I hated these formal events mostly because I hated looking like a penguin. Most of all I hated my boss, Mr. Fredrick. He was a pain both at work and outside of work.
"Looking good finally, Derek," he said to me. "Better than you usually do, that's for sure."
I nodded back at him. He had rented a vast hall in a building that was way out in the countryside. He had thrown in all the stops, a band that played classical music, a well-stocked bar, servants that carried food around on silver trays, in all it was a well-catered event.
I was surprised he would do something like this even if it were his sister's birthday. The real surprise was that he invited some of us from work.
"Well go mingle or something. Make sure you eat some of this food; it isn't cheap!"
That was him a real stick in the mud. He was a cheap asshole always looking to save a buck. You would think a triple bypass surgery would make him appreciate life, but not him.
"Yes sir," I nodded.
I had plans to dip out of here at the first moment I got. I walked around the room, making sure a lot of people from work saw me. I was looking for another co-worker when I noticed an elegant looking woman come in through the main door.
She was wearing a long forest green dress; that hung an inch or less above her ankles. The dress hugged her body tightly showing off all of her curves. She had long golden brown hair that came down past her shoulders. She had a great smile.
"That's his wife you're staring at," Candice said, approaching me.
Candice was my boss's secretary, no one at work hated him more than her. She did everything for him except groom and clean him. I am sure if he could arrange it, he would have her do that too.
"No," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.
I quickly turned my head away from her as I saw her walk up to my boss. They looked like an odd couple. Our boss was a mean person, not just in the work sense, he also looked mean which made a lot of individuals uncomfortable around him.
On the other hand, his wife was all smiles greeting everyone with a smile on her face. She held their hand and talked to them. Making sure to make eye contact.
"Derek!" I heard him yell over at me.
"You, better go," Candice said, she wasn't happy to be here either.
"Yes sir," I answered when I got close to him.
"This is my wife Tammy," he said holding his wife close to him. "This is Derek, one of my analysts."
"Not just one. From the conversations that I overhear. You're one of the firms best," Tammy said.
We shook hands, her hands were soft and felt cold to the touch. Now that I was closer to this woman, I could see that my boss had a beautiful wife. The lady was stunning, by no means was she a model or something you saw on the cover of a magazine. But she had a look you didn't see every day.
"Don't make him fool you into thinking otherwise," she winked at me.
Mr. Frederick just shook his head. "We have other people to meet," he said in his typical gruff voice, with a drink in his hand.
"It was nice to meet you," she said as her husband hurried her along.
Mr. Frederick's sister got in front of the crowd of people, tapping her glass cup loudly so she could get everyone's attention. She gave a speech thanking everyone for coming, and other things. Just like her brother she was very long-winded.
After what seemed like hours she finally stopped. I had learned everything about her in that speech from her family to her business. Some things I wish I hadn't heard. I started to make my way towards the door slowly. Hoping no one would see me leave.
"Are you leaving?" a voice said from behind me.
It was Tammy; she was smiling as she approached me. "Well, I don't blame you. These things seem to drag on," she said. She looked over at her husband who was talking to a group of men. With a drink in his hand. "I meant what I said earlier."
I looked back at her then at him. "That's surprising as he treats me like the film you find on warm milk," I smiled back.
"Wow, now that's an analogy if I ever heard one."
"Just calling it as I see it."
"Walk with me," she said, holding out her hand. I held onto it as she wrapped her arm around mine.
We walked up some stairs, then out onto a porch that overlooked the countryside. It was a magnificent view. The sky was much darker out here. There were no city lights to take away from the light from the stars.
"Jake comes from a family that sees's emotion as a weakness. Any sign of emotion be it happy, sad, and even love are seen as a sign of weakness and weakness in his family is not an option," she said leaning forward.
"So he would rather be mean, and cold?"
"Yes," she paused as she turned to look at me. "Let me ask you something?"
Her hair was blowing lightly in the slight wind.
"Did he ask you to come here in person?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Everybody, including his neighbors and his friends. Got a written invitation," she said, slightly nodding her head. "I know because I was the one that sent them out."
I just stood there. I remembered the day he walked into my office. He just stood there for a few moments. He asked me about a case we were handling. Then as he walked out, he told me that I was coming to this event. It wasn't a question nor did it seem like an invitation.
"Now, does that sound like the cold mean man?" she smiled.
I was speechless.
"Now does he like or respect you on a personal level," she said. "That I don't know, he does think you're the best he has in his employment."
I nodded. I didn't need or want my boss's respect or did I need him to like me. The truth was I could care less, either way. I did like the fact he knew I was good at what I did.
"This view is great isn't it?" she said as she put her hands on the ledge and leaned over.
"Yeah, it's awesome," I replied.
"Take a picture," she said.
She gave me her phone as she turned around putting her back on the ledge.
"Hold on," she said. She took off the small green crop jacket that she was wearing.
"Okay, take it," she smiled.
I had to take a minute. Tammy was a busty woman. The green dress had a V cut in the front that plunged downward revealing a lot of her cleavage.
"Well?" she asked.
"Sorry, not used to your phone," I lied.
I took the picture.
"Let's see?" she said.
I showed her the picture.
"Thank you," she smiled.
Suddenly Jack's sister came up. "He did it again!" she yelled she looked distraught.
"No!" Tammy said.
They both started to walk fast down the stairs. I followed behind them. We ran down the stairs as fast as we could before we got to the bottom I could hear someone shouting at the top of their voice. It was my boss. Jake was yelling at the top of his voice.
"This place cost too much!" he yelled. "I could've got a bigger place for much cheaper!"
Tammy smiled as she walked her way towards him. "Look's like someone drank a little too much," she said as she wrapped a hand around him. "Let's go," she said trying to keep a smile on her face.
"No, No! They need to hear this!" he yelled.
He pushed her off of him, then looked at her. He had a small glass in his hand, he took a big gulp of it then smashed it to the floor.
"She married me for the money, you know. Yeah, when I met her she was a dancer!" he roared with laughter. "A dancer!" he laughed loudly as he pointed at his wife who stood there embarrassed.
"Okay, sir!" I interjected.
"You! You black son of a bitch!" he yelled at me. "You think you're going to take my job?"
He poked me in the chest with his finger as he walked forward.
"I helped build that company," he shouted.
The stench of alcohol was steady on his breath. He must have had a lot more to drink than I thought.
"But I am getting old, and they want a new face! I told them about your work. Now they want you!" he shouted. "A black n..."
Suddenly a man punched him in the face. He fell to the floor, passed out.
"Sorry Susan, I know he is your brother," the man said.
"Thank you, Terry," Susan said. "We better get him out to the car."
"I'll help," I said.
