"So what's up, players? Any plans this Friday night?" Megan said standing between John and Eric's cubes.
She wore black pinstriped slacks with a pink satin blouse leaving the top two buttons undone. Her bra was not showing, but there was just a bit of cleavage showing, which was sexy, but still professional.
"Nothing planned, boss." John said.
"Same here. You know how I like to keep my schedule open for any...unexpected spur of the moment occurrences." Eric said.
The guys were dressed in the usual business casual attire of a dress shirt and slacks. John wore black slacks with a pressed lime green shirt. Eric wore khaki colored slacks with a red burgundy shirt. It was the end of the week for sure as Eric's goatee was looking pronounced as he was an off and on shaver, while John was clean shaved each day.
"Yeah? Like what?" Megan said.
"Well, you never can plan on a trip in the elevator and an attractive lady with a sweet, killer body might step in and go down with you, you know? Maybe even a...superior?" Eric said with a sly grin.
Megan closed her eyes and shook her head. "That maybe well and true in your mind, stud, but you'll have to find another job for that to become a reality."
"Well, I still like to keep my options open." Eric said.
"What about you, Meg? Your man taking you out for a night on the town?" John said.
Megan frowned with a wry expression, "He's on some big account right now. He says he's been swamped and can't get a second to himself."
"Not even for our dear Megan? For shame." Eric said shaking his head.
"Tell me about it. So since you guys are losers tonight, you guys want to stop by the pub afterwards?"
"Hey. Just because we choose not to go out every Friday night, doesn't constitute us as losers." John said.
"That's correct. We can't accept invitations to the ball every night? We do require rest and recharging after all." Eric said with John nodding.
Again, Megan closed her eyes with a sigh. "Whatever. You guys want to go or not?"
"Oh yeah. Sure." Eric said.
"Uh-huh." John nodded.
"Good. Now get to work." Megan said and walked off.
"I can't believe you said what you said." John said.
"What? You mean that crack about going down in the elevator?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, it's Meg." Eric said waving a dismissive hand in the air, "She's cool."
"I know that, but that was like a real invitation."
"Meg's hot. You know it. I know. She knows it. And she knows that we know it. So really, what's the big deal?" Eric said with a shrug.
"I guess. You just sounded so direct."
"Meg is still one of us. She was cool back then and she's still cool now. She might be our boss now, but she's still Meg."
"Yeah. Except she doesn't hang with us for lunch anymore. Only when it's a business lunch."
"Yeah, I know. At least she's still close to us."
The two bore down and got to work making sparse comments about work from time to time. They did the usual rounds of answering and making calls, writing and replying to emails, creating spreadsheets and entering data into the computer system. When the day came to end and Megan walked up between their cubes again.
"Look at this. Nice to see my boys working so hard for me."
"Well, you come to work looking so nice physically; it's only fair that we make you look nice professionally." John said with a smile.
Megan looked at John then looked at Eric. "Shouldn't that voice have come from over here?" she said looking at Eric's cube.
"Daddy's been coaching our son, dearest." Eric said.
"It would seem so. Come on. Let's go."
They both closed out their computers and turned off their desk lamps. They slung on their jackets and followed Megan over to the elevator.
"This is a business outing, right? Thus, on the company?" Eric said.
"No it isn't. You'll have to dish out your own hard earned coin." Megan said.
"You mean the boss isn't going to pick up the check?" John said.
"You got it." Megan said as the elevator doors opened.
They all entered being the only passengers inside. Megan pressed the button for the ground level and began their descent slowly.
"I think there's an unwritten rule that says, 'when going out with friends, the one that makes the most, treats." Eric said.
"Yeah. That rings a bell." John said.
"Oh really?" Megan said.
"Yup." Eric said.
"Well too bad that rule was never ratified by Congress."
The elevator chimed and the doors swooshed open. Eric and John looked at each other with an amused smile as they all stepped out.
"I tried."
Megan laughed.
They exited the lobby of their sky rise building into a cool darkened sky. The street was busy with headlights and tail lights streaking by filling the streets. The sound of hundreds of car engines running and revving added to the din of the busy street.
"Is Raleigh's fine with you two?" Megan said.
The two nodded and shrugged with indifference, then walked across the street when the light was green. They approached the entrance and Eric opened the door holding it open for Megan and John to pass through. Raleigh's was an English inspired pub/eatery. The place was illuminated with a warm and soft yellow light. Flat screen TV's adorned each opposing wall both displaying a soccer match in progress. A squared bar area was toward the back center stocked with the usual spirits with round tables with chairs filling the rest of the space.
The three went over to a table and they all removed their jackets and hung them on their chairs. Not a moment too soon, a waiter dressed in black slacks and a white shirt came by to take their order.
"A bitter." Eric said.
"Captain and coke." John said.
"Cranberry and Absolut." Megan said.
The waiter took their orders cheerfully and left.
"So Meg. What gives? It's been awhile since we've all been out together. Is there a reason for this get together or is it just for old time sake?" John said.
"Maybe a bit of both. Those days with all of us were fun. Care free. But, you know, my new responsibilities keeps me from hanging out like the old times."
"So how is your 'new' crew?" Eric said.
"Dull. And dry" Megan said with a frown.
"Has anybody taken a pass on our sweet Megan?" Eric said.
Megan narrowed her eyes looking at nothing in particular. "Let's me just say that Sean is a misogynistic asshole."
