Disclaimers: All characters taking part in my little story are over 18, and reside only in my mind. Any resemblance to real people, is purely coincidental.
*
My name is Jess Robinson. I am just getting my tax business off the ground in one of Greater Seattle's Eastside suburbs.
I am originally from the Denver area, and graduated the University of Colorado, with an accounting degree. In my last year of school, I made the decision to attend law school. I applied at both Colorado and the University of Denver. One of my professors went to the University of Washington, so I applied to their law school, too.
The best deal I got was from the U of W, so I moved to Seattle. I was happy trading the snow for some rain, and all the water around Western Washington. Only being 70 miles from all the skiing I could ever want, kept me from missing Colorado. Oh, wait, I don't even ski!
While attending Law School, I set up a little tax prep business, that helped keep me in pocket money. With all the school work, plus my tax business, I had little time for socializing. I did have girlfriends, and I wasn't celibate.
Let me tell you a little about me. On my best days, I'm 5'9" and a little, and tip the scales at about 170ish. Not exactly Mr. Muscles, but not easily pushed around, thanks to my wrestling and football days in high school.
While in my final year of Law School, I sat for the CPA exam, and passed. As soon as I was able, I sat for our state bar exam, knowing I wanted to stay near Seattle.
I was working in an office, doing taxes, while finishing law school, working for some real jerks. I knew I wanted out of there, as soon as possible.
I was renting a shabby apartment trying to save as much money as possible. I was hired away from my first company by a medium sized law firm, primarily doing tax work, that suited me just fine.
One afternoon, I was passing our HR department, and saw the most gorgeous girl, from the neck up, being interviewed. Just as I passed by, she stood up causing me to take a second look. Not only was she close to 6' tall, she was more than a little overweight. Gorgeous face, but very large.
I continued down to our lobby for my afternoon coffee, when I see her getting off the elevator, looking like she had lost her last friend.
"Did you get the job," I asked as she passed by.
She just shook her head, no, and stopped, as if she wanted to say something.
"Want to talk about it?" I asked. I could see the start of a tear in her eye, but she sat down across from me.
"Jessie Robinson," I said, offering my hand.
"Robin Lawrence," she replied, quietly.
"Can I buy you a coffee?"
She just nodded. Just a little cream, please, she said.
Just sitting looking at this young lady, I very quietly asked if she thought her size cost her the job.
"More than likely, Jess,"
"I don't have to tell you how difficult that would be to prove."
"I know. But that's not the half of it."
I asked her to elaborate.
After a huge sigh, she started, slowly. Jess, she said, I used to work at a much larger firm, but when they brought in two new partners, they chose to bring in their own secretaries. It just so happens they both were skinny minnies.
As she said this, I noticed a tear in her eye. I reached my hand and covered her folded hands and she pulled her hands back like mine were ln fire.
"Sorry, Robin, my mistake."
She just smiled and kept her hands in her lap.
"Tell me which lawyers tossed you aside."
Shaking her head, no, she quietly told me they were both way too powerful to challenge.
"Do you want me to talk with them, off the record, just to get a feel for this?"
"Don't you think its a lost cause?"
"I wouldn't have offered if I thought that," I said with a slight grin.
We traded phone numbers and went on our own way. I returned to my office, and Robin just left.
Back in my office, I just couldn't get Robin out of my head. This wasn't of a sexual nature, I just didn't want her being wronged.
I went to the firm who replaced her, and asked to speak to their office manager. A lady came out to the front, where I was waiting, and asked if she could be of help.
I gave her my name, and asked why Robin Lawrence was let go. She told me that is was an internal matter, and turned to leave.
"Is it an internal matter that we can discuss in front of the King County Bar Ethics Committee, or the King County Human Rights Commission?"
"Listen, you little shit, you best not cause any trouble, if you know what's good for you!"
"Well, Nurse Ratchet, I don't know what's good for me, so tell your Asshole bosses to get ready for a fight!"
I turned and left.
I texted Robin to let me know if she hears anything, and I briefly told her of my conversation.
Her only reply was an all caps, "OH, SHIT!"
A few days went by, which my tax work load kept me very busy.
I received a phone call from one of the two lawyers who had let Robin go. When I asked him if he fired her because of her size, he wouldn't answer. My only statement to him was, "if you didn't do anything wrong, just tell me why she was fired."
He hung up the phone.
Not an hour later, I got a message from Robin asking if we could meet for coffee, after work. I replied, how about dinner, nothing fancy, just to talk. After 10 minutes of dead silence, I got a short "OK"
I asked her if I could pick her up, and she very nervously said all right, make it 6 O'clock.
Dinner went well, I thought, as I recounted my meeting with her former employer. She told me she started a temp job in an office not too far from her apartment.
As we talked, I found out she had just turned 28, single, and had just recently moved out of her parents house. I told her that I was in the process of starting my own business which, to me, made sense, being my own boss.
After about an hour of talking she softly asked if I would take her home. Driving back to her place, she flat out told me that I couldn't come inside, with her.
Fine, I told her, but I also told her I had a very nice time, and wanted to see her again, if possible. As I walked her to her door, she started to open the door, looked at me, and just said good night and went inside. No good night kiss, nothing. Oh, well, I thought.
A few more days went by, with just some "how are you doing" texts, from me. Always answered with just an OK.
Finally, I called her and asked if I did anything wrong at our dinner.