The 12 Tales of Christmas season 2 - Under the Mistletoe
Well, all good things must come to an end. And I’m sorry to say the 12 Tales of Christmas season 2 has come to the last story. This has been quite the experience this year. But I appreciate you staying patient with me. For the last story KurobaraNoMajoAki AKA Aki one of my beta readers lent a hand.
For this tale she chose the number 12 and Mistletoe. This is actually something I’ve looked forward to. Let me show you what I came up with. Get ready for the final story of the 12 Tales of Christmas season 2.
The Hilton hotel was alive with activity. Various staff went to and from the various locations carrying out evening tasks. Into this chaotic mix strolled a man in a very dapper tuxedo. Reginald Starkey checked his Holo-watch not for the first time. The watch read, December 12, 2129.
But the 29-year-old Starkey Enterprises CEO was nervous for a different reason. Tonight his company would be negotiating with the Verellian people. Ever since their arrival humanity has been up in arms, he thought to himself.
Everything had been moving at a lightning pace for several years. First his company had perfected the new FTL drive. That had allowed humanity to finally colonize other planets and step into the stars. Then a year ago had come that fateful first contact with the Verellian merchant vessel.
I know my people are doing their best. But I only hope I don’t cause an interplanetary incident. He thought to himself.
But there was another reason he was so well-dressed. There was one Verellian in particular he was eager to see again, a female Verellian. Meera, he thought to himself.
It had been no big secret that he and the female Verellian businesswoman had hit it off very well from the start. But tonight, he was especially nervous. Because he was going to open up to her about his feelings for her. I only hope she’ll accept me for who I am, he thought.
Verellian women were very picky with whoever they chose to be with. Which was why humanity had negotiated matters in a very cautious fashion. But if Reginald’s sources were telling him the truth, then they were as unsure about humans too.
He approached the ballroom of the Washington DC Hilton hotel. Waiting at the door were two people. One was a human male dressed in a dapper tuxedo of his own. He was a stocky man in his early 40’s. This was Louis Brinks Reginald’s VP and right-hand man since he’d founded Starkey Enterprises.
The older man had helped build it into an industrial powerhouse. With him was a woman in her early thirties dressed in a form fitting gown and wearing a pair of thick glasses on her face. Her blonde hair pulled back into a single braid. This was Toni Brooks, Reginald’s executive assistant and attache. Reginald flashed a sheepish smile as he reached the two.
Toni shook her head in a disapproving fashion. “You’re late,” she chided.
Reginald chuckled in a sheepish fashion. "Uh sorry about this you two. The traffic getting to the hotel was killer and my driver had to take several detours.”
Lou shook his head and stated, “Boss no disrespect but it’s not good for the CEO of the company to be late on such a big night. Our negotiation team have done their best but…”
Reg as he preferred getting called by those who knew him rubbed his sandy blonde hair. “I know, I know and usually I’m not late. Luck wasn’t on my side this time that’s all.”
“Fair point,” Lou and Toni conceded.
“The Verellians have caused quite a stir ever since our first encounter with them.” Lou noted.
“When they landed heir Ambassadorial team caused quite the stir with traffic. It's not every day that an alien government lands on Earth to negotiate with the US Government.” Toni added.
The double doors to the Hilton ballroom opened up. A short male dressed in a tux of his own and carrying a microphone popped out. When he saw Reginald his face lit up. “Mister Starkey you’re here! Thank God the Verellians were getting a little concerned.”
“I’ll bet,” Reg muttered.
Lou said, “You know Meera is here and she’s been asking about you.”
That took the CEO by surprise. “She...she has?” he asked.
Toni nodded her confirmation. “You made quite the impression on her boss.”
The young executive adjusted his tux. “Well, I suppose there’s no sense in keeping our potential new friends waiting.” The Executive chimed.
The announcer said, “I’ll let everyone know you’re here sir.
"
The man then slipped back into the room. Reg looked at his VP and executive assistant. “So, you two ready to do this?”
“Been waiting for this moment ever since the Verellians first arrived in the system.” Lou answered.
And then they heard the announcer say, “Ladies and gentlemen apologies for the delay. It’s now my pleasure to introduce the executive team of Starkey Enterprises. I present Reginald Starkey, Lou Brinks, and Toni Brooks."
The doors opened from the inside and Reg and his two most trusted people entered. Some of the guests were humans. But there were also humanoid men and women with light blue skin, white hair, and angular eyes. The eye color ranged from dark brown to red brown. Some of the female Verellians turned away trying to hide the blushes on their faces.
Why are there so many out there that find me attractive, I’m nothing special. The CEO of Starkey Enterprises thought to himself.
A blue skinned man in long flowing silk robes approached. Reg could tell it was one of the many businessmen from Verillian space eager to do business with him. The man extended a hand in Earth tradition. The man then flashed what Reginald recognized as the textbooks salesman smile.
“Mister Reginald Starkey it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lyondis Mervin of Mervin Enterprises. We specialize in water purification technology.”
Reginald raised an eyebrow at this. Our water purification tech has been having some problems, he thought. Some of the colonized and terraformed worlds are having toxicity and pathogen issues.
“And what can you do for the colonies?." Reg asked.
“Well as I understand it your company does ship resources to some of these worlds. And we’ve been studying the problems your people have had. We’ve come up with something that may be able to help deal with their toxin and virus issues.”
Reg stated, “I’m interested, but before I invest in anything I’d like to see your tech work. No offense but I like to be careful with where I invest my money.”
The Verellian male nodded and said, “Oh of course, of course. We can arrange for a demonstration of our tech at your convenience.”
Reginald looked at Toni and gave her a familiar nod. The blonde woman brought up her holographic schedule book. “Next week we have the meeting with Morrison Corp. Then we have the demonstration of the new stabilizer device. Harrison Associates said it's for making colony ships safer for the long journey.”
Toni looked over everything. “But we can squeeze that demonstration in on Wednesday about 2 PM Earth Standard Time.”
"That will be fine. Your executive assistant is quite efficient I must say.” The Verellian businessman observed.
Reginald nodded his agreement at this. "She is and that's why she's one of my top aides," he said.
Doesn’t hurt that she like Lou has been with the company since its earliest days. He thought.
Lyondis Mervin said, “Thank you, I understand you wish to be cautious with your investments. I can assure you it will be very worth your while.”
Reg nodded and said, “We’ll see you then.”
The Verellian businessman left. Reg looked at Toni who nodded. “Already contacting the embassy about Lyondis Mervin.” She said in an assuring tone.
“I’ll have the information on your desk ASAP sir,” Toni stated making a note in her schedule book.
Lou nodded and said, “As always you're playing it cautious. Good job lad, it’s good to take chances but it’s also good to do your homework to see who you’re dealing with.”
Reg smirked at his VP and said, “I had a pretty good mentor show me the ropes.”
A string quartet began to play a strange haunting melody. The instruments were some of the ambient instruments the strange humanoid race used. The three mingled and Reg met his share of diplomats and various businessmen. To his surprise some human and Verellian women also showed interest. Some were interesting, others tedious.
Yet Reg kept himself composed, hoping that he ran into her. Meera where are you? He wondered.
After a conversation with a bio-engineering firm head Reg stepped away. He moved over to the table with human condiments. He looked around and tried to reach for one. It was then that a blue skinned hand reached for another and both touched. Reg and the other hand pulled away.
“Oh excuse me,” Reg said in a polite tone.
“Oh no pardon me,” a rich contralto female voice answered.
Then the CEO looked into a pair of gorgeous and very familiar maple-brown eyes. The woman had striking angular cheekbones. A permanent half-smirk adorned her face. The eyes glimmered with intelligence. She wore a long blue dress covered in diamond studs.
From her ears a pair of exquisite sapphire earrings hung. They somehow added to the mystique of the Verellian woman. Her eyes brightened in both surprise and relief. “Reginald!” she greeted in a warm tone.
In that moment Reg knew who this was. He remembered her from their previous meetings. And the old feeling stirred up again. “Meera,” he said in an excited tone. “I’d been hoping to find you at this event.”
“I have too,” she said in an earnest tone. “I’d been hoping to see you again.”
“So how goes the intrigues of the business world?” He asked. “Some of these human companies are interesting. I like some of the jet propulsion and life support systems. But other than that, the usual stuff, and you?”
“You know anything about a businessman named Lyondis Mervin?”
She raised an eyebrow at this question. “Lyondis, oh I know him all right. My own company has done business with him. He makes excellent quality water filter systems.”
“So, his tech is legitimate?” Reg asked.
“Very much, first rate tech. Though when negotiating a price for his goods and services you’d do well to bring your best people. "
She chuckled and said, “I had the good sense to do so and believe me it was the best thing I did. His contract negotiators are very shrewd people.”
Reg flashed a smile of anticipation. So, this guy knows his way in the negotiation process. Good, nice to know I’ll be dealing with a professional. Reg thought to himself.
“That said, how is the ship making business going?” The young CEO asked.
She shrugged and said, “It’s about as fine as one can expect. There’s a high demand for interplanetary travel. This new age of space travel has given my people hope for a better future.”
Reg nodded his agreement and noted, “I can say the same of the Terran systems. I know my world is far different from yours but are you enjoying Earth?”
Meera flashed a wry smirk. “I admit the human world has some oddities, but I find it all quite fascinating.”
Then she pointed out, “On my home world of Verellia you should see Crystal Valley. When the sunlight shines on the crystals there, it causes them to shine and sing in haunting tones.”
“Sounds amazing,” Reg observed. “If I’m ever on your home world I’ll have to pay it a visit.”
“I actually own a summer home in Crystal Valley. I go there whenever I need to relax.”
“I have something similar in Virginia Beach.” Reg put in. “I sometimes go there when I need a break. Hearing the waves crash against the shore is very relaxing.”
The female Verellian’s face brightened. “I’ve been hoping to see some of Earth’s coastlines. I hear they can be quite exquisite.”
“Well then I’ll have to show you my home some time if you wish.”
"I would like that very much," she said.
The two took to talking as they strolled around the room. But at one point they found themselves underneath some mistletoe. “I’ve noticed that there are 12 wreaths of these around the room.” Meera observed.
“Is there any significance to this?”
Reg’s face flushed. “Well um...there is. Though mind you it’s rather awkward.”
Her face furrowed in puzzlement. “How so?”
“Well because,” he began then thought trying to look for the appropriate words. “It’s well...it would involve doing something that you might not approve of.”
“Uh-huh,” was her response as her face furrowed in puzzlement.
Reg turned away and said, “Well, I know this may seem rather sudden for you. And I apologize if I make you feel uncomfortable as it’s not my intent. But well...the fact is...I like you, a lot.”
He turned to her trying to keep himself from trembling. Her own face a look of stunned shock. “I know-I know it’s only been a short time since we met. It’s insane but well the human heart is a strange thing. Long story short people kiss under the mistletoe as it’s a Christmas tradition.”
“I...see.” she ventured a look of understanding starting to wind its way on to her face.
Reg turned away as his face flushed in embarrassment. “I’m sorry Meera, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. It all came out at once and for us men well...the touchy-feely stuff for Earth males is well...not our greatest strength.”
“Reginald Starkey," Meera said in an authoritative tone tinged with kindness.
“Yes,” he asked turning to her.
To his surprise her face was beaming. “First off, I appreciate your open honesty and you respecting me. You’ve reminded me why my people chose to make first contact. Now will you please kiss me already before we both go mad?!” She said in a tone of mild impatience.
This surprised Reg before he responded, “Yes ma’am.”
Then he pressed his lips to her and found that the touch was electric to his every sense. The female Verellan brought her hands up to cup his face. In turn his hands wrapped around her waist. After a moment the two parted for lack of oxygen. They stared in stunned astonishment before Reg whispered, “Wow.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “You humans are an interesting lot.”
“And things have gotten far more interesting between us.” Reg observed.
“You know the press of both our territories are going to have a field day with this.” Meera observed with a roll of her eyes.
The CEO snorted and said, “Let them say what they will, right now all that matters is here.”
Meera nodded and said, “Agreed,” before the two kissed again.
And there you go good readers there is the last story in the 12 tales of Christmas. This year’s event has been a long and at times arduous event as I’ve had some issues. I only hope I can do better for you starting November 27th, 2026. Meanwhile I hope you enjoyed this story. If you did like it press the like button below.
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Well, this concludes season 2 of the 12 Tales of Christmas. Thank you one and all for reading. Until November 27th of 2026 stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all. Enjoy the new year.
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