“As the duly appointed electoral authority for this city, I hereby declare that Phillip Taylor has been duly re-elected as mayor for the next four years.”
The rest of the announcement was lost as the rec room erupted into cheers. The huge TV screen in the corner was showing a close up of a grinning Phil as he hugged Lizzie, his wife, to him and turned back to wave to the cheering throng.
In the rec room the champagne corks popped and all the men were on their feet cheering and clapping and pounding on each other’s backs. Carol, Susie and Rebecca were sitting on the bar top, trying to keep out of the general melee and free for all.
Their matching ultra short but elegant cocktail dresses gave perfect testimony to their reason for being there. As did the stocking tops clearly visible below the dress hems. The culmination of several months work had now been achieved and the three women clinked glasses handed to them by Amy from behind the bar. Discovering their boss’s secretary in the rec room had been a surprise, seeing her dressed identically to themselves an even bigger one.
“Cheers ladies!”
“Cheers.”
Suddenly they realised the men had gone quiet and now the clapping began again, this time as a more unified sound with a definite beat. Shrugging, the four women put down their champagne glasses and the three seated ones slid to their feet. They made their way through the throng to join Vicki, the three special assistants’ secretary, who also dressed identically to them, was waiting on the stage.
“Right, let the show begin!”
Another round of cheers drowned out the droning news report on the TV which was quickly switched off as someone else turned the music on.