Impressing the boss

They managed to put the tensions of before behind them helped by the announcement of the auction beginning. It was an informal affair with people still milling around drinking and the auction going on at the end of the room.

Jim sighed while flicking through the catalogue Sarah asked "What's up?"

Jim continued to flick through the catalogue as he spoke "I have to bid on something but what it really amounts to is over paying for something."

"Well don't bother then. You bought tickets and I saw you put a good wedge of cash in the collection bucket."

"It's a bit like Game of Thrones being an executive. I have to be seen bidding. I mean female baldness is a worthy cause but It's not something I can really get motivated by. If it was cancer or heart disease or something then I'd feel better but pretty much everyone here is just playing a stupid game of impress the boss, get the raise, get the promotion."

"I thought you were all about that sort of thing?"

"Normally yes but the bosses new young wife seems to be making these sorts of situations all too frequent. He's mad about her and now instead of impressing him we have to impress her. I'm not the only one who's floundering at how to impress his ex-wife's hairdresser." He snapped the catalogue closed and handed it to her "Well there's a few cases of nice wine in there I guess I'll just bid on some of those."

Sarah went quiet for a while as she perused the list, she looked up at the raised area where the auction was kicking off. To the side was the older man and young woman she had met at the party. She tried to get a read on her and she got a suspicion based on a tattoo she had of the zodiac sign on her ankle. A quick look through the auction items and she had confirmed it. "Yea, you don't want to bid on the wine."

Jim looked at her surprised "Why is that?"

Sarah pointed at a few of the items "These here. If the aim is to impress her the wine isn't going to do a thing. Pick one of these, preferably a really dumb sounding one and bid on it enthusiastically."

Jim looked at the things she was pointing at. "What? Seriously? I don't even know what half of these things are."

"It doesn't matter. Just bid on one and look really excited about winning it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea, I'm pretty darn sure."

A short while later Jim was the proud owner of a couples 'Sensory Deprivation Soul Bonding' experience that Jim assumed was vastly over priced. Sarah nudged him in the ribs when he won and whispered "Excited" and Jim made a big show of pumping the air and smiling at his win causing many of his colleagues/rivals to frown at his reaction. A few bids for show that didn't result in any wins followed and Sarah entertained herself by watching the behaviour of the people around her. The whole scene was very fake and she was glad to experience it but not to be involved in it.

After the auction the stage cleared and a band started setting up. The crowd went back to networking and ass kissing. They had barely refreshed their drink when a deep authoritative voice said "Jim."

They turned to be met with Robert Shaw, the boss, and the delicate blonde frame of Christina (Chrissy) Shaw his wife.

Jim shook his hand "Robert, you've been so busy I haven't had chance to tell you both what a lovely evening we've been having." He turned to Chrissy "Christina, you've done a marvellous job, you must be so pleased."

Chrissy was the high energy sort which went some way to explaining her honestly pretty skinny body but Sarah suspected other reasons. She was also very pretty with big blue eyes and full lips but the mix of her delicate build, high energy and high pitched voice made her decidedly child like and Sarah couldn't help but find the relationship distasteful. She masked all this under a veneer of polite smiles and determination to help Jim play his little games.

"Please call me Chrissy" she gushed "I hate all of the formality that happened when I married Robbie." Both of them deserved a reward for managing not to flinch at her calling this powerful man 'Robbie'. "I noticed you bid on the couples sensory deprivation soul bonding. You looked so happy to win it. Oh my god!" She turned her attention to Sarah "That is so rude of me. Hi I'm Chrissy." She lunged at Sarah to hug her.

Sarah recovered herself from the sudden **** quickly and returned the hug "Sarah" she replied "We met actually at Phil and Jo's party."

Chrissy squealed "Oh I remember now." She took Sarahleft hand "Is you husband hear tonight or are you two...?"

Fuck this girl may be dim in some ways but she's not oblivious "No, Jim told me about the cause and I was very keen to come and show my support. I mean, wigs are a great stop gap but there is just not enough groundswell behind cure research."

Chrissy stared at her with a serious look on her face _Shit did I over do it _thought Sarah. Finally Chrissy said "It is so lovely to hear that. It's what I've been trying to say for years and now we have a real chance to help." Her demeanour turned on a dime "Hang on. Why did you buy the soul bonding if you aren't together?"

Jim jumped in "I bought it for Sarah and her husband. I'd heard it was so good and I wanted her to be able to experience it."

For a moment they were convinced that this was the moment that they had blown it before Chrissy started to tear up. "That, is the loveliest thing I've ever heard." She forcefully hugged Jim "You have given them such an amazing gift. A friend of mine runs the experience and he is honestly a guru." Suddenly she was excited again "Ooh I get such amazing vibes from you guys. I have an amazing idea." She poured herself over her husband who seemed to be enjoying his wife's reactions like a dog owner finds the running around and yipping at strangers amusing. "Baby we should invite them to the barbecue."

Robert seemed fine with the idea. "Absolutely. It's at my place in the second Saturday of next month. Nothing formal. I just got a new smoker I've been playing with and I'm finally ready to show off my skills with it."

"Y-Yea I'd love to." Stammered Jim who was looking at her with an expression of 'please say yes'

Sarah was tickled by his sudden collapse of cool and purposefully made a show of thinking about it. "I think I'm free that weekend, yes, I'm sure I can rearrange. I'd love to."

Chrissy clapped her hands and bounced up and down "Great. If it's nice bring your swim suits and we'll make it a pool party. I really look forward to seeing you there." She was kissing Jim goodbye and then Sarah "Oh, and you must bring your husband as well."

Chrissy was looking straight into Sarah's eyes with a look of glee on her face and for a moment Sarah was like a rabbit in headlights "Yes, of course. I can't wait"

"Me too. Bye."

Robert slapped Jim on the arm and gave a formal cheek kiss to Sarah. "Thanks for coming. See you in the office on Monday Jim" and he followed after his wife.

After they were out of sight they looked at each other and Jim with a beaming grin plucked her up by her middle and spun her around "Ha ha. That was great. You were amazing"

Whilst she couldn't help but get carried away in his exuberance the thought persisted at the back of her head That is going to be an interesting party.