At First Glance

1

Figures. On my one day off a week, my boss needs me to work overtime on a project he forgot about. I'm so over sacrificing my hard earned relaxation time to save his skin.

My phone starts ringing and it's my friend Sasha. We had plans to go out tonight and sing karaoke at this new place, and once again I'm going to have to cancel on her.

I pick up the phone and before I can even get a word in, Sasha starts going on about tonight.

"Hey Katie, what's up boo?! So, I was thinking, since you get home in an hour, maybe I could come over and we can give each other mani pedis before getting ready and going out. Whatcha think?"

"Yeah, so about tonight. I'm going to have to cancel. My boss forgot about an important project we have to deliver to a client and the deadline is tomorrow. He needs me to stay late and help him finish."

"What! Girl, no! We haven't been able to hang out at all this past month. Can't you just tell his creepy ass no?"

"If I want to keep my job, I can't."

"How important is this job to you anyway? You're an assistant's assistant. You're literally Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada."

"I know, I know. But it pays the rent."

"Yes, the rent for that shitty studio apartment in a shady neighborhood. It's not even a studio apartment. It's a room. How many times do I have to tell you? Just come live with me. We can split the rent and I have an extra bedroom I'm not using anyway."

"I appreciate your offer, Sasha, I really do, but I don't want to be a charity case. I want to make it on my own."
"Girl, you're not a charity case and you know it. Besides, you'd be doing me a favor. You know I have a problem with self discipline. With you there to remind me, I could easily finish my dissertation on time. Just think about it and get back to me. Promise me you'll think about it?"

"Fine, I'll think about it. But I seriously have to go. Maybe if I get done early, we can do movie night or something."

"Fine, but I'm holding you to that."

"Bye, Sasha."

I hang up the phone and head over to the conference room to get started on the project. My boss, Steve, is there bent over some paperwork that should have been done a week ago.

"Ah good, Katie, you're here. Let's finish this project up and then we can call it a night hmm."

"Yes, sir."

We work and work for about an hour before I notice Steve keeps looking over at me. Weirdly, too. Eventually, he starts to scoot over closer to me. I shift away, trying to keep a distance. Maybe he doesn't mean to be creepy.

"You know, Katie, you're a beautiful woman."

Nope, he definitely means to be creepy.

"You could easily have any man and any position you want at this company if you put your mind to it."

"I try to do my best, sir."

"Please, call me Steve. I was hoping after tonight, maybe we could get...better acquainted. After all, as your boss, shouldn't I know everything about my employees."

He starts trailing his fingers down my arm and I yank myself away.

"What are you doing!?"

"Don't tell me you haven't thought about it, Katie. Everything you want could be at your fingertips, for just one night."

"I'm not a prostitute! I work hard and earn what I make at this company. I'm not sleeping with you to get ahead!"

"Think very carefully about this decision, Katie. Either you...work...with me, and get everything, or you walk out of here jobless."

"Seriously! You'd fire me because I'm not going to sleep with you! I could take this to HR, you know!"

"Who do you think they'll believe, a senior manager or his little invisible assistant?"

"Fine. Fire me then, because I'm not sleeping with some creep to keep this lousy job anyway. Good day, Mr. Weiss. I'll leave my badge at the front desk."

I grab my things and I walk out of there head held high. I may have just quit my job, but I still retained my dignity, and that, that means something.

Character Introduction:

Katelyn (Katie) James
29 yrs old
Parents: deceased
Siblings: Older brother Payton
Best friend: Sasha Romanov