The day was just like any other, boring as can be. She got up and went into work at her small yet lucrative business. Things had not gone her way on a personal level and had since abandon her desire of not being alone and focused entirely on building her empire. Unfortunately for her, the busiest time of the year was also the same one that would remind her of her current situation, so her goal was to stay at work as much as possible and focus on that, rather then the large but empty house that awaited her arrival.
Elsa put her fingers on her forehead and rubbed circles on it in an attempt to alleviate the stress.
"All of thees orders have to be filled before the first of the month, Anna." said the blond woman to her assistant.
Anna smiled and reassured the boss. "I will get it taken care of right away, but I should remind you that I will be leaving at four today because I need to take my son to the mall, he really wanted to see Santa clause this year and I made him a promise to do so."
Elsa gave the other woman a look that might be best described as slightly bitter or irritated. "I thought you were going to help me with the new accounts?" asked the blond woman.
Anna was never afraid to stand up to her boss and make her thoughts heard. "Do you not remember us having this conversation? I told you two weeks ago that I was going to be leaving at four today, in face if you look at the sticky note I left on your computer screen you will see another reminder that I wrote for you. Sorry Elsa but I have to go. Besides I always stay and make sure things get done, don't I?"
Elsa sighed and looked at the note that was pasted to the lower left hand edge of her screen. "Yeah, you do, and I am the one who should be sorry I forgot." said Elsa as she gave sincere smile.
She secretly envied Anna and her perfect family. As a young girl, that is all she ever wanted. Things just didn't work out for her that way, and even though she may have fantasized about it years ago, she couldn't imagine her self with a family and a business to run now. The thought actually sacred her a little to be honest.
"You don't look like your feeling well, Elsa. Maybe you should go home and rest." said the red head with a concerned look on her face.
Elsa waved her hand dismissively at the her assistant, "Nah, I am fine." Anna nodded and turned to leave the office. "Anna wait. I almost forgot, here is your Christmas bonus." Elsa handed the other woman a check.
"Bonus?" said Anna as she hesitantly accepted the check. "What for?"
"We have had an excellent year, with over ten million in sales, and besides your the one who makes sacrifices for this company, I mean the only way we got through January was because you refused to take a salaries. Now go and buy your son and yourself something nice" said the blond to the redhead.
"I would do it again if I had to, Elsa." Anna opened the envelope and was shock at the amount. "Am I reading this right or is there a decimal missing somewhere?"
"Nope, hundred grand, and its all yours, now get out of here before I change my mind." said Elsa. Anna rounded the desk and gave the blond a bear hug.
"Thank you Elsa! I don' know what else to say." said Anna as she had her face buried in the other woman's shoulder.
"Anna.." said Elsa as she gently pushed the red head away.
"Oh sorry I forgot, no touching, thanks again!" said the woman before she ran out of the office.
Elsa sat there and smiled. It was a small gesture on her part but it made her feel good inside none the less. She pushed a button on her phone and requested the secretary come into her office.
"Yes ma'am?" asked the woman.
"Hey, Jane. Would you do me a favor and pass out thees checks to all the employees please?" asked Elsa.
"Yes of course." said Jane.
"Lock up on your way out please, I am leaving early today." said Elsa. Jane nodded and did as she was asked.
Elsa left the office and walked down the street a little ways, she would always try to find time to support another entrepreneur that she admired. He owned a little coffee stand just a ways down the road from her office.
She waited in line for ten minutes at least, but truth be told, she would have waited in line for hours even if just to say 'hi' to the man.
Finally her turn to order came and she found her self standing there in front of him.
"Hello Ms. Wedin, what can I get for you today?" asked the man.
"Please, call me Elsa, I told you this before." said Elsa.
"I know but I feel like it would be disrespectful for me to call a woman of your status by her first name." said the man.
Elsa looked at his name tag. "Olaf, there are no statuses here, I am just a woman ordering coffee." she said with a smile.
Olaf smiled at the invitation. "Alright, Elsa, what can I get for you?"
"I would like a small coffee with three sugars and cream please." said Elsa to Olaf.
"Of course, next time challenge me a little though." said Olaf as he handed her the coffee and her receipt, which she quickly wrote her number down on, but by the time she got done, some one else had already taken his attention. Elsa walked away, and a thought came through her head stopping her after a few steps.
'I literally have absolutely nothing to lose.' Thought Elsa as she circled back behind Olaf and discreetly pushed the receipt into his back pocket before quickly walking away.
A little while later, Elsa found herself at her large, empty home once again. Just looking at it depressed her, but at the end of the day, it was still home. Sometimes she even felt comfort in solitude. Part of her tricked the other into beginning to like being alone.
She noticed the neighbors had begun putting up their Christmas lights already, something she had never done to her own home.
Elsa sighed and walked into her house.
The rest of the evening was spent puttering around and watching some television and reading a little more of her book.
As she lay there reading on the couch, Elsa giggled at the conversation going on between some characters on a comedy show that was playing on the television. She would always leave it on during the time when she was at some because the voices made her feel just a little less lonely.
Slowly Elsa dozed off with the book she had been reading falling onto her chest.
Elsa awoke to the sound of an obnoxious alarm clock ringing in her ear. When she opened her eyes the sight in front of her was confusing to say the least. It looked like a ball of dark brown hair. She squinted to make what she was seeing more clear.
She propped herself up on her elbow and leaned over, it was him.