I can’t help but wonder how someone like myself, being fairly intellgent and highly intuitive, can be so clueless where men are concerned!
This morning I had cause to think about how I came to be this way when I recalled the following story from 1981…
I’m a sweet, shapely young thing of about 22, when I take a job as a receptionist in a boutique law firm perched high in a building overlooking Michigan Ave. I’m clearly a theatre nerd, bubbly, outspoken and colorful. I’m also a lousy typist, which I never try to hide. Being able to type is like doing a cartwheel. You either can or can’t. There’s no faking it. So why bother?
I work for two successful attorneys in their early 40’s. The really cute one ignores me. The other one, not so much.
One night before leaving work, Albert (the other one, who BTW has three names, a bit pretentious) asks me to join him for a drink After working late one night. (I spend all my hard earned money on head shots and sheet music) Anything free, food or drink, is always welcome! He’s a nice guy and evidently knows my dad from real estate closings. He’s also the uncle of good friend of mine from University. So I figure it’s cool.
He picks me up, feeling quite pleased with himself, in his shiny, expensive car. (Whenever a man leads with his bankroll, you know he’s compensating for something, usually a personality.)
“Ever been in a Rolls Royce before?” He inquires.
“No.”
“Nice. Isn’t it?”
“Sure. I don’t know much about cars. I only know them by color. The silver is pretty.”
We have drinks at the Tremont hotel. It’s a boutique hotel frequented by a myriad of celebrities from Mick Jagger to Kate Hepburn.. . I sang for their corporate Christmas party. After the second drink Albert inquires about my career. I went on about my dreams etc.
Afterwards he drives me home. I live on north Lake Shore Drive in a rented condo overlooking the lake. I love it!
“I didn’t realize you lived here!” He said.
“Why is that important?” I ask.
“I jog past here every morning!’
“Really?” I act surprised. Although most joggers run along the lakefront! Duh! “That’s nice. You should stop up and have coffee sometime.”
“Love to!”
It’s the next morning. I’m dressing for work when my bell rings. It’s the doorman.
“Ms. Butler, Mr. Albert Brooks Friedman is here to see you.
Really? I tell the doorman to send him up.
I live in a tiny studio overlooking the lake, with huge bay windows, making it appear larger. My bed is a white pullout sofa, which usually remains open unless I’m having friends over for Sunday Brunch. (A ritual I enjoy.)
I open the door to a sweaty, rather ebullient, middle aged attorney with a red face and blond hair that is turning white with age. He looks quite a bit older. Where’s Mr. Rolls Royce?
“This is a surprise! Have a seat. I’m almost ready for work. I’ll put some coffee on!” I sound like Mary Sunshine in the mornings.
My back is to him as I frantically begin tidying up my Pullman style kitchen. I wasn’t expecting company this morning, least of all my boss. I try making small talk.
“Can I make you some eggs?”
“NO thanks. I’m good.”
“Cream or sugar?”
I turn around to see his NAKED BODY LAYING ACROSS MY BED, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR! WTF!
“What are you doing?” I’m incredulous.
“What do you mean? Take your clothes off and come to bed.” He says, as though I secretly yearn to jump on his sweaty, pasty, saggy skinned, aging bones.
“What??? Are you nuts?” Mind officially BLOWN!. Why do these things happen to me???
“You know my DAD! You’re nephew is a close friend of mine! What are you thinking?”
“You asked me to come over!” He says accusingly. (Like that makes sense? Oh ya! You’re right Albert. Let’s fuck! Shall we?)
“FOR COFFEE!” I can’t help but laugh. I don’t know what’s funnier, his sheer audacity or the thought of me jumping these (to my mind) old bones!
“I was being NICE! I THOUGHT that you were nice. That’s ALL!”
Although I never saw it, thank god, I’m sure I killed whatever boner he may have had…
“Oh for Chrissakes! I should know better than to get involved with someone so young and naive…” He blurts out as he is getting dressed.
“Get involved? Who is involved? I had two drinks with you!!! You’re MARRIED!!” I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Perhaps I’ve lived a sheltered life. I’ve never encountered men like this before.
He races out the door like the place was on fire.
I show up on time for work. He comes in late. Lunch time rolls around.
“Can you please step into my office?” He asks very officiously.
“Sure.” Thank god! He’s going to apologize and we can move on as though this never happened. I never laid eyes on his pasty white, loosely fitted body.
“This isn’t working out. We are going to have to make a change. I’m sorry”
“WHAT????? Are you kidding me?”
“No. I’ve had complaints that your typing just isn’t fast enough.
“You knew that when you hired me.”
“Well you’re fired!” He says abruptly.
WHAT A JERK!
And that was the end of that. I was out the door. NO further discussion. There was no such thing as a sexual harassment lawsuit back then.
This jerk is still practicing law. He specializes in…wait for it…FAMILY LAW!!!!!!!!
NANODATING the blog... 
Awkward.
What a dick.
Men are asshats I’ve decided, well most of them anyway…
Lol. I wish I felt that way about them. I think I relate to men more than women cuz I have 4 brothers and a bitch sister. It sucks! Cuz I end up cutting them way too much slack!
I concur. We are.
It seems me and this chap are graduates from the same school of douche…
Huge difference darlin’! If I were 21 and turned around and find you in my bed, the outcome wpid have been quite different. Game on!
Ha. I’ll take that! Thanks Blossom.
Anytime. I thought of you when writing about Devin. I’ve seen those rock hard abs. BTW, how soon is your book released? The 28?
If you can email me a link to buy it, I’ll put out the word as best I can. Would you be offended if I but the electronic version? Much easier for me to read.
Absolutely not Blossom! I’ll be chuffed to bits either way. Thank you.
And there’s even a chance that the electronic version will be out before the 28th. I received the Kindle draft late last Thursday and have been promised the revised version tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
That’s fantastic! Can’t wait to read it! Keep me posted. Sean, please tell this wooly American what “chuffed” means. I hate to Google before my tea
Haha. To be very pleased about something.
Great word! Thanks!
Oh my god!!! My eyes nearly popped out of my head reading that! 🙂
He was ahead of his time – Barney from How I met your mother made ‘The Naked Man’ famous 🙂 Seemingly men never refuse, women, not so much 😉
I’ll have to check that out. Some younger women have NO idea how far we’ve come! I was a redhead for 30 years (I did it on a drunken dare in college) My bosses used to say “So tell me, do the spatz match?” !!! It’s no wonder I became an entrepreneur. 🙂
Me too 😉 I used to be a pub quiz assistant in Oz – I got fired because my tits weren’t big enough. Or at least, I’m pretty sure that was the reason. He hired girls who couldn’t add to save their lives and had massive boobs. And they had to wear t-shirts that said ‘Andy’s bitches’ 😉
Omg! !!! That sucks on so many levels!!!
Ha! The main level was that it was great cash in hand 😉 And I loved it!
My son really wants me too post the guys full name. Could be funny, but he’d probably try and sue me. I figure Karma had a way of handling things. .. 🙂
Yeah, let karma take care of him – libel probably isn’t funny 😉
Are you thinking about doing Sharn’s 10 day challenge?
No, I’m afraid to analyse myself too deeply right now. I’m in a dark place – probably shouldn’t be shared with the world!