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The new girl at work caught my eye and turned my head. It wasnât that she was particularly attractive, she wasnât. But she looked exotic and had an air of vulnerability I liked.
Her name was Yasmeen and even though she was of Arabic decent, she told us that her family had been Christian. When she was four, her parents had died. A Western family had adopted her and all she remembered was growing up in America.
Yasmeen had wide shoulders and blocky hips. She was small breasted and her legs were a bit too heavy. This unfortunate combination of features gave her an almost masculine appearance. She was soft spoken though, and as I worked closely with her I saw she was intelligent and articulate.
That was really the problem. Where it all began. I had to work closely with her.
Yasmeen was twenty-five and had just been hired by the company. I was forty and senior staff. It was my job to train her, to teach her everything I knew. If I didnât train her well, or the next one after her, Iâd never get the advancement I wanted. Yasmeen was to be my replacement, at least when she had more experience.
At first I was disappointed. Good-looking babes with great knockers can be smart and efficient workers, too. Canât they? Why did we have to hire this⊠this⊠singularly unattractive young woman?
Then I worked with her. She asked good questions. She followed the flow of my thoughts. More organized by nature than I, Yasmeenâs addition quickly had our department doing better work than before.
Not that she was that good yet. It was more that we were that good together. Her strengths fit my weakness and my strengths fit hers.
Yasmeen wanted to be a writer and the job entailed a lot of writing. Thatâs why she took the job we offered, even at the ridiculously low salary starting out.
âIf I wanted to be rich, I wouldnât want to be a writer,â she had laughed softly by way of explanation.
Everything about her was soft. Thatâs what I had come to find out. Our office space was crowded and several times we bumped against each other in passing. Accidentally brushing against her buttocks for just a moment, my hand registered its texture instantly before shying away. So soft! But wonderfully firm as well.
Her feelings were soft, too; a womanâs tender feelings. We were standing in the hallway outside the breakroom one morning and both overheard a catty co-worker make a snide remark about the doughty dresses that Yasmeen usually wore.
âMaybe you should ask Yasmeen about the football score last night. She looks like a linebacker in that dress today.â
Yasmeen stared at me in silence, aghast for the longest moment. Then her eyes teared up. Just as one large, mournful drop began to fall, she turned sharply and skittered away.
It had happened after only two weeks of working for us and I was concerned that she might toss the towel in right there. The morning passed quietly after that, the atmosphere in our office, tense.
It surprised me when she came to me just before lunch and asked in sparse words, âIs the dress that bad?â
Yasmeen was smart and I had already grown to respect her intelligence and her worth. I couldnât lie to her.
âItâs not the most attractive you could have worn,â I said gently.
âItâs the best I can afford for now,â she said resignedly and went back to her desk.
Looking at the clock on my desk, I could see it was almost lunchtime and we both needed some air.
âLunch is on me today. Youâve been working hard. We both have. Letâs get out of here.â
In my car, Yasmeen was quiet, contemplative. I didnât want to darken her mood by saying something else that might be worse.
We pulled up to the restaurant in the strip mall and I parked my car. But instead of walking to the restaurant, I turned into the discount clothier next door.
Yasmeen followed me about ten paces behind. I didnât dare look back. If I had, she might have tried to stop me.
I briskly led her to the section that looked like womenâs business attire. One of the first things I saw was a very smart looking pants set in a deep, rich brown. It was even a decent price. Without asking, I held it in front of Yasmeen. The rich, earthy hue looked very attractive against her dark complexion.
When I nodded, she looked down at the price tag and shook her head with that resigned look.
âI canât afford this,â she said quietly, softly.
âLunch is on me today,â I said, giving her my own resigned look of determination.
âI donât know if I can afford that, either,â Yasmeen said cryptically.
âThen letâs call it a loan due only when you CAN afford it. No strings attached,â I said firmly. âI canât afford to lose a valuable employee because of an office bitch.â
It was the only off-color word Yasmeen had ever heard me utter. Usually I keep my cool, especially under pressure. Very reserved. Very gentlemanly.
So she looked down at the pantsuit, her estrogen-laced brain turning, making calculations no man could cipher. Finally, she looked at me with a wry smile.
âThen let me pick out something more feminine. Iâd like to look my best,â she said softly.
I watched her from far enough away to know that she was taking it seriously. When she found one thing she seemed to like rather quickly, she still searched around for something better. As she did, behind a display that separated us, I went through the âmad moneyâ in my wallet, that stash most men tuck away in hopes their wives donât find out about it. I had three one hundred-dollar bills. I pulled out two and put them in my front pocket.
âWhich of these two do you think? I canât decide,â Yasmeen asked me. I had a definite preference. Still, it was really her decision.
Looking at the price tags obliquely, I did a rapid calculation.
âGet them both,â I said determinedly and extended my hand with the $200 visible in it. âAnd one more in the same price range.â
When she went through another series of mental calculations, I decided to press the issue a bit more.
âWe wonât have time to sit down, so while you decide, Iâm going to run next door and get us something to go. I recommend their grilled chicken salad or their cheese and mushroom burger with fries. Which would you prefer?â
Yasmeen smiled lightly and reached out, taking the money from my still extended hand.
âIâd love the burger, but youâd better get me the salad,â she said shyly.
âIâll get one of each and we can split the fries,â I said with a devilish smile.
âI really wanted the mushrooms anyway,â she laughed low and gave me a mischievous smile.
âIâd have to wrestle you for the mushrooms,â I said lightly.
I had said it without thinking. Trying to be glib. A Freudian slip, perhaps? Yasmeen blushed a little. Possibly so did I.
âGo and let me shop, then,â she said after a momentâs awkward silence. Yasmeen didnât say it unkindly, though. Her head was bowed demurely and she had an ambiguous, tight smile on her face.
I turned on my heals and said something completely chauvinistic like, âJust like a woman.â As I walked away, I heard a rather girlish giggle behind me that made me grin a bit more smugly as I left.