I work in an office. There's about 50 of us. I deal with customer relations escalation. I don't get on too well with my immediate superior who is a middle-aged woman. Quite severe. She likes things done in a particular way and I like to do things in my own way. She complains I never do what I'm told. She keeps warning me that she will report me to the general manager. I brush this off.
The general manager is also a woman. she's quite young maybe late 20s - very efficient, definitely a high riser, very positive and direct in the way she speaks. She dresses in business suits. She likes to think she's approachable but really I think she's a little bit intimidating to most of us. I'd like to think that I'm not intimidated, but then I've not really had much in the way of direct dealings with her. I've been to her office once - when I was interviewed for the job - she likes to have a quick look over anyone new just to double check that the hiring process is as she wants it. She sits in a nice big office and she has an outer office where there are maybe ten or so secretaries working there, mostly they are women. I think there actually may be one guy. The women there are young women of various ages. There might be an older women too I can't remember exactly I've only been there once or twice. They are mostly women in the outer office, some as young as maybe late teenage, some older. Mostly nice looking. I walked through there when I spoke to the general manager.
In her office she sits at a big dark wood desk with a leather chair, to suit her position I guess. I sat opposite for five minutes while she talked at me and then I went on my way. I thought she was kind of attractive in a powerful way.
As time progressed the situation with my immediate superior - her name is Susan - deteriorated. She got more and more frustrated with me doing things my way and I became more and more determined not to do what she said and carried on doing it my way. I confess that maybe I went a little bit too far, but I was kind of enjoying it and I thought I could get away with it. Finally, she went for the nuclear option. I came in one morning and she called me over to her desk.
"Colin, the time has come to really sort out your situation. I've informed Miss Jenkins (she's the general manager) about your attitude which I described as total insubordination."
I chuckled at this, mumbling, "Sounds like the army."
"What did you say?" she said.
"Nothing Susan, really."
"Yes Colin. Always nothing from you, all ways up. Anyway, Miss Jenkins has taken an interest and will see you in her office at 10 o'clock."
At 10 o'clock I arrived at Miss Jenkin's outer office and announced myself confidently to the young woman, maybe early 20's, dark hair, nice mouth, who sat nearest her door.
"Colin Roberts to see Miss Jenkins," I said.
She giggled. I wasn't sure why, and said, "Yes. I'll let her know."
She buzzed the intercom, "Colin is here, Miss Jenkins."
I hear a well-spoken, clear voice come back, "Okay - send him in."
I walked in and she was sitting behind her desk looking I might say somewhat haughty in her expression.
"Colin. Good Morning - sit down there," she said and pointed to the chair on the other side of her desk.
I sat down and she sat just staring at me for a few minutes then spoke again:
"Colin, I don't think you really fit in here," she said.
"Why?" I said, "Why Miss Jenkins - I think I do a good job."
She replied, "Well we like things done in a certain way and we like to have what we might call a chain of command. In order to maintain the quality of the service we provide. Susan has updated me on your habits and attitude. I'm afraid you're just going have to go."
"Oh!" I said, "Really, please - I don't want to lose my job - I can't. I have bills to pay. I thought I was getting on OK. Could we make this right somehow?"
"Well we have to know that you can follow directions," she said.
"I can Miss Jenkins," I said, "I can."
"I can't be sure of that," she said and paused, frowning momentarily and then she gave a little smile.
"Well Colin there is a test we can do," she said.
"Yes Miss Jenkins -- anything."
She looked and sounded serious: "I want you to do exactly what I say and if you do this in a satisfactory way, you can keep your job. Exactly what I say, do you understand?"
"Yes Miss Jenkins," I said.
Miss Jenkins spoke firmly looking straight at me, "Firstly - I'd like you to take off your shoes and socks."
Well, this sounded very strange. I wasn't sure what I'd just heard.
I replied, "Miss Jenkins - take off my shoes and socks?"
"Yes Colin," she said.
I thought to myself that if that's what she wants I don't see any harm in doing it, unusual though it may be, and I wanted to pass the test, so I took off my shoes and socks and sat there in bare feet and she looked at me. I was thinking well okay maybe that's it and waited for her to speak.
After a minute or so she said, "Stand up."
I stood up. And then she said, "Take off your shirt."
I was taking aback by this. I started to say something but she quickly cut me off.
"I want you to not answer back from now on," she said, " you can say Yes Miss or Yes Miss Jenkins, that's all. Do you understand?"
I replied, "Yes, Miss Jenkins."
Now I'm thinking this is a bit weird, but it doesn't seem that bad. So I guessed if I take my shirt off then probably she proved her point, the test is over and I go on my way. So I took it off and stood there in my chinos and bare feet. I felt a little bit embarrassed, but I thought that if this is going to do the trick and I keep my job, everything is fine.
So she looked at me intently and then said, "Take off your jeans."
Now I was starting to think this is getting too much, wondering where it's going, but if this is the test and if this if is as far as it's going to go, that's fine. Fortunately I was wearing underpants.
So I'm standing there in my boxers and Miss Jenkins is looking at me up and down.
She says,"Turn around."
I turned round and now I've got my back to her. I can feel her eyes on me.
Now she said to me, "take off your underpants."
That was a bit if a thunderbolt to be honest and made me really quite nervous. I considered walking out then and there, starting to think that it was all just going too far, exploitation or harassment, at least. But then I considered the possibility of having no job, remembering how much I like working here despite the arguments with Susan. The money is good, the commute is short and I really would be struggling to find something as good elsewhere, so I thought to hell with it - do what she wants, let her see my bottom, ass, British "bum", whatever and she has got what she wants and I keep my job.
So I pulled off my underpants and stood there and she just said, "Hmm, cute, yes."