"Proof of vaccination, please"
I showed the bouncer at the bar my vax app and picture id. He looked it over and smiled at me
"Happy almost birthday"
"Thanks!"
I said, surprised that he noticed.
It was Friday, the day before my 26th birthday, I was going out with my coworkers to celebrate. I had started the job six months ago, after a year at home in my pj's. Covid mandates were beginning to relax in the city and the office and I was feeling like I was coming alive socially. I was also enjoying picking out what to wear every morning, especially since developing the dreaded office crush.
We were a smallish marketing company with offices on both coasts. I was on the research and analytics team, made up of three other guys, being the youngest and the only woman made me apprehensive but they were good dudes and made me feel supported. Keery, Dan and Jorge were out with me as well as Luke from business development and our director of strategy, Ben.
On my first day it was Ben who greeted me and showed me around the office, back when most people were still working from home. He was very happy to see me, made it clear he valued me and never made me feel like I was any less capable than my seniors.
In my second week he slacked me asking for a copy of a research report on an account, I sent it to him, and he messaged me back
You are my favorite - Don't tell anyone.
By that point I was hooked.
"So Leanna, you know what you want for your first legal drink?" Dan teased me.
"Shut up" I threw a coaster at him "I've forgotten more about drinking than you ever knew."
"Ooooh" All the guys mockingly exclaimed. I was glad we had gotten comfortable enough as a team to shoot the shit with each other. We sat down and I made sure to seat myself next to Ben. It was the beginning of summer, finally justifying outdoor seating. I had broken out my best summer dress, black with big yellow sunflowers, tight on my top with a square neckline accentuating my C cup cleavage and flowy on the bottom just reaching mid thigh.
"Allright, are we ready to order?" Keery asked us, we nodded.
"To be clear Leanna, you're not paying for anything tonight" Ben looked at me with his intense dark blue eyes behind black framed glasses. My knees went weak as they always did when he paid special attention to me.
Ben is 38, divorced, with a seven year old kid, 5"8 to my 5"1. Medium build with a bit of a dad bod and floppy brown hair. He usually wears tucked in button downs but today he was wearing a t-shirt showing off his tattooed biceps. He had just a touch of a drawl from growing up in Texas, especially on the few occasions he slipped and called me darlin'.
Despite my big talk I am a bit of a lightweight and halfway into my second beer I was already feeling lightheaded and giddy. The guys were swapping stories and toasting me while all the while I was inching closer to Ben. First I gently brushed his knee with my bare one, as if it was a mistake, then I left it there. Pretty soon we were thigh to thigh and I felt his warmth radiating onto my naked leg.
I was the one who mainly flirted with Ben when we were in the office, joking about him asking me out for a date when he offered me an extra ticket to a baseball game the company had gotten. Or answering 'better now' when he walked into our office asking how our day was going. He always seemed a little surprised, not knowing how to react. We all hadn't flirted in a while because of the pandemic, especially someone who had been focusing on co-parenting for the last six years. But I had missed it and was laying it on thick. I know it was a doubly tricky situation for him because he was technically my boss and was very conscious about misuse of power. I just couldn't help myself, I really liked him and the fact that he was my superior just made it a little more delicious.
I had finished my beer and Ben's apple watch dinged. By this point the whole left side of my body was pressed up against him.
"The LA office messed up the Q4 forecast, we'll have to redo it on Monday" he nodded to Kerry. Kerry grimaced. Ben scrolled through his notifications on the watch. I loved watching him work, he was so commanding and exacting.
"You're so impressive" I smiled dreamily at him. Did I just say that out loud?
Ben chuckled nervously.
"Alright we're cutting you off, you're talking crazy"
Jorge caught my eye and mouthed 'Are you ok?', I nodded resolutely. Get a grip, Leanna.
Luke yelled at me from across the table
"When are you leaving these R&A jerks and moving to biz-dev?" I stuck my tongue out to him.
"If i'm moving anywhere it's to strategy to work under this guy" I put my hand on Ben's shoulder.
"Aw strategy gets all the superstars" Luke hung his head.
"Who's down for a game of pool" Dan asked the table.
"Yes!" Kerry answered. "Me and Jorge against you and Luke, get ready to lose!"
Everybody got up, the four of them to grab cues and me and Ben to the spectator bench.
Trash talk and usual dick measuring commenced as the guys got into the game.
I was sipping on the third round when Ben leaned in to talk into my ear over the music.
"Want to dance?" my heart pitter pattered from his closeness. I nodded.
We got up and went to the small dance floor by the bar, a couple of wall streeters were swaying and talking. I put my hands on his neck and he placed his on my waist. I shivered from his touch, already feeling warmth in my underwear.
"Thanks for coming out tonight, I know it's hard, with your son and all" I looked up at him.
He shook his head,
"No, of course, it's also his mom's weekend so it worked out, besides I couldn't miss your birthday drinks, you're my favorite" He grinned down at me.
"Speaking of which, here it comes" He gestured with his head to the wall clock where the seconds ticked into midnight. He leaned into my ear and whispered
