The Goodwin Hotel is booked, a well-known establishment in Hartford. The hotel is old and prestigious, which is why the administration at Grovas thinks it’s the perfect fit. The party’s a big deal. Even though it’s held on a Thursday night, it’s a black tie affair. Attendance is mandatory but everyone would go anyway. The firm, though large, is fairly tight knit, which is probably the reason why the rumor mill’s so powerfully fueled. People are curious to see what their co-workers will be wearing, and if they’re single, who they’ll be showing up with. The women will all leave work at around noon to do their hair and put on their gowns. The men will leave around four o’clock to put on their tuxedos and pick up their dates. No one will be working anyway because they are all excited about the evening, not just for the party, but the fact that everyone will find out about their raise, bonus, and promotion. The air’s filled with a combination of eagerness and apprehension.
