The Office Party: #1 (Finding Christmas Again in London Series)

Axel righted the fake Spruce. The hall had been transformed into a fake forest. Axel nodded to the chief accountant who giggled as he posed for a photo between two reindeer in a fake forest. Axel refused the invitation from with their head of sales dressed as an elf. They needed to rent a venue for next year's party he decided as fake snow flew up his nose. He was all for office morale, but this was too much, they were taking Christmas much too far.

Refusing a golden drink bobbing with cranberries offered to him by a caterer dressed as a festive tree, Axel opened the door and disappeared inside. "I can't believe I'm hiding at my own company's Christmas party," Axel muttered, logging in to the terminal on the pristine desk in the darkened borrowed office.

He heard the words "Smoked salmon canape?"

"I've had one," came a lilting voice. "They're delicious, but no." A woman with auburn hair stood frozen in the doorway, her emerald green dress catching the light from the London skyline outside. A flurry of fake snow blew in with her.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Olivia backed away, balancing a flute with a sprig of holly in place of the usual cocktail umbrella, and peered out the door. "I thought this office was empty. I just need to stay in here a minute. I hope you don't mind."

"Too much Christmas? Clearly, we had the same idea." Axel's British accent was clipped, professional.

"It's...