Chapter 9

Unsurprisingly, the investigation found nothing related to the emails on Kristal computer. She was many things, but she wasn't dumb.

The good thing was that the company was able to block the emails to my professional account, but the personal emails just doubled. I tried to block them, but as soon as a few emails were not received, the account would just change.

Interestingly enough, after our meeting, the troll started to trash talk about Kristal, although he or she would say that it was right for her to bully me in the past.

Samantha said that she couldn't do anything about the emails to my personal account, and although I could report it to the police, they would probably never trace it back to a single person. All the email accounts were bots or burner accounts and it was hard to trace them back.

I lost my patience with it, and the worst part was that the troll seemed to know this. It kept sending treats with provocative texts, telling me how he was never going to be discovered and how I was stupid.

God, I hated it.

_ And the worst part is that it's starting to blend with my emails. The subject is the same as any other email that I receive. So when I open up is like being hit by a weird Twitter thread.

_ Maybe you should not check your emails so often. - Evan said while listening to my story. - It kinda seems like you are checking them obsessively.

_ I have to. - I said while grabbing another set of weights - There might be some information there that can point me to who is doing this.

_ Maybe someone else can do that for you? - Evan said. - I mean, there gotta be someone that you can pay to go over these things and gather evidence.

_ I am not so sure. Computer stuff is a sensitive topic, and I don't want to share my email account with someone I don't trust.

_ Well, that is a smart move. - Evan said, although he did not sound as if he understood much about it. - At least she is not harassing you at the company anymore.

I was silent for some time. That gave Evan what he needed to ask:

_ Is she still bullying you?

_ I think she is. - I said feeling a little embarrassed.

_ What do you mean you "think" she is?

_ There are these weird moments where we meet. It is strange.

Evan leaned back and crossed his arms confused. I continued:

_ I mean, I go to grab a cup of water or fill my coffee cup, and she arrives a moment later or she is already there. When we go to lunch, she is close to the elevator or inside of it when I get there.

_ That is not bulling is it?

_ It isn't when we have other people, but when we are alone, she threatens to jump me.

_ Jump you? - Evan asked seeming more confused than ever.

_ Yeah, you know when someone pretends to punch you or try to scare you out of the blue?

_ Like a bully in those old movies. - Evan said with more confidence.

_ Yeah, that. - I said finally having someone to hear me. - She does it and makes a snarky comment like: "Are you scared of a girl?" or "Don't come near me, you nerd".

I breathed out. I was ashamed to admit that I was scared most of the time. Why did she have to be so unpleasant?

_ Should I look for a way to defend myself?

_ From your old bully? - Evan asked.

_ Yeah. Maybe I should take a self-defense class or something.

_ So you can punch her? - He continued not believing what I was saying.

_ So I can defend myself.

_ Let me get this: So you want to learn how to fight and defend yourself against a girl who scares you in your work. Did I understand this correctly? - Evan said with a joking smile on his lips.

_ God man, this makes me sound pathetic. - I said while holding my head between my hands.

_ That is OK, that's OK. - Evan said while he passed an arm around my shoulders. - Look, I can see that this is important for you. Maybe it will help you if you know how to defend yourself. If you want, I know where there is a Boxing club nearby. You can take a few classes there, just as a precaution. What do you think?

I looked at him and considered what I was doing with my life. I was scared of a girl and obsessed with some emails. Maybe I should have something else to focus my energy, otherwise, eventually, I was going to have a breakdown.

_ Yeah, that will be good.

_ Alright. Now stop with the mopping and let's lighten the mood. Also, stop feeling so afraid of this girl. She cannot hurt you anymore, OK?

I hoped he was right, but at the moment I felt so bad about myself that it would not surprise me if she beat the crap out of me.

I needed to change that.