“No.” She walked over and reached into her purse. “It’s a new app—Secret Santa Romance. They match you up with someone that’s single, and you’re expected to exchange gifts on your first date.”
“What’s wrong with Tinder?” I laughed under my breath. “It’s year-round, and you don’t have to buy them anything.”
“Most of the guys on there are just looking for sex.” She sat down and sipped her wine. “Don’t get me wrong—it’s been a while, but Secret Santa Romance has a different kind of demographic.”
“Ah.” I nodded. “Well good luck with that.”
“You should sign up.” She motioned to my phone. “You never know…”
“Oh, I know.” I shook my head quickly. “I know I’m too busy, and the last thing I want to do is exchange gifts with a stranger. It’s bad enough that we’re drawing names for gifts at the office, and it’s frowned upon if you refuse…”
“What about meeting someone?” Starla tilted her head inquisitively.
“I’m too busy for that too.” I shook my head again.
Starla and I continued to talk. I might have been looking forward to a quiet evening alone, but it had been a while since I hung out with anyone. The wine obviously helped. She talked about her family, which was technically my family, but I didn’t know any of them well enough to have any interest in what they were doing with their lives. Starla kept trying to get me to join her in the pursuit of love on the Secret Santa Romance dating app and I remained defiant. Dating was just way too complicated, and I needed to focus on my career. I certainly didn’t want to meet some guy that loved Christmas so much he signed up for a holiday-themed dating app. That was even worse than meeting a normal guy.
I started to get a gnawing in my stomach that reminded me I worked straight through lunch. Normally, I would have run to the kitchen for a snack, but I didn’t have anything I could share. I doubted she wanted the leftovers in my fridge, and I wasn’t in the mood to cook anything. I ran through the options in my head and decided that I was going to have to order something if I intended to be a polite host and eat something without being rude.
“Hey, are you hungry?” I reached over to pick up my phone. “There are a lot of good delivery places around here.”
“I had a big lunch, but I could eat something small.” She nodded.
“Anything you’re in the mood for?” I scrolled through the options on my Door Dash app.
“Whatever you want.” She shrugged.
“Here…” I loaded the list of my recent orders. “Look through those, and if you see something you like, just hit the reorder button and add whatever you want. I need to run to the restroom really quick.”
“Okay.” Starla nodded and took my phone.
I got up from the couch and frowned when I saw the vast array of Christmas trees that were in my direct line of sight from the apartment next to mine. I made a mental note to look into buying myself a gift for the holidays—some thicker curtains. At least I was high enough up that I wouldn’t be able to hear any of the Christmas music that the row of stores nearby usually played all season long. I still hadn’t changed out of my work clothes, so I made a quick stop in my bedroom to put on something that was more comfortable than my pencil skirt and heels. I really wanted to take my bra off too, but I still needed to answer the door when our food arrived.
“Did you find anything?” I walked back into the living room and sat down.
“Yeah, I ordered something from your favorite place—based on your order history.” She smiled. “Famous Sid’s Sandwich Shop.”
“Their lettuce wrap sandwiches are really good.” I smiled.
“I got mine with bread.” She winced. “I probably should have skipped the carbs…”
“They do make their own bread—it’s really good.” My mouth started to salivate. “I don’t think one sandwich is going to kill you.”
You’re skinny enough—I’m one sandwich away from buying a new wardrobe.
“Speaking of things that may kill me—please don’t…” She handed me my phone.
“What did you do? Add chips to my order?” I raised an eyebrow.
“No…” She shook her head back and forth. “I downloaded the app—and signed you up.”
“What!?” I slid my finger across my phone. “Ugh. I’m just going to delete it. How did you sign me up anyway?”
“It links to your Facebook—all it takes is one click.” She leaned back. “Don’t delete it—please…”
My Facebook? I haven’t updated anything on there in like two years…
“I’m not even going to look at it, Starla.” An audible grumble echoed in my throat, and I pressed my finger to the app so I could get rid of it.
“Maybe you should…” She tilted her head and smiled. “You got an immediate match.”
“I—did?” I blinked in surprise and noticed there was a notification on the app—similar to the one I got when I had a new text message waiting.
“I didn’t look at his profile, but his name is Ian.” She grinned. “He’s hot.”
“How do you know he’s hot if you didn’t look at his profile.” I narrowed my eyes at Starla.
“It showed his picture when you got matched with him.” She took a sip of her wine. “Aren’t you at least a little curious?”
“No.” I shook my head back and forth—but my finger hesitated when the delete option popped up.
Damn it, just hit delete. You’re not going to go out with someone that you got matched with on a dating app—especially a Christmas one…
“Is that another notification?” Starla leaned forward when my phone lit up.
“It would appear so.” I sighed. “What does that mean?”
“He just sent you a message.” She grinned. “Come on, Elly. At least see what he said…”
I can’t believe I’m even considering this…
Chapter Two
Ian
Earlier that day
I could already tell it was going to be a great holiday season—for business. Every time I drove by the mall, it looked like they had found a way to fit even more cars into the parking lot. The sidewalks by the shopping plaza a block from my office were overflowing with people ready to break out their credit cards and let the sales whip them into a frenzy—since they would only be available for a limited time. All the marketing reports predicted a slow season for brick and mortar retailers because the weather was going to make most holiday shoppers buy their gifts online. They were obviously wrong. It was a damn good thing I trusted my gut instead of the reports and invested in the Secret Santa Romance app over the one that helped people find the best deals on the Internet.
That split-second decision caused a lot of the developers at Alexander Software to question my sanity, but I learned one thing at a very young age—never bet against holiday spirit. It had a way of bucking every trend and turning market reports into inflated fiction. That’s exactly what happened. Online retailers were reporting average sales, while brick and mortar stores were experiencing a boom. The weather didn’t force people to stay indoors—it got them in the mood for the traditional shopping experience.
“Mr. Alexander, I know you wanted a status report this morning, but I don’t think we’re ready for the presentation.” Joe, the head of app development, poked his head into my office. “Do you think we could reschedule the meeting until after lunch?”
“Is it going to be good news?” I raised my eyebrows inquisitively.
“I think you’ll be pleased.” He nodded quickly. “We’re just trying to work out a few kinks. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “Sure, go ahead and have Samantha reschedule the meeting for later this afternoon.”
“Thank you, sir.” He turned towards my secretary and pulled my door closed.
I didn’t mind if we rescheduled the meeting. That was better for me anyway. The meeting was going to require me to cut my lunch break short, and if it was moved to t
he afternoon, I would have time to swing by the mall after I got something to eat. My nephew wanted a video game for Christmas, and there was some sort of exclusive content only available if it was purchased from GameStop.
I could have bought it online and avoided the crowd—but I was in the mood for some traditional holiday shopping as well. Buying things online always felt so impersonal to me—almost like getting someone a gift card instead of an actual present. Plus, there were a few other people on my shopping list that I needed to buy stuff for, and it was easier to look at stuff in person. That way, there would be no surprises—like the time I bought my niece a pair of earrings that looked like something from a vending machine when I got them in the mail.
I’ll convince myself those are the reasons I’m going to the mall—even though I have an ulterior motive, I refuse to admit…
“My calendar is free until the Benson Enterprises teleconference, right?” I walked out of my office and started putting on my coat.
“Yes sir.” My secretary, Samantha, looked up at me and nodded.
“Do you want anything from Famous Sid’s?” I reached for my hat once my coat was buttoned.
“You know I’m supposed to be the one that gets you lunch, right?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been working here for a year, and you haven’t even let me get you a cup of coffee.”
“I pay you to work—not fetch stuff I can get myself.” I shook my head back and forth. “So, your usual from Famous Sid’s?”
“Sure.” She smiled. “That would be great.”
“I gotta run by the mall, so I might be a few minutes late.” I waved and walked towards the door.
One of my employees once told me that I was the best boss in the world because I didn’t know how to be one. At the time, I wasn’t sure if that was actually a compliment. It was supposed to be, but when Alexander Software was struggling to turn a profit, I wondered if things would have better if I had a little bit of ruthless aggression instead of a giant soft spot. Things worked out in the end, so I accepted the compliment for what it was.
My leadership style and compassion for the people that worked at the company made my team extremely loyal. I didn’t have to make anyone work late—they chose to do it when an important project required extra effort. The company grew well beyond my expectations, and while I had too many people working for me to know everything about them, I still knew the name of every employee—something that could be startling to our newer employees when I passed them in the hallway.
The drive to the mall was uneventful. I originally planned to get lunch before I braved the sea of holiday shoppers, but I didn’t want Samantha’s food to sit in the car. If I picked our order up after, then I would have more time at the mall, and I didn’t mind eating in my office. I found a parking spot that was so far away from the entrance of the mall that I got a bit of a workout on my way in—and wished I had a thicker coat.
I weaved through the crowd once I was inside and avoided looking at the things that caught my eye until I purchased the video game for my nephew. That was top priority. I circled back to the entrance after I had his present, bought a few more gifts for members of my family, and slowly inched my way towards the one spot in the mall I knew I would end up—even though I had no reason to go—and every reason to avoid it.
“We’ve got some really good gifts if you haven’t finished your shopping.” A teenage girl that looked barely old enough to drive motioned to me as I walked by her kiosk. “Everything you see twenty-five percent off!”
“Hmm.” I walked over to the kiosk. “I’m not sure I know anyone that needs a stuffed Pikachu or a giant emoji sticker…”
But if I stand here and browse, I might not have to walk all the way to the engraving shop I was planning to casually wander by…
“What about Baby Yoda?” She leaned over and pointed to another stuffed animal. “We’ve only got two left—and probably won’t get any more until after Christmas.”
“My niece did share a few pictures of Baby Yoda on Facebook. Is it popular this year?” I tilted my head inquisitively.
“Honestly? I’m surprised we haven’t sold out.” The kiosk worker smiled. “She’ll love it!”
She’s probably too old for a stuffed animal, but I think she’ll get a kick out of it.
“Okay, you convinced me.” I nodded. “But if I get that for her, I need another gift for my nephew—otherwise, he’ll complain that she got two gifts, and he got one.”
“What does he like? We’ve got some sunglasses on the other side, uh—phone cases, t-shirts—oh, we’ve got some Rick and Morty stuff.” She ushered me to the other side of her kiosk.
“He’s mentioned that show a few times…” I nodded. “I don’t think his mother lets him watch it.”
“How old is he?” She raised her eyebrows inquisitively.
“Thirteen.” I looked at the options in front of me.
“Yeah, he might be a little too young for that—but he probably watches it anyway.” She grinned and shrugged.
“You’re probably right.” I sighed and noticed a pair of socks that matched the game I had just purchased for my nephew. “Hey, let me get those… I just bought him that game.”
“Yes sir!” She smiled and reached for them. “Anything else?”
“No.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m ready to check out.”
I had been watching the engraving shop out of the corner of my eye since I walked up to the kiosk. A couple of customers had walked in and out, but they were of little interest to me. It was the woman that normally worked the counter I wanted to see, even if all I got was a brief glimpse. It was why I came to that side of the mall to begin with, even when I should have avoided it entirely. I paid for my purchases, took my bag from the girl at the kiosk, and when I looked back towards the engraving shop—I saw the most beautiful smile in the entire world.
Abigail…
Abigail’s smile wasn’t for me, but for a moment, I lived vicariously through the customer that she greeted as they walked into the engraving shop. They didn’t know how lucky they were to see it—but I did. I remembered every single one of her smiles that were meant for me—from the first one that she gave me when she realized I was staring at her in our Microeconomics class to the broken one she forced with tears running down her face when we promised that we would always be friends. We both knew it was a lie, but it made us feel better at the time.
It would be too painful to say hello—so I’ll settle for a smile that is meant for someone else.
“If you’re thinking about getting something engraved, I believe their holiday deal starts tomorrow...” The teenage girl at the kiosk snapped me out of my momentary trance.
“Thanks.” I nodded and walked towards the exit.
That’s the last place I would go if I did want something engraved…
Abigail was the only woman I had ever loved, but we had already shared all our moments together. She had a wedding band on her left hand and two kids waiting at home. That was the life she always wanted, but I wasn’t the man who gave it to her. I was the foolish kid that thought we were too young to get married and start a family. I wanted to have a stable job and the means to provide for my family before I had one. Abigail took my hesitation as a sign that I wasn’t committed to our relationship and decided to end it.
Now I have the means—and nobody to share it with.
I didn’t truly understand what masochistic tendency forced me to always walk to the side of the mall, where Abigail worked every time I was there. It never made me feel any better about losing her, and it wasn’t like there was an option to rekindle what we had. Maybe I just liked to remind myself that my life would never be perfect, no matter how much money I made. It had been ten years since our relationship ended, and while I had tried dating—the spark just wasn’t there. Ironic, considering that the majority of Alexander Software’s meteoric rise to the top of the market was due to several successful dating apps.
At least I’ve been able to help other people find love—even if I blew my chance before I realized it was the only one I was going to get.
“Here you go.” I put Samantha’s order on her desk. “I’m sorry it took so long.”
“You’re the boss.” She looked up at me and laughed. “Nobody is going to write you up for taking a long lunch.”
“I guess I need to make a note in my own file then.” I chuckled under my breath and walked into my office.
I always tried not to let my disappointments and failures impact anyone else. I could smile, laugh, and pretend that I didn’t have a care in the world while the scars of the past tried to open fresh wounds on my heart. It wasn’t their fault I decided to walk to that side of the mall. I knew what I was doing to myself before I ever saw Abigail’s smile. Maybe it just helped to remember that I wasn’t completely dead inside. Either way, there was work that needed to be done—and it was always a good distraction from the empty house waiting for me at the end of the day.
“Mr. Alexander.” Samantha pushed my door open. “Mr. Benson is ready for the conference call.”
“Thank you.” I nodded. “Put him through.”
Bryant Benson ran an investment firm in a town named Carson Cove. My company had developed two apps for him, and I was hoping that the call was going to lead to a third. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only company vying for the chance. A local company Sinn Technology would no doubt be trying to get that contract as well. Now that they were trying to expand in the app development market. But I’m not sure if they have the infrastructure to service a company as big as Benson Enterprises quite yet. Alexander Software already had an established business relationship with Benson Enterprises, and if I had to cut into my profits a little bit to maintain it, I would.
“Bryant! How are things going in Carson Cove?” I hit the button on my phone to accept his call.
“You must not watch the news.” He chuckled.
Her Secret Santa Page 2
