Chapter Two: Meet the Boss

Soon, Kristoff was being introduced to all of the cleaning products. The glass cleaner was in his hands not much later, and he was hunched by the front window with a handful of paper towels.

"What did you do before you came here?" Anna asked, arranging a shelf full of snowmen knick knacks that were for sale as Kristoff wiped the glass of the windows clean.

"I was basically a box stacking guy. And sometimes a delivery boy."

"Oh," Anna said thoughtfully, adding a price tag to one of the figurines. The sound of an engine nearing piqued her interest and she glanced up. "Speaking of deliveries!" Her eyes followed the van pulling into the drive. She happily put down the figurine and tugged Kristoff's arm, guiding him to the back of the shop, behind the counter. Kristoff glanced around at the mostly cluttered mess of shelves, cubbies, and tables. Things seemed to stick out of every available space; things Kristoff would have never thought he'd see in a flower shop. Toys, books, fake fruit, fake birds, boxes of candy, feathers, twigs, twine, cloth, glitter, stickers, doilies, and stuffed animals littered all corners of the room.

"Elsa just got back from making her deliveries," Anna explained, positioning him by the back door where they stood, surrounded by more things. "You have to meet her. She's your boss. Technically I am too, but she's the one who owns the place."

"She's the boss? Then, who is Olaf?"

The back door to the shop opened, and in toddled an excitable snowman. Kristoff's eyes widened.

"We're back!" the snowman said happily. Kristoff stepped back.

"Okay, this is kind of creepy."

The snowman gasped and stretched out his arms.

"A customer! Hello. I am Olaf, and I like warm hugs!"

"Olaf," a woman's voice cut through the shop. Through the back door stepped a woman not much taller than Anna and similar in appearance. However, she sported a much more mature ensemble and a platinum colored braid on her shoulder. She glanced, perhaps unsure, at Kristoff and then kneeled beside the snowman. "Remember, we do not hug customers."

The little thing looked quite disappointed at this reminder.

"Take this orchid to your table, please," she continued. Olaf seemed to smile some at the command, and was more than happy to take the potted plant out of her hands and into his twigs. He waddled quickly in another direction as the woman stood again.

"And Anna, do I really need to remind you that we don't bring customers into the back room?"

"Oh, Kristoff isn't a customer, Elsa. He's our new employee! Starting today."

Elsa lifted an eyebrow as she stood up and observed the man again.

"You can't hire a man you just met, Anna."

"Sure I can!"

"Not without asking me."

Anna glanced between the two of them.

"Oh. Um." She scurried to Elsa's side. "So, can I hire him?"

Elsa smiled and pressed her hand to her mouth as she laughed quietly.

"Yes, of course. I think he'll do a great job."

Elsa sent out an icy wind with her hand, which circled around a broom and brought it to her. Kristoff gasped in realization.

"You're a witch!" he exclaimed.

Elsa made a face and shrugged.

"I prefer 'woman with power over ice and snow', but I guess 'witch' is a little easier to say."

"That's why you have a talking snowman! For a second, I was really confused."

"Wow," Anna said, "You have an easier time accepting magic than most people."

Kristoff shrugged.

"I was raised by trolls."

Anna and Elsa looked surprised, though Anna seemed more excited than her sister.

"You didn't mention that in your application!"

"I didn't even give you an application."

"No application and you didn't consult the boss? You're slipping, Anna." Elsa smiled fondly as she passed the broom to Kristoff. "Anna will show you around the back of the shop. Sweep out the cooler while you're there, please."

Olaf popped back into sight.

"I need a vase."

"I'll help."

Elsa patted his head gently and walked with him to his designing station, a small table and shelves built just for him. She glanced over her shoulder at her sister and Kristoff.

"You'll get used to things fast."

Kristoff smiled wryly.

"Let's hope."