At a corporate event

For Alena, this was the first corporate event at her first job. She doubted the choice of dress for a long time

- Look there. This is something with something! – Ilona said to Alena and squinted her eyes towards a rich young girl in a short dress with a bare back, the neckline on the back was framed by chains with small links. The dress barely covered her hips, and the girl behaved awkwardly.

For Alena, this was the first corporate event at her first job. She doubted the choice of dress for a long time.

True, the choice was small, she had only three weekend outfits, she tried them on, but none of them really fit. The first dress, bought a long time ago to celebrate the New Year, was generously decorated with gold sequins and rhinestones, the second - a delicate peach color with a fluffy gathered skirt, a rigid petticoat and a lace-up corset - looked appropriate only at a ball, the third - dark blue with silk inserts - looked gloomy.

For lack of a better option, Alena settled on blue. Looking at how some of the girls dressed, I realized that I was worrying in vain. Against the backdrop of some extreme options, her choice went unnoticed. One curvaceous, rosy-cheeked blonde dressed in a white dress with a lace skirt and a completely transparent top, the details of the bra trim were clearly visible under the thin fabric. The blonde acted unapproachable and arrogant. Another, slim and tall, with long flowing black hair, chose a tight-fitting jumpsuit.

“I’m wondering,” Ilona said, following one of the girls with her eyes, “do they dress like that because they think it’s beautiful?” Along with a ton of plaster. It seems to me that the men are afraid of them. This one, by the way, is from accounting. I think their name is Inna.

“I don’t know,” Alena shrugged.

The first corporate holiday is like the first ball. Alena examined the table setting with interest and watched how people she knew from work changed a little, becoming more free and friendly.

Alena watched a couple dancing a slow dance. She didn’t know them, but she thought that for the guy, it seemed that this was not just a dance, he was passionate, but the woman felt awkward. Her hand lay unsteadily on his shoulder, she looked around every minute and, apparently, tried to seize a moment to get lost in the crowd.

“Maybe we can hit the tartlet before the locusts sweep it all away?” – Ilona asked.

- Let's!

They headed to the table, on which lay the remains of the treat: fruit tartlets, tiny sandwiches, vegetables and cheeses on skewers and other light snacks.

Surprisingly, food at corporate events has one constant: there is never enough of it. It doesn’t matter how much food and drink there is on the table, it doesn’t matter whether people are full or hungry, but everything is eaten and drunk in a very short time. Moreover, even those who follow a diet participate. Whether it’s because a person especially values ​​everything free and eats up for future use, or the sight of a set table excites a wild appetite, or people cannot indifferently watch how colleagues eat something tasty at the company’s expense, or a healthy sense of competition is activated to see who can eat more - the exact reason is unknown. But there is a universal law of any corporate party - there won’t be enough food and someone will definitely scour the remote corners of the table in search of something edible.

The girls were eating tartlets and chatting about all sorts of things when Alexey approached them. A thick, stocky brunette with a large irregular head and gray deep eyes, in an excellent suit with a somewhat pretentious lemon tie. He could be cute if it weren't for his ears that stuck out so much. Despite his unattractive appearance, Alexey had a peculiar charm - he was an excellent conversationalist, well versed in literature, was very gallant and knew how to joke subtly. Alena liked talking to him, he reported some interesting facts, and recommended literature.

- Champagne? – Alexey suggested. He was in his usual role - cheerful, helpful, polite and slightly ironic.

-Your dress is elegant! – Alexey praised Alena’s taste, approvingly examining the thin silhouette.

- Thank you!

– Alexey, I’m tormented by one question: do men like such dresses? – Ilona intervened and pointed to a girl in an ultra-short dress with a bare back.

- No, it’s too much for me. But think about clothes from the other side - clothes reflect a woman’s condition. For example, if the dress is bright, it means the girl lacks strong emotions.

- What if instead of a dress there are two ropes? – Ilona asked.

“She’s lonely, she wants attention, any kind, even raunchy.”

– What if it’s transparent? – Ilona teased.

– Too closed and reserved and compensates for this with transparent fabric.

“This is interesting,” Alena said thoughtfully. – I never thought about it like that.

“A woman is a small universe,” Alexey answered. “She creates her own unique world around herself. In everything! “And he said with feeling: “Beautiful hand!” You unclenched and held your heart in your palm. I look at you, marveling at a heavenly artist of such austere beauty.”

Ilona stopped chewing.

- God, how beautiful. Where is this from?

- This is eternal! Petrarch! Okay, girls, I need to find someone else. – Alexey waved his glass in greeting and disappeared into the crowd. A few minutes later, Alena saw him laughing with Inna.

“Alexey is something,” said Ilona.

“Yes,” Alena agreed.

The girls chatted for a while and wandered around the hall. Then Alena remembered that she promised to call her mother and let her know what time she planned to go home.

She walked out of the main hall into the corridor and saw Alexei. He stood with his back to her and was talking enthusiastically on his mobile phone.

– Women don’t understand that wanting and getting married are two different things. What are you talking about, there's no one to look at! Cellulite butts are falling out of my panties. Tits like cows. And he would fuck, but he wouldn’t get up. What? Speak up! Tell your sister: she has nothing to catch in Moscow! Do you know how much of your hairy gold there is?

Alena went back into the main hall. The holiday has lost its charm. All that was left was a disgusting feeling, as if she had accidentally gotten dirty in something disgusting.

After this incident, she stopped communicating with Alexei, although he was perplexed for a long time and tried to understand the reason for the change in her attitude, but all his cautious questions met only with a cold, polite smile.

Alina Gorelik