Months 8-12.
Cari, Steve and I had become good friends. We were meeting after work and having drinks. Steve was an attractive middle aged man who had made his financial fortune early in his youth. He had married young; had three children and seemed to be looking for something that he had not found in his youth. Steve had a serious crush on Cari. And Cari seemed to be sexually attracted to Steve. Both were married. We were having the time of our lives. I loved coming to work and so did Cari. Steve, Cari and I would talk in my office with the door closed for hours.
It was not long after I returned from Washington that Phillip began to join in. I am not sure if I encouraged it, or if he just invited himself. The two-some which had become a three-some was now a four-some. Work was great.
I hated Fridays and looked forward to Mondays. I enjoyed the conversations. This was better than Maddie's house parties.
Phillip began to change. I do not know why, but I just know that he did. Maybe he was always like this. But he began to stare. I would come out of my office to go to the network printer or the copier and he would stare. No matter where I was in the office, I could feel Phillip's eyes following my every movement. At first, I was flattered. Then as the staring grew worse I became unglued. I did not know what to do. This was my first real job. Phillip was married with two children at home. And to make matters worse, he was the boss. I liked Phillip as a person, and I did not want to make trouble or be perceived as a trouble maker.
Most of my life had centered around an educational institution. No one had prepared me to deal with this. I did not fully comprehend what was taking place between Phillip and myself. I know I should have said something, but I did not know what to say or how to deal with this.
I never considered myself attractive, and, for a man of Phillips's stature to find me attractive was very flattering. On the one hand, I wanted the staring to stop, but on the other hand, I secretly enjoyed it.
One afternoon, Phillip did something that even a fool could have figured out. He made sure that I knew he was staring. When Phillip stared at me, I would pretend not to notice. It was like a game, until he decided to become apparently obvious. I went to pick up my computer printouts from the printer which was located right outside of his office. As I approached the printer, I saw him sitting at one of the secretaries' desk. He must have heard me, because he turned around in the chair. He stared openly at me. Staring with such an intensity that I would have burned to a cinder, if I had been a twig. No smile, no emotion, and no warmth in his eyes. He was totally unreadable. My knees buckled and my heart pounded from shear fear. Phillip was not playing a game and I knew it. Speechless, I gathered my printouts and quickly returned to my office.
The next day I asked Cari if Phillip stared at her. She told me no and then I confided in her what had been happening between me and Phillip.
*** * ***
Jerron was in Town. He had telephoned me from Texas and was stopping by tonight to take me out. I had not seen him in almost two months. I never thought I would miss him. Jerron and I had known each other since grad school. We were both computer science majors and had dated off and on for a year while we were in school. After graduating from college, he had problems finding employment in his field and decided to seek employment outside of the state. He was now living in Texas and would travel home occasionally to see me and his family.
Jerron was my hang out buddy and movie partner. We were both movie buffs and loved going to the movies. In fact, I had not seen a good movie in two months.
