"Will you be coming to the office Christmas party?" Dianne asked me and I must admit I gave her a rather odd look.
I'd started work with the company at the start of the year, just after I turned eighteen. We weren't what you would call a big company, even though it seemed profitable and paid well. But an office party? When I say we weren't a big company I'm not kidding. Our entire office staff consisted of four people, manager included. The rest of the company employees were scattered around the states, selling and being our reps. Some party, with four people, one of whom is a geriatric office manager.
"Ah, that's right," said Dianne. "You weren't here last year. You do know that our little company is wholly owned by the Phoenix Corporation?"
"Ah, as a matter of fact, no, I didn't know that."
"Well, we are. That's why we're in this building. We get a special deal on rent. The point is that the Phoenix Corporation holds a Christmas party each year for all the minor companies they own. It's held up on the top floor. The idea is it builds inter-company relationships. It also gives the Phoenix big-wigs a chance to do a bit of discrete poaching of employees they want to transfer to their own areas. Not that that need concern you and me. We're small fry."
On consideration it made sense. Why have a lot of little parties interrupting work when you can have one big one. Probably cheaper, too, when you consider the cost of a bunch of small parties. I would, I decided, be delighted to go.
The party was set for a Friday afternoon, two to five, officially. Unofficially, I learnt, it went from two until all the alcohol was consumed and the party goers had staggered off, which could be considerably later than five.
I wasn't going to hang around until all the alcohol was consumed. At five I'd be out of there. If the party was boring I'd be out a lot sooner, after making sure people knew that I was actually there at the start.
Dianne and I went to the party together. That togetherness lasted until she spotted someone she knew and a third person was unwanted. Still, I'm quite sociable and I had a drink so I wandered about getting to know people. I found I already knew some people and they were quite happy to introduce me to others.
I had to watch my drinking though. I noticed as soon as I finished one drink someone would be pressing another on me. After two quick drinks I started carrying around a half full glass. All things being equal I found I was enjoying myself.
In the middle of the afternoon I found myself chatting to Mr Tall Dark and Handsome. He was in his middle thirties, but still quite buff. He had a very smooth line of patter and if he kept it up he'd quite turn my head. I am not, however, an idiot. The man probably chatted up all the talent and was not to be taken seriously. That didn't mean that it didn't give me a lift to know that he considered me worth trying it on with.
I didn't even notice that he'd manoeuvred me over to a corner until he asked me if I'd seen the panoramic view from the windows. We were on the top floor and there was probably a fantastic view and I had to admit that I'd never really had a chance to see it. He reached past me and pushed open a door there and ushered me through.
We were in a small office, one with floor to ceiling windows, and I have to admit that the view was spectacular. Standing at the window I could see half the city laid out, running down towards the shore, with the rest of the scene being the bay. I would love an office like this. My desk looked out a window sure enough and I had an excellent view of a blank wall across the road.
"Enjoying the party so far?" he asked and I had to admit that I was.
"Uh-huh, and do believe in following the Christmas traditions?"
"Generally," I said with a laugh, wondering where this was leading.
"Uh-huh," he said again, smiling. "Mistletoe," he added, pointing up.
Damned if he wasn't right. There was a sprig of mistletoe fastened to the ceiling. I gave him an old fashioned look but I didn't resist when he tilted my head back and bent over me. A kiss I didn't mind and I'd noticed that the office door had automatically swung closed so we were reasonably private.
His lips came down on mine and I'm not sure if it was his charisma, or the alcohol, or just a lot of practice, but boy, the man could kiss. I felt quite giddy when he lifted his head and I was probably smiling like a great loon.
He winked at me, reached up and plucked the mistletoe off the ceiling, and tucked it into my belt.
