**Authors Note: I would like to thank both Tom Collins and Carson Shepherd for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this story. . Many thanks go as well to
rozezwild
**Copyright 2006 by jgywnn. **
*
To Tom, it was the usual company Christmas party. Everyone was dressed well, but no one went all out. Like Tom, most were in dressy clothes but certainly nothing formal. Nice slacks and shirt were the common attire for the men. The women mostly wore nice skirts or dresses. Few stood out outrageously because of their fashion sense.
It was almost a command performance. Tom remembered when Jack didn't come to one a few years ago. Life at work quickly degenerated for Jack. He was subjected to constant kidding long after any other antics from the party dominated conversation. Jack saw the writing on the wall, when the second promotion and raise passed him by. He sought opportunities elsewhere.
All that explained Tom's attendance. He had taken the obligatory drink, had found the hosts to thank them for the party, and now he was wandering among the milling attendees. Most were there for the same reasons as he. The level of interest shown in making merry and having a good time would have had a hard time filling a thimble. It really was a shame. The big wigs had gone all out this year. The food on the buffet was glorious. Tom shuddered to imagine the money spent to put on such a lavish feast.
The open bar had numerous patrons. It was far less of a sin to drink too much at a company party, than it was to miss one. He figured he could allow himself another drink. He had been nursing his first drink for much of the evening, so he felt he could handle another without making a fool of himself.
As he circulated around the room, Tom's eyes fell on a vision. Appearing to be alone, leaning on one of the antique furniture pieces scattered about the house, Tom felt his breath leaving his body. Dark brown hair framed a head that held the most beautiful, brown eyes he had ever seen. The creamy mocha skin was flawless. Beyond the captivating eyes was a nose approaching an artist's rendition of perfection. Below the perfect nose lay a mouth that exactly fit its surroundings. Neither tall nor short, they seemed slightly bored with the social hubbub that saturated the room.
Tom worked his way over, moving alongside the captivating creature. Sliding in close enough for conversation, but not close enough to appear threatening, he eased up on the visions right side.
"Hi, I'm Tom from legal."
"Nice to meet you, Tom. Are you having as much fun as everyone else seems to be having?" was the reply, accompanied by a sardonic chuckle.
"I guess it shows that bad, huh? I'm not sure why, maybe because everyone is almost forced to attend. As far as the catering, it's first rate."
"I know, I tried some earlier. How rude of me, I'm Jerry."
"You're joking right? Tom and Jerry? That'd be just too strange."
Jerry chuckled, "Wish I were. That really is my name, or rather Gerald. No one calls me Gerald, at least more than once."
In return, Tom chuckled. He liked someone with a good sense of humor.
"I don't remember ever seeing you. You new?"
"New? Not really, no," Jerry answered, smiling broadly. "You don't know who I am, do you?"
"Sorry, no, I don't. Should I?"
"Not much of a 'kiss-ass' are you?" said Jerry, resuming his mellow chuckle. "If you were, you'd know exactly who I am."
"Guilty as charged, I guess. I'm here until I get enough corporate experience to branch out into private practice, or join a good firm. What does being a 'kiss-ass' have to do with knowing who you are? Now, I'm really intrigued"
"It's really not a great secret. I'm his son. It's Gerald Trumbolt."
"Oh! I see. I didn't know he had a son. I knew he had a couple of daughters, but I don't recall ever hearing about a son," answered Tom slightly chagrined by his faux pas.
"I'm the one no one talks about. The black sheep of the family, as it were."
Tom smiled at the play on his new friend's racial ethnicity. Old man Trumbolt was a well-known African-American that'd made good. He was married to a former beauty queen. She was his third wife and much younger than her husband. Much like her husband, and her predecessors she was also very dark complexioned. Clearly, she was unlikely to be his new friend's mother.
"And what did you do to earn that distinction, in such an august family, if I may ask?"
Jerry smiled broadly, at both the semi-formal question, and the fact that Tom was not suddenly wary or non-plussed by his declaration. He clearly was not in awe of the old man. It was refreshing to meet someone, at a company get together, that was not a toady of the old man. Of course, he rarely came to any of the company affairs, but tonight had been more of a command attendance, rather than a request.
"Two reasons primarily; I am the result of a dalliance. Heaven forbid the old man ever show emotion or anything other than the poor kid made good."
"Understandable, but that's not that uncommon these days. And the second reason? Playing with the hired help?" Tom inquired with a humorous glint with his eyes.
"Well, that could be part of it, but that's just happenstance. Not the real reason."
"Now, I'm curious. You're being awful cagy."
"Not really, I've just gotta be somewhat careful, especially at the company functions."
