Joanne stood near the bar, her fingers lightly clasped around a plastic cup of punch, her eyes scanning the room. The office Christmas party hummed around her: twinkling lights, music, dancing, the soft clink of glasses. But she felt a little disconnected from it all.
Mark, her husband, was supposed to be by her side, but at the last minute, work had pulled him away on yet another emergency. And in the middle of the holiday season too. It wasn't a catastrophe. She was used to these last-minute calls by now. In fact, part of her felt a strange relief.
With him not around, she didn't have to worry about anything beyond herself for the evening. It gave her a chance to relax in a way she might not have if he had been by her side. But as the night went on, she couldn't help but realise that she missed him.
The twinkling lights on the tree in the corner, the festive music drifting through the air. It all felt a little dimmer without him there to share it. A quiet part of her wished the night would hurry up so she could leave and go home to him, to the comfort of their quiet home.
Chloe, her energetic co-worker, stood beside her, seemingly without a care in the world. She already had a few drinks and was in full party mode, with silver tinsel wrapped around her shoulders and chatting away animatedly as if the evening belonged to her.
Joanne and Chloe were often mistaken for sisters, though Joanne couldn't see why. Aside from their straight, jet-black hair, they looked nothing alike. Chloe was shorter, curvier, and had noticeably larger breasts, while Joanne was taller, leaner, and more athletic, with subtler curves. Tonight, they were even dressed alike, each wearing slightly similar black dresses that hugged their figures in nearly identical ways.
Chloe nudged Joanne. A little too hard, and the punch splashed against Joanne's arm. "Oops, sorry!" Chloe laughed, grabbing a napkin and dabbing at the spill, but her eyes were already darting to the other side of the room.
Joanne smiled, though she couldn't completely mask her annoyance. "What's going on with you, Chloe?" Joanne asked, her voice half-serious. She could feel her patience thinning just a bit.
Chloe didn't seem to notice Joanne's irritation. Instead, her eyes were fixed toward the door.
"You would not believe who just walked in," she said, leaning closer with a huge grin.
Joanne followed her gaze, rolling her eyes, half expecting it to be some celebrity.
But then she saw him. it wasn't a celebrity. It was Alex.
Alex, her former co-worker.
For a moment, everything else seemed to freeze. Her breath caught in her throat, the music seemed to go quiet and she felt a rush of adrenaline.
Alex was a 19-year-old intern when he and Joanne first met five years prior. He had a restless energy about him with a confidence that was contagious. With his sharp features and disarming smile, he was hard to ignore. Though he was four years younger, his vibrant energy and fearless swagger made Joanne feel like she was the one trying to keep up.
Joanne observed Alex, now more imposing than the boyish intern of five years ago, more solid. A wave of memories hit her, reminding her of the early days when the chemistry between them had been impossible to resist.
It started innocently enough. Alex was the cute, eager intern during his first months at the office. But soon, he began lingering near her desk, his smile always just for her. Then one day, as they passed in the hallway, his hand brushed hers, a fleeting touch, but it sent a jolt through her.
They began flirting relentlessly soon after that. Inevitably, the stolen kisses began. A lingering moment by the printer, an excuse to meet in the boardroom, and suddenly his lips were on hers, quick and heated at first, then slower as they found their rhythm.
It wasn't until the Christmas party a few weeks later that year, that they finally crossed the line. The office storeroom, tucked away in the back corner of the building, became their little love-nest. They found themselves there, alone while the party moved along. The door clicked shut behind them, and suddenly it was just the two of them, no more teasing, no more games.
Their lips met softly, a moment of quiet intensity. It wasn't rushed or desperate, just a natural progression, a connection they'd both been waiting for. The world outside seemed to fade as they stood there, caught in something both had known was coming.
It wasn't just that one night. After the party, they found every opportunity they could to be alone together. Office hours, after hours. There were quick trysts in the closet, sessions in his car parked out back. Once they had crossed that threshold, there was no turning back. And yet, in spite of all the stolen moments, in spite of their connection, Joanne never truly fell for him.
There were moments of closeness, but every time Joanne felt herself getting attached, she reminded herself of the age gap between them. His naive views on life and the future seemed always childish. She enjoyed his company but never allowed herself to believe it could be more, sensing a deeper connection she wanted was missing.
Only Chloe got wind of their relationship. Joanne had kept it quiet, partly out of guilt and the desire to protect her reputation. A workplace affair with someone so much younger wasn't something she wanted to advertise.
Alex began scanning the room, and Joanne knew he was searching for her. When his eyes finally landed on her, his face lit up, and that familiar grin spread across his face, seeming to brighten the entire room. The sight of it sent a warmth through her, and for a moment, she felt the spark reignite.
