Let me tell you about a very special morning last week. It was an important day. I had let things slide a bit in my personal accounts but had decided to turnover a new leaf. The accountancy firm I had engaged to help me with my tax return were sending a guy over to my place this morning to do the work. It was unusual for him to work on a Saturday but that was the only day I was free. As ever I was running late and had only just returned from the gym when the doorbell rang. I hurried upstairs from the kitchen where I had gathered all my invoices and opened the door.
He was in his 50s and introduced himself as Graham. He was dressed very smartly and carried his laptop bag over his shoulder. I let him in and he followed me to the kitchen. It had been a while since there had been a man in my house and it felt a little strange. He accepted my offer of a cup of tea and while I made it he prepared himself for the work. As he sat down at the table with his back to me I noticed that my washing was still out in the basket and clearly visible was my pretty turquoise bra and pantie set. Before I could go and move the basket from his eyeline I was mortified to see that he too had already glanced at it.
I decided simply to leave the basket as it was, rather than draw any more attention to it. I brought him his tea, explained a little of what paperwork I had prepared and disappeared upstairs for a shower since I was still in my gym clothes from earlier. I ran the shower, undressed and was just about to step in when I remembered that the new shampoo I'd bought was still downstairs. I wrapped a towel around me and went back into the kitchen.
The first thing I noticed was that my underwear had been moved, not very much but clearly disturbed. I suppose I should have moved the basket then. I didn't. I didn't exactly think it was appropriate he should touch my personal things but nor was I so aghast as to signal any discomfort. The reality was that I liked the effect I thought it might be having on him. I asked him to excuse me while I delved into the shopping bag near his chair. He lifted his head toward me and tried his best to look me only in the eye. I delved into the bag and rummaged around for the shampoo. To this day I am not sure how it happened but my towel snagged on something and very quickly unwrapped from around my body and fell to the floor.