The theme for most bachelor parties offered by Partiez Plus was what Claire would imagine a country club for wealthy golfers would offer. Expensive furniture, including luxurious wing back chairs, and mahogany tables were arranged into several intimate seating areas. There were crystal decanters at each sitting area offering an array of liquors. A box of imported cigars was also offered for those more adventurous. Wait staff circulated discreetly seeing to every need.
Of course, no matter how dignified, since this was after all a bachelor party. A few hours into the evening, a large cake was rolled into the center of the room and the bachelor in question was given a ring side seat, or in this case a cake side seat and the music for the evening was cued. At just the right moment, a small spotlight flashed to the cake and ‘Wala’! Out pops a girl with her arms raised in the air! In this case, the girl was Claire. She would then smile and wave to the guest of honor as well as to the others in the bachelor party. After a few moments, she would be assisted down from the cake and would walk up to the bachelor, give him a hug, a bottle of Cristal and wish him a very happy life.
Generally, she would then exit the area and change into the traditional uniform of the other wait staff and continue assisting with the party. Claire couldn’t believe she’d gotten so comfortable with these parties that she hardly gave them much thought anymore. The men were indeed generally very well-behaved, and her moment in the spotlight was short. The tips were very generous and were split between the party staff. Some tips were left specifically for Claire, but she always insisted that these be divided among everyone as well.
She hurriedly finished drying her hair and went into the bedroom to pull on a tan pair of slacks and a soft purple sweater. Claire took out the small bag she usually carried to the parties and checked to make sure she had everything she needed, then went back to the bathroom to reapply her make-up. Unfortunately working the parties required it to be heavier than she would usually wear it. The spotlight tended to make her face seem very pale, and her eyes seemed to disappear. She applied a heavy base liberally to her face along with a pink blusher, black eyeliner and mascara.
Claire’s green eyes were sparkling by the time she finished adding some dark shadow to her eyelids. Even though she didn’t like the feel of the makeup, she had to admit that it gave her a somewhat exotic look that she normally lacked. Claire returned to the other room and gathered her bag and her purse and stepped out into the hall. She looked down to open her purse and locate her car keys while she started to walk towards the stairway. Suddenly, the air left her body in a whoosh as she ran into a hard wall. Hands reached out to steady her as Claire looked up into Jason’s amused blue eyes.
“I believe this is your third mishap of the day, but who is counting, right?” laughed Jason. He continued to hold onto her arms as though he had suddenly forgotten what he was doing. Claire was frozen as she watched his intent gaze sweep from the top of her head to pause at her lips and then continue on to her breasts. She pulled herself from his grip, her face starting to flame. He slowly, almost reluctantly, released her. “Is there some special-occasion today with your family? You seem really dressed up.” asked Jason.
Claire nervously replied, “Um no, not really. I haven't seen them in a while and wanted to look my best.” Are the words 'I’m a complete liar' plastered on my forehead?
“Well you should certainly have no problem with that, you look like you’re ready for a date,” Jason replied tightly.
Oh yeah, I’m ready for a date with a whole room of horny guys in a few hours. “I, um, no, nothing like that,” Claire replied as she turned away to continue down the hall.
“I’ll walk you down,” said Jason falling into step behind her.
As she hurriedly made her way to the stairs, she heard Jason say with amusement, “Claire let’s slow down before mishap number four occurs before you make it out of the house.” She forced herself to slow her pace lest she end up at the bottom of the stairs in a heap. She prayed that she would give Jason nothing further to laugh about today.
Harold and Liz walked out of the family room and stopped in the foyer to wait for them. “Wow, you look great,” said a smiling Liz. “You’re more than welcome to join my girls' night this evening, Claire.”
“Thank you for offering Liz; however, I have family expecting me.”
“Please drop by in the family room if you get home early Claire, my friends are a little loud but are a really great group of ladies, and I know they’d enjoy your company.”
Claire smiled at Liz warmly and thanked her. She was really surprised at how comfortable she was with Liz and Harold. They seemed the exact opposite of Jason, and Claire was curious as to how the friendship had continued over all these years. Liz and Harold were the type of people to settle down and promptly have two children who were as well-mannered and lovable as they were.
Jason, however, was the type to spend his whole life driven for the next merger with his eye always on the bottom line. When and if Jason did marry, Claire could picture him with a cool blond who spent most of her time shopping and redesigning their penthouse or country home. Try as she might, Claire couldn’t picture Jason with children, although she could see that being an only child, there must be pressure to provide the next Danvers heir. It was suddenly quiet and Claire realized that Jason had asked her a question.
“I’m sorry; I was just going over the directions to my aunt’s home can you repeat that please?”
Jason’s blue eyes twinkled as if to say, ‘I know you’re lying, but I’ll let it pass.’ “I asked what area you’ll be traveling to. Harold and I could give you a lift and pick you up later tonight if we’re going to be near your family.”
“No, that’s ok; my aunt lives off the beaten path so to speak, and it would be too far out of the way,” stammered a flustered Claire.
In his quiet voice, Harold said, “Claire it would be no problem; we’d be happy to drop you off anywhere you need to go.”
Hey, great, could you drop me at the gentlemen’s club an hour away? My aunt really likes to party. She could feel herself starting to panic as she said, “that’s very thoughtful of you both, however, I promised my aunt that I would take her to dinner and I’ll need my own transportation for that. Thank you both though for offering.”
This thankfully appeared to satisfy them both and the topic was dropped. Claire looked down at her watch and announced that her aunt would be waiting for her and after saying goodbye to everyone, Claire walked towards the front door. Jason stepped in front of the door and opened it for her asking, “What time will you be back this evening Claire?”