All characters are fictional and over 18. Offenseive language warning! I plan on adding more, so if you like it let me know!
The dim luminance over the room was cast by the strings of vintage bulbs, highlighting the sparking glasses upon the bar, the sparkles on the dresses, the whites of the freshly ironed shirts that matched the tablecloths, and the eyes that shone across the room. This year's work party had everyone in attendance, hoping to discuss something other than projects, or perhaps discuss projects, pretend they had relationships beyond the workplace, or seek advancement in positions by ogling over the superiors of their departments.
A series of large white garden tents covered the landscape. Oil torches lit the pathways around them, silently letting out small crackles of oxygen sparking the flames. The air was still, with no breeze and the evening was a pleasant seventy-five degrees. Warm enough to be comfortable in the acceptable attire.
Arrangements of flowers decorated the tables surrounded by tea lights. Spreads of cheeses, crackers, and other hand foods speckled the table cloths, perfectly displayed only to be left disheveled as soon as the greedy fingers began plucking them.
Charley found himself dipping in and out of conversations...
"Reilly, I think the projections for our little pet project look quite promising..."
"Sally, so how old are the kids now?"
"Thaddeus, how's the new design coming along?"
He would've skipped it, had it not been the torrent of,"we missed seeing you there," with disappointed glares that he would face, as no one failed to come. Walking to the bar he grabbed a White Russian from the tender, and glanced over the circles of members from each department sticking to their own. There nearly had too be 150-200 employees there, many of whom he was unfamiliar with.
"Don't look so overwhelmed, the sharks will smell it like blood in the water," a feminine voice with a very slight rasp spike up from his left. Charley turned his head, seeing a slender 6'1" woman, with a fitting bust, dark wavy shoulder length hair, dark eyes, highlighted with black eyeshadow and mascara and a light dusting of makeup. Her lips had a faint red lipstick, and a thin strapped black dress with flecks of silver glitter, draped over her chest, teasing the eye as it rode just between her perfectly proportioned breasts. It held to her lean stomach and her sledding hips. A slit ran along the lower portion up her thighs showing stockings that ended there. She looked like she was in her upper 20's or lower 30's. Charley was 27.
Charley smiled, "Good to know these are shark infested waters."
A slight curve formed at the edge of her lip, "I suppose you may need a good captain to navigate the treacherous sea."
"Are you applying for the position?"
"No, but I need a skipper and you may be able to fill the position. Perhaps a probationary period."
"We've only just met and I'm already on probation?"
"It's a big role, and you still need to prove yourself."
"Ahoy then."
They both smiled but her eyes were much more piercing than his. "To your new position," she said, raising her glass of red wine.
"To our voyage."
"So does my skipper have a name?"
"Charley, and yours?"
"Sabine."
"I can't say I've met a Sabine before."
"I'm pretty sure you meant Captain Sabine..."
"Yes, Captain."
"Good boy, " she cocked an eyebrow slyly. Then she surprised him as she placed her right hand on the small of his back. "Hoist the sails, we can't just isolate ourselves at this table all night."
Charley followed her lead as she sashayed through the sea of people.
"So Charley, what department are you in?"
"Design..."
"Hmm. Funny I haven't come across you before?"
"Your department?"
"Marketing"
"Well, I'm really just a junior designer on the team."
"Well then you're just going to have to try harder...."
"Apparently so..."
"What's your title in..."
"I don't know if you can handle that information."
"Yes, Captain Sabine."
"I'm already seeing you've taken your position seriously."
She pulled him towards a circle of partiers that he recognized as some of the upper tiers of the company.
"Sabine," one of the women spoke through her wrinkled skin, "I was just wondering when you'd grace us with your presence."
"Well I did have to admire the decorations a bit first."
"Why thank you, darling. We couldn't let our star be bored with dull sights. I was just speaking to Franklin about your fantastic strategy this year. The marketing department was in bad need of a cleanup when you first arrived. It's no surprise it took a woman to handle it so tenaciously." Alice said. Alice was the wife of Franklin Pechar, the owner of the company.
The 60 yr old man, turned away from his conversation, "Alice as much as I hate to suggest a man incapable of the job, saying anything but would be ridiculous given Sabine's capable work. You continue to astound me, young lady."
Charley felt a tingle in his stomach as it occurred too him that he had just become the company of the President of Marketing. He looked dumbfounded her way with his mouth slightly agape.
Looking at him teasingly, she picked up his jaw, "Darling, you must not let your lower chin fall off and be swept away in the current. He swallowed hard as she did so..."
"And be so kind to introduce your company for the evening, won't you Sabine," Alice chimed in.
Sabine wrapping her arm around his back and pulling him forward, "This is Charley, one of the promising young junior designers."
"You're lucky to have found the guidance and interest of one of the best, Charley. So how long have you worked for us?" Franklin asked.
"About 4 months now, and so far I've enjoyed the opportunity."
Sabine chimed in, "and I'd say we are quite lucky to have him. I see a rising star in our midst." She glanced at him and smiled.
"Well, we must be, if you believe so. Such a pleasure meeting you, Charley," Alice extended her hand to shake his.
"The pleasure is mine," he replied.
Sabine leaned into his ear and whispered, "yes it is."
"We should probably make our rounds, don't want to keep this interesting young man from everyone"
"I look forward to seeing more from you Charley," Franklin also shook his hand.
Sabine's right hand then took Charlie's and she intertwined her long fingers around his. "Shall we set sail?"
"Ahoy Captain."
"I could get used to this," she chuckled.
A man from across the room standing over the crackers waved, "Sabine!"
She pulled her skipper to the flagging man. "Walter, I see you took the opportunity for the hunt," she laughed.
"Can you blame me? I'm not a man of missed opportunities, the prospects definitely look good," he replied, pulling a young busty blonde in a short shiny bluish green dress up to him. Walter looked in his mid forties, black hair with streaks of gray, a clean shaven face, and somewhere between a slight dad bod and a pretty fit man. "Looks like you aren't missing them either!" He chuckled then looked at Charley, "Which is astounding, as I thought Sabine was a cold, ice queen of sorts that had sworn to celibacy, or just liked showing men a general sense of disdain."
Charley's eyes widened, and Sabine shot Walter a glare, "Completely understandable given the 'men' I'm forced to be surrounded by." Turning to Charley with a glint in her eye, "Walter here is one of the head marketing executives on my team. What he lacks in appeal, he makes up for behind a desk," she cast a look Walter's way.
"Seriously though, watch out for her. Whatever strange kick she's on, playing nice and sweet, she's probably doing so to feed you to her pet snake or something....Oh, how rude, this is Jenny." The blonde who had remained quiet the whole time smiled, tilting her head and offering her hand to Charley.