SYNOPSIS: Alexa Miller charges her boss with sexual harassment, requiring him to endure an invasive interview and screening process administered by a beautiful and manipulative examiner.
NOTES: This work of fiction contains some sexual depictions, as well as tickling and foot fetish-oriented content. Characters are 18 or older, and similarity of characters to actual people is coincidental.
Originally posted April 2009
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Dylan Tyler walked by my cubicle on the morning of April 1st. At only twenty-five years old, he was the executive of Able Transport, a national-level shipping company. Compared to me, the single and apartment-dwelling Alexa Miller, I think that most readers would presume that Dylan Tyler was far more successful.
"Miss Miller," he said tentatively, worried about interrupting my focus on Excel.
"Adjusted incomes for March, Mr. Tyler," I said without a beat, swivelling to face him. He nodded and took hold of the papers, glancing a little lower than necessary. My bare feet, which I was idly stretching under the table, were the momentary focus of his attention. Once again I allowed him to believe I didn't notice. Each day was a test on him.
Two hours later, he would hear the page to his office phone from the front desk secretary, asking him to report to Conference Room D.
Waiting beside me in Conference Room D was my good friend, though I had referred to her in recent times as my lawyer and investigator, Miss Jessica Rodgers. She adjusted her light blue collar and glasses, taking a last read over one of her papers.
As Dylan entered, I saw him notice the room's furniture had been pushed to the walls, leaving ample room for one plasma presentation monitor, several chairs (including the special one which was intended for him), and a trolley of miscellaneous equipment.
"Miss Miller?" he addressed me, confused. I kept my mouth shut.
"Come in, Mr. Tyler," said Jessica. "Close the door, please."
He did so, but not before a moment of hesitation. Jessica continued on to introduce herself.
"My name is Jessica Rodgers. I represent Miss Miller in her sexual harassment charge against you."
I was watching closely for Dylan's reaction. His eyes widened and raised in astonishment to meet Jessica's, and I could see his mind begin to work as he sought to collect his thoughts. It was promising. Jessica was acutely aware of the fear with which all males in business had been increasingly indoctrinated regarding sexual harassment in recent years, and it would be our primary psychological tool against him.
"I beg your pardon?" he said, and then turned to me. "Miss Miller, I--"
"Please talk directly to me," said Jessica, with a tone suggesting little patience. "I will speak for Miss Miller."
He paused.
"I'm not aware of why a sexual harassment charge would be made against me," he said calmly.
Jessica held his gaze.
"Sit down, Mr. Tyler," she said, indicating the recliner-like chair. He walked warily around to occupy it. Jessica was so talented. In less than a minute, she had clearly gained control of the situation. The three of us were soon arranged in a triangle, with myself furthest from the others. Jessica took a breath.
"I'm going to try to be reasonable with you," she said, and Dylan's eyebrows relaxed a little. He would choose the smoothest course he could find, and I think Jessica was counting on that.
"You have been acting inappropriately toward Miss Miller since the start of her employment. It is not something to take lightly, Mr. Tyler, as you know. You have been suggestively and repeatedly staring at my client's feet since the start of her employment here."
Dylan blinked. This was a crucial moment, and it was interesting to see his poker face.
"What?" he said after a moment. But I think he realized that the moment was slightly too long. Jessica was an expert at reading mannerisms, and she wouldn't have missed the anxiety in his face even if she hadn't already investigated him.
"Do not insult my client, Dylan," she said, pushing up her glasses. He stiffened slightly at the first usage of his given name. "My client has kept a record of the isolated incidents, including the most recent at 11:05 this morning."
He looked at me. I played my poker face as well.
"I'm..." he started, about to talk to me. But he remembered his instruction, and turned back to Jessica.
"I'm sorry," he said, "but such a small number of... glances isn't enough to..." he started in defence. His defence wasn't very good.
"Have you ever visited the web site 'justwomensfeet.com', Mr. Tyler?" Jessica asked.
Dylan went silent.
" 'coedfeet.com'?" Jessica continued, picking up a paper and reading from it.
" 'ticklingforum.com'?" she asked. "These are only a few of the sites a recent warranted investigation revealed in your work laptop's browser history. You can check the rest of the list to see if any of the others ring a bell. I trust I don't need to begin reading the names of the YouTube videos you seem to have explored."
Dylan was somewhat whiter than a moment ago. His eyes avoided both of ours.
"Uh..." he said, blank-faced, and then closed his lips.
"My client has had to endure the direct impression -- direct, Mr. Tyler -- that you objectify her, sexualize her in your mind. Are you asking Miss Miller to continue working with you while you, what, fantasize about tying her up and tickling her feet?"
Jessica ended at a small crescendo, and the words hit Dylan sharply. His eyes stayed locked on whatever part of the room he had chosen.
"Do you know how easily we could win a court case with just this much evidence? This is not just a friendly series of glances, is it, Dylan?"
Jessica's eyes rested softly on his. She would not move them until Dylan offered an answer. It didn't look like an easy moment for him, and he stayed silent for almost half-a-minute. It must have seemed much longer to him, and his fingertips actually twitched with adrenaline. I don't think anything like this had ever happened to him.
"Miss Rodgers, I am... extremely sorry," he finally said, trying to rekindle his composure using his most heartfelt tone. "I assure you, I was genuinely not aware of... the explicit nature of my..."