He stood quietly in the corner at the party, staring down at the patterned tiles on the floor. An empty glass, now devoid of its bubbly, acidic contents, rolled in his palms. It was always the same at these events . “A chance to get to know each other” was how his boss always described them – but in reality they always ended the same way – a drunken argument between the shop crews, eventually dragging senior management into the affray.

Of course it was never black and white, but to those involved, thats how everything seemed. Even when he thought he was safe, hiding in the corner, someone senior would pull a switch on him, and he’d be there, in the front line. Being pinned down by that bossy cow from human resources, who’d already cut a swathe through the rest of his team. Coming at him from all angles, no doubt.

He sighed loudly, reached for the bottle and topped up his glass. Something would have to be done about these regular stalemates. He could feel the change in management looming on the horizon.