Ring In The New Coffee Break Tale

Ellie learns how to turf out the old and make a fresh start

See you at the New Year party,” Tony said as he left the office. “I’m not going,” Ellie told him. “Daniel might be there with his new girlfriend.”

Her ex-boyfriend had proved to be a two-timing rat and she wasn’t sure she could face watching him welcome in the New Year in another girl’s arms.

Tony hesitated in the doorway. “I thought we could go to the party together. Not as a couple, obviously,” he added quickly. “It would be a shame to waste your ticket because of Daniel.”

He made a good point. The Grand Hotel’s New Year’s Eve parties were the best for miles around. She’d had her ticket since September. If she didn’t go, she’d have to spend the evening alone.

“All right. We’ll go,” she said. “But only as friends.”

Tony had asked her out before, but she’d turned him down. He wasn’t her type. He was slim and fair, nothing like her dark and smouldering ex.

Tony grinned broadly. “Great! I’ll pick you up at ten.”

By the time they arrived, the party was in full swing. Ellie soon spotted Daniel. He was leaning against a wall, dressed from head to toe in black. When he saw Ellie, he strolled over.

“I wasn’t sure you’d be here,” he said. “Who’s the new boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Ellie said. “We work together. So where’s Angela?”

“She went home for Christmas.” He smiled, showing perfect white teeth.

Tony steered her away. “Are you all right?” he asked out of Daniel’s earshot.

“I’m fine,” she replied. “At least he’s not here with Angela.”

“That’s the spirit. Here,” he said as he handed her a glass of wine.

Ellie was glad she’d decided to go to the party. The ballroom looked amazing with all the Christmas decorations and the DJ was brilliant. “Do you mind if I mingle?” she asked. “No, of course not. Like you said, we’re not here as a couple. Go ahead.”

He took it with such good grace, she felt a bit guilty as she went over to two of her friends. While they danced she was aware that Daniel was watching her.

As midnight approached, she headed to the ladies to check that she looked her best for the New Year countdown. On her way, she met Daniel. It was almost as if he’d been waiting for her.

He whistled, softly. “You look amazing.” He tried to take hold of her arm, but she dodged out of the way.

“You’ve got a girlfriend,” she said. “You dumped me for her, remember?” Just then, Tony appeared. “It’s time to head back into the hall. You don’t want to miss the countdown.” “I’ll be right there,” she said. When she emerged from the bathroom, she heard raised voices from further down the corridor. Tony and Daniel were in the middle of a heated argument. Ellie ducked behind a pillar so she could listen.

“Why can’t you leave her alone? She’s just getting over you,” said Tony.

“I don’t think so,” laughed Daniel. “All I have to do is click my fingers and she’ll come running. Just wait and see.”

From her hiding place, Ellie felt a rush of anger. So Daniel thought she was still in love with him and that all he had to was snap his fingers and she’d come running back, like a lovesick poodle?

As she looked at his face, she realised she didn’t feel anything for him any more. It really was over.

She ran up to Tony, and pulled him towards the dance hall.

“There you are! I wondered where you were hiding. Come on. We don’t want to miss it.”

As the last moments of 2017 ticked away, she kept thinking about how Tony had spoken up for her. Maybe he didn’t have Daniel’s smouldering good looks, but she did like him. More than she’d realised, in fact.

“Is something wrong?” Tony’s voice broke into her thoughts. “No. I’m fine.” As people began counting down the closing seconds of the old year, Tony gave her the briefest of kisses as all around them, people cheered and shouted Happy New Year.

Ellie spotted Daniel and waved. “Happy New Year, Daniel.”

Tony stepped away. “I understand now. You wanted to make him jealous.”

Ellie shook her head. “That’s not it at all, Tony. I needed to make sure I was completely over him before I started seeing anyone else.” She took his hand. “If I’m lucky, this is where you ask me out, and I say yes.”

That’s exactly what happened. It was going to be a Happy New Year after all.