I arrived at the Annual Christmas party my company throws for the clients. I hated these things. They were always full of these old fogies and all they wanted was sex. It was a mandatory event and the boss wouldn't take anything but death as an excuse. I usually worked the floor so that he could see me and then retreated to my office for 45 minutes and then walked back out onto the floor. It had been a stellar year for us, so I suppose I should make a brief appearance. The only thing that cheered me up about this entire evening was the thought of all the fun I had shopping for my dress. I took my time dressing and applying my make up. I had a manicure and pedicure and my hair done.

My stylist asked, "Why do you go through this every year when all I do is hide out in your office?"

"I still walk through the office and if I spy someone worth talking too I'd want to look my best."

Now here I was riding in the elevator to the 25th floor. Christmas music piped into the elevator car. The door opened and the Christmas party was in full swing. I made my way gingerly through the crowd stopping twice to grab a glass of Champagne and talk to a client. He put his dirty old hand on my butt. I smiled and politely excused myself from bashing his face in. This isn't a Christmas party, it's a freaking meat market in here. The clients and the employees, we're the meat. I continued my way across the floor making small talk to clients and grabbing my another glass of Champagne. I was almost across the floor. I hadn't seen my boss yet. It would be just like him not to show up at his own party. We'd gone through two hostile take over attempts and the son of a bitch handled it all from Jamaica. I made my way to my office and sat down with my Champagne.

I checked my messages, nothing important. I worked on a case for 30 minutes and headed back out on to the floor. I again mingled pausing only long enough to grab another glass of Champagne and tell a client I saw someone I needed to talk too. I hate these things. It actually was one of the best parties to be invited to. You were considered part of the elite, if you got an invitation. I watched as the boss arrived. Late and drunk as usual. He was dressed as Santa Claus, what a big surprise. He's only been doing that for as long as I can remember.

I made my way across the floor and said hello to him. He kissed me on the cheek. He started to say something and then.

"Oh excuse me I see someone I really have to talk to." I left before he could respond and walked over to a man standing against the wall. "I haven't seen you here before," I said.

"My first year," he said.

"My 4th."

"Is it always like this?"

"No, it usually gets worse."

He laughed. "Nice talking to you," I said. I moved back across the floor. Stopping only when someone stopped me and, for another glass of Champagne. I made it back to my office and used my bathroom. I came out and sat behind my desk and worked on my file for a little while longer. I glanced at the clock and figured I'd better go out and mingle. I opened the door and headed back to the party. I was feeling the effects of the Champagne now and felt a little tipsy. I walked out and mingled and made myself a big plate of appetizers and headed back to my office. I put my hand on the doorknob and heard a man's voice asking me to wait. I turned thinking the worst.

"Hey, I've been looking for you."

It was the guy from against the wall. "Hi, just sneaking into my office for a little snack." He lifted his plate and asked if he could join me. "Sure I guess, just don't turn me in. My boss wouldn't be too happy." He smiled and I let him in and closed my door.

"Nice office."

"Thank you, I like it."

He stuck out his hand and said, "Hi I'm Nick."

"Nice to meet you Nick, I'm Susan."

"Susan."

I offered him a seat at my conference table and sat across from him.

"So what do you do?"

"I'm in Corporate Life Insurance."

"Interesting," he said.

"It pays my bills." We ate making small talk in between and I glanced down at my watch. "I've got to make an appearance," I said. He looked at me with a strange look. "My boss doesn't want us hiding in the office, he prefers us out on the floor mingling."

"But you are mingling."

"It's not the same."

We got up and headed for the door. I walked out and crossed the room and back. I headed back to my office and was looking out the window when I heard a knock. I figured I was caught. I opened the door to find Nick on the other side. "Oh, you scared me."

"I'm sorry, I brought you this." He handed me a glass of Champagne. I walked back across the room and stared out the window. Nick stood beside me. "This must be the best view of Orlando I've ever seen." It was after 10pm so it was pretty dark. You could see for miles and miles. There was a lot of red and green lights all over the city. It really was beautiful. I was feeling the effects of the Champagne now and really needed to sit down. I sat on the couch and put my head in my hands. "How much I had to drink?"

"I lost count. Let's see I've crossed the floor three times, I think I've grabbed a glass on each pass and then you brought me one. Is that 7?"

He laughed. "You've had 7 glasses of Champagne?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"I'm surprised you're still standing," he laughed.

"I'm barely standing."

Nick told me he'd be right back and he left my office. He returned a few minutes later with a pot of coffee and two mugs. I laughed, "most men try to get me drunk, and you're trying to get me sober."

He laughed, "I want you sober so I can get your phone number." I felt so sick.

I skipped the coffee and instead opted for more Champagne. Nick grabbed his champagne flute and drank with me. "This is a party. It's only 10:45 don't bring out the coffee yet."

He lifted me off the couch and asked me to dance. The music was so loud it filtered in under the door. We were dancing so close and then he kissed me. He kissed me so hard it startled me. I broke it off and moved to the window. "Slow down guy," I said. "What's your hurry?"

He walked over to me and slid his hand over my breast and said, "it's Christmas and I fell like giving." He sat me up on my windowsill and started to tug at my panties. I hopped down off the ledge and he caught me forcing his mouth onto mine. "Don't fight it. Just lay back and enjoy it." He carried me over to the couch where he undressed me. He was so gentle and so caring that I went with it. Once he entered me I couldn't fight off the urge to straddle him. I rolled him over and rode him like there was no tomorrow. It was the best sex I'd ever had in my life. We got up and dressed and he kissed me some more.

"I need to mingle before my boss comes looking for me."

"I'll find you."

I went into the bathroom and checked myself. I slipped my shoes back on and walked into my office. He was gone. I opened my office door and walked amongst the guests and said hello to my boss. I scanned the room looking for Nick. He was no where to be found. I walked back to my office. Where did he go? I looked for him up until midnight. There was no trace of him. I went our to the sign in table. I told the receptionists that I was looking for a gentleman named Nick.

"What's the last name?"

"I don't know, he introduced himself to me as Nick and I haven't been able to find him."

They scoured the lists and said, "No one named Nick on the lists."

"No one?"

"Not a one," she said.

I walked back into the party wondering if it was a dream. It couldn't have been. I couldn't feel this good if it was a dream. I walked back into my office. Sure enough to Champagne flutes and a pot of cold coffee. Who was that stranger?