Meanwhile, Kellie and her friends were in the taxi, excitedly chatting about the night's upcoming activities at Bluesmiths. Kellie, at 43, was the oldest of the three; Samantha was 35 (the equivalent of a 23-year-old) and Sophie had graduated from law school just last year, and was 31 (20 going on 21 in old money). Kellie and Sophie were single - Samantha ostensibly had a boyfriend, 22-year-old Jonny, but he 'couldn't make it' (Kellie suspected she just hadn't told him so she could have a night of carefree flirting).
"God Kellie," Samantha, "How do you look this good, I mean come on, it's unfair!" Samantha was blonde and petite, with an attractive face but not much body to speak of.
"At my age it's hard work!" Kellie joked. "Do you know how much anti-ageing gunk I buy every week?"
"Creams can't make your boobs firmer," said Sophie, cupping her own D-cups, "Yours are twice the size of mine and mine are already halfway to my knees without a bra. And you've had a child!"
"Come on," Kellie said, "You look great. We all do. And tonight we're gonna prove we've still got it."
Bluesmiths was an upscale nightclub with a blue-and-gold theme favoured by young professionals. The male clientele ranged from 18-30; the female from 30-45. Tonight the crowd clearly veered towards the younger end of the spectrum and Kellie, despite her bravado, was feeling a bit out of place. Samantha, meanwhile, was clearly having the time of her life, grinding on two hunky twenty-something men. Sophie, too, had quickly picked up a young guy and was chatting to him in the corner.
After a couple of cocktails Kellie got up the courage to approach a particularly delicious specimen, a young man who couldn't be more than 20. It wasn't at all like her to go after such young guys, but something about the sleek tightness of his body as he danced and the smooth line of his jaw was very appealing tonight.
She adjusted her top, showing off a good slice of her F-cup rack, tossed her hair over one shoulder and whistled with her left hand and waved with the other. The young man seemed confused and pointed to himself a couple of times. She beckoned him over.
"Hey," he shouted over the music, "did you want me?"
Ooh yes, she thought, mentally undressing him with her eyes. Up close he looked, if anything, even younger, with wide-set blue eyes and short sandy brown hair. Obviously one of the City boys, learning to be a Master of the Universe before a girl his age would have mastered the eighth grade. She leaned forward, and was immensely gratified to see those pretty eyes momentarily dip to her deep cleavage.
"Sure," she said. "Can I get you a drink?"
He seemed reticent, but she called the bartender over, ordering a Martini for herself.
"I'll have a rum and Coke," the young man said, and she waved away his attempt to withdraw his wallet from his tight trousers, offering her card instead.
"Um, thanks," he said. "So, er, are you on your own? Or is it a - uh - hen night?"
"Just a night out with the girls," she said, pointing out the others. She was disappointed to see his eyes flash with interest when he saw Sophie.
"So," she said, folding her arms under her chest, "you're an investment banker, right?"
"Yep. Joined Burnstein Rogers this year. Hoping to make Partner by next."
"A boy with ambitions," she said sultrily. "Are you - attached? Or looking for some company?"
He drew back a little. She could see he was struggling not to be hurtful but didn't know quite how to phrase it.
"Erm, no offence but I'm not sure I'm quite the, er, right type of guy for you? I mean, you're really gorgeous, but maybe you want to try to look for an - older guy? I mean-" he put his hand up "I probably wouldn't interest you if you got to know me. That's the only reason. No life experience..." He trailed off.
Kellie exhaled. "Sorry, you know, you looked older from across the room and that's... yeah. OK."
"Thanks for the drink." He was bright pink with embarrassment. Because he didn't want to put me off, or because one of his friends might see him being hit on by the cougar, she thought?
"No problem." The words were lost in the chorus. She watched as he backed away, then made a beeline across the room to where Sophie was dancing.
Kellie was left feeling humiliated, despondent and wondering if she could make it through the rest of the night.