As I approached my office on the fifteenth floor I saw a familiar figure standing outside the locked door. "Hey, Clete, how they hangin?"
Clete just grinned and waited for me to unlock my office. Once inside he threw himself onto a side chair and whistled. "Boy, what have you done. What have you done?"
"Whoa, slow down, buddy. Relax and tell me what's going on." I hung up my jacket and reached down and unlocked my desk. Then I grabbed the phone and asked Jolene if there was fresh coffee in the break room. I didn't ask her to bring it. On the fifteenth floor, at least, we got our own coffee. Jolene wasn't my secretary, she was my assistant, even though she did a lot of the filing and other scut work we were saddled with. After she answered in the affirmative I put the phone down and said, "You want a cup? It's fresh."
"Sure, buddy, you old horn dog you. This can wait another couple of minutes."
I got two mugs of coffee and went back to my office.
Clete eyed me over the steaming rim and said, "my email inbox is overflowing. And besides the usual crap, I get dozens all asking about you and Adrianne."
"Adrianne! How does she come into this?"
"'S why I'm here this bright morning. I've never had the kind of response to one of our parties that this one brought and so far all of the messages are about you and Adrienne. Her message was short and to the point. Something like great party, great guests, especially the new guy. Be sure he's at the next one."
I tried to keep my face inexpressive, but this was a little worrisome. We hadn't done anything illegal, so far as I knew, but I was moving up in the company and I didn't think having my sexual exploits as a prime water-cooler subject would be an advantage.
"I hope I'm not going to regret that party, my friend."
Clete grinned. Don't worry. All the emails and texts were discreet. Whoever Adrienne told, and by the way I know she doesn't want her rear-entry proclivities bandied about either, she isn't naming names. I know because of what I know, you get me? Anyway, since you aren't in the chat loop, I know you wouldn't be aware. The other reason I'm here is to deliver a personal invitation."
I raised one eyebrow and waited.
Clete, grinned again and said, one of the regulars who shall remain nameless, has suggested you be added to the guest list for a special party in two weeks. There are some conditions." He fished an expensive looking envelope from the pocket of his jacket. "If you agree, I'm to give you this envelope. No pressure, but I'm sure you'll find it worthwhile. Lots of useful connections, if you get me. Thing is, there's a bit of expense involved. I can only afford to go to these parties a couple times a year, even though Marci would do it every week if she could."
"Don't you worry about other men fucking your wife? Disease and things like that?"
Clete shrugged. Yeah, at first. But Marci and me, we talk all the time. She never compares me to other guys, you know, he's got a bigger or longer cock. He lasts longer than you, stuff like that. I never tell her I was with a woman with a better shaped ass, or she moaned louder or gave better head. It isn't about competition. Get it? It's about fun and sex. What does happen though is if one of us has a specially good climax, we bring that back and talk about it. So she and I can learn the technique. See? It's all about research." He grinned and spread his arms.
"Okay, man, you got my attention. What's this deal?"
"It's a costume party. Masks at all times, and no cheesy black Lone Ranger slip ons. Any kind of costume is ok, but it has to be pretty elaborate so it'll cost you some money to rent. My suggestion is that you talk to the folks at Uptown Costume. They always have good ideas. And you have to pay $100 in cash up front."
"Pay you?" Clete nodded. "I'm beginning to think this is a Clete Johnson scam." I grinned and dug the bills out of my pants pocket. I peeled off five twenties and handed them over. Hell, even if it was only Adrienne with a new strap-on, I figured I'd have a good time. I took the envelope and Clete left. At my desk, I slid it open. Sipping coffee I read the carefully worded introduction sheet. Long story short, it was an adult costume party. The language was circumspect, the word orgy never appeared, but it was clear that the people who would attend were expected to be discreet and open to pretty much any kind of human interaction. The sheet was styled as a formal letter and signed in bold black ink, simply, Leda.