I'm a 55 year old Human Resources Manager for a chemical manufacturing company located in Chicago. The plant where I work has over a thousand workers that are almost equally divided between office personnel and union, hourly employees. We have a culturally diverse staff that is dominated by women in both ranks, with a 60-40 split between female, male employees. This has made my job sometimes difficult. I have an excellent working relationship with both salaried staff and our union workforce. The difficulty comes from being around so many attractive women, black and white, asian and latin, and all body types. Tall and short, thin and round, every body shape you can imagine. And I am attracted to them all. I've been divorced for several years and my two children are grown and on their own, so most of my life is focused at work.
I have a staff of seven women and men working for me that are all experts in the areas that they work. I have set out my work expectations and they deliver. In return I make sure that they each get credit for the excellent work that they do and pay them well. My biggest accomplishment is that I have been able to promote many of my reports to become leaders at my and other companies.
This brings me to Carrie. She was a 44 year old recent graduate from a good state school when I hired her and one of the best IT (Information Technology) workers I had ever met. Over the time she worked on my team she streamlined multiple systems in my office and in general made work life easier for my department.
She was also incredibly beautiful. She was an exotic mix of latin and asian, with long black hair, olive skin, dark eyes and a perfect body. She was 5'4" tall, with at least 34DD breasts, a flat stomach, round ass and toned legs. She always had perfectly manicured hands and sexy feet that were in CFM stiletto heels. It was a struggle on my part to maintain a professional relationship with her, but we worked well together, and I kept it on the up and up. We really 'clicked' and I often wantedto get closer to her, but thinking like that could complicate the work environment, so I steered clear, as much as I could, of that line of thinking.
One day, after having worked for me for two years, Carrie stuck her head in my office and asked, "Do you have a minute?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"I don't know how to tell you this, so I'll just cut to the chase. I'm giving you my two week notice. I've accepted a new job."
Needless to say I was speechless. Carrie had been an excellent employee and I hoped I had acknowledged and rewarded her work.
"Wow! I didn't expect that. Is there any way I can convince you to stay?"
"No, I love it here and working for you, but I have some personal issues that I have to take care of."
"Do you need time off? Can I help you take care of your problem?"
"No. I need to go."
As we talked I could see there was no chance to change her mind, so we worked out a few assignments I really needed done before she left and I wished her good luck. As she left my office she said, "I want us to stay in touch with each other. Here's my new cell number."
After she left my office I was dazed. I hadn't expected to lose her as an employee and I didn't know how to react to the fact she had given me her private cell phone number. I finally decided to play it professionally, as always, and got back to work.
The next two weeks flew by and on Carrie's last day of work we had a small going away party. As the good byes ended I was left alone with Carrie. As she gathered up her stuff and packed it into a box, I was there helping her. The office was now deserted as we walked out to her car parked in an equally empty parking lot. As I carried the box, I was at a loss for words. I realized I was really going to miss working with and being around her.
We got to her car and Ioaded what we had carried out into the trunk and closed it.
I said the only thing that was on my mind, "I'm going to miss you Carrie."
"I hope not," she replied.
I didn't understand what she was saying, so I asked, "Carrie, you're leaving..."
Carrie said, "I guess it's okay to tell you why I quit. You are a good man and boss and I'm leaving because I don't want to ruin my career. Or yours."
I was now totally confused. I had no idea what she was talking about, so I asked, "Carrie, what the hell are you talking about?"