I'm the most experienced member of the team in my office but somehow I always go to pieces every time I speak to the new guy. I can't explain it - I don't even like him! - I just get flustered and clumsy whenever he looks at me. And he knows it.
Last Friday, I had already shut down my computer and was walking towards the door when he called me over. I was on my way to a date and in no mood to deal with him.
"Hey Frieda, come here a second."
Not even a please, as usual.
I should have told him to save it till Monday but got drawn in against my better judgement. He wanted help pulling some data out of a spreadsheet for a presentation but he didn't even seem to know which figures he was looking for. I sighed and texted my date that I'd be half an hour late, then put my phone to one side and tried to help him sort it out. Everything in my carefully-constructed spreadsheet looked wrong and I didn't even know where to start.
"What have you done to the formatting? I told you not to touch anything." I grumbled.
"No it's fine, I've got it written in here somewhere..." He said breezily.
He shoved the contents of the desk aside to accommodate his folder, but as the keyboard jerked backwards it knocked my phone down the hole the cables disappear into. Thanks for that dickhead. I silently rolled my eyes.
Any normal person would have moved back to let me retrieve it without getting uncomfortably close, but he just watched me with the weirdest little smirk on his face. I blushed and quickly ducked under the desk to hide my face, trying to ignore the leg barely a couple of inches from my face. The number of cardboard boxes under there would have given the fire warden a fit, but I could see what looked like the edge of my phone at the back and I decided to let it pass this time. I squeezed myself awkwardly between the two biggest boxes and grabbed for it with my left hand. Not quite - just a little further...
He rolled his chair back and whistled.
"Nice. Do you usually wear stockings to work?"
My heart sank as I tugged my skirt down as best I could with only my right hand, but it was no use. There wasn't enough of it to cover my stocking tops at this angle. Now my face was really burning. I knew this outfit had been a mistake. No-one wears black Bettie Paige pumps to the office. I must look like such a tart.
"No! I mean, I'm going on a date later. Not that it's any of your business. In fact, I'm already late so I'd better get going."
I started to wriggle back out but suddenly he was out of his chair and kneeling behind me, gripping my ankles hard.
"You're not going anywhere."
"What?" I replied, weakly.
A long moment passed while I tried to work out what to do. Everyone else had left an hour ago - there was no-one left in the building to help me even if I shouted. I tried to turn around but just banged my head on the underside of the desk. I felt oddly lightheaded.
He shifted my ankles so that they were crossed, held in place with one hand. Which meant his other hand was...where?