Dean allowed his gaze to wander, taking in some of the awkward groupings that had formed. People were not drunk enough to dance yet, which created a big section of no-man's land in the middle of the room; the music was still loud enough though to make meaningful conversation almost impossible. This resulted in pockets of people either smiling in uncomfortable silence, or shouting in each other's faces to make themselves heard.
Dean's eyes landed on Graham. Hmm, who is he talking to? Is that Nadia from accounts? Well he doesn't have a chance in hell there. Nadia was obviously trying to be polite, whilst at the same time desperately searching around for an exit strategy, poor woman.
A loud chorus of laughter erupted from a group to the right, the compliance team. They were actually a good bunch. He'd spent the occasional night out with Terry, Steve and the rest of the team, and they certainly knew how to have a good time. This little event must really be cramping their style, although this probably wouldn't be their final stop of the night. They would most likely move on to a club or casino after this fizzled out.
He carried on scanning the room as his group continued to chat about the stunningly exciting topic of Finlay's failing golf handicap. He sipped at his gin and tonic, and observed a few more of the awkward interactions taking place. Oh god, Angela and Betty were having a heated conversation off to one side; those two really should avoid each other. Angela with a few vodka's in her was a force to be reckoned with, and Betty didn't take shit from anyone. He made a mental note to keep an eye on them in case things got out of hand.
As he swivelled his gaze further around, it landed on the very generous and attractive posterior of a woman bending over. Dean allowed his gaze to drink in the curvy shape of the woman's behind, and the creamy white skin of her thighs, which were showing below the hem of her short skirt. He frowned as a feeling of recognition came over him, and tried to work out who it was. Just as it dawned on him, Megan stood up and turned, looking in his direction.
Dean froze. He couldn't look away now; it would seem obvious that he had been ogling her. She appeared to be staring straight at him, and a prickly heat began to rise up his neck. He took another sip of his drink, and still she gazed fixedly in his direction, an expression of yearning and desire forming on her face. What the hell! There was something weird and quite unsettling about her stare though, it felt like she was somehow looking directly through him, not actually at him. He watched as Megan's eyes refocussed almost imperceptibly, and she seemed to notice him properly for the first time. She blushed a deep shade of red, and fled into the crowd.
Had she actually been looking at him, or at someone behind him? He spun round to investigate, but was distracted to see Beth standing near the entrance of the venue. She spotted him, smiled broadly and started towards him.
Dean excused himself from the group, and made his way over to intercept her. As he approached, he got the chance to take in her outfit, and feelings of desire and pride welled up in him. She looked utterly gorgeous in a long black dress, which was showing a significant amount of skin in some very interesting places.
"Hi babe," she said with a smile, and leaned forward to kiss him. A waft of her perfume filled his nostrils and instantly his desire was piqued.
"Hi. You look gorgeous."
"Thank you kind sir," she said, bobbing a demure curtsy.
Dean took her arm and steered her not to the group, but instead in the opposite direction. "Bar first, get a couple drinks inside you," he said, bobbing his eyebrows at her.
"I see; that kind of party is it?" He knew she would understand his meaning.
"Well, let's just say that if this wasn't my third gin and tonic already, I would be slashing my wrists at the mind numbingly dull conversation." They reached the bar and Dean signalled a member of staff. "Gin and tonic, and two double vodka and tonics please."
"Wow, things really are bad," Beth said, smiling sympathetically at him.
He took a moment to admire his wife again, and felt another surge of arousal as he drank in her curves. "Seriously Beth, you have outdone yourself tonight, that dress is breath-taking."
She beamed at him. "Not bad is it." She turned away to scan the room, giving Dean a nice view of the back of the garment, which was pretty much non-existent. Aside from the spaghetti straps, there was about an inch of material hugging her sides all the way down to the hollow of her back, before the rest of the material curved inwards to cover her bum. He could not resist running a finger up her spine as she looked out over the room.
She shivered, and turned back to him. "Oi, at least let me have a drink first before you try that sort of thing," she said, giggling as she grabbed one of the vodkas from the bar. With a quick look around to make sure no one was watching too closely, she knocked the entire drink back in one go, and swapped the empty glass for the full one. "OK, that should numb things enough to be social; shall we mingle? Any sign of Megan yet?"
Dean took her arm, and they walked slowly back in the direction of the group. "Only a brief glimpse, I thought she was staring at me, but I actually think she was looking at someone behind me. That was just when you arrived."
"After these vodkas begin working, perhaps we should seek her out and clear the air."
"Sounds good." He smiled at her, leaning in closer so he could whisper. "You are truly beautiful."
She squeezed his arm softly and returned his whisper, "The dress and the shoes are entirely the only things I am wearing."
Dean stopped dead in his tracks. Beth grinned over her shoulder at him, before making her way to the group.
"Elizabeth, how delightful to see you again." David came forward to meet her, and as Dean watched, Beth slipped effortlessly into corporate wife mode, beaming brilliant smiles at the other people as David introduced her.
=== === ===
Megan weaved her way through the clusters of people, without any real destination in mind. Her only goal was to be out of the eye-line of her boss and his wife. When he had caught her gawping at Beth Parker like a bitch on heat, her blush had been so intense she had felt like her face was on fire.
What was happening to her lately; every time she saw, or even thought about Beth Parker, she slipped into schoolgirl crush mode. Oh god, best not to think about schoolgirls either, that just reminded her of the photo she had seen of Beth.
Get a grip Megan. Just get through this one night, then the situation will resolve itself; Dean Parker wouldn't be her boss anymore. She stopped abruptly, sitting down heavily on a nearby chair as a thought suddenly struck her. After tonight, she would never have a chance to see Beth Parker again.
Her stomach sank. This was ridiculous; she was acting like a lovesick puppy. It was Beth's dress that had done it tonight; she looked like a goddess. When Megan had noticed her walk into the venue, her heart had skipped a beat, and she had briefly forgotten how to breathe.
"Hey Megan, come join us."
Megan looked up and saw Katie sitting with a group of women at a nearby table. Why on earth were they inviting her to join them? That lot had been nothing but bitchy to her the whole time she had worked at the company. They teased her about her clumsiness, and her height. Lately there had also been a rumour going around that she was having an affair with Mr. Parker, and Megan was fairly sure that Katie was the one who had started it.
"Thanks, no, I'm good," she said and turned away.
"Oh come on," Katie said coming over and crouching down next to Megan. The woman placed a hand on her arm and spoke softly. "Look, I know I and some of the other girls have been a bit mean to you at times, things just got a bit out of hand. But, it's your last day, and I wanted to extend you an olive branch. Come and have a drink with us; let's get fucked up and make something out of this boring party."
Megan studied Katie's face, but couldn't detect any animosity; she seemed genuine. Besides, this might be just the distraction she needed right now. She smiled weakly. "Ok, sounds good. To be honest, I could really do with getting trashed tonight."
Katie smiled broadly, and led her back to the table. "OK gang; let's see Megan off with a bang. How about we get some shots on the go?"
The women around the table cheered, and as Megan sat down, she felt that perhaps this night might not turn out to be such a cluster-fuck after all.
Liza, a tall skinny blonde turned to her, smiling. "Megan, so jelly about your new job, sounds like a real step up."
Megan smiled tentatively, "Thanks Liza, I am really looking forward to it."
"Here we go girls, shots all round." Katie brought a tray laden with small glasses of clear liquid to the table. Megan leaned forward to take one, but Katie picked a different glass and handed it to her. "Here you go babe."
"Thanks, what's the toast?"