“I just had sex, and before that I made presents.”

“We all did. Santa was the only one who told us what to do."

“Alright, well I don't have that kind of time right now so I need floor managers. One for every fifty elves. For every ten of them I want a regional manager. For every 5 regional managers I want a captain.

Captains report to me here as soon as you've got them. Whilst I'm talking with them I want the current products cleared off the lines and the lines prepped to make anything I want. After every 2 hours of work, all elves can take a half-hour break or a fifteen minute break every hour with one hour in the work day for Lunch. The day starts at 9am and ends at 5pm and any workers staying on after that are welcome to stay and help out but are not obliged to. I do not want to see tired elves on my production lines. You got all that?"

Elina nodded, though her mouth hung open and she was looking at him in wide-eyed wonder.

"Get to it then. Let me know when you've got those captains."

"Y-yes sir! Hail, Santa!" She offered him another disturbing salute.

“Oh, and for fuck sake cut that out. It scares the hell out of me. Make sure you tell the others too. I can take a ‘yes, sir' if you feel the need, but please don't make me feel like I'm about to invade Poland."

He gave her a cheerful smile with that.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." With that, and thankfully without any saluting, the blonde elf ran back inside to get dressed.

The door opened again soon thereafter and Elina sprinted back in through it to give him a very enthusiastic and utterly genuine hug. Her arms wrapped over his and squeezed him tight with that same strength as

Callie had demonstrated earlier. The hug was so tight that he felt something in his spine click and found himself standing up straighter every day thereafter. Elina finally released him with a slight blush to her cheeks before running off again without a word to do as she'd been asked.

Callie gave him a little poke in the arm and he Looked down to find her beaming up at him.

“Where did all that assertiveness come from, bossman?"

“A two-week Long management training course and a can-do attitude.”

“Damn. Santa Claus is really coming to town, huh?"

“You better watch out." He flashed her a smile that made her insides go all warm and fuzzy.

"You just made me so happy that I think I came a little."

“How did she know about what happened in the sleigh?" He didn't particularly like the idea of anyone spying on them.

“Probably Prancer yacking away to Elsie. She runs the stables and she's in charge of the reindeer. Prancer can't always keep her mouth shut."