Chapter 1: First Encounter
The days were long. The nights were restless. I've always had a hard time sleeping but never thought it would get to this point. I don't sleep at all now. No thanks to her anyway. I first saw her in the office. It was Christmas Eve. I wasn't thrilled I had to come in to work that day, but you know, deadlines don't pause for holidays. It was a cold, blustery, snowy day. I wasn't looking forward to the drive home. I knew it would be hell, just like my job, so mundane. So bland and boring. I hate it. My boss is a dick and my coworkers are mindless robots just here for the paycheck. I feel so inadequate and underutilized. I have so many great ideas to improve productivity and efficiency yet none of them see, nor care, my potential. I guess there is something to be to be said about the new hires though.
The Christmas Eve party was unlike years past. Nancy, our 60+ secretary, usually does a Christmas raffle where she draws names out of a hat and the 1st prize winner gets a $50 gift card to A1 Chinese Buffet here in town. Disgusting. I typically grab a bite from the dessert table and a glass of Audrey's watered down Christmas punch and go hide out in my cubicle in the corner. This year was different though. I made my usual rounds to the goodies table, said Merry Christmas to two of my buddies, Sam & Dave, then grabbed another glass of punch and headed off to my desk. No one came to look for me. They all thought I went home; All except one new girl. She was attractive. Long blond hair, cute smile. She dressed professionally, but I got the sense she was a wild one behind closed doors.
I could see her walking over to my side of the office as I peaked up over the cubics wall.
"Shit," I thought as she looked around and walked in my direction, "Damn it. So much for my escape from this stupid party. I should really be getting out of here before the roads get too bad. It's getting pretty nasty outside."