"I would like to propose a toast," Dean Litton announced, "here's to everyone who made last year one of the best in the history of our company, without all of you, none of this would have been possible!" 

"Hear, hear," someone from the back of the room shouted, and another started singing the refrain from "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow!", which was followed by a standing ovation! "Thank you from the bottom of my heart," Dean replied a little sheepishly, "now, let's have some desert so we can get down to some serious partying!" After another smattering of applause, Dean sat down and Marjorie, his wife of thirty three years, squeezed his hand and whispered, "That was a very nice speech, honey, I think everyone is having a wonderful time!" "Yeah," he replied, "this is about the best company party we've ever had, but last year sales were terrific, so it should be a happy time!" Those words were to be far less than prophetic, as within a matter of seconds five men with automatic weapons slipped into the room and announced a hold up!

A man dressed in dark clothing and a black skit mask announced loudly, "If everyone shuts up and does as you're told, nobody gets hurt, but it you give us even the slightest bit of grief, you'll be shot before you can even say fucking boo, got it!?!" A low murmur passed through the crowd before Dean stood up and asked, "What do you want with us, we haven't done anything to you!?!" "Now that's a good question," the man replied sarcastically, "but you're wrong, you have done something to us, you all have stolen all our money, credit cards, and jewelry, and just came here to get it back, does that answer your question!?!" Dean carefully turned to face his fellow captives and offered, "I think we'd better do as were told, I hope we can assume that after they get what they're after they'll leave us alone!" "Very nicely put," the man in black replied, "now listen up everyone, my men are going pass among with open duffel bags, put all of your valuables in the bag and don't try holding out on us, if we find that you haven't been straight with us, you can expect to get it right in the fucking head!"