Top-Consultants, I need some advice on how to handle a situationRecently I was told informally I'm "probably" not going to make the cut for promotion that I think I'm due, then the night after my team's christmas do, I see the door to one of the Partner's hotel room open and out trips a very attractive female consultants (still in party dress). Cue red faces for her and me.Only a day later the partner comes up to me and tells me that I've been misinformed. I am on the promotion list after all.Looking at it one way, I get what I wantLooking at it the other way, am I now a target?

No - you're not a target. Just carry on as usual.If you're really bothered, you can make it clear that it's none of your business and you aren't concerned with who sleeps with who.Now on another topic, what grade was the fine lady? And if you can say, what firm?

Ho ho hoThings do go a bit mad at christmasI'd be prudent as a wise man check yoyr contract doesn't have a sanity claus in it otherwise you may be looking at the sackHo ho ho merry xmas

To braveheartedRegrettably the colleague was same grade as me.One assumes her promotion is in the bag! LOts if people might think this is just part and parcel of working for a consultancy. Lately I've found myself wondering if I should continue with this firm?

To deltoilet. Really appreciate the response. On the other hand, feel that there are some hidden meanings in your comment. Little bit worried that you are trying to say something I'm not seeing? Legalese is not my strong point, but if you think there is an issue, I love to know?

Never put down to malice things which are much more likely to be incompetence! The person who let you know you hadn't made it might just have got it wrong, or someone resigned and you got bumped just over the line etc... etc... I very much doubt that you've inadvertently become a target; if that was the case you'd have not got the promotion and would have been looking at a verbal warning for poor performance in short order IMHO.Hotel room swapping happens between consultants occasionally, more so after the Christmas pissup, so I wouldn't necessarily read too much into the fact that he's a partner and she's a consultant. There have been married couples at every employer I've ever worked at who hooked up while working there, and in all cases but one the man has been more senior of the two; the demographics of consultancies tend to make this the more probable combination.EC

Thanks ECRound 2 of this story has just occurred. Only an hour ago I found myself in a meeting with the lady in question. Leaving the meeting together she takes me aside and thanks me for "being chilled" about the other night and that she wants to say thank you by buying me a christmas drink after work. Lots of very confusing ideas in my head.Advice me please....

What do you need advice for? Whether it is ok for you to have a drink with a colleague?

Go drink!(Have you learned nothing from House of Lies?)

Just don't get her drunk and do the dirty with her.Then you really will become a target.

Quite conceivably she's itching to have someone to talk to about what happened, has she screwed up (terrible pun, sorry), etc. If she has half a brain she'll think twice about talking to colleagues about it, but you're the perfect fit - you already know about it and you know the firm, so a great sounding board.So go do what Marty Kaan would do and have a drink with her (stopping short of the other exploits he'd engage in!)Tony

Without sounding like a saint - Lord knows I've made incredibly bad judgement as well similar to this - but it's saddening to know that this sort of thing is actually the norm now as opposed to some consulting legend perpetuated by feminists and women in the city.Hell, nail a partner or make it rain - thank your stars you saw her taking the walk of shame.Stil, I'm taking lessons on being more of an optimist and less of a cynic and believeing in karmic justice so I'll go with what EC said re malice v competence.

This is a little embarrassing, but I felt I owed it to close out the story. Really fantastic night with my colleague. Obviously some of her embarrassment had been down to the fact that she fancied me! Let's just say the night ended pretty well ( or didn't end....). Looks like the Marty K approach pays dividends!

This has been a heartwarming christmas.I for one feel that chestnuts have been roasted.

Oh man, does she know how the play the game!

Peer maybe she was hedging with you. Either way this is all very good stuff and should be encouraged in xmas parties. Sort of. Maybe gently promoted. Or not entirely discouraged. Or not frowned upon. Or maybe frowned upon but not stopped. Or maybe frowned up but from a distance, like a thousand yard stare from HR. Or something.

Sniff, sniff... what's that smell?Anyone know what that smell might be?Oh I know, It's BS!Next time however, please be more detailed and descriptive. "50 shades of consultancy" comes to mind. And you left out the bit about where she got a pearl necklace from your secret santa. Nice bit of entertainment though! :)

Top comment marsday. Roasted Chestnuts - they certainly were! On the other hand, BEP comes across as jealous. Looks like he thinks only partners should get that level of benefits package? Looks to me like that "oder powerful man" think has a limited shelf life!

A happy, Love-Actually kind of epilogue, but still unaddressed is what was learned of what happened between the colleague and the partner in the hotel...

I could list about 15 reasons why I know this is obviously a work of fiction. But nonetheless, it makes for good reading! So, tell us more about this promiscuous female that you saw sneaking out of the partner's hotel room in her party dress and who subsequently seduced you too. What happened next at work? Be detailed and descriptive.

Truth is I didn't ask! Re-enacting it seemed much more fun! Obviously I will not be providing detailed and descriptive commentary. Less chance of being identified. Lot more chance of a replay.To BEP. Really? Only 15. Let's hear them. Love to have the benefit of a partners view on this.

No no no no no, we want the detailed and descriptive narrative first. 500 words minimum please. I have a train journey later today and need something to read which is less boring than work-related drivel.

Sloppy seconds of a partner in an MC firm? If that was my Christmas present I'd turn into an extreme atheist!But please, continue the story. Tell her you caught something and have an itch. Suggest that she should tell previous partners to ensure it isn't being spread around... You would be hoping she tells the partner before actually getting tested (Er - you hope!)

The only further details I'm willing to share are to re-answer an earlier question on the lady's grade and firm. Response following our encounter is that I can confirm that she is top-grade and very firm. Of course, if BEP would care to share details of his many partner conquests, then I might also share! Or one salacious detail every time BEP reveals each one of his "15 reasons" shy he thinks my recent experience is a "work of fiction"Last word on the matter.

PeerGintster, in the subsequent meet when she bought you a Christmas drink, I hope you put to good use the audio recorder that all those iPhones, Blackberries, Androids have. It's good to have an insurance policy.Also, sleeping with a partner might be a way to avoid redundancy, not necessarily get a promotion. Or both at the same time.

This was always more to do with providing some light ( and yes, salacious) entertainment than anything more intellectually highbrow.Read the first letter of each paragraph of the original post, and also the first letter of each sentence of my subsequents responses; including this one.Operational improvement consultants appear to continue to outnumber those with true intellect or a spark of independent thought on this forum.Looking over old posts it was always the way.Loved the fact that you wondered where I was, Marsaday, when truly I have always been here, in front of your nose.RegardsZBPs Pear says "hi"

At least your nickname denotes some knowledge of good classical music : )

Topical as always ZB. Whatever happened to Pear I wonder. At least he has sorted himself out. Trust in Pear I say.