The Company Party (2020)

It's the annual company party for McClaren Sales and Adriana has snuck by her bosses and coworkers to have a smoke outside. The 6 hour party is mandatory and Adriana pulls this routine every year, walk around and say "hello," sneak out, and arrive when everyone is saying their goodbyes. She sneaks a bone china plate from Ms. McClaren's cabinet to use as an ashtray, the follows her to keep her company.

The company party is supposed to be fun and encourage the employees to work unified and happier during the year, but it's painfully dull. Everyone sips their listening to classical music, nipples on hors d'oeuvres, and make polite conversation, of course skirting around anything involving controversy or passion. Adriana can't relate to her coworkers and bosses, she's full of passion, controversy, and a smidge of rebellion.

Adriana leans back into the comfortable cushion of the patio chair when she hears the sliding glass door open, she jumps snuffs out her smoke and she looks, it's just Sofi Ryan. Sofi's her new co-worker. She's a sweet girl but she's young, and Adriana has taken her under her wing to show her the ropes at McClaren Sales.

Sofi coughs, "I can't believe you're using Mrs. McClaren's fine china for an ashtray, and everyone is out there, they're going to notice you're missing."

Adriana smiles and lets her know that she's been with this company for six years now, she knows exactly what she's doing. Sofi smiles at Adriana, she likes that Adriana takes care of her, and the two women are so similar, she feels happy they're working together and forming such a nice friendship. Sofi has a secret that she's been dying to tell Adriana, "I looked under her bathroom cabinet and found a half gallon of lube!" Adriana laughs out load, "I can't believe you snooped around." Sofi nods, "..there's more." Adriana leans forward in interest. Sofi whispers, "I went to her bedroom and found naked pictures of her with a tall blonde." Adriana gasps, "Nooo!"

Mrs. Mclared opens the door, she's wearing a sharp pencil skirt, business jacket Adriana exhales, white smoke plumes out of her mouth and she snuffs out her smoke in the saucer."

Aubrey looks furious.

Adriana exclaims, "Ms. McClaren!"

"I'm sorry, I should have asked if it was alright if I smoked out here, and I saw this is bone china, it doesn't stain so, no worries, but I should've asked before I used it."

Aubrey, "hmm.. that's a gold-trimmed piece from my great, great Grandmother's collection from Warsaw. She hid with it in a craw space for 9 months during world war II."

"Oh my God. I'm --"

"I hope it suited you just fine for an ashtray?"

Adriana looks at Sofi with pleading eyes, she wishes they could collaborate and come up with a better excuse. Oh God, what if they lose their jobs? McClaren Sales is the best paying job in the industry and a new position only opens up once every five years. Adriana racks her brain, say something, anything! "Well yes, well no.. I mean, I can not apologize enough ma'am. I hope you can forgive me."

Aubrey looks her up and down like a hungry wolf. There is something the girls can do to earn her forgiveness. She licks her rose painted lips.

Watch the story unfold..