Office Christmas parties. Penny really didn't like them and never had. It all seemed so forced; getting together with people from work, even those you don't particularly like, and having a few drinks and nibbling bits of warm chicken nuggets and cocktail sausages on sticks. She'd rather not even be there. But like many others, she felt it would look as if she was being antisocial if she stayed away. She sighed and took another sip from the glass of mediocre white wine she was nursing. She looked around the all-purpose meeting-dining-banquet room that her firm had booked again for yet another Christmas party. A few imitation holly wreaths and piped in jolly Xmas music as background to the bursts of laughter from the salesmen clustered round the open bar. She wondered which one would be first to grope the chairman's wife or make an offensive remark to the CEO.
Unlike a lot of the female staff, Penny hadn't made a particular effort to dress up for the party. There was no-one she needed to impress and she wasn't interested in attracting the lecherous glances of liquored-up office boys or the red-faced old lecher from shipping.
Penny glanced at her watch and wondered how soon she could diplomatically slip away and get home to Mike. She was looking forward to an early night with him.
As she looked up, she was startled to see an attractive woman standing a few feet in front of her, looking her directly in the eyes. Penny couldn't help staring back. The woman looked strangely familiar. Penny couldn't place her but it felt as if they should know each other. She was aware of a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. The woman took a step closer, still staring at her as if trying to communicate silently.
The woman was perhaps just a little taller than Penny, the extra inch or two coming from the four-inch black leather pumps she was wearing. Then Penny noticed the woman's shoulder- length hair, envying the strawberry blonde color with a hint of copper and gold.
Penny felt almost hypnotized by this strangely compelling creature. The woman was looking at her with an ironic smile beginning to play across her lips. She raised an eyebrow and lifted her chin, still staring into Penny's eyes.
Penny began to be aware of a silent message crossing the distance between them telepathically.
Carol.
The woman was telling Penny that her name was Carol. Penny silently mouthed the name. Carol. She saw the woman nod almost imperceptibly. Her name was Carol. The hubbub of the office party continued around them, but no-one paid them any attention. Penny thought it was odd that none of the men there had come over to hit on Carol.
Carol was wearing a very slinky sleeveless black evening dress with a deep cleavage that revealed almost all of the upper halves and inner curves of her breasts. The dress clung to Carol's body like a second skin; jet-black silk with a scattering of tiny sparkles that caught the light as Carol breathed in an out. The dress ended at mid-calf but was cut high on one side to just above her knee, revealing the gleaming black pantyhose (or could they be stockings? wondered Penny) that flattered her beautifully shaped legs. She wore no jewelry except a black velvet choker with a small cameo at her throat. Her make up was understated but expertly applied, drawing attention to her beautiful eyes and full, moist lips. A dusting of minuscule sparkles, echoing those on her gown, touched her cheeks and shoulders. The contrast of the black silk served to accentuate the flawless white flesh of her arms and bosom.
Without warning, Carol turned and walked away from Penny. If you could call it walking, thought Penny. Carol was moving across the room, letting her hips sway sensually with each slow step. Penny could see that Carol's dress was low cut in the back. There was not a sign of a panty-line to spoil the sheer beauty of her undulating hips and bottom. No underwear, no pantyhose, thought Penny. So the hose had to be hold-up stockings.
Oddly, nobody seemed to be paying any attention to this beautiful creature that was passing between the chatting groups of drinkers. Penny could see that Carol was heading for a door that she hadn't noticed before in a corner at the back of the room. Just before she reached the door, Carol reached behind her and unzipped the black dress, shrugging off the shoulder straps. Penny gasped with shock as she realized that the dress was slithering down Carol's body. Just as she pushed open the door and passed through, Carol paused and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes made contact with Penny's for a second and then she was gone.