Page 23 of Santa’s Lawyer

“Talk to reception,” he said over his shoulder, already halfway out the door.

She shook her head, rolled back her shoulders, and bounced on her toes, trying to loosen up. Save Christmas. Okay.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE NORTH POLE

Avery didn’t like this plan to sell Christmas. It took her only a few minutes of document review to confirm that she wanted no part of it. And if she were being honest, she didn’t much care for Santa, either. She couldn’t imagine working with him: executing on soulless, tech-driven initiatives, and hearing him use words like “synergy” and “shareholder value” for the rest of her career while watching him methodically suck all the joy out of the holiday.

Of course, Avery could make the arguments in favor of selling Christmas. She didn’t become one of the top lawyers of her generation for lack of ingenuity. Whether her heart and mouth would cooperate was another matter.

Within twenty minutes, she’d used her magic pen to craft a compelling case in favor of the sale. Her glowing words hung in the air above the grand leather couch like the Sword of Damocles.

She reviewed her options: make an argument she didn’t believe in and potentially ruin Christmas forever, or walk away now, integrity intact, and start a search for a different job, so she could still enjoy Christmas this year. She had savings. And she didn’t have to listen very hard to hear her intuition screaming at her, insisting that this job was not what it seemed.

Avery decided it was time to throw in the towel. She left the library and headed toward reception to find someone to talk to about going home.

As she passed through the hall, she sighed, thinking about the way Louis had almost kissed her. Surely, he would understand why she couldn’t take this position. And once she was out of the running for this job, he wouldn’t have to worry about any conflicts of interest or needing to wait – whatever it was that was holding him back. They could be together, something they clearly both wanted. Whatever happened next, she’d still had the experience of a lifetime: meeting Santa, befriending a penguin, learning magic. And she’d never have to worry about forgetting the meaning of Christmas ever again.

Avery reached the lobby to find the reception window closed. A sign across the front said, “For immediate assistance, try the Break Room” with an arrow pointing to the hallway on her right, behind a set of locked double doors. She leaned down, bringing her sparkling brooch even with the security pad on the wall. The doors slid open; she heard voices and followed them.

Arriving at a door marked “BREAK ROOM,” Avery knocked three times.

Ander opened the door. “Oh, hello, Ms. Hoarfrost,” he announced formally. Behind him was a round table covered in playing cards and poker chips. Gregory, Tilly, Ander, and Louis were in the middle of a game.

Louis jumped out of his seat. “Avery, what are you doing here?” he asked, approaching the door and straightening his tie.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt. There was a sign at reception. I was looking for help. My brooch let me through the doors.”

“How can we help you, dear?” Tilly asked, shielding her cards from Gregory, who was trying to sneak a peek at her hand while her head was turned.

Avery smiled politely at Tilly.

“Can I talk to you, Louis?” Avery stepped back outside the room, and Louis leaned against the doorframe.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

“I think I need to withdraw my name from consideration. I don’t think this job is for me.” She spoke quietly, but the others made no apparent attempts to pretend they weren’t listening.

Louis’ face went pale.

“I know. I’m sorry,” she said, marking his expression. “I really appreciate the opportunity,” she insisted. “But I was hoping when I got back to the Big City, you and I could grab dinner? And you could see if maybe there was another placement that might work better for me. And after that,” she said, lowering her voice, “maybe we could…keep seeing each other?” Smiling, she took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Louis,” Tilly said, warning in her voice.

Avery glanced at her, then back at Louis, who was looking at the floor. She let go of his hand.

“Erm. I’m sorry, but it’s not quite so simple,” he said, shifting his weight between his feet.

“What do you mean?” Avery asked.

“Oh dear, does she not know?” Ander asked Tilly. They set their cards down.

Avery glanced at Ander. “Know what?”

“I assumed she did, it didn’t come up,” he said over his shoulder to the group.

“What didn’t come up?” Avery asked, putting a hand on Louis’ upper arm.