by Zetta Hunt
I racked my brain all night. There was Ryan. He was a creepy guy that lived in the apartment building next door. He always made a point to say hi to me. Maybe it was him? He was the only other person I could think of that knew where I lived.
If someone was doing the twelve days of Christmas, I had nine more days left to find out who it is. I was determined to end this mystery before then. My glass is half full, darn it.
Marcus
Every thing was in place. I figured I might as well do the full twelve days of Christmas for Brianna. She deserved no less.
But my rational mind took over. How well did I really know Brianna? I knew her best friend was Sandra. Her parents lived an hour away, and a brother who lived in Texas, which I gathered was a deadbeat. I knew she worked as a software developer downtown, and arrived home like clockwork. I also knew she was single.
Aside from all of this, and the fact she made my heart feel lighter every time I saw her, I knew little about her.
That’s where my problem was. What if she refused to go to the ball with me when I revealed myself to her? What if she slammed the door in my face? Worse yet, what if she came to the ball with me and I didn’t like her? What if she wasn’t the woman I thought she was?
If I started speaking to her now, she’d know something was up. I wanted to surprise her. I prayed she’d find it a pleasant surprise. And I prayed I enjoyed her company. It’s not like I was asking anything else from her. Just one night at the ball. I wanted to be her Prince Charming for one night.
“Fuck,” I said as I parked my SUV in the club lot. Since when am I a fucking prince charming?
I entered the club and saw Todd wasn’t busy. I motioned for him and we went to my office.
“What’s up?” he asked after he shut the door.
“I’m fucked,” I said.
“What do you mean? You mean you got laid? No, that’s not right because otherwise you’d look happier.”
“I concocted a plan to get my neighbor lady to go to that Christmas ball with me, and now I’m worried she won’t go.”
“Did you ask her to go?”
I sighed. Todd was going to think I’m the biggest dork, but if there was anyone I could talk to, it was him. “It all seemed like a good plan and now, I’m having second thoughts. I’m probably shooting myself down. I should have just asked her, but that would’ve gotten me a definite no, because I never speak to her and now I’m worried that everything I’m doing is for nothing.”
Todd looked amused. “I knew you were crushing on someone. So your neighbor? Wait, is it that hot blonde across the hall? Because I’d tap that in an instant.”
I glared at him.
He was unfazed. He smiled. “So it is the hot blonde.” He took a seat in front of my desk. “So tell me what your plan is.”
“I overheard her saying she was spending Christmas alone. Her parents and her best friend were going out of town for the holiday. So I started leaving her gifts outside her apartment door. You know, like the twelve days of Christmas. I leave a note saying it’s from her Secret Santa and now I’m freaking because I know this is going to blow up in my face.”
Todd still looked amuse, and it grated on me.
He said, “Dude, I have never seen your confidence with women shaken like this. Trust me, it’ll be fine. Women love this sort of stuff.”
“I don’t talk to her.”
“What do you mean you don’t talk to her?”
“When I first moved in, I was still pissed off at the world and she tried making small talk and I just ignored her. I figured she’d eventually give up. But every time I see her, she still smiles and says hi. And every time, I say nothing.”
“And in the meantime you fell for her and now you’re making your move.”
“Something like that.”
“Dude, just relax. I’m sure your plan is solid. You could have any piece of ass that walks in this place.”
“What if she slams the door in my face when I reveal that I’m the one sending the gifts?”
“Then you move on. It’ll suck, but, you did it once, you can do it again. It’s hard for sure. I mean look at me, I keep moving on, I guess I keep up the hope that one of these days someone will want me to stay put.”
Now it was my turn to smile. “You mean someone like Emily?”
“Oh no, you don’t. We’re talking about you, not me.”
“Uh, huh? Something tells me Emily is going to keep you around.”
He looked away. “I might have been jewelry shopping.”
“Diamond?”
“Maybe.”
“You deserve a good girl like her.”
“And you deserve that hot neighbor of yours. It’ll be fine, bro. You’ve just been out of the game, and Rachelle, that bitch, did a number on you. I’m just glad your getting back out there. I really worried about you.”
A knock sounded at the door followed by Brandon’s voice, “Could use some help out here.”
We went to work. I had to stay with the plan. It was a good one. So far it’d been small gifts I’d given her. My worry is how she’s going to react with what else I had to give her.
Chapter 3
Brianna
Another day, another gift. I opened this one and stood there stunned. It was a pair of silver snowflake earrings adorned with little crystals. The note said, “These sparkle as bright as you do.”
I examined the box. They came from a local jewelry store. I wondered if the small crystals were real diamonds.
Okay, this was more than a snow-globe, candle, or a bath set. I called Sandra. When she picked up she asked, “So what did your Secret Santa gift you with today?”
“Snowflake earrings. Only I think they may have genuine diamonds in them.”
She laughed.
“This is not funny,” I said.
“Honey, when was the last time a man gifted you with fine jewelry?”
“Um. . .”
“Has a man ever gifted you with fine jewelry?”
“That’s not the point.”
“It is. Whoever is giving you these things obviously likes you. I’m telling you, enjoy this.”
That’s what she always said.
The next day’s gift was a snowflake necklace. The note said, “To match your earrings.”
The day after, a matching bracelet. The note said, “Now you have a complete set.”
I sighed. I put the earrings, necklace and bracelet on and admired myself in the mirror. Whoever had sent these had good taste. But this was too much.
My phone went off, it was Sandra. “Matching bracelet today,” I said when I answered. “Maybe I should go to the jewelry store and see who might have bought these.”
“You will do no such thing.”
“But, I know these weren’t cheap.”
“Sweetheart, you are going to see this to the end. If this guy is doing the twelve days, you only got six more days to go.”
“Ugh. I can’t take this anymore. I have seriously exhausted all possibilities of who could give me these things. The only person I can think of is that creepy dude in the building next door.”
“Well, whoever it is, they’re doing a damn good job if you ask me.”
“This is driving me insane.”
“You got them on right now, don’t you?”
“Got what on?”
“The jewelry.”
“Maybe.”
“Uh huh, honey, you’re just going to suck it up for six more days.”
“That’s like, forever.”
Sandra laughed. “No, it’s not.”
“But what if I find out who it is and I don’t like them? Like that creepy guy.”
“Then you thank him for the gifts and wear them when you and I go out.”
“I can’t keep these things if it’s the creepy guy.”
“You going to give him back the bath products you already indulged in? Or the candle you already lit a few of times?”
“T
hat’s it, everything is going to stay in the box till I find out who is doing this.”
“Then I better let you go so you can put that jewelry away.” I heard her laughing as she hung up.
Some friend she was.
I sighed and looked again at myself in the mirror. I heard Marcus leave, and I was too frustrated to even watch him go.
The next day yielded the biggest box yet. It was the size of a shoe box. I opened it and inside were a pair of red sparkly high-heel pumps with a note, “Hope you can dance in these.”
The shoes were my size. I slipped them on; they fit perfect. Of course I couldn’t resist and went to my bedroom mirror to look at them. I sighed, took them off and put them back in the box. I gazed at them one last time before I put the lid on, determined not to open it again till I found out who was doing this.
Next day was an even bigger box. This one was on the floor, propped outside my door. I picked it up; it wasn’t heavy. I took it inside and opened it. A note on white tissue paper. “Needed something to match your shoes.”
I moved the tissue paper aside and caught my breath. Inside was a red evening gown with silver sparkling snowflakes on it. I pulled it out. It was beautiful. I’d never had a dress like this since my high school prom. Where the hell was I going to wear this? Something told me whoever was sending me these things had that figured out.
Enough was enough. I put it back in the box and exited my apartment. I knocked on the door across the hall. It wasn’t long till Marcus opened it. Shirtless.
Damn.
The man was ripped. I wanted to run my fingers across his cut abs. “Need something?” he asked, bringing me out of my trance.
“Um, I,” I cleared my throat. “Someone has been leaving gifts at my door I was wondering if you’d seen who was dropping them off.”
“No.”
I stood there. When it was clear, he would say nothing else, I said, “Uh, okay thanks.” He all but slammed the door in my face. I went back in my apartment.
Okay, seeing a half-naked ripped man should take my mind off these gifts. But it wasn’t. If only Marcus had a personality as great as his body. What a fine body it was. I shook my head.
I gazed at the dress. A few minutes later, a knock sounded at my door. I let Sandra in. “You ready for our big night out?” Then she spied the dress box. “Is this today’s gift?” Before I could stop her, she was pulling the dress out of the box. “Brie, this is beautiful. What did the note say?”
“Something to match the shoes from yesterday.”
“Girl, this guy is going to take you out.”
“I went across the hall and asked Mr. Hot-N-Grumpy if he saw who was leaving the gifts.”
“And?”
“He said, no, and shut the door. He was shirtless.” I sighed. “What a waste.”
Sandra laughed. “Sweetheart, I’m telling you, just enjoy this. Whoever it is, is planning on giving you a night out and a Christmas you won’t forget. Take it.”
“What if it’s creepy Ryan in the other building?”
“Maybe he’s not such a creep. Honey, these gifts aren’t cheap. Whoever is doing this has it bad for you.”
I sighed. “I’m worried.”
“Brie, no matter who this is, he’s trying to win you over. He might not be a prince charming when he shows up to take you wherever he has planned, but what else you got going on? So far there’s no harm done.”
“You’re right, but you know my luck with men. I always seem to attract the ugly selfish ones.”
“Who never gave you fine jewelry or a beautiful evening gown. Whoever this is, he’s different. Now, come on, let’s forget all about these gifts and hit that night club downtown, have a great time and some holiday cheer.”
Sandra was right. I had to forget about all of this tonight. This was our last night to hang out before she left with Steve tomorrow. She was also right about whoever was leaving me the gifts. No man has ever bought me fine jewelry or a beautiful dress. Ever.
Marcus
I don’t consider it lying. After all, I never saw myself leaving the gifts at Brianna’s door. This is how I rationalized it.
Her final two gifts were wrapped and ready to go before I gave her the invite to the ball. The last one worried me. But the possiblity seeing her in it sent my blood pumping.
Would she slam the door in my face? Probably. I convinced myself over the past couple of days that this was going to backfire horribly. Like shoot me down in a blazing ball of flames horrible.
I’d be going to the ball alone.
When I arrived at the club, it was already busy. This was good. Not only for my bottom line, but it would take my mind off the ball, the gifts, and Brianna.
I helped Todd and Brandon at the bar, and soon I was delivering drinks to tables. Despite everything bad that ever happened in my life, I lived for this. Seeing people having a fun and knowing that I helped to make that possible.
About two hours in, I’d forgotten everything except the here and now. I grabbed a tray of two drinks, saw it was going to table fourteen. I maneuvered through the throng of people. When I spied table fourteen, I froze. There was Brianna and her friend Sandra. Worse yet, there were two assholes talking to them. I gritted my teeth.
I arrived at their table, and both Brianna and Sandra faced me. “Marcus.” Brianna said wide eyed.
I set the two beers on the table, one in front of each woman. I looked to Brianna and said, “Ladies, your drinks are on the house tonight.”
Brianna didn’t move. Sandra said, “See, I knew you weren’t so bad.” She toasted me her drink before she took a gulp. I glared at the two men. Luckily, they took the hint and left. Sandra raised an eyebrow, looked at me, then at Brie. “Enjoy,” I said. I left their table and went back to the bar, voided their tab and told their server to give them drinks for free.
Then I sighed. So much for keeping Brianna off my mind tonight.
Chapter 4
Brianna
Yesterday it was a black dress coat with a note that said, “To keep you warm.” Gift number ten was waiting on me when I got home today. Only two more days to go. I was going to be on pins and needles until then.
I opened the box. White tissue paper. The note said, “For when I take your dress off.”
Okay. I wasn’t expecting this. With trembling hands, I moved aside the tissue paper. Oh my! It was a red lingerie set. Who the hell was this guy? Lingerie?
I stared at it. It was a red bra and panty set with black trim and black thigh-high stocking with red lace at the top. Okay, I would not lie. If I was going to wear something sexy for Christmas, this would do the trick.
I pulled out my phone. I hated bothering Sandra, and I wouldn’t if she wasn’t taking this so lightly. She answered right away. “What is it today?”
“Lingerie, the note says for when he takes off my dress.”
I gritted my teeth as she laughed.
“You finished?”
“Well, it’s not like you could wear that gorgeous dress without the proper underthings.”
“Not funny.”
She settled down. “Alright, so who haven’t we ruled out yet that might know you?”
“Creepy guy in other building.”
“What about your neighbor Marcus?”
“Seriously? Just because he gave us free drinks doesn’t mean he’s been giving me gifts. There is no way any of this came from hot-as-sin-grumpy-butt. Besides, I already asked him if he’d seen anyone leaving the gifts, remember?”
“Well, two more days, hang in there.”
We ended the call. I looked again at the box. Who was I kidding? I was so going to try this on.
The next day my heart dropped as I got to my floor. No gift outside. When I arrived at my apartment door, there was an envelope taped to it. I removed it from the door and went inside.
I opened it and it said, “Now you have the dress, the shoes, the jewelry and something special underneath it all, come to the ball with m
e. I’ll pick you up at 7:00p.m. tomorrow evening. Your Secret Santa won’t be a secret much longer.”
There was another envelope inside I pulled it out and it was an invitation to the Local Small Business Association Annual Christmas Ball.
I sighed. This eliminated anyone I thought it might be. Creepy guy Ryan in other building worked at a car dealership. So that ruled him out.
My phone rang, it was Sandra. “I seriously have no idea what so ever now.”
“Why?”
“I got an invitation to the Local Small Business Associations Annual Christmas ball. That’s why. So creepy guy is out and Marcus obviously works at a nightclub. Any ideas?”
“I’ve got none. But, look at the bright side, whoever it is, owns a business, lets hope a successful one, and you are going to a Christmas ball. Honestly, I’m jealous.”
“It’s tomorrow night. So at least this mystery will be over.”
“You so have to let me know who it is.”
“I promise.”
I put the invite down. A ball. At least I knew what to wear. Whoever this was, he went all out.
I couldn’t sleep that night, so I stayed up late watching movies, trying to take my mind off things. It was about 3:00a.m. before I finally dozed off.
I slept late and then I tried to stay busy, to make time fly till 7:00 o’clock rolled around, but no such luck. I took my time getting ready. I took a long bubble bath using the stuff from my bath set. I burned the candle to smell the holiday cheer as I did my hair and makeup and put on the sexy lingerie that fit perfect. I slid into the gown, donned the snowflake jewelry, and decided this was the best I’d ever looked in my life.
I felt like a Christmas princess. I just hoped my prince wasn’t a frog.
At exactly 7:00 o’clock, a knock sounded at my door. I restrained from looking out the peephole. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to see. . .
“Marcus?”
He stood there staring at me. When he didn’t speak, I asked, “Um, did you need something?”
In a rush he said, “I’m here to take you to the ball.”
