Holiday Chapter (1)

Another year had passed and before they even knew it the holidays were upon them. Last year Elle and Adam had celebrated quietly amongst themselves, but in a thoroughly festive style. They had bought decorations for both of their homes individually and set them up together.

This year was different. The holidays came so quickly and suddenly that neither of them had the time to put effort into the festivities. They had both only realized how close Christmas was when the annual holiday party for both MK and Tae arrived.

It was a few days before when Adam approached Elle in their study. "MK will be having their holiday party this Saturday." He announced to her. "Will you attend?"

Elle looked up from her book with a disappointed look in her eyes. "I only reallized today that Tae will be having their holiday party this Saturday as well. What a coincidence."

Adam frowned. "That's fine, we'll just switch MK's dates then. What day is better for you?" He asked casually.

"What?"

"I'm the CEO, do you really think I can't do so much as change the date of a party?" He said with a low laugh.

Elle flushed. "I know you can, but I don't want you too. Your employees worked hard to plan it. I'm a bit tired anyway." Elle confessed. "I'll be attending your family's holiday party as well. I'll skip MK's party and just attend Tae's."

Adam didn't dare object one she had brought up being tired. They had both worked much harder and longer than usual in the recent months.

"Okay." He agreed as he crossed the room. He stood behind her chair and began massaging her shoulders. "Don't over exert yourself."

Elle smiled and relaxed against his touch.

~~~

The remaining days in the week passed by quickly and soon enough, Saturday arrived.

"You look especially handsome tonight." Elle noted as Adam got dress in a simple black suit.

Without a second's pause Adam replied, "Not as good as you look tonight though."

Elle smiled. She was wearing a deep red velvet dress. It was a colour that she rarely wore but it brought out the faint blush in her cheeks.

The two admired each other a little longer before reluctantly going their separate ways. Adam drove off to the restaurant where MK would be hosting their party this year, while Elle headed to the hall Tae had reserved for theirs.

Once there, Elle did her proper rounds and greeted the other director's and senior management members before taking a seat at a table with her own team members. They laughed and joked with a light and jolly mood.

Elle listened with a smile and laughed occasionally but didn't join in the conversation herself. All this time she had been running back and forth between Tae and the movie set and yet she found socializing more exhausting than all of that.

A few minutes passed by this way when suddenly Elle noticed a few people huddled together at the front of the room, whispering urgently amongst each other. She quietly left her seat and headed up to the front.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"It's time for the Chairman to give a speech but we can't find him anywhere." One of them informed her. "He's supposed to speak before we begin the dinner."

"Director Shaw, why don't you speak in his place." Someone else quickly whispered.

Elle glanced around the room but indeed her father was nowhere in sight. She sighed internally as she walked towards the mic. She stood behind it awkwardly.

The view from the front of the room was something she wasn't used to. From behind the microphone she could see hundreds of employees all staring blankly at her.

'This is what Adam's view must be like.' Elle suddenly realized. She herself had seen Adam speak in front of crowds a few times. He always stood confidently, and spoke with certainty. Even before they had begun dating she had taken notice in how he spoke, and how he made even simple words carry a heavy weight.

In that short moment, Elle wanted to be even just a little bit like him. She straightened her back and dropped her shoulders, hoping it would make her seem more elegant and confident.

"You've all worked hard this past year. Each and every department has shown great results. I'm very proud of my own marketing team, of course, but every department performed exceptionally this past year." Elle quickly recited what achievements she could recall from each department's reports during the director meetings she sat at.

"I hope you all enjoy yourselves tonight. Let's all reap the benefits of our hard work together next year as well." Elle quickly finished before stepping back down.

The employees clapped and cheered, and Elle herself was quite satisfied with her speech, but she suddenly felt awkward.

'I'm not like Adam after all.' Elle decided. 'I'm too shy for this.'

Feeling embarrassed Elle didn't want to head back to the table she had been sitting at. She decided to take a quick walk outside the hall to get some fresh air instead.

As Elle strolled through the hallway in silence she came to realize how much more she preferred to be on her own than in the large but stuffy room where she had to always be mindful of her surroundings and her behaviour.

As she continued to enjoy her walk Elle suddenly came across someone. She turned the corner, quite literally almost bumping into someone who had been standing on the other side, enjoying a bit of silence himself.

"Father..." Elle said, with her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah," He said, quite shocked himself, "It's just you."

"Have you been hiding out here?"

"Not hiding. Just taking a little break."

Elle frowned. "You should have at least given the speech before abandoning the party."

Her father glanced at his watch. "I didn't realize it had already gotten this late." He confessed.

Elle did her best to not roll her eyes. "I had to speak in your place. I won't tell you what to do but I'd appreciate it if you don't make more work for me."

Her father let out a rare chuckle. "Yes, you're right. We're both the same after all. We both hate things like this, which is why we're both out here rather than enjoying the festivities inside with everyone else."

Elle was taken back. He wasn't wrong, but the comparison didn't sit well with her.

"You're right." Elle admitted. "We both prefer to be alone, so I'll go ahead and leave you now, Mr. Chairman."

Elle took a few steps when she heard her father's voice call out behind her.

"The family party will be tomorrow." He said suddenly. "Don't be late."

"That's quite short notice." Elle complained.

"We hold the party on the same weekend every year."

He wasn't wrong, but just like her father, Elle was also quite stubborn. "I'm afraid I already have plans. I won't come this year."

Her father frowned. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." Elle began to walk away again.

'Maybe,' She thought to herself, 'I can be a bit more like Adam after all.'

Adam was a person who didn't hesitate regarding things he wanted. He was straightforward and unapologetic. Elle headed back to the hall and quietly grabbed her coat. Without gaining anyone's attention she quietly slipped out of the building and into her car.

~~~

It was much later in the night. After a long evening Adam was finally returning home.

He sighed as he closed the front door behind him. He slipped out of his shoes and began loosening the constricting tie around his neck. As Adam stepped into the living room he suddenly froze in his tracks.

The condo had been bare just a few short hours ago. That bare condo was now decorated from top to bottom. Lights were strung up on the walls, garlands decorated the doorways, and a decorated tree now stood in the room, imposing its festive presence on the entire room. In the midst of it all stood a girl with a smug look on her face.

"What on earth is all this?" Adam asked incredulously.

"The party was too boring. I left early and came to enjoy what I really wanted to be doing. Do you like it?" Elle asked excitedly.

"I like it." Adam agreed. "You should have told me you left early, I would have joined you."

Elle laughed lightly.

The clock ticked past midnight and the couple were both snuggled close to each other, still up, and talking about the night's they had had.

"Merry Christmas Adam."

"Merry Christmas Elle." He wished her back in kind.