Chapter 3
Hayley
The night of the Anniversary Dance came.
I decided to dress sedately in a silk high-necked long dress with a shawl collar in sea green.
I didn't want fellow associates to make advances to me.
I never mix business with pleasure, and I trust no man to behave himself when he's had a drink or two.
The exception to the formal image was my loose hair, which I wore waist-length.
The music was middle-of-the-road, acceptable to all ages.
The CEO insisted on dancing with all the females and introduced the new members to others.
Bonding was important to him. I tried to relax and dance with my fellow associates, but I sensed I was being scrutinized.
For once, I enjoyed myself as a young intern who whirled me around and caught me in an old-fashioned jive.
My granddad was a rock and roll fiend in his youth and taught me dances from those times.
The CEO smiled. He liked young people enjoying themselves.
I turned round and spotted Dean scowling at me, and then he swiftly turned away. Why did he disapprove so much of me? I ignored him and continued putting all my energy into the dance, twisting, and jumping as if I didn't have a care in the world.
Eventually, I sat down tired and drank a non-alcoholic cocktail, still cautious of saying something wrong and doing something the CEO would disapprove of.
I couldn't afford to lose this job. I'd left my matrimonial home with only the clothes I wore and the cash I'd scraped and saved from my housekeeping allowance.
Since moving out, I've relied on the income from the jobs I undertook to buy clothes, furniture, and a car. I decided to sit out the next dance.
Dean
I hate company dances. Most of all, I detested the false bonhomie and the necessity to dance with people whom I loathe and would avoid like the plague if I wasn’ forced to collaborate with them.
I grimaced when the office ladies made eyes at me and turned away from them, remembering another work event and ensuing romance.
I avoided the first few dances, fleeing to the bathrooms or the bar when the CEO glanced my way with a partner in his hand.
I guess I was the only guy who wasn't enjoying himself.
My life would be easier if the firm had a no-fraternizing policy.
Too many of the women home in on any single man.
Even friendly comments are misinterpreted as invitations to date.
I keep my head down and avoid talking socially with the women.
Office romances are dangerous, as I've found to my cost. Once bitten, now shy.
Contrarily, when I sat down again, my eyes were drawn to the floor where Ms. Rantur was dancing with abandon, so unlike her normal, withdrawn self.
She’s usually polite to men in the office, but rarely jokes or flirts with them like the other ladies.
She wore a don't touch me look. She only relaxes with women.
I seldom socialized with the other guys, but when I did, they referred to her as the 'Frost Queen. '
Her eyes lit up as she spoke to the foolish young ‘whippersnapper’ who lapped up her every word.
Her flowing auburn locks glowed as the spotlights focused on her slight, thin figure, lighting her up like a sprite.
As she moved sensually across the floor, her movements appeared to invite me to stare longer and entice me to join her.
I couldn't take my eyes off her until she noticed and stared at me as if daring me to criticize her wild dancing, and I turned away.
I despised myself. I wanted to dance with her myself and make her laugh with me instead of looking as if she hated me.
She sat down. I noted she didn't drink any alcohol the whole evening. She watched the dancers but checked the clock as if she wanted the evening to be over. The CEO saw she was alone. He approached me. This time, I'd used up my excuses.
'Dean, my boy. You can't let a lady sit alone when you have no partner.' He guided me to Ms. Rantur.
'Hayley, you've rested enough. Dean will take you for a turn around the floor.
' Hayley stalled, but then held my arm, and we took our places on the floor.
Just our luck, it was a slow dance. I placed my hand on her shoulder, surprised that it was so muscular for such a slim woman.
My other involuntarily curled around her waist. She held herself apart, creating a small distance from me, but oddly, this irked me, and I carefully pulled her closer.
'Pretend you are enjoying this. The old man is watching and can't stand his employees disliking each other. It's as unpleasant for me as it is for you.' She tossed her head but moved closer, a wide smile plastered across her face.
'You are an excellent actress when needs must.'
'As are you.'
'I've had plenty of practice,' I said, but didn't elaborate; I don't tell anyone my business.
Perplexed, she shrugged her shoulders, and stiff as a poker, she moved with me to the music. We barely talked, but the CEO frowned.
'Watch it, the old man has noticed we aren't chatting. Let's try to be civilized. What music do you like, and what are your hobbies?
'Rock, both modern and old-fashioned rock and roll, and the blues. I jog and intend to join a gym and swim. And yourself?'
Conflicted, I hated talking about myself, but I'd asked her first, so I said, 'Same music as you, but I hike, ski, swim, and I have a home gym. I prefer to exercise alone.' She grimaced. I could hear her thinking. Typical! He's a loner through and through. And she’s so right.
The musicians played the blues, and she swayed, her rigid spine softening, relaxing to the sensual rhythm.
'What made you move to this town?' I asked.
She stiffened. Curse it, I was too nosy.
I wanted to kick myself. What a fool I am.
I should remain distant from this woman.
She doesn't trust me. I wondered if she was just suspicious of me or of all men who wanted to be friends.
Her intense, secretive nature was beginning to intrigue me, but this type of woman spells trouble. I should know by now.
She hesitated as if deciding what to say. 'I wanted a better-paid, more secure job. And yourself.' I fell into that one. I kept my answer short and factual.
'When I was sixteen, I joined the army and gained my accounting and IT qualifications before I left.
Then I took three months off and traveled through the country and abroad, and afterwards found a firm that matched my skills.
I worked for two more firms until I entered this one.
I was born in California and have worked in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and now here.
I like this town. It's not too big or too small. '
I decided to find out more about her. 'Would you like to return to your hometown, Hayley?'
'No, I have no one there. My parents are dead, and no relations live there.
' I wondered about her school friends, but her eyes had misted up, and her softly murmured words spoke volumes.
A new vulnerability cloaked her and barred any more questions.
Is her aggression a defense against becoming hurt?
For some absurd reason, I wanted to protect her from harm. I mentally shook myself; I'm going soft. Women are just a minor distraction to me to keep the sexual wolf at bay. One-night stands have become boring, but I don't want a relationship. They just end in tears.
'Relax. Our job is high-pressure. We need to chill more often.' She resisted at first. But she gave in reluctantly, and I pulled her closer.
Her breathing slowed down, and her body softened as she relaxed in my arms. I carefully moved her head onto my shoulder and tightened my grip around her waist.
I was enjoying the dance with this sensual bundle, but suddenly, she stiffened and raised her head.
'What's up?'
'This feels wrong. Thank you for the dance, Dean.'
'Would you like a drink?'
'Thank you, but I'll get one when I come back from the restrooms,' she answered, her icy demeanor returning.
She collected her purse and moved to the restrooms, leaving me exasperated.
What had I done to make her so dismissive of me?
Typical of a woman, pretending to be friendly and then pushing a man away.
Most women are teases, and the married ones are worse.
They make oaths of fidelity, play around behind men's backs, and take them for all they have in the bank.