A bar had been set up at one end, and there was a buffet table laden with food. Someone had brought a CD player and an assortment of music, and a soft-rock beat filled the air.
The rest of the employees would never have known what Nathan Elder and Craig Rubin looked like if it weren't for the Christmas party. It was traditional that once a year the top brass came down out of their ivory tower and mingled with the hoi polloi.
Mingling included eating, drinking, merry-making, and even dancing with the more attractive wage slaves.
It was a rich black silk cocktail dress that looked as if it had been painted on. The scoop neck bared her creamy shoulders. The hemline ended just below her knees, exposing long, shapely legs encased in the sheerest of black hose. Her black shoes had thin, three-inch heels.
She was in full Femme Fatale makeup, and her shining chestnut waves were brushed up and back from her classic brow to cascade in springy waves to her shoulders.
A thin black ribbon fastened with a coral-pink rose midway on her long, graceful neck was her only adornment. The effect was spectacular. The stark black made her skin glow.
Quentin and Sharon had already left for the party, and Suzanna knew she would be just about the last to arrive, since changing back into Sexy Suzy had taken a little time.
They had already started to play the holiday songs when she got there. She could hear "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" as she approached the doors.
Just for a moment she had a touch of nerves, but she took a deep breath, and with chin and chest held high she pushed open the door and walked in.
Those looking in that direction, and Quentin was one of them, stopped talking and stared. Well, gaped would have been a better word, she thought with an inward sinking feeling.
The puddle of silence spread until all at once Suzanna was the focus of hundreds of eyes. There were a few gasps, a few murmurs, then someone started to clap and pandemonium broke loose.
Quentin was the first to reach her side. "What an entrance!" he whispered, shaking her hand as if to congratulate her on the Femme Fatale contract. "If you wanted to surprise hell out of everyone on purpose, I’d say you’ve done it."
"I’ve been turning myself back into Sexy Suzy, and I must say, it feels good. I’ll never be sensible Suzanna again. Do you mind?"
"Mind? How could I mind? You’re glorious," he praised, the light of love and desire glowing in his eyes.
Just as he finished talking, the rest of the room started to converge on them. People were shaking her hand, patting her on the back, some were even hugging her, and she didn’t mind it a bit.
She knew all at once that she had nothing to fear from these well-meaning fellow workers. They admired her and respected her for what she had accomplished.
Amid all the press of friendly people, an aisle suddenly cleared. Approaching her were two prosperous-looking older men, sixty to sixty-five. They were looking at her in mixed wonderment and admiration.
Quentin introduced them at once. "Ms. Sills, I’d like you to meet Mr. Nathan Elder and Mr. Craig Rubin. This is my assistant, Ms. Suzanna Sills."
Suzanna extended her hand, first to Elder, then to Rubin. For some reason, she found Elder’s handclasp unpleasant. His hand was clammy, his grip limp.
He held her hand a trifle longer than was necessary as he said, "Charmed, is it Ms., yes, Ms. Sills, or should I say, ‘Ms. Femme Fatale?’ I can see why he hired you. The question is, where has Quentin been hiding you?"
"He hasn’t, Mr. Elder. I’ve been right there in my office for anyone to see ever since I started to work here in September."
He blinked, looking decidedly stunned. "I’m sorry. I had no idea."
Now it was Craig Rubin’s turn. He held her hand in a firm clasp and released it immediately as he said, "Congratulations, Ms. Sills. You’ve been doing an outstanding job for us, and your Femme Fatale Cosmetics campaign and modeling, as well as your recipe campaigns for Imperial Foods have certainly kept our clients incredibly happy."
"Thank you, Mr. Rubin," said Suzy with a warm smile. "I’m glad to hear that you’re familiar with my work as well as my dabbling at modeling—which, I hope you know, was not my idea."
"I’m well aware of that, Ms. Sills. In fact, Felix Morgan himself called to clear it with us."
"I never knew that, but I’m glad to hear it." Suzanna liked this man as much as she disliked Elder.
Both were snap judgments, but sometimes first impressions were justified. But she had no time to dwell on it, as Quentin suggested, "Let’s go to the refreshment table. Are you thirsty, or hungry?"
Suzanna considered. "A little of both, I think. What do we have to drink?"
"Champagne punch, or the usual hard stuff with mixers."
"The champagne punch will be fine, thanks. I’ve never been much of a drinker, Mr. Pierce."
"I'll see what I can find for snacks to go with it."
"Thank you."
As Quentin headed for the bar, Nathan Elder sidled up to her, and with an ingratiating smile asked, "May I please have this dance? Perhaps I can make up for my neglect in the past."
"Thank you, Mr. Elder. That’s most kind of you, but Mr. Pierce has just gone to get me a glass of punch and some food. If you don’t mind waiting, I’ll probably be a lot more animated once I'm fed and watered," she said with a little laugh.
"No, I don’t mind. In fact, it sounds like an excellent idea. I believe I’ll have a drink myself." With that, he too headed for the bar.
Susanna was glad of her reprieve. She had a feeling he was going to try for one of the dances from ‘the good old days’ where they danced close enough to be chest to chest.
But perhaps she was being foolish. She would just be polite and pleasant, and try not to be alone with him. There was no need to panic. The past was just that, the past. She was an empowered woman now, no man's victim.
Quentin had come back with her punch and some nibbles, as he called them. They were making small talk and chatting occasionally with Sharon, Brad and their other colleagues.
Just as Suzy emptied her glass, another dance ended, and Elder appeared at her side to claim the next one.
As she had feared, it was a slow, ‘golden oldie.’ Elder took her in his arms, one hand firmly in the middle of her back, the other grasping her right hand in a moist grip.
He was, however, a good dancer. He was smooth and polished and had a strong lead. Although his breathing seemed heavier than it should, it could have been his age. He didn’t get out of line, nor did he speak, but hummed along with the music.
Nevertheless, her skin crawled, and she was relieved when Craig Rubin cut in. Once more, she was surprised, this time pleasantly.
Not only was he a better dancer than Elder, but she felt none of the aversion toward him that she felt toward the other man. He neither talked nor hummed, but seemed to put his heart and soul into his dancing, leading her through some intricate steps, which she was actually able to follow thanks to her grandmother having loved ballroom dancing. She had taught her how to hold her own on the dance floor at weddings and other occasions when couple dancing was required.
Quentin claimed her for the next dance, praising her skill, yet another hidden talent, as he put it, then Brad Sherman took her hand for the one after.
They took time out to partake of the hot buffet which had been laid out, sitting with Sharon and some of her usual lunchtime crowd.
After they had eaten, Suzy danced every dance, rarely finishing one with the same partner. Everyone wanted to dance with Femme Fatale, and just about everyone did, even the clumsiest of the young dancers.
She was graceful and warm, and the loveliest woman in the room. For once she enjoyed her looks, for no one got out of line. And when she got to share a few private moments with Quentin, she felt she had never been happier.
It showed. She sparkled, flirted, bubbled, glowed. Wherever she danced, she felt Quentin’s eyes following her proudly and possessively. She hoped no one else notice
d. But she could barely wait to be alone with him.
Finally the party was over. Goodbyes were said, with many a "Merry Christmas."
A few of the office jokers stood at the door holding mistletoe over the heads of the prettiest girls to collect a kiss.
Suzanna managed to escape unscathed, and hurried back to her office to get her things. Quentin accompanied her to the deserted upper floors for safety's sake.
Once back in the office, after one fast embrace, they lost no time in gathering up their things, putting on their coats, and leaving for a place they could have both comfort and privacy, Suzy’s apartment. They had planned to have Christmas there, and couldn't wait to get away from the pressures of work for at least a little while.
On the way up town in the taxi, they got organized. "Let’s go marketing in the morning. We’ll buy a little Christmas tree, a small turkey and all the fixings and set up the tree. In the afternoon we’ll buy ornaments and—"
Quentin chimed in, "And we’ll shop for one another’s presents, then go back to the apartment and decorate the tree-"
"Wrap the presents and start preparing Christmas dinner."
"That sounds wonderful. I haven’t had an old-fashioned Christmas in so many years I’ve forgotten what it’s like."
"How do you usually spend Christmas?" Suzy asked.
"Usually, I go to Phoenix and spend it with my folks. It’s too hot there for the full works, but perfect for a nice cold winter’s day. I’m really looking forward to it."
"I go to Dallas and do the same thing," said Suzanna.
"Have you told them you won’t be there this year?"
"I called them a few weeks ago. How about you?"
"I did the same thing. I told them I’d met someone special."
"I did too. They were delirious. Instead of visions or sugarplums dancing in her head, my mother has visions of grandchildren. "
Quentin laughed. "Mine, too. Oh, well, it won’t hurt to give them a little hope."
"Just not too much hope," she said with a smile. "Not quite yet, if you know what I mean."
"I do. You're just beginning to really blossom and find your feet as a woman, and in advertising. Not to mention how far you might be able to go with the Femme Fatale thing."
"Oh, I'll be a nine days' wonder. There will be another Femme Fatale model soon enough."
"But no one with your style and class."
"Thank you, darling. It means the world to me to have your support and know how proud you are no matter what I do."
They both kissed then, a sweet kiss which rapidly turned into something more. They broke part shakily with a breathy laugh.
"It must be the champagne punch."
He shook his head. "It's you, my love. You're intoxicating."
When they arrived at Suzy’s they went to the bedroom to change out of their formal wear and into something much more comfortable, bare flesh if Suzanna had her way.
Quentin pulled Suzy’s long zipper, and the dress fell in a black pool of silk at her feet, leaving her clad in her black lace strapless bra with matching panties, and garter belt holding up her sheer silk stockings.
"That’s some dress. Every man in the room today would have liked to do what I just did."
"Flattery will get you nowhere. But I noticed plenty of sweet young things looking at you as if they would like to do this," she said mischievously as she reached out and pulled down his zipper.
There followed some lusty lovemaking in bed and again in the shower, before they donned their robes. They headed into the kitchen to prepare a light snack, chicken breast with microwaved baked potatoes, broccoli, and a tossed salad with bleu cheese dressing. Dessert was Quik-Bix sticky buns.
After cleaning up the kitchen, they felt well-fortified for the rest of the evening. They went to the living room and turned on television to watch for their commercials, and saw Suzy’s favorite, the one with Quentin in it, and his, of the underwater snorkeling shots. The shows they never quite watched were made enjoyable by the agile hands and nimble fingers that slipped inside their loose robes.
They took their time and experimented, and Suzanna was sure all her Christmas presents had come at once as he lifted her in his arms, brought her to the bedroom, and made love to her ever so slowly and attentively for the rest of the night.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
They awoke early the next morning with the slightly blurry aftermath of a night of love clearly reflected in their faces. They were still drowsy with the languor of lovers completely fulfilled, but knew there was plenty to do now that Christmas was really here.
They snuggled for a brief time under the warm duvet, then rose, showered playfully, and whipped up some breakfast, an egg white omelette stuffed with mushrooms, red and green chopped peppers, and cheese, with turkey bacon on the side, all washed down with steaming hot cappuccino and the rest of the sticky buns for the finale.
Thus fortified, they made their lists, checked them twice, and then headed out for the day's shopping.
They separated at the market, where Suzy picked out a turkey, stuffing bread, cranberry sauce, onions, peas, sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and a couple of frozen pies, mince and pumpkin.
Quentin picked out the wines and luxury items, like caviar, pickled artichoke hearts, truffles and marrons glace. They found a small live Christmas tree in the produce department, and some adorable edible popcorn and cranberry tree trimmings.
They rushed home with their treasures, put them all away, had a quick snack of cream cheese and bagels with smoked salmon, and started out to do their Christmas shopping.
"Let’s go to Saks’," suggested Suzy. "We can get everything we want under one roof."
"We can even squeeze in Bloomie’s if we can’t get everything we need there."
Since it was Christmas Eve, cabs were at a premium. Rather than fight for one, they went by subway, and got off at the Fifth Avenue Station. They passed long enough to look at the toys in the window of FAO Schwarz.
"How lovely. A little carousel."
"Not quite like the ferris wheel over at Toys R Us at Times Square, but yes, it's pretty special."
She took his hand and they began to stroll down Fifth Avenue. "So are the windows at Saks, I'll bet."
He nodded. "People come to New York just to see the displays there and at Macy's."
A few people gave her an odd stare or two as they walked, then shook their heads and moved on.
"I like Macy's, but that area of the city is even more crowded than this one."
Quentin nodded. "I know. I used to work on 36th Street and it was always mobbed. People say it's like Grand Central Station, only with obstacles as well as too many people."
"I try not to go too overboard on presents because I think we should be generous and kind to people all year round, not just on one day of the year."
"Too true. I'm glad we agree on that as on so many other things. Just be warned that I would like to pamper you a little bit this year, if that's all right?" he stroked one strand of hair out of her eyes tenderly.
"Pamper away, my love, but it had better not be something that comes out of a box. After all, darling," she purred, reaching up to stroke the back of his neck, "the best things in life really are free."
He grinned from ear to ear. "Bold woman."
"You wouldn't have me any other way."
He stopped to kiss her soundly, then they moved on to the Saks windows.
The theme this year was "Little Women," from the classic novel, and they watched the mechanical puppets bringing scenes from the book to life.
"Let me guess, you identified with Jo in the book, with that chestnut hair of yours."
She nodded. "That and being creative, scribbling as she called it. I adore having a comfy home, but I love my career too."
"It must be nice to be able to have the best of both worlds, to be a great homemaker and hostess and so talented in your chosen field at the same time."
"And nice to have a man
who appreciates that."
He put his arm around her. "I want you to have it all, my dear, no matter what role I play in your life."
"Thank you. So right now, I think I had better play the role of ruthless shopper." With one last look at the charming Victorian display, they headed inside.
They shopped together for some tiny bulbs and ornaments for the tree, red candles for the table, mistletoe and holly for decoration, and some gift wrap.
"This is our first Christmas together," said Suzy. "I want it to be festive and special."
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