Secret Santa For Grumpy Elves by Laura Greenwood

Author:Laura Greenwood [Greenwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Drowlgon Press

Six

Holly

* * *

There aren't as many people around as there were the first day I came to Aroma. Perhaps it’s because it’s three in the afternoon on a Wednesday and most people have already finished their Christmas shopping.

I'm not naive enough to think that's true. There are plenty of people who will leave it even more last-minute than a few weeks before the big day.

I make a beeline for Aroma, not seeing any real need to dally for longer than necessary. If I get in and out, then I'll have plenty of time to do other things with my day as well as run an errand.

"Good afternoon, welcome to Aroma, how can I help you?" a cheery woman says as I enter.

Disappointment wells up within me as I realise it isn't Chris greeting me at the door.

"I'm fine, thank you. I know what I want."

"Excellent. If you change your mind and need assistance, please let me or one of the other sales reps know and we'll be happy to help." She smiles widely, but it's easily recognisable as a customer service smile. She doesn't mean it. Not in the way Chris does.

I'm becoming a one-track record even inside my own head. I know it'll die down once the two of us establish what we're going to be to one another.

I ignore my thoughts and head to the back of the store where we got the Tutti Frutti basket from before.

My heart sinks as I take in the gaps on the shelf where the smallest size should be. Why isn't it there? The other sizes still are.

I double-check the shelves on either side to see if it’s been put in the wrong place, but don't see anything. I let out a loud sigh. I guess I'm going to have to talk to one of the sales reps after all.

A young woman with a bored expression on her face stands not far away from me. She's the one I'm going to have to talk to, even if her face looks like thunder.

I start to head towards her, but the glare I receive in response is enough to put me off. I change directions and go back to the front of the store where the cheerier woman had been situated.

"Hi, do you need some help after all?" she asks with her false smile.

"Yes, please. I bought a small Tutti Frutti gift basket from here the other day and I was looking to get another one, but I can't find it on the shelves. Are there any in the back?"

"I don't think so. Most of our gift baskets are out on display. But I can go check if you give me a moment."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate that, I really want to get another one."

She nods. "I'll be back in a moment." She disappears through a door behind the tills, presumably to try and find the gift basket in the back.

I glance around, wondering what I'm supposed to do with myself while I wait for her. That’s not particularly clear.

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