Man feared the worst after being summoned for telling boss' son Santa Claus isn't real — but he made him an offer instead

Parents have their own ways of telling their children about Santa, the tooth fairy, and other creatures. The last thing they want is for a stranger to spill the beans during the holiday season and create chaos. A man who goes by u/CandidSyllabub9761 was horrified after he accidentally revealed the truth about Santa Claus to his boss’s kid at a Christmas party. The employee thought the blunt revelation meant disaster in his work life, but things turned around with an unexpected promotion.

The man mentioned that he wasn’t a big shot at the office and worked in a lower position. However, he, too, was invited to the CEO’s home for their Christmas party. The latter was one filled with colleagues, their families, kids, and so on. “Now, I don’t have kids. I barely have matching socks most days. But I love Christmas, and I’m decent with kids. So when my boss asked me to help watch over the kid area while the adults got wine-drunk on spiced cabernet, I was like, ‘Sure! Free cookies and no small talk about quarterly reports? Count me in,'” he remarked. Little did he know, he’d make the craziest blunder.

The 26-year-old made his way to the kids and went all out on sugar cookie decorating. That’s when one of the boys popped the question — “Do you think Santa’s real?” “I didn’t even think. Not for a second. I said, ‘Nah, but it’s fun to pretend, right?’ Just like that. Friendly tone, dumb grin, sprinkle-covered fingers,” he clearly recalled. Instantly, he realized he had messed up, and the dead giveaway was the heartbroken realization on the boy’s face. “This kid’s face dropped as I told him his goldfish died again. Full-on trembling lip. I immediately realize I have made a terrible, career-altering mistake,” he wrote. 

“I’m picturing my career in flames. Me, jobless in January, selling feet pics to pay rent,” he said. Fearing the worst, he confronted the CEO, only to hear something unbelievable. “He sits me down, deadpan serious, and says, ‘You told my son the truth. Nobody in this company tells the truth. They all smile and nod and fake-believe in Santa. You… you just blurt it out. You don’t overthink. I like that,” he recounted. The employee was drawing a blank, tensely wondering where the conversation was headed. Although he was praised, it still felt like he messed up. But the CEO had other plans. “I need someone like that on the innovation team. We’re pitching bold ideas this year. No BS,” he said to the young man… and promoted him... for telling the truth… which ruined Christmas for his own son.

According to a study published by Science Direct, a majority of kids between the ages of 4 and 8 believe in Santa Claus — and parents love that. 75% of parents encourage their kids to believe in him. Nearly 40% noted that this belief is what pushes their kids to retain moral grounds. The “Naughty or Nice List” for Santa seems to have quite an impact on the kids, and they’re often “good” for Santa. So, in a way, the old man on a sleigh doubles as a parenting ploy, keeping children on their toes.

“Now I’m on a team I never thought I’d be on, because I killed Santa. Every time I walk into a meeting, my coworkers whisper ‘Saint Nick Slayer’ under their breath,” the author wrote. It’s still confusing, it still makes no sense, it can be a fluke, but the season makes it as good as a miracle. As for the employee, he is proud to keep reliving how he “Grinched my way up the corporate ladder.” u/CalmDownReddit509 said, “Haha, that's cute. I bet Mike was partially relieved too since he didn't have to break the news to his son.” u/FrizzWitch666 added, “You know he was thrilled, neither parent had to be the bad guy and a delicate matter was handled. That's winning as a parent.”

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