Mary stood at her office window watching the snow falling. The decorations on the other buildings and houses in the surrounding community left no doubt as to what day was upon them.
"Christmas eve," Mary thought to herself as she walked back to her desk and finished putting things away. "Geez, how this year has flown." She put the last few notes in her top desk drawer and locked it. She logged off of her computer and shut it down. There was a knock on her open office door.
"You're sticking around for the party, aren't you?" Barbara asked as she poked her head in the doorway.
"Oh yeah. I just finished cleaning up. You going?"
"Yeah! Free food and booze? I wouldn't miss it. This place owes me at least that. Give me a few minutes and we can go up together," Barbara told Mary as she headed back to her desk.
Mary thought about Barbara's comment, that the company "owes" her. Mary picked up her phone and called her husband at his office in another part of town just to remind him that he was welcome to go to her company's Christmas party.
"I know Hon, but I don't think I can make it. I want to finish what I can of this project before being off the next few days," Rick said to her. "I'm sorry. But you know I have to get it finished by the end of the year. With the holidays and all, I'm cutting it close now."
"Well the offer is there. The boss made sure I asked you."
"I appreciate it, but... I'll see you when I get home. I'll make sure I'm not too late," he said.
"Okay, I'll see you tonight." Mary hung up and walked over to her file cabinet and pressed the lock button. "This company isn't the only thing that owes me," she thought to herself as she walked into her private bathroom. As one of the vice-presidents, she had a nice plush office on the 5th floor of the six floor office building. Not bad for someone who started in the marketing department almost fifteen years ago. She worked her way up to manager and now vice-president in charge of the department. She was doing well. Money, a company Mercedes, the office.
Her husband, on the other hand, was still a project manager over at his much smaller company. A position he has held since before they were married, over 20 years ago. Where he was the primary bread winner for the family ten years ago, Mary's six figure pay check was more than double his. The difference in salaries had become a point of contention. The funny part was, Rick was the whole reason Mary has her job.
Fifteen years ago, a friend of Rick's who was then a vice-president of this small but rapidly growing company, made an offer. One night while out partying, he asked if Mary would like to work for him. Mary wasn't happy with her current job so she thought about it and, a few days later accepted his offer. At that time, the company had about 25 employees. Now it had almost 250 with an employee satisfaction rate of over 95%. Paul had promised he would keep an eye on her and make sure she was happy with the job. Now, 15 years later, Paul is the president of the company and has kept his promise.
Mary finished freshening up her make-up in the bathroom and stood at the window of her office, still watching the snow. It was just a little after noon and the gray sky showed that there was plenty more to come before the night was out. She looked around the office complex and noticed the exodus of the employees whose companies were letting them off early for the holiday. Being her company's building was the tallest in the complex, she had a good view. Meanwhile, her company's employees were making their way to the sixth floor for their holiday celebration.
Barbara poked her head in, "You ready to go up?"
"Yeah, let's go. Do you want to leave your purse in here? I'm leaving mine in here."
"Sure, I don't feel like dragging it around. Not saying I don't trust my co-workers or anything."
"Yeah, me too." Mary locked the door as they left.
Mary and Barbara went to the elevators where they ran into several other employees heading up to the party. When the elevator doors opened, they piled into the elevator car for the one floor ride. When the doors opened, they saw a huge Christmas tree decorated to the hilt. Waiters served everyone champagne in a glass with the company logo and year etched on them. Paul, dressed in a Santa coat and hat, sans beard, greeted everybody as they arrived. He gave Mary a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Mary."
"Merry Christmas, Boss."
"That's Santa Boss to you," they laughed. Paul continued on, making sure to greet just about everybody. The executive floor lobby was transformed into a bull roast. There were tables of food; roast beef, turkey, ham, shrimp, all kinds of salads and vegetables. There was an open bar with top shelf brands and at least six types of beer, domestic and imported.
Before everyone dove into the food, Paul offered a little toast as thanks to everyone in the company for a successful year. Everyone raised their glass and took a sip. Mary emptied her glass in one gulp.
Everyone lined up for the food. Mary intentionally stayed out of the line, letting the employees get theirs first. Mary is one of those bosses that looks out for their employees. "Higher positions should have more responsibilities, not more privileges."
While she stood off on the side sipping her third drink of the afternoon, talking to different people as they passed, Paul walked over to her. "By the way, did you get your envelope yet?" he asked.
"Envelope?" Mary asked, "what envelope?"
"Your Christmas bonus envelope."
"No, ahh, well... I didn't..."
"Oh, that's because I haven't given it to you yet." Paul handed Mary a plain envelope. "This is for the exceptional year you have helped us have this year. I was hoping Rick would be here when I gave you this, but I take it he couldn't make it, again." Paul emphasized the "again" part. He knew it was a little touchy ground with Mary being Rick seldom could make the company parties.
"Oh! Well thank you, Paul. No, Rick had to finish up some stuff at work, so he won't make it. As usual." Mary went to fold it and put it in a pocket in her skirt.
"Don't you want to open it?"
"Oh, but of course." Mary tore the end open and slid out a check. She read the amount and was shocked. "Ten-thousand dollars?!?"
"Shhh! I wish I could have been, but I wasn't quite as generous with everybody."
In a quieter tone of voice, "But, Paul, ten-thousand?"
"Don't you think you deserve it?"
"Well..," Mary thought for a second still looking at the amount, "Of course I deserve it, but..."
"More importantly Mary, I think you deserve it. We've had a great year and a lot of the credit goes to you and your department. After the first of the year there will be a raise associated with this, but this should hold you until then."
"Thank you. Thank you very much, Paul. I don't know what to say. I could kiss you, but I don't think it would go too well in front of everybody."
"You're probably right."
"Look, I'll be back up in a minute. I want to run down and put this in my purse. I wouldn't want to lose it."
