I do not like to go to company parties. Not Fourth of July, not Christmas, not New Years. Anytime. I just don't like them. They're usually very boring, often embarrassing as people do and say things with careless abandon. Part of my dislike is admittedly my fault -- I don't like to drink alcohol. So as other people are loosening up while getting blitzed, I'm just standing around watching them.
But, I had just been transferred by my company to a management position in a new city, so attending the boss's New Years Eve party was obligatory. My wife, an attorney, was out of town preparing to go to trial on January 3, so I was attending alone. That didn't bother me too much. Though we were married, my wife and I pretty much led separate lives.
To be fair, I must say it was a better party than I had expected. The boss, his name is Jim, had not only rented a local hotel's very nice meeting room complete with food and beverages, he had also reserved a block of rooms for everyone attending so no one would feel inclined to drive drunk or even have to be the designated driver. As parties go, it was not bad. I was actually having a good time.
As the evening progressed, I met and talked with several people including Jim's wife, Claudine. She is an attractive though not stunning woman in her mid-40's, black shoulder-length hair with some gray highlights added, gold-rimmed eyeglasses, and rather angular but attractive facial features. Unlike the other women who were wearing festive evening party dresses, Claudine wore dark slacks, a dark blazer with a few sparklies, and a conservative white blouse buttoned to the neck. Still, among all the women I spoke with, she was the most articulate and easiest to talk with. Throughout the evening I danced with several of the women including Claudine. Some of the women were inappropriately flirty (another reason I don't care for office parties), so I made it a point not to encourage them by flirting back. It was only when I danced with Claudine that I felt any sexual chemistry between us. Since the feeling was not overwhelming, I dismissed it and just enjoyed the dances.
With midnight just moments away, we all stopped dancing and assembled to count down the seconds to the year 2006. I had been dancing with Claudine, so she was standing next to me, her arm intertwined with mine. At the stroke of midnight, the noisemakers went off, the screams of happy new year exploded, and kisses were exchanged. I turned to Claudine to wish her a happy new year, but she grabbed my head and pulled my lips to hers. It was a brief, close-mouthed kiss, but as we parted, her eyes were sending a message other than happy new year to mine. Shortly after the obligatory new years toast, the guests began to wander off to their rooms.
I had been unable to find Claudine's husband, Jim, to wish him a happy new year, so I too started to leave. Claudine caught up with me.
"Doug, Jim's had a little too much to drink tonight. Would you mind helping me get him to the hotel room?"
"Of course I will," I replied. She led me into a side room where her husband Jim had passed out. After a few minutes' effort, we were able to get him walking enough to get to their room. Once there, we undressed him and got him into the queen-size bed. He began snoring very loudly.
"When he gets this way at home," Claudine said, "I usually put him in the guest room alone. He'll be snoring like that all night. I'm going to call the front desk and see if there are any rooms open where I could sleep."
"Listen, Claudine, I only live a few miles from here. I haven't been drinking and can drive safely, so why don't you take my hotel room? I'll just head on home."
"That's awfully nice of you, Doug, but it really isn't necessary."
"It's no problem at all. While you gather the things you need, I'll scratch out a note for Jim to let him know you'll be in room 305. Then, we'll go to the room, I'll get my stuff together, and leave you with the key."
"Well, if you're sure you don't mind..."
"Not at all. Go grab your things, I'll write the note, and we'll leave."
Moments later, we were walking down the hallway to room 305. While we walked, I hoped I hadn't left the room in too big a mess. When we entered the room, the bed had been turned down, the bedside light was on, and the bathroom had been cleaned and fresh towels left. I said a silent thank-you for a hotel with excellent service and amenities.
I went into the restroom to gather my toiletries. When I came back out, Claudine had removed her blazer and hung it in the closet. She was standing at the window looking out at the new years revelers on the street below.