Chapter 6

Brian and I were sitting in the meeting room again, and this time Samantha was standing.

She towered over us and when she spoke I thought she would cut us to shreds.

_ Let me start by saying that I take any accusations against a female employee very seriously. I take it personally to ensure that we have a welcoming environment free of harassment and toxic behavior for all. So I investigated your case thoroughly to make sure your accusations were true.

She leaned on the table as if she was the bad cop interviewing a suspect.

_ Is there anything that you would like to tell me before we continue?

Brian looked at me as if I was a dead man. Maybe his warnings were true: She found a problem in my story and now was the time to tear me apart.

I held to the arms of the office chair and piped up, with my voice sounding very weak:

_ That is all I had to say.

She kept looking at me with those ice-cold blue eyes for some time, before relaxing. She adjusted her glasses and sat down on her computer again.

_ Well, your story checks out. - she said and glanced at me. - Apparently, some people with her also participated in the bullying and other things.

I paid close attention to her words and then it hit me: She was asking if there were any other accusations that I was going to make against her. Could she have found out about the other things that I left out of the dossier?

Samantha started typing but she gave me enough glances to make me believe that she knew. She looked as if she pitied me. That was new, especially for her.

_ Anyway. I would like to talk to you both and explain how this is going to be. Can I call Kristal here?

Me and Brian looked at each other but agreed. My foot under the table started shaking uncontrollably.

A few minutes passed before a knock on the door and a voice came.

_ Excuse me. Did you call? - Kristal said as she entered the room and then seemed shocked to see so many people.

_ Yes I did. - Samantha said as she pointed to a free chair. - Please sit.

Kristal sat on the chair and kept a respectful smile, but her eyes darted from me to my manager and then to Samantha. The latter started talking.

_ We have been told that you two have a past. - she said in a calm tone.

Kristal looked at me and then back at Samantha.

_ I am sorry, I am not following. What happened?

_ It seems that you two met before at college and there was some attrition. - Samantha continued.

_ Me and him? I am not sure. - Kristal said not looking at me anymore.

_ Well, it seems that you and a few others posted some fliers around the campus...

_ I am not sure...

_ And these fliers were about Adam being a "Creep" - Samantha continued.

_ It was a couple of years back... - Kristal continued in a defensive tone.

_ Also, it bothered a few local business owners. - Samantha continued and turning her notebook to Kristal, she showed a picture of the flier she and her friends created.

As soon as she saw the image, her tone changed from a confused high-pitch to a serious low-tone.

_ Oh, that. - she said and looked straight at me. Her eyes seemed to burn through me. When she continued, her voice was back to a high pitch, but shaking a little. - Well, that was a misunderstanding. You see, he was different back then.

_ Different how? Did he threaten you? - Samantha asked swiftly.

_ No, but he was younger. And we liked to mess around. - She said looking at me and trying to bring me to agree with her. - We played around and teased each other.

I opened my mouth but Samantha's hand told me to keep quiet. She continued.

_ Did he pull any pranks or try to get back at you for anything?

_ Well, no... - she started and her voice cracked a little.

_ Did he say something nasty to you or your colleagues?

_ No, but... - her voice cracked a little more.

_ So the pranks were one-sided would say? - Samantha asked leaning over the table.

Kristal remained silent without knowing how to defend herself. Once the silence was enough, she almost whispered.

_ It was just a misunderstanding.

_ Whatever it was... - Samantha continued as she closed her notebook and looked very serious. - It ends here. The only people who will know about this will be you, me, Adam, and Adam's supervisor, Brian. This is not something to share with your colleagues, this is not a funny water-cooler story to tell others... this ends here.

We both agreed and swallowed hard. Apparently, she was scary to Kristal as well.

_ You are new and a fellow woman, so I will not inform your manager about this. As long as this subject stays dead, you will continue working as normal. If possible, act as if you both never met before, and let us put this all to rest.

I looked at Kristal and she looked at me. Her face was red with embarrassment and she could not look me straight in the eyes. Honestly, that was the first time I saw her like this and it wasn't bad.

_ Fine by me. - I said with a smile.

_ Fine by me either. - she said looking down.

_ Now shake hands and you can go Kristal.

She and I stood up and we shook hands. She looked a little angry, but also too frustrated to say anything. She walked away and I stood there feeling my hand tingly from touching my bully for the first time.

_ Now what? - Brian asked as I sat beside him.

_ Now things will go as I said. No words about this and you can go your separate ways. - Samantha said as she gathered her things and got up.

_ Alright. Thank you for handling this so well. Samantha. - Brian said as he got up.

She gave a gentle smile and her face lit up.

_ There is no need for flattery. This is my job.

_ No. You are the one to thank. - I said while we shook hands. - I didn't expect things to go this well. Thank you for hearing me.

She looked happier and gripped my hand for a moment before letting go. She wished us a good day and took off.

_ Wow. This went well. - Brian said as we walked back.

_ Yeah. I think we will not have to think about it again. - I said feeling hungry again. Something that I wasn't in the last week.

_ I think so. Are you OK?

_ Yes. I am relieved to not have to think about this again.

_ I am glad to hear it.

_ Want to grab something to eat?

_ Sure.

What I failed to realize was that Kristal was following me with her eyes while I walked down to my table, and she did not look happy at all. I would have known what that meant if only I had seen it.