The harassment

Ashley Olden?"

"Yes ma'am!" she stood up abruptly.

"You may go in now, the boss will see you immediately."

She nodded. "Thank you, ma'am" She inhaled deeply and ran her clammy hands over her plaid skirt.

The receptionist stared at her “Ma'am you can go in.”

“Ye...yes" her lips quivered.

She walked up to the door and knocked on it, she opened it and walked in. A fairly large man sat behind the desk, he peered at her briefly from above his glasses “Good morning sir."

He merely hummed his response “Have a seat" he gestured towards the chair.

She pulled it out and sat on it.

“Can I see your documents?”

She nodded and handed it over to him.

He opened it and began to flip through it “Name?”

“Ashley Olden.”

“How old are you?” he inquired.

“23” she simply stated and looked away, there was something about the way he looked at her. It was slightly uncomfortable. She brushed the thought away.

“You do not live in the city?” he questioned.

“No sir, I live in town, on the outskirts of the city."

“Interesting, that is very far off. Does your family live there?”

She nodded. “Yes sir. We had to move into town because it was hard for our family to live in the city...”

He nodded in understanding. “What’s it like in town?”

“It’s peaceful and quiet" she smiled. “People have their little farms, grow their crops and rear their animals”

He looked through the files “I see you didn’t go to college"

She shook her head. “No I didn’t sir, we didn’t have the money to" She began to play with her fingers nervously.

“You barely have any work experience too...” he leaned back on his chair and spun it around. He held her gaze, twirling his pen around his fingers.

“Yea I haven’t been successful with getting jobs in the city but of course, I have worked other informal jobs in town.”

“I see" he stood to his feet and walked up to her. “There are not many opportunities for someone like you.”

She nodded. “I understand that sir. However, I possess all the skill set that may be required for this job if you check in the documents I handed...”

“That would be unnecessary” he cut her off. “It is only mere papers, it doesn’t prove anything...” he walked to stand behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood. She could feel his breath on her neck.

“I...if you perhaps want to test me...”

He scoffed. “Or I could employ someone else. It is much easier that way, saves time too."

She turned around to look him squarely in the face “I...”

"The job could be yours if you want though.”

Her eyes lit up.

“However there is something you will need to do for me, of course" he stared lewdly at her body.

It made her uncomfortable immediately. “Wh...what is it, Sir?" her voice faltered.

"From what I know you’re the last person for the interview today.” He walked towards the door, opened it and peered outside before closing it shut, he spun around. “This job could easily be yours if you want...”

She looked downcast.

“Have sex with me right here in my office and you will get the job right after according to your terms" he replied flatly without mincing words.

She stared disappointedly at the man, of course, she was not stupid not to realise the conversation was veering towards this direction. Things had never been easy for her, at least not the way they had been for all the others. Many times in the past she had been prey for predatory men like this. Getting a job like this was tedious, she knew that and so she had always put in the work to match up to all the requirements yet it was never enough. None of her efforts mattered, all her attempts at getting a job had been futile, and more often than not it had nothing to do with her qualifications. When she finally thought she was having that breakthrough and that she would get a job she was always often disappointed. She had no college degree for the obvious reason that her family could not afford to send her. She tried so hard to measure up but with all these lascivious men she kept on meeting, whatever skills she had acquired or developed were irrelevant compared to her body or some monetary favours which she couldn’t give. It was hard to find jobs in the city when you lived out of town, she had almost given up on looking. However, her friend had told her about this opening last minute. It was an opening to be a personal assistant to the manager, it was a small firm and so the requirements were minimal. She had been hopeful and excited about the offer.

However, now that she sat right across facing the disgusting round-bellied man as he spouted nonsense from his mouth, she wondered if it was worth it all. All of the excitement every time she got an offer.

He had watched her in silence as she appeared to be thinking. He closed the distance between them, his hands reaching forward to touch her. She leaned backwards away from him but there was no stopping this vile man. His hands snaked over her covered thighs causing her to flinch instantly.

"What are you doing, Sir?” her tone was sharp. She tried to stand on her feet but the proximity of his body to hers was too close it would be hard to get to her feet without touching him. He leaned further into her and she could smell his coffee and cigar breath. It was unpleasant and nauseating. The overpowering smell of his awful breath was upsetting to her stomach.

"Why are you behaving like a child? I read your file and I see that you are already a full-grown adult. So, why are you behaving like a novice? You want the job, don't you? Then you know what you need to do” he shamelessly said. “You should consider yourself lucky that I want you to have this job, Ashley.”

She wanted to stand to her feet but he pushed her right back in her chair. She was terrified by his actions.

"I'm sorry Sir” she tried to remain polite, experience had taught her that. “I can't agree with what you proposed I am not that kind of a girl.”

"What kind are you then? You need a job and I am in a place to give you that. Of course, you know I could tweak things a little for you, whatever you want, do you want your salary increased? hours reduced? whatever it is the state it” he flashed her a crooked tooth smile. “I understand of course that you might not be comfortable doing it here, with my secretary lurking outside” he stared around. “And all the clutter on the table, the lack of room...” he trailed off, his smile widened. “We could make subsequent arrangements if you like. Say the word and I will do it...anything for you" his eyes roamed her body lingering on her curves unashamedly.

He put his hands on her shoulder and swiftly slid her chair closer to him. He was determined to do something to her she could feel it.

"I...I don't want a job anymore! Please, let go of me. Get your hands off of me” she shouted. His hands immediately went to clamp over her mouth muffling her screams.

“Shut it bitch” he cursed. “Why are you screaming, I am trying to do you a favour.”

“Let go of me" She struggled against the firm grip of his hands. He was a big burly man and so all her attempts to rid herself of his grasp were futile, he wouldn’t budge, and she became even more terrified. She could not see a way through her current predicament. Tears streamed down her face at the thought that the vile man would have his way with her. His grip on her arms was strong. He was trying to force his hand underneath her skirt. He had sensed that she wouldn’t agree to his terms and so he wanted to force his way with her. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. The second she felt him take his hands off her, she grabbed her things and got to her feet.

She didn't wait for him to say another word to her. She ran out as soon as the doors opened not looking back. She placed her palm over her beating chest, she could almost hear it. What could she have done if he had had his way with her, she thought to herself. She thought about reporting the incident but she was too terrified to think with a clear head. Her mind was clouded with the thought of this could negatively affect her, what if no one believed her, she had no proof, she had nothing.

The incident left Ashley terrified, she tried to fight back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes, and she hugged herself trying desperately to give herself comfort, she was already attracting curious stares with the way she was walking and constantly looking over her shoulders. Her hair was slightly dishevelled from the slight run. She resolved in her heart that moment that she would quit trying to get these kinds of jobs, she would have to find something else. She stopped a cab right out of the building and it took her to the hospital where her friend worked. Only he could truly comfort her.