text: You're aware of the tendency for people to get drunk at parties, even company parties, from studying your friends' Facebook walls, so you speak to Ray before his alcohol can take a hold.
  
  'Hey, thanks for running this party, these events are a great way to boost employee loyalty', you compliment to Ray.
  
  'To be honest you should mainly think James, he did most of the organising. However I'm glad you understand the purpose of this party.' Ray pauses for a moment, and you're not sure how to reply, so you wait for Ray to break the silence.
  
  'One other thing - James will ask you later to speak briefly about our internet coaching service. Make sure you mention the benefits it will provide to the wider community - in my experience groups rally more around 'giving back to the community' as opposed to some individual desire.'
  
  You thank Ray for the tip off and begin planning what you want to say as James calls for silence and begins his speech.
  
  'Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the 2014 Tuition Party!' The crowd (i.e. the 2014 Tuition employees) start cheering before James hushes them and continues his pitch.
  
  'It's been a very successful year at 2014 Tuition - we have more students than ever, a diligent team of tutors, and most of our proteges are performing in the highest percentiles in exams! So can anyone tell me why our company is trumping the other local companies hands down?
  
  The group remain silent, afraid of insulting the CEO, when Ray shouts 'The tutors!'
  
  'Thank you Ray, indeed it is because we have the best tutors - you blokes and girls - that our company grows! You all bring a unique passion to your coaching, and cultivate that keenness in your students to practice deliberately and thus succeed in their exams. We instill qualities in our students that carry over to their other endeavours.'
  
  At this point you notice a few of the company's most promising students behind the stage curtain, and soon they briefly make motivational testimonials onstage about the company before departing.
  
  'Now I have an important announcement to make.'
  
  That captured everyone's attention.
  
  'Starting tomorrow, we will be enriching your rosters with a groundbreaking service - coaching math over the internet from your home! Furthermore, there are countless rural schools without a qualified local math teacher, and with our new internet class coaching, we will not only reach out to the community, but expand our business and raise your wages!'
  
  At this point everyone stands and cheers, many pumping their fists in the electrified air. You're starting to wonder if James is Elvis Presley reincarnated, when out pops another startling announcement..
  
  'What gave birth to this idea? The ball started rolling when one of my employees made a suggestion to our second in command Ray, who liked the idea so much he propagated it to me!'
  
  You now know that he's referring to you, and you visualise delivering your impromptu lines one last time.
  
  Locking eyes with you, he projects 'I'd like to call our innovative staff member up to the stage to say a few words!' You elevate from your seat and let the applause sweep you to the stage.
  
  James unperturbedly proceeds 'Now tell me, how did you come up with this idea?'
  
  You have prepared for this moment, and you begin your response with...
  
  > say "I foresaw how convenient this work would be for us all..."
  When in doubt before you've spoken from your personal experience, as that is more genuine and hence more relatable.
  
  'I foresaw how convenient this work would be for us all. Through internet coaching, we have greater flexibility in working hours, and we can send material through the internet.
  
  James gives you a slightly quizzical look while asking 'And how does our service benefit the local community?'
  
  You weren't exactly ready to talk about this, so you bluff with 'The students can record the lesson to review in their own time, and we can reach out to a much wider client base. We could even pre-record lessons to make our tutoring accessible to the whole world!'
  
  James thanks you for your words and signals for the audience to applause. You could be wrong, but you seem to be walking to polite applause.
  
  After James wraps up his speech, he seeks to chat to you in private. You head to a quiet area of the bar, away from the others.
  
  'From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for sharing such a great idea. I'm truly confident I can develop my business into a multinational venture.'
  
  You reply 'It's a pleasure, I'll gladly continue contributing to the company.' James adjusts his tie before continuing.
  
  'I'll need to promote someone to Ray's level of responsibility for this new diversification, and I'm after your recommendation for the job.' James asks.
  
  Then the penny drops.
  
  Ray was giving you a chance to become the second-in-command along with him. Having fluffed it, you're now relegated to choosing who receives the promotion that could rightfully have been yours. You fight back the tears and propose your friend.
  
  'I would promote Daniel, with his technological expertise I think he'll be perfect for the job', you hesitantly advise.
  
  'OK thanks, now enjoy the rest of your night!', James ironically farewells. You almost believe he enjoyed your suffering, but maybe that's because you're so on edge.
  
  You're leaning against a chair shaking your head for the night as you pick yourself apart. You order a glass of Moët (just one, you need to drive home tonight after all!) and mundanely play games on your phone. You don't even notice your co-workers hooking up with each other for the night until the noise subsides, and looking around you spot one of the married men saunter off with a girl around your age.
  
  You're thinking of leaving when one of the students who extolled the company earlier sits at your table.
  
  'Hello, I'm Sally. I heard your conversation with your boss and I'm sorry to hear...you know.'
  
  'Yup, it sucks. I just blew the best career opportunity of my life.', you lament. Once again you have to strain to avoid crying.
  
  She tries her best to console you. 'It's not such a woeful thing to be so honest. The way you speak your mind is quite endearing in a way.' You can't bear to think about your past any longer so you find out about her schooling, future plans and overseas trips. You start developing some feelings for her when you learn she's a silver medallist from last year's International Mathematics Olympiad.
  
  You look at your watch and realise it's already close to midnight, yet you don't feel tired at all. Sally notices and kindles your interest with her suggestion 'You know this bar has several rooms nearby, right? I found them when I snuck behind some of your colleagues who went up there, probably from being too intoxicated to drive back. There's still a room left, want to come up there?'
  
  At this point you're experiencing so many conflicting feelings - frustration, regret, anger, lust, exhaustion, dizziness and excitement - and you just want it to go away.
  
  You take to the quarters with your arm around Sally and, without getting gratuitious, you have a night of immense passion. Funnily enough you don't think of Kim, somehow your work and surroundings pushed everything else out. You collapse in the bed and slumber, leaving your moral fibre at the door...
  
  > The Aftermath
  At first your life proceeds relatively normally as you continue working full-time for the company (with slightly longer work hours as business picked up), but you find yourself plagued with guilt over your one-night stand with Sally.
  
  It's just too awkward when you kiss Kim now, your body tensing up during your romantic time. If you don't change something, she'll put two and two together soon.
  
  You start working exclusively at the company office, even for your internet sessions, to try and hide your strange behaviour from Kim. You even stay back later each day to assist Daniel and Ray. This plan is fairly successful as Kim's flat out with her work and you maintain a semblance of normality until a couple of months later. .
  
  You and Kim are in a theatre waiting to enter a play, when Kim has to use the amenities. During this time, you see a familiar face. It's Sally, only her belly has expanded since you last saw her. She's so excited to see you that she nearly bowls over an old couple. She hugs you and reveals rather audibly 'I've been looking for you for ages to tell you the good news! I'm having your baby!'
  
  Just your luck. How will you handle this situation so Kim doesn't find out? Well, Kim left the bathroom just as Sally started speaking, and knows the full truth.
  
  Kim is unforgiving of your unfaithfulness and ends the relationship right in front of Sally. You really don't want to be single, so you hook up again with Sally and try to make things work. Perhaps without the pregnancy you'd have a shot, but the baby places added pressure on both of you, and you break up a year later. As Sally is still studying at university, you're stuck with raising the baby, and you live the rest of your life regretting your one-night stand. You never have a healthy relationship with your son as he reminds you of your mistakes, and you're left psychologically scarred for life.