Millie walked into the large meeting room and looked around – a wave of pride surging through her in seeing how beautifully the Christmas decorations had come together for the office party. She had spent days on the project and now the fairy lights, garlands of cedar and golden papier mache angels transformed the corporate soulless space into something magical. But the feeling was short lived.
Across the room, near the exit door she saw her husband Jack and his new intern Stephanie pulling away from what seemed to be a passionate embrace. Millie drew in a sharp breath and could feel her body tense, her once perfectly fitted blue satin party dress stretching against the belly fat that, since Jack junior, baby number two, seemed determined to stay. She would have chosen something more comfortable except that Jack kept making noises about ‘how nicely the women in the office dressed’ She just knew he was referring to Stephanie, although he never mentioned her directly.
She let out an exasperated snort. That little hussie she thought then, god I sound just like my mother! Decked out in that little gold lamé number and heels. Of course, it’s easy to have a slim figure when you’re in you’re a childless, twenty-something and nothing to worry about except when to schedule your next manicure… Was Stehanie smiling at Jack? Could she look more ingratiating, face titled upward, her hand patting Jack’s arm? Millie exhaled, pasted a smile on her face and, trying her best to look festive, crossed the floor.
Stephanie froze as Jack pulled her towards him, giving her a slightly wet drunken kiss on her cheek. Glancing up, she saw it. What idiot had put mistletoe over the doorway, giving her boss yet another opportunity to pester her. “Wear something nice tonight” he had said. “Have some fun, your always so buttoned up!” So she had dragged her party dress and heels out of the back of her closet. At least the heels might be useful – the men in her office never seemed to take her seriously and being short as well as female didn’t help.
Jack was worse than usual this evening. He liked to skate pretty close to the line between being friendly and harassing. She pulled away trying to smile and pat his arm, in a slightly placating gesture, kind of ‘no harm no foul’… then glanced sideways and caught a glimpse of Millie out of the corner of her eye. That poor woman she thought, married to this oaf of a man.
I really love what you’ve done here. The fine details you use to transform a “corporate, soulless space into something magical” are beautifully observed and set the tone perfectly.
What stands out most to me is how clearly you portray the insecurities on both sides: Millie’s relationship with her body after two pregnancies, and Stephanie’s experience of not being taken seriously at work. That parallel — the same vulnerability in very different costumes — works extremely well.
I also appreciate how subtly you reveal Millie’s blind spot: that the real issue isn’t Stephanie at all, but her husband and his inappropriate behavior, which Millie redirects onto Stephanie through judgment and blame.
And then contrasting that with Stephanie’s empathy for Millie? Chef’s kiss. It’s a great use of perspective to complicate what could have been a very one-note situation.
thank you so much! I struggled with this assignment – I didn’t want to do the classic demonize the other woman narrative (although in many cases I am sure it fits!) But had no idea if what I did would read successfully – so many thanks for your feedback