Christmas Eve Secrets

CHAPTER 1 - Christmas Trip

I let out a long sigh of relief as I clicked to the last slide of the proposal I had worked on for months. I forced a confident smile so no one would notice my knees trembling beneath the table. If anyone noticed how nervous I was, I didn’t let it show. I stood tall in front of the conference room, facing the board directors of Maison Global.

Being a slave to money meant swallowing all the remaining pride in your soul. Studying is one thing, but working in the real world is another. This is where life really tests you. Fate and opportunity push you to the limit, and the only choice for anyone who wants to survive is to keep going, day after day, no matter how exhausted you are.

I placed the remote down onto the table and released another breath. Finally, it was done. This time, I had made it through without stumbling, without forgetting a single point. I had completed the presentation and delivered flawlessly.

In this world, perfection wasn’t just a goal— it was a necessity. I couldn’t afford even the smallest mistake. It wasn’t only my reputation on the line. It was the company’s name, its future, and the trust of everyone who worked under it.

I bowed my head slightly. “Thank you,” I said as my closing words for the presentation.

The board members exchanged glances and leaned toward each other, whispering among themselves before turning back to me with satisfied smiles. I clasped my hands together to keep them from shaking. Then, the chairman stood up and nodded.

“Ms. Villanueva, I want to commend you for your excellent presentation. Your ideas were detailed and well thought out. I can tell you prepared every part of this carefully because you presented it clearly and confidently. You didn’t overlook potential problems. In fact, you included multiple contingency plans, not just a Plan B to make sure everything would run smoothly. You also considered the long-term effects, not just immediate results. Excellent work,” he paused, then smiled at me. “By unanimous decision, your proposal is approved. Congratulations.”

Approved. My mind went completely blank. At first, I wasn’t sure if I had heard correctly. I wanted to ask him to repeat it, but the words echoed in my head like a surreal dream. I stood there, feeling light-headed, trying to absorb the moment.

“It’s impressive to see you’ve improved so much, Ms. Villanueva,” he added. “Not only was this proposal outstanding, but your overall performance for the company as well. Your idea to include the personal stories of working students in the video for our recent partnership program touched the hearts of many, including investors and sponsors. It connected with them emotionally. It increased our sales tenfold compared to last month. Even Mr. Henry Cervantes, the owner of our company, was pleased with the outcome, and other investing companies now want to partner with us because of this success. Basically, you made history. And for that, you will be rewarded accordingly.”

More applause filled the room. I wasn’t sure if all of it had fully sunk in. Hearing genuine compliments for my hard work after years of countless criticism on my mistakes made tears of joy well up at the corners of my eyes. I had done it. After everything, I had proven myself.

After the meeting, colleagues congratulated me as they walked past. Some stopped to shake my hand, others patted my shoulder. I felt like I was floating, like my feet barely touched the floor. And then, when I entered our office, I was met with confetti exploding into the air, raining down on me. I gasped at the same time as my team came out holding a chiffon cake.

“Congratulations, our Team Leader—” they paused dramatically, then shouted, “Our soon-to-be Manager! We’re so proud of you!”

They brought the cake closer, signaling me to blow the candles. I laughed, shaking my head before leaning forward and blowing them out. My team had become like family over the three years I’d been with the company. They were my support system. Of course, in the beginning, we were all shy and awkward, but over time, we had grown close.

I wasn’t a strict leader, but I knew when to be professional and when to be casual. I never let them feel intimidated, nor did I allow them to take advantage of my kindness. I think that balance was why we worked so well together while still maintaining respect for each other.

Our team was made up entirely of women, and my proposal had been about promoting and supporting women in the workplace and beyond.

“Is it my birthday today?” I joked, though I appreciated their thoughtfulness. “Thank you, everyone. This means a lot.”

We had a small celebration that they had apparently prepared while I was still in the meeting, almost as if they knew my proposal would be approved. While they chatted, I quietly gathered my things to leave. From the corner of my eye, I noticed our manager approaching.

“Patricia,” Clara called, smiling warmly. “Can you come to my office for a moment?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am.”

I followed her down the hallway, glancing at her from behind. We were the same age, but we had never spoken informally since we only met during company hours. We had both started as interns, but a year ago, she had been promoted after our former manager was removed for being corrupt and unfair.

I looked away as she stopped in front of her office and gestured for me to come in. She closed the door and motioned for me to sit.

“Congratulations,” she began, sitting across from me.

“Thank you,” I replied sincerely, my hands folded in my lap.

She reached into her drawer and pulled out a white envelope, placing it gently on the table.

“This is for you,” she said, sliding it toward me.

I frowned slightly as I picked it up. The envelope felt thick in my hands. My first thought was that it might be money or an early Christmas bonus. But when I opened it, a gasp escaped my lips. It was a plane ticket to another country.

My eyes widened. “Paris?” I whispered.

She laughed softly. “Yes. Paris, France.”

I looked at her, completely stunned. “Ma’am… I— I don’t understand. Am I dreaming?”

I actually pinched my own cheek just to be sure. It hurt. I breathed shakily as the truth sank in. This wasn’t a dream at all.

“No. It’s real.” She let out a light chuckle. “You’ve worked incredibly hard this year. You’ve given so much to this company, so we’re giving you a week-long Christmas vacation. All expenses covered. Consider it our reward for your hard work.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to hold myself together, but my eyes betrayed me. Tears welled up, blurring my vision.

Traveling abroad had always been on my bucket list, but I never had the chance because only managers or higher positions went on business trips. Now, the chance to make it real was finally in my hands, and I couldn’t explain how happy I felt.

“Thank you… I don’t even know what to say,” I muttered.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just enjoy it. Think of it as an early Christmas gift. And when you come back, your promotion will be waiting for you,” she continued.

“Promotion?” I echoed.

She nodded. “You’ve earned it. The official announcement will be made after the holidays.”

I didn’t know how to react. I was happy, but saying it out loud wouldn’t even begin to express the depth of my feelings. It felt like the universe was finally giving me something good after years of struggle.

I stood and bowed slightly. “Thank you so much,” I said again, meaning it with every part of me. “I promise I won’t disappoint you.”

“I know you won’t,” she smiled. “Now go. Take the week. You deserve it.”

My cheeks ached from smiling so wide as I walked out of her office. I held the envelope tightly to my chest, as if someone might snatch it away. If I didn’t guard it carefully, my dream trip might slip right through my fingers.

Little did I know, this trip wasn’t just taking me to another country. It was taking me straight to the man who would change my life forever.