She had been working at the firm for about two months as a receptionist. The owner often would comment on her dresses and how he would like her to wear shorter ones. She had to get his coffee every morning and bring it to him at exactly 9:00 a.m. During these coffee serving services he would ask her to reach over a little further to pour the coffee so he did not have to move from behind the desk. On this particular day as she was reaching over the top of his desk some coffee spilled on some of his papers as she was pourng it into his cup. His face began to grimace and scowl at the same time as he roared, "You stupid bitch. Can't you see what you are doing? Go get some paper towels and clean up this mess." She was shocked, but dutifully scurried off to get the paper towels.
When she returned he had moved back from the desk and directed her over to his side of it so that she could clean the top of the desk. She thought to her self, "I'm glad that I don't have to reach across that desk." As she picked up the papers and patted them down, shenoticed that he seemed less agitated and was just looking at her. He asked her politely, "Oh, there some coffee over on the side of the desk where you were when you were pouring the coffee." As she reached over to get that spot she felt his hand ever so gently but persisently stroking her upper rear end with slow easy movements as he said, "I'm sorry dear that I yelled, I'm just under alot of stress." In a state of shock she just froze and did not know what to say. Him touching her sent chills of disgust through her entire body. Her mouth dropped as he was touching her from behind and she wanted to yell, but the old memories of how she had been abused in the past by her ex-husband just rolled over her like a tidal wave and numbed her feelings. She left the office and went directly to the restroom.
All of sudden she began to weep uncontrobably. She was a single mother who was struggling to feed her kids. Her job skills were not the best and her self esteem was very low. She thought to herself, "If I say anything I'm going to lose my job and we'll be right back on unemployment. How am I going to pay the rent and keep food in the refrigerator for my two children." This was a crisis that she felt had no happy ending for her or her family. She thought, "Well sometimes a mother has to sacrafice her dignity for her children. This will probably never happen again." She composed herself and went back to her work station hoping noone else had seen what happened to her. She was not only embarrassed that he had done this to her, but she also was petrified that someone might find out that it had happened and would talk about it.
As the months progressed so did his touches and provacative language. Each time she was triggered by his advances she retreated to the safe harbor of the women's room hoping that it would never happen again. She kept on wondering, "Why am I being pursued by this horrible man. Can't he see I don't want him touching me. I don't give him the time of day, but he keeps trying to touch me." He seemed to become more emboldened by her saying "No". She has thought about getting an attorney, but wonders how she will explain why she did not do something sooner.
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