Sweet Cinderella (A Christmas Novella) (The Klaus Brothers Book 4) (5 page)

“Shirley Fredericka Brinkerhoff!”

Shirley tried to hide behind the nearest Christmas tree. “Y—Yes?”

“
WHY WEREN’T YOU AT ELF PRACTICE?
”

Augustus Fromm frothed at the mouth. That was never a good sign.

“Um. Uh. So sorry. Actually . . .”

“
Nein
! I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore!”

“But I have a really good excuse this time. I spent all night thinking it up.”

Master Fromm’s left eyelid twitched.

Also a bad sign.

“I have no interest in listening to your ridiculous stories. About poker games and Yeti contests and building an ice sculpture of the USS Enterprise—”

“FYI, it was actually the Millennium Falcon, not the Enterprise—”

Augustus raised his voice. “Nor do I care about your friends or family or cousins or—”

“It’s not my fault I have a big social life—”

“Silence!” Master Fromm took in huge gulps of air.

She never could understand why he got so bent out of shape about her slight behavioral infractions.

Slight! Really!

“You have failed Basic Elf Behaviors. Again. For the seventy-third time.” Augustus closed his eyes and sighed. “But today we are not going to discuss your poor academic performance. Today we are going to discuss . . . Gregor Klaus.”

She frowned. “Gregor? Why? Maybe he needs some fashion pointers?” She giggled at her own joke. Shirley had a reputation for dressing in one-of-a-kind hipster outfits. Today’s ensemble included a red plaid bustier, black mini skirt, thigh high stockings with combat boots, a hand-knit beanie, ear cuffs in gold and silver, and her most prized possession—waist-length curls dyed teal, blue, and magenta. She looked like a million bucks.

Gregor Klaus dressed like a Grade A dud. From Dudsville. Navy blue suits and power ties.
Yawn.

“Why are we going to discuss Gregor Klaus?” She froze in a panic. “You’re not making me take . . . finance again? Are you? Oh no!” She cried out in frustration.

Augustus shuddered. “Absolutely not. Master Dittner is still recovering from last semester. No, for some inexplicable reason, Gregor Klaus has asked to see you. In the Sudenwelt. In Manhattan. A Magik sleigh will take you there immediately.”

“Huh. That’s weird.” For the life of her, she could not come up with one single reason why the Director of Finance would want to speak to her.

“And Shirley . . .”

“Yes, Master Fromm.”

“Just remember. Gregor Klaus does not suffer fools lightly.” He stalked away, clearly dismissing his worst student.

She scratched her head and then quickly repaired her curls.

Why in the world would Gregor Klaus want to see her?

“You’re Shirley Fredericka Brinkerhoff?” Gregor Klaus peered at a file on his desk. Shirley was seated in front of him, next to a tabletop that was shockingly void of knickknacks. Not one personal item. Nothing.

Dudsville!

Her work space at home was covered with Christmas doodads and scented candles and curling irons and sequin hair clips and pictures of One Direction and chocolate candies. Well, a lot of stuff.

Shirley really loved her stuff.

Clearly, Gregor Klaus did not. His entire office was like an empty tomb. Grey and lifeless and boring as hell. Maybe he wanted to hire her as an interior decorator? She perked up a bit at that intriguing idea.

“You’re probably wondering why I asked to see you.” Gregor’s voice sounded strained.

“Um, yeah. To redecorate your office?”

Gregor frowned. “No.”

“You want a new look? We can jazz up that whole business power suit thing!”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Okay. I’m out of ideas. Why am I here?”

“You have a reputation.” He paused. “
Regelbrecher
. Rule Breaker.”

All the color leached out of her face.
Oh, crap!
“Um, I’m not sure what I did to get into trouble this time, but I assure you—”

Gregor took a green satin pump out of his desk drawer and pushed it to her. “You’re not in trouble. I need your help. I heard—from a couple of elves—that you’re good with the
demaskierend
spell. I don’t want to get the council involved with this. Or my family. This is just between you and me. Understand?”

She stared at Gregor for a moment, and finally she understood. “Ohhhhhhhh. You need a
Regelbrecher
. On the down low. Well, okay then. You’ve definitely come to the right elf.” She tapped a hot pink fingertip on his desk. “I’m off the hook, right? Not getting into any trouble for this?”

“Of course not. I’m asking you to do me a favor.”

“Oh, goody! Does that mean the next time I get into big trouble, you’ll owe me? ’Cause . . . that could come in very handy in the future.”

Gregor nodded with a resigned look on his face. “Yes. I owe you. Can you do the unmasking spell? I have . . . a shoe. Her shoe. I don’t know her full name or her address, but I need to find her. Can you help me?”

His nostrils flared, and for the first time Shirley realized how desperate he was. She’d better not fuck this up.

“Sure. No problem. This spell is one of my favorites. In fact, my friends and I have made it into a fun drinking game—”

He pushed the shoe closer to her. “Do it,” he said.

Guess he wasn’t in the mood for chitchat.

“Fine.” She grabbed the shoe and let out a gasp. A stream of
sternschnuppen
shot into the air. “Hannah . . .” she whispered.

A tiny tear-stained face in the darkness. A child filled with sweetness and love.

Shirley took a ragged breath.

“What did you say?” Gregor stood up behind his desk.

She shook her head. “Um, nothing. Hold on. Give me a minute.”

“You most certainly did say something. You said
Hannah
. And you looked . . . surprised. What the hell is going on?”

His voice stung like a whip. Master Fromm wasn’t kidding about him. She needed to tread very lightly.

“Oh, nothing really. This shoe belongs to someone I met once. A long time ago. Just for a second. I recognize her aura. No biggie. She’s super sweet . . .”

Gregor stalked around the desk and leaned down to her eye level.

“You know her? You know Hannah?”

“Um, well, it’s sort of hard to talk about . . .” Her voice shook.

Gregor grabbed her shoulders. “Start talking.”

“I can’t. I’ll totally incriminate myself. I could be expelled from Glasdorf.”

“Start talking now, or I’ll have you expelled immediately. I’m not in the mood for any bullshit, Shirley.” A vein bulged in Gregor Klaus’s forehead.

Uh-oh.

“Hey. Hey. Back off.” She tried to pull away from his irate face. “It’s not what you think.”

“I don’t know what to think.
Start. Talking
.”

“I was just a little girl. Playing around with spells. I got transported to a human child in need. It was an accident! I didn’t mean to do it. But she was cold. And hungry. And she looked so sad. And her aura . . . it was pure sunshine and sweetness.” She turned away from his accusatory glare. “I couldn’t help myself. I gave her my candy cane. I know we’re not supposed to interfere with Suddies and reveal ourselves. I know it’s grounds for immediate expulsion from Glasdorf.” She took a deep breath and continued, “But this girl. I couldn’t just leave her. She was so happy with the candy cane. Her whole face lit up. That was the moment I knew . . .” Her voice trailed off.

“What? You knew what?” Gregor’s voice had softened. He was now sitting on the edge of his desk and watching Shirley with undisguised curiosity.

“I knew. Why Glasdorf exists. I knew what Christmas spirit was about. It was about
that
. Her smile. I made a child happy on Christmas. That’s what it’s all about.”

He nodded. “Not just any child.
Hannah
. Do you still know her?”

Shirley rolled her eyes. “So sue me. I needed to make sure she was okay. She was cold and hungry. I—I just check on her from time to time.”

“What the hell. Have you been watching over her all of these years?”

She tugged nervously on her hair. “Yes. Hannah’s been through a lot. Her childhood was tough. Her dad was in a horrible accident . . . and then her husband died. She’s a trooper. She’s sweet and thoughtful and kind. Kind to everyone. I just check in with her every once in a while. She’s never seen me again. Just that once. I’m sure she doesn’t even remember.”

Gregor picked up the shoe. “She
is
sweet and thoughtful and kind.” His face clouded with uncertainty. “The perfect match for me. The iceman,” he said sarcastically.

She took the shoe away from him. The
sternschnuppen
danced around her hand, across the heel, and bounced onto Gregor’s arm. The lights flowed and sang as they raced around his torso.

“You might be surprised, Mr. Iceman.”

Gregor arched a brow.

“I need some information,” he said. “I have to find her.”

“Holy cannoli. You have the hots for Hannah.”
Oops, I probably shouldn’t have blurted that out loud.

Gregor did not look amused.

“It’s just . . . it’s just . . .”

“Just what, Shirley. Spit it out.”

“Well, Hannah is super sweet and kind to everyone. And you’re . . .”

“Not.” Gregor finished her sentence with a snap.

“Oh. I didn’t exactly mean that. What I meant was . . . she doesn’t seem like your type.”

Gregor gripped the edge of his desk so hard his knuckles turned white. “You’re wrong.”

She and Gregor stared at each other for a few tense seconds, and then finally she caved.

“Okay, whatever you say.” She pulled a sparkly tablet of paper out of her bag and started to write. “Here’s her full name, address, and the names of her family members.”

Gregor leaned over to peer at the paper. “She told me about her family last night.”

“So what’s the plan? How are you going to win her over? You do have a plan, right?” She glanced up at Gregor and was surprised to see a flustered expression on his face.

“Sure,” he answered slowly. “Roses? Perhaps dinner at a trendy new restaurant. Maybe a diamond bracelet . . .”

She rolled her eyes and flung herself onto his leather chair. “You are joking! Not to be critical or anything, but . . . that is the worst plan ever! Hannah won’t be impressed with fancy dinners and diamond jewelry. You know what’s most important to her. Think about it.” She looked at him and waited.

“Family. Family is most important.” Gregor yanked at his tie and loosened it.

She nodded. “Yes. What else?”

“Christmas. Holiday traditions.” He began to roll up his sleeves.
Someone
was getting ready for battle.

She dug through her bag and found some chocolate candy, which she proceeded to stuff into her mouth.

“You know, her twins have always wanted to go ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza. But it’s too expensive for her—and too hard for her to watch both boys at the same time.” She paused dramatically. “You’re a pretty good skater, aren’t you? Klaus?”

“Yes. Excellent.” He glanced out the huge picture window in his office.

Shirley could see the wheels spinning in his brain.

“If you want to capture Hannah’s attention, you need to strategize. Just like you do at work. She’s an amazing woman.” She leaned back in his chair and propped her legs on the top of his pristine desk. “Don’t blow it, Klaus.”

Gregor dumped Shirley out of his chair and pointed to the seat across the desk. “Sit. Time to make a plan. And you’re going to help me.” He took the sparkly paper tablet from her hands and turned it to a fresh page. “Let’s go. Tell me everything you know about Hannah De Luca Andersen.
Everything
.”

And so it began . . .

C
hapter
5

“Mommmmmmy!” Matteo’s voice was so loud, it echoed through the short hall of their apartment, bounced off the back wall, and re-entered the kitchen. Just to torture Hannah, she was sure of it. Her over-indulgence of eggnog was making the morning difficult.

“Matteo,” she said quietly.

“Yeah, Mom.” He hugged her leg.

“Sweetie. Too loud, okay. What is it?”