"I know this past month has been challenging. Management changes can be tough and I'm the first to admit, I'm not always the easiest person to work with," Susan laughs, as if she's made some hilarious joke.
Boy that's an understatement,
I think to myself.
Jake and I chuckle politely.
"Seriously though, I just want to thank you once again for all the hard work and the extra hours you've both put into this project. There is no way we could have landed this account without your extraordinary effort, dedication and talent.
"And on a personal level, I really want to thank you for making me feel so welcome. You've both been so gracious and accommodating. Here's to the best team a gal could ever hope to have!" Susan is beaming and slurring her words slightly as she raises her glass and clinks it against Jake's and mine.
I'm beginning to wonder whether or not she's truly grateful or if she really just enjoys making toasts since she's already done this several times tonight. One thing's for certain, she's definitely feeling no pain as she takes another healthy sip of her Martini. It's kind of bizarre to see our normally straight laced, slightly uptight boss, so relaxed and happy. Then again I've never seen her drunk before tonight either.
Susan (not Sue, and definitely not Suzy, as she made perfectly clear when she first introduced herself to us) was hired by AD One Creations to head up our design department a little over a month ago. She's quite renowned in the industry so it was a pretty big deal for a smallish company like AD One to recruit her.
Not only did she bring with her, her expertise and drive, but also an impressive list of clients. Right away we got an opportunity to pitch to a heavy hitter and we just finished busting our asses wowing them with a killer presentation.
We wrapped up our meeting at 3:00 pm and received an unofficial call from the head of their advertising department (a close personal friend of Susan's) two hours later, letting her know that we were a lock to land their account. They were drafting a proposal at that very moment and would present it to AD One within the next day or two. Susan was so delighted she insisted we celebrate after dinner.
So here we are, "celebrating".
We've been at the bar for about forty-five minutes and Susan is three martinis deep, not to mention the two glasses of wine she had earlier with her meal. The funny thing is, before tonight I didn't even think our health obsessed leader even drank alcohol. Truth be told, despite spending the vast majority of my waking hours working closely with her this past month I know surprisingly little about my new boss.
"Okay ladies, please excuse me, nature calls," Jake says with a chuckle before draining the last of his third beer.
Jake and I met on the job and have been dating for a little over a year now. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've dated quite a few guys over the past few years but Jake is special. Not only is he handsome, but he's smart and very talented, and his wacky, offbeat, and occasionally inappropriate sense of humor matches mine perfectly. Oh, and did I mention that he is abso-fucking-lutly fantastic in bed?!
I study Susan's eyes as her martini tinted gaze follows Jake's butt from our table as he walks in the direction of the bar and the restroom. It's interesting how some expressions are so easy to read. The slight smirk of her lips does nothing to veil her lust and I can easily decipher all the nasty thoughts lurking just behind her eyes.
Still, I'm a little surprised when she leans towards me to share her thoughts.
"He sure is a cutie. You certainly are
very
lucky, Alice."
If she is trying to disguise the fact that not only does she think he's cute but also sexy as hell she's not doing a very good job of it.
Naughty, naughty, Susan. You shouldn't be checking out my boyfriend like that!
"Yes, yes I am," I agree with her as we watch Jake's sexy ass walk past the end of the bar and turn the far corner finally out of view.
The alcohol is really doing wonders to break through Susan's normal stone wall of professionalism or I'm sure she never would have made such a comment. I glance at her and catch a bit of drunken sway in her posture and I smile thoroughly amused, the way sober folk often find inebriated people funny.
I take a small sip of my margarita. I'm slowly nursing my second drink of the night. Personally, I never get drunk and I never lose control, at least not anymore
.
I learned my lesson years ago. Sure, I may have a couple of drinks now and again and may even allow myself to get buzzed, but I haven't actually been drunk since my wild days at university.
Focusing my attention back on Susan I see she is smiling but I sense a touch of melancholy behind it.
"How about you? You dating anyone right now, Susan," I ask nonchalantly even though I've been dying to know the answer for a while. It would be great to get a little dirt on my new boss. She's normally pretty tight-lipped about her private life so the only thing I've heard through office gossip is that she went through a messy divorce a few years back.
"Who me, no, no, I'm much too busy," she answers matter-of-factly, but I catch an undertone of regret. "I haven't had much of an opportunity since my divorce."
I take a moment to process the implications of what she just said. She's been single now for at least three years. Has she really been alone since then?
"Since your divorce?" I say, the surprise obvious in my voice. "But wasn't that years ago? You haven't dated anyone in all that time?"
Susan can be very controlling and a snarky bitch at times, but she is physically quite attractive and only in her mid forties. I have no doubt if she applied herself she could easily have a number of suitors.
I guess I'm feeling a little vindictive after having to put up with her shit for the past couple weeks so I softly snicker, "Man, I could never live without sex for that long." I say it as if I'm thinking out loud, but I definitely want her to hear it.
"I do miss that too," she says with a little laugh, "but I just focus my energy into my work." She does her best to say it with conviction but I get the feeling she is really just trying to convince herself that's true.
"Damn, I'd be climbing the walls after a month without sex and would't be able to focus on work at all!" I confide in her. "I don't know how you do it. What's your secret to a sex free life?" I laugh.
Susan giggles, "A good vibrator and access to the internet! Oh my God, TMI!" She bursts out laughing.
I'm shocked that she is being this open, and deep down there is a devilish part of me that's thrilled because I know she is going to feel pretty embarrassed in the morning. Who would have thought that my normally robotic slave driving boss is a prisoner to lust and desires just like the rest of us.
I need to know more. Perhaps I can coax her into spilling a few details.
"I have to admit, I love watching porn too," I lie.
I never watch porn and I actually think it's kind of gross, but I'm hoping if we "bond" she will confide a few more saucy secrets to me.
"Especially when I'm horny and Jake isn't around. What kind of porn do you like?"
Please alcohol, do your thing! Tell me something juicy, Susan!
Even in the dim lighting of the bar I can see her alcohol induced rosy cheeks blush an even deeper shade of crimson. "Oh I couldn't possibly say! It's too embarrassing. It wouldn't be appropriate," she responds, but I get the impression that she is dying to tell me, she just needs a little prodding.
"Oh come on, we're both adults. It's just us girls. Nothing wrong with a little porn as long as it doesn't involve kids or animals, right," I chuckle, playfully patting her arm.