confident smile.
“Good luck then,” he said, as if I were headed to the gallows.
“Oh, who should I ask for?”
“Just ask for Aaron,” Jeffrey told me.
“Thanks, Jeffrey. I enjoyed my day with you.”
“And mine with you,” he said. He tipped his hat at me and I went inside. “Good luck,” he said again.
I walked into this beautiful restaurant, very serene and intimate with wide open, and I have to say, spectacular views of Central Park and Columbus Circle, in my elf costume. Granted at this point I still had on my coat, but I wasn’t the least bit worried about taking it off. It was gorgeous, but everyone in the place including the staff looked like they could use a little Christmas in their lives. The only way I could describe them all was just way too serious.
“Hello ma’am, can I help you?” the beautiful, soft spoken woman at the counter asked me.
I matched her whispered tone and said, “Yes, I was supposed to ask for Aaron.”
