THE LOST CAUSE BAR #wattys2017

Chapter 10

                 

His tone, sleazy and smug, immediately put me on guard.

"I think this meeting is over." I state trying to bar any argument.

            "But its such a tempting offer, lots of benefits, handsomely compensated. What more could someone in your position ask for?" Mr. Needleman inquires.

            Shuffling my chair back, I try to escape the conference room. One hand on my bag the other on the door handle when he is up from his chair and with me at the door his body right next to mine but not touching, yet, his hand up stretched to run over my jaw.

            A shiver of disgust rolls through my body but he mistakes it for interest with the way his eyes light up and he moves closer his body touching mine.

            His lips almost on mine when I feel the doorknob turn under my hand and a push against the door, someone is trying to enter the conference room. A number of voices filter through the crack of the door, mostly male but at least one female.

            Mr. Needleman takes several steps back, adjusts his jacket, and does up two buttons. His professional demeanor falling  smoothly back into place.

I am clearly flustered and panicked. The position he is in could devastate my career if he says the wrong thing to the right people. The door pushes against my back insistently the business professionals on the other side needing the room but I am too petrified to move.

"Is everything ok in there?" One gentleman ask from their side of the door.

"Ye..."

I quickly cut him off with my shaky  reply, "No."

There is a pause that has Mr. Needleman looking from me to the door and the others on the outside of the room. "Hold on miss and someone will be inside to help you."

The noise of another door on the opposite side of the room, one I didn't notice before had me jumping almost out of my skin.  The  now   open door  allows entrance to a pair of gentleman dressed impeccably in three piece suits, befitting their high position in this firm. The look of concern painted on their faces has relief filling me. Both approach slowing as if approaching a skittish horse.

"Miss its ok. What happen here?"

I can't answer and after a moment when they realize this they simultaneously turn to Mr. Needleman for answers. "Well?"

"Ms. Whittmoore interview is complete and when she found out she didn't get the job she started asking me what she could do to get the job."

My fragile state drops when he accuses me of such acts and anger takes its place. I want to respond and open my mouth to when one of the gentlemen repute's his statement for me.

"Mr. Needleman correct me if I'm wrong but you don't have any meetings or interview today because you took off today, correct?"

He flounders much like a fish gasping for air to answer the man's question.

But I'm glad you are here today because maybe you can answer some questions regarding the ladies waiting in the hall. They tell me a very different story on how their interviews went and I imagine if I question Ms. Whittmoore she would say you did those things to her. Isn't that right, Ms. Whittmoore?"

All I can do is nod my response. The man who had been doing the talking turns to the larger gentleman, "please take Mr. Needleman to security while we sort this out and call the authorities."

I am so thankful when he leaves the room my body sags with relief and I fell my legs turn soggy and I gently sink to the floor.

The look of sympathy from the well dressed business man starts the tears running down my face.

The rest is a blur I am put into a chair at the table and the rest of the people I heard early step in many of them women and few in uniform. As I sit and listen to their stories I realize how much worse it could have been. The women all look shattered after having to relive their interviews and "work". The lies he told them to keep the scam going.

By the time we all can leave the business men from earlier, which I found one being the owner and the other the CEO and best friend to the owner, are making sure we all have rides home. I explain that I have no one to pick me up and I cant take a cab because I don't live close but most of all I'm  ok to drive.

They escort me to the elevator wishing me the best and informing me they'll be in touch soon. I just wave and make the ride and short walk to my bronco on auto. The drive isn't much different and with no destination in mind I drive off.