One of the guys, Scott, was leaving and it happened to be the same Friday as the social club night. Nicole was invited to go for a farewell drink at lunchtime, she doesn't drink much so knowing she would be drinking a bit in the evening she asked for a fruit juice.
When the drinks arrived it looked like she had orange – not a favourite but it tasted OK and she drank it. It was soon replaced and everyone was having a pleasant time, talking about others who had left, who had been there the longest, who would be leaving next and so on.
Except for Nicole all the rest of the staff were guys so she held a novel position, also because she had been there for 20 of her 44 years.
Scott asked, "Who holds the record for service now?" and after some moments Nicole said,
"I think it's me, I've been here for 20 years, Christ, 20 years!"
Alex dropped another orange juice in front of her, "No way, you must have been a baby when you started." And some laughter ensued.
"Well I was very young," she said.
"Do you mind if I ask how old you are then?" ventured Alex.
Some of the guys howled a bit,
"Careful Alex".
"Sticky ground their mate."
"You're a brave soul."
He looked up at the group and then back to Nicole,
"Not being rude, sorry, just surprised that you could have been here 20 years, you don't look..." and his voice trailed off as he realised he might be putting a foot in it.
"44, I'm 44."
"No way." Said Alex standing over her and managing to get a sneaky look down the front of her cleavage. He held his hand out to her and she took it, pulling her up to her feet he said, "Well she doesn't look 44 does she guys?" and he lifted her arm higher to give her the rock 'n roll twirl so everyone could have a look.
Nicole teetered a bit as she twirled in high heels, "Orange juice a bit strong." Laughed Jeff and put his hands up to steady her, grabbing hold of her waist.
Alex leaned down to Jeff, "Well orange juice and Vodka actually." He said. "Everyone's gotta have a drink before Scott leaves." And Nicole dropped back down into her seat and finished her 'orange juice'.
Before they left for the office, Scott insisted he buy every one a final drink and made a short 'thanks and been nice to work with you' speech.
Alex looked at his watch, "It's 3:00 o'clock all, I think we should get back." And every one started to file out. Nicole surprised at how hot she felt, stumbled a little and Alex put an arm around her back and guided her toward the door. The rest of the group chattering as they went.
As they got to the door Nicole stumbled again and Alex put his other arm out and held her, "Blimey." She said, " I feel like I've had a few." She giggled and turned to leave so Alex's arms encircled her. He wasn't quick to move them and got to slide his hands over her back and stomach, seemingly unnoticed by Nicole as she pushed the door open.
"Are you OK?" asked Alex.
Nicole assured him she was; "Just a little hot."
And Alex added "You certainly are; a hot little 44 year old in fact. "
She giggled again and catching his eye put her hand on his chest in a rather intimate way you wouldn't normally touch a colleague at work.
"You wouldn't believe how hot." She said, and turned away to walk to the car, Alex noted she was slightly, well maybe more than slightly, pissed.
"You had a drink?" he called after her in an innocent act.
She shook her head without looking back at him.
"No, nothing, just orange." Totally unaware that her drink had been, to all purposes, spiked.
She was very quiet on the way back to the office and Alex had to assist her out of the car. Jeff wandered over, "Problem?" he asked.