Straight out of college, I had spent several years working at a large site of an even bigger company. There were over a thousand employees on site, spread out over several buildings on the campus. With so many people on-site, no one could possibly know everyone. However, since this particularly industry trended towards introverted, middle-aged men, it was natural that any female employees who were young and attractive would be noticed and known by a lot more people than the norm.
When I started there, I had a female boss who had a 'progressive' hiring history and a department with fairly high turnover. That meant that my department was one of the few, outside support functions like HR and Communications, that had achieved gender equality.
Since the company was so large, it was cliquey, and you tended to have your 'work friends' that you hung out with. I was lucky enough to fall in with a coed group of ten or twelve other young employees who would go out for lunch, hang out at each other's cubicles, go out for happy hour, etc.
Also in that group were two twenty-something, attractive women who not only were in my department but also co-located. Once sat across from me and other next to me. I quickly learned that having two of the most attractive women on campus in my aisle meant that we were constantly interrupted by lurking men who needed their fill of eye candy and flirtatious interactions each day. Both girls were a little naive as to why half of campus came by to say hello every day, so they took it in good nature.
Like most young twenty-something professionals, over the years most of the clique left the company and lost touch. I was one of the first, moving several states away to follow my girlfriend's career. I knew one of the girls had also left, getting engaged and following her fiance across the country.
The other girl; however, was a local who was probably a lifer at the company. Shannon had started there upon graduating from college with some sort of arts degree, and had moved departments a couple times. I knew that her father was friends with an executive, which was how she had gotten a job. However, she wasn't unqualified, she was hardworking and diligent. She just didn't have any ambition. I guess she was just a very introverted person who didn't judge her happiness and success by her career.
Shannon was even cliche 'mousy' in her looks. Long brown hair and 'cute' face that were all very 'girl next door'. As I said, she was shy, but warmed up once you got to know her. Her dress at work was very conservative, but we had been in enough situations (beaches, sports, bars) that I knew that her body was decent, but not extraordinary.
As I had a girlfriend the entire time I worked at the company, anything more than a platonic friendship had not crossed my mind. Well, not any more than any twenty-something guy considers any woman he meets. If anything, I found the other girl, a bubbly Puerto Rican with dangerous curves, more of a target. Her short skirt-wearing legs had gotten me through many a boring afternoon.
Fast-forward five years, and I was headed back to the area for a week on business. I decided to try and meet up with my old friends. A week before I was due to arrive I called up Shannon first, knowing from the Internet that she still worked there. She was surprised at my call, and we spent a while catching up. I had broken up with my girlfriend the previous year, and took a job with a lot of travel to decide where I wanted to go next. She was still there, in almost the same job. A couple boyfriends had come and gone, none too serious. Most of the clique had left the company or drifted away as marriage, kids, and new work responsibilities took hold. She did agree to try and round up whoever was left for drinks and dinner.
The next week was extremely busy getting ready for my trip. The next time I had contact with Shannon was when I landed, texting her to let her know. She responded with a generic 'ok'. I liked to fly out on Sunday afternoon. It let me get my bearings, work out, and arrive Monday morning on-site ready to work. Knowing I was going to have Monday night with friends kept me in a chipper mood all day. We had agreed to meet at a chain restaurant a few doors down from my hotel. I let Shannon know I would be there around 6:00, and went back to work for a couple more hours.
It was a few minutes after six when I rolled into the parking lot. I looked for familiar cars, but didn't see any. I chalked that up to the majority of a decade passing, and headed in. The restaurant had opened after I had left the area, so after getting my bearings, I headed towards the bar, looking for familiar faces.
Two laps of the restaurant later, I had failed to find a single one. Confused, I checked in again with the hostess and bartender, who had no information for me. Confused and a little bit sullen, I parked myself at the bar, drink in hand.
Fifteen minutes later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, hoping it was finally someone I knew. It was Shannon, and she looked fantastic! Some women needed a little time to age into their looks, and that was definitely true for her. Her straight, boring hair was gone, now it was styled and cut shoulder-length. Her body was toned and tan, and whatever extra fat she had carried was gone. Even her wardrobe seemed more polished than I remembered. Gone were boring slacks and sweaters. Her black skirt was knee length, paired with heels to frame her calves. On top was a matching black suit-coat covering a pink camisole. All in all, very professional and very hot.
The look on her face; however, was a mix of fear and excitement. We quickly hugged and started catching up. She apologized for being late, and then took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, I think no one else is coming. Everyone is so busy and..."
I jumped in to interrupt, my feelings hurt but not wanting to burden her.
"It's okay. I might be out here again soon. So how are you?"
We spent the next hour or so catching up and trading stories on what had happened in the last almost-decade. We moved from the bar to a booth and back to the bar. By this time, the drinks had been flowing for several hours, and the conversations had turned to current and former intra-office relationships. She admitted dating one of our coworkers who had crushed on her for years, but admitted it was more out of pity than anything.
Finally she blurted out again: "I'm sorry no one else made it. I..."
"Shannon, it's okay. It's been great being able to catch up with you." I reached out and patted her bare knee, not thinking. I was a little drunk and my hand was doing its own thing.
Her blush and silence at my statement reminded me more of the old Shannon more than anything else had so far. She bit her lip shyly, eyes not rising to meet mine.
She blurted out "I need to go to the bathroom" and hurried away. As she wandered away, I noticed how tight her skirt was over her lovely ass. What I didn't notice was a panty line.
Now, when I worked with her, Shannon was notorious for her panty lines. Our dress code was fairly casual, so she wore a lot of tight, stretchy pants. Not the yoga pants of today, but something tight enough that her little bubble butt and full-bottom underwear left noticeable panty lines. I distinctly remember another member of our clique complaining about those panty lines for a long stretch one drunken night a decade ago. As I said, 'old' Shannon was quiet and conservative in her dress. It appeared 'new' Shannon may not have the same hangups.
Shannon returned as I was contemplating that point. She sat back down, daintily keeping her legs closed. I chuckled to myself.
I noticed she was sitting very poised now, shoulders back, chest out. She even flipped her hair and let her knee touch mine. Was she sending me signals? I decided to push my luck and find out.
"Shannon, I didn't tell you when you came in but you look fantastic."
I caught her sipping her drink, and she paused before demurely responding "Thank you".
