For Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #156, where we write about the photo below, by CookmePancakes @ DeviantArt.com.
He was the studio’s golden boy.
They owed much of their success to Robbie Mac. They would never have had that Oscar if not for him. Nor the spin-off work secured since.
And without him, Christa herself would certainly not be working there. If it hadn’t been for his recognition, the firm would never have expanded so fast. No swanky new penthouse office overlooking the water. No need for Rob to even need a PA.
Yes, she owed this job to him.
It had been a good move for her, too. Christa was well-paid, well looked after, and the company’s name would be irresistible when she added it to her resume.
They’d hit it off right from the start, she and Rob. From before she realised who he was. And yes, Christa found him attractive. Kind, funny… Tall. 6’6 with the body of a quarterback… with those cute baby blond curls, he was definitely the type of guy she might have gone for, were he not a co-worker. And, she could have lived with the age difference, although his perfect wife and perfect family was a red flag to her.
Maybe she’d got it wrong?
Maybe she’d sent him the wrong signals?
Maybe that didn’t just happen?
Maybe she’d made a mistake?
Her head in turmoil, right now, Christa knew only one thing. Space. She needed space to think this through.
Glancing down at her elegant white blouse, she could still see the creases in the cotton, where his hand had grabbed her breast. Disgusted, she rose quickly from her desk and patted herself flat.
She turned to Rob’s other PA. “Can you watch the phones a minute, Mon? I need to run to the bathroom.” Receiving the slightest of nods from her indifferent colleague, Christa hurried out into the main corridor, walking briskly toward Reception.
“Any rooms?” she asked, curtly.
“Boardroom’s free until eleven”, came an equally brusque response.
She entered the darkened room, and with tears in her eyes, weighed up her options.
Mister Bump 
Probably happens a lot and I think she has no options
Sent from my iPhone
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suspect you’re right. Find a new job.
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…but demand a glowing letter of reference from him before speaking with HR.
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Would taking it to HR do any good? Doubt it.
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With a reference letter in hand, go to HR, quit but tell them why so the incident is on record should (and it will) happen again. If women don’t speak up, they undermine other women who are victimised by this behaviour (which is in fact criminal).
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That’s a toughie. Should she possibly harm herself for the good of womenkind? I suspect most would opt to save their own skin, if their livelihood depended on it.
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No, it’s for her own good because the shock of someone grabbing you like that never leaves you. Besides, you already established that she had no choice but to quit her job.
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I think it depends on what your objective is. If you want justice, are prepared to go through the pain caused by reliving the experience, to go through possible financial hardship, then face the possibility of not even getting justice in the end, then without question, she does as you suggest.
But those are very long odds. The alternative is to cut her losses.
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I think most people will cut their losses, believing they can move on.
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You won’t change a scoundrel like that so leave
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A really interesting image…
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I like this prompt..F normally chooses excellent images. The one last week was blinding.
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This particular one strikes a cord with me.
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Ouch… she’ll come up with a plan.
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She might come up with a plan to save herself. Unlikely she’ll be able to do anything about him.
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That’s all that counts. 😉
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I think the main thing in terms of the common good is to do something about him, but it’s not clear what you do.
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It’s too bad that situations like this are all-too-common in the real world. It’s all about power and control. The feelings and, potentially the lives, of others be damned. Poignant post, Pete.
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Fight or flight here
Post leaves much open for discussion. Well written!
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That’s a dark one
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yeah, it raised more questions than it did provide answers.
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