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"Merry Christmas, Mr. Teufel."
Fritz Teufel raised his head when his secretary, Safranek slid the box he was holding until now in front of him. It was a well-wrapped present, not too big or not too small and it was decorated nicely with ribbons. If Safranek was good at something, it was meticulous things like wrapping presents. Fritz didn't want to show that he became excited for the gift even if he was surprised that his secretary gave him something. Safranek seemed to be always scared of him - well, maybe that was the real reason behind the present. To ease his wrath for the holidays.
Fritz cleared his throat and took the box away.
"Khm, thank you, Safranek. It seems that you are not so much of an idiot to forget to give a present to your employer for Christmas. It is important for maintaining a harmonic relationship, as I like to say." He noted in a scholarly manner, but the tone of his voice was not threatening nor sharp like usual.
Safranek respectfully lowered his head.
"You are completely right, Mr. Teufel." He said and Fritz saw that a strange light sparkled up in his otherwise dull eyes. "Don't you want to see what is inside?" He asked and he seemed to be as excited about Fritz's present as Fritz himself. Fritz got surprised by the question - so much that he forgot to scold Safranek for it. But he suspected that he would not scold his secretary this time anyway - not on this day, after he just got a present from him. He let the thought fade back in his mind that this was just stupid sentimentalism. He nodded and began to unwrap the box.
"Well, yes. Let's see what you gave me." He told Safranek and curiously peeked inside. The present contained a bottle of expensive whiskey. Fritz's gaze shone up for the sight.
Maybe Safranek was indeed not as much of an idiot as he usually seemed, in fact, the best secretary he ever had. Not like this would ever stop him from referring to him like that - he didn't want Safranek to get too cocky, after all.
"Good choice." He hummed and stood up to get two glasses from the counter. He felt that Safranek followed all his movements from the corner of his eyes. Fritz poured some from the whiskey to the glasses and after he took up one of them, he gestured at the other.
"That is yours. Merry Christmas, Safranek." He raised his glass towards his secretary and he drank from it. Safranek shyly smiled and took up his own glass.
"Thank you, sir."
It seemed like he actually hoped for Fritz to share the drink with him. And Fritz decided to be even more gracious just for once. He picked up the ribbon Safranek used to decorate his present with and stepped to his secretary. He saw that Safranek froze for a moment, then his body became leisure again when Fritz, instead of hitting him like he usually did, gently fixed the ribbon on his neck.
"That is the bonus." Fritz winked at him and inspected Safranek. "I think I even like the sight."
He heard that Safranek purred. His secretary seemed awkward, but the ribbon also somewhat cheered him up.
"I am grateful for the present, Mr. Teufel." He answered. "I am going to treasure it."
"As you should." Fritz nodded and took up the whiskey bottle again. "Let's drink more."
Maybe it was due to the festivity, maybe due to something else, but he wanted to share the whiskey with Safranek.
*****
When Safranek left Mr. Teufel's office, his head was slightly dizzy from the alcohol. He never handled alcohol well, but he was luckily only in the phase of excessive happiness. He walked to his own office and checked himself in the mirror. The ribbon indeed looked nice on him, he thought under the effect of the whiskey.
It made him happy that he got a present from Mr. Teufel as well, even if it was something he bought originally for his employer. The ribbon was a silly gift - but he knew that it was also genuine.
And on this day, only this mattered and nothing more.