Page 5 of The Naughty List Agreement

“Let’s say I’m wrong. Why is creating that experience important to you?”

She shifted her posture, putting one hand on her hip. Her legs looked longer when she stood like that, her waist tinier. She had nice legs, he noticed. Really nice legs. But he intended to ignore that irritating observation.

“I want Winter Wonderland to be a success. Happy families are what makes that happen.” She raised both eyebrows at him as though the answer were obvious.

So annoying.

“How’d that work out with the doll you touted as the toy of the year last Christmas?”

“She broke records. Are you sure you’re not just jealous?”

“Of a doll whose robotic arm fell off when kids played with it?”

“There were some manufacturing issues. Still, kids love Holly. You’re nitpicking. What’s your real issue?”

Having your name on the Naughty List meant something in your thread had drifted out of alignment, not that you were irredeemable. She made a show of loving Christmas, but the Yearweave was never wrong. It sensed what even she might not: ambition had begun to eclipse wonder. If there was a way to get her to change, to really change, then Christmas would be saved, happiness would reign, and the Magic Coffers could be refilled.

He’d also have the chance to meet women outside of the True North dating app, which would increase his chances of finding a Mrs. Claus and save the world from Krampus and his heavy gray despair. Saying yes to Cora Quill would make everything fall into place, but he believed that about as much as he wanted to choke down one more marshmallow-flavored drink.

“I’m not convinced you can deliver what you say,” Nick admitted.

“Fine, you want to see how I operate. We really didn’t get to know each other before you left the Winter Wonderland.”

“Before you fired me,” he muttered.

“But that’s all in the past. What’s your most popular toy?” she asked.

“The dollhouse.”

“Is there some way you could jazz it up? Make it seem exciting and new?”

“If I agreed to help you, there’d be some stipulations that would have to be met.”

She didn’t smile with her face, but her entire body seemed to glow as she realized she was getting what she wanted. That glow lit her up from the inside. For a moment he saw something that made it hard for him to turn away from her.

“Name it. ‘Nick Bari Toys’ as a named sponsor of Winter Wonderland? Maybe ‘quality merchandise’ with your company logo under it? I’ll get our marketing department involved as we’d need to get some banners reprinted. We only have a few days before December first, so we’ll have to work quickly but I’ll set a meeting up for you right now.” She took her phone from her bag and tapped her fingernails against the screen.

This was exactly why she was on the Naughty List. To her, Christmas was an exercise in brand strategy and her every instinct was to monetize it. He began to doubt she’d even want to change.

“No, Cora. That’s not what I want.”

“What then?”

“Come back tomorrow. We can discuss conditions then,” he said.

“I don’t have time. Are you going to do this or not? I need an answer today.”

“If you can’t wait, then it’s a no,” he said.

“How about I take you to dinner tonight? Bring your best ideas. I’ll bring mine. Let’s make this work. For the kids.”

She was persistent. “I can meet you for a drink at Frosty Jack’s at eight.”

“Fine,” she agreed.

“I’ll bring the details of what I’d require from you.” She’d have to agree to his terms.

“Sure. Bring some ideas for how to update the dollhouse, or an entirely new toy to feature. I believe you have a best-selling toy idea in you. I’m looking forward to working together.”