It was the weekend before Christmas and everyone at Kinderkare Pharmaceuticals went to the annual Christmas Party. Well almost everyone. Henry sat home, drinking a glass of spiked egg nog, trying to get through the latest Dan Brown book. His eyes read the words, but his mind was elsewhere. After the breakup with Julia, he had decided not to attend the party. It would have been too difficult to go out and try to make merry with coworkers he hated being around especially when they were drunk. He didn't care about door prizes or raffles or even a nice prime rib dinner.
Around 945pm, a rap at his door startled him awake. Pathethic falling asleep this early on a Saturday night, he mused. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he got up and answered the door. Eliza stood there, wearing a santa hat as well as a sexy red cocktail dress. Her hands were full.
"Hey, I got you a dinner plate and come bearing gifts," she quickly greeted him.
"Thanks," he stated, allowing her in. "You didn't need to do this."
"Stop being a Scrooge, Henry. I am the ghost of Christmas Present," the readhead narrowed her eyes at him.
"Eliza," he sighed. "I skipped the annual party for a good reason. I'm not exactly in the Christmas spirit this year."
"Cheer up," she told him. "Enjoy the nice food. I got a bit of everything for you, those swedish meatballs are to die for. Also presents from your secret santa and me."
"You could've waited till Monday," he told her. "You didn't have to leave the party early for me."
Eliza sat down on the couch and he joined her. "It wasn't a party without you."
He chuckled. "What about Freddy?"
She looked down. "He didn't go either. Has a bit of the flu or something."
"Oh."
A moment of silence passed between them. He felt a little awkward being alone with her. Sometimes he feared he'd do or say the wrong thing.
"I forgot that I got a little something for you too," he mentioned, breaking the ice.
Her eyes lit up, It was always nice getting something from him.
He retrieved a white envelope from his desk and went back over to her.
"And here I thought you were going for the ring," she quipped. "J/k!"
"Merry Christmas, Eliza." he handed her the gift.
She took the envelope and opened it. Inside were two tickets to the Pantages Theater. "Wicked? How did you know?" she exclaimed.
"I amazon stalked you and found out that was your favorite book while you were growing up," he smiled.
"I've always wanted to see it, I have the original Broadway Soundtrack with Adele Dazeem!" the redhead beamed.
"Well it just so happens the Tour is currently in LA, hence these tickets," Henry grinned.
She put her arms around him and hugged him. Henry felt awkward and conflicted, but he had to admit it felt great. Plus her perfume drove him crazy...
"What are you doing tuesday night at eight?" she asked.
"You don't have to.."
"Freddy won't be better by then, plus he's seen Wicked more than once," Eliza countered. She remembered him taking her to see Pippin recently. It turned out he liked musical theater.
"I guess I'd be interested in going," he agreed.
"Good," her smile lit up the room. "This is the best present I've ever got. Front Row Orchestra. You're the best."
"No Eliza, you are," the marketing expert replied. "You're the top."
"OMG," she laughed. "We're not gonna break into a Cole Porter song here and now?"
"You know Cole Porter?" his eyes widened.
She did, having being dragged to school plays starring her sister Bethany.
"Maybe we can add As Long As You're Mine to a future karaoke duet," Eliza said with a grin.