Brandon and Kathleen had been an inseparable campus couple through their first two years in law school. Now, at forty, Brandon was married to their classmate - his second claw school fling - Jane. Kathleen, still single, was married to ambition. The erstwhile pair never lost contact, having both been hired right out of school by the same large legal firm. Their parallel career paths led them to adjacent offices on the 49th floor of a downtown office building.
Despite their proximity they were not equals. Kathleen's father had founded the firm and she was on the path to becoming a senior partner. Brandon was not partner material.
A month ago, Kathleen had gotten a major promotion, to division director. She was now Brandon' supervisor, and he was one of her ten direct reports. Brandon was genuinely happy for her, even though it was a little awkward to be taking orders from his former girlfriend.
After the promotion, Kathleen's attitude toward Brandon began to change. She started to cultivate what seemed to Brandon like an overt pleasure at disparaging him. When she picked her pair of assistant directors she did not select Brandon, even though he was the most qualified for the job. Instead, she picked her close girlfriend Laura and her second cousin Meghan. Neither was an obvious choice. Laura was a sycophant and Meghan an unvarnished dolt. But once they were appointed, Kathleen made it clear to Brandon that he would be reporting to them, and not her. It was as insulting to Brandon as she had intended it to be.
At the first staff meeting after the reorganization, Kathleen made a point to criticize Brandon after he made a presentation about a new client prospect. She belittled him for not closing the deal with the client, and ended with "We need to hand this project off to someone with balls. I'm taking it from you, Brandon, and giving it to Laura to manage."
When Brandon scowled, Kathleen smiled, and added, "Don't pout, Brandon. Just man up next time, and don't let your teenie weenie keep you from making a move."
Brandon felt humiliated and blushed deeply. Everyone in the office knew that the two of them had dated in college. That gave credibility to her insult. She had just labeled him as someone with a teenie weenie and no balls! It was outrageous. He protested, however weakly.
"That's uncalled for, Kathleen. I am ready to make a move with the client, and was simply reporting my progress," he said, through red cheeks.
Laura smirked at him. "I'm on it, Kathleen!"
John, a mutual friend of Brandon and Kathleen and one of the team, scowled at Laura. He said to Brandon in a low voice. "Don't take this, man."
Brandon stood and stomped out of the meeting.
Two hours later, Kathleen walked into his office.
"Hey Brandon," she said, "I came to say I'm sorry that I was rough on you today at the meeting."
Brandon glared at her. "You weren't just rough, you were way out of line." He spat out. "What you said to me was harassment."
"Maybe it was," Kathleen replied, "but women have been taking that kind of shit from men for a hundred years, and you damn well know it. So 'man up'."
Brandon snarled, "Trust me, I know that many women have taken a lot of shit from many men. But you, Kathleen, have never taken any shit from me. I didn't deserve that abuse."
"Yeah, whatever." Kathleen dismissed him. "I said I was sorry. But maybe you just can't tolerate having me as a boss. Maybe that's your problem."
Brandon shook his head. "Well I don't know. After I complain to HR about this harassment, maybe you won't be my boss anymore. 'Teenie weenie?' You've lost your fucking bearings, Kathleen. That is totally unacceptable, and I'm not going to let it go."
"Don't be a dick, Brandon," Kathleen said, realizing for the first time that she might not be able to walk this insult back. "You know this is my Dad's company. How far do you think you'll get with that kind of complaint?"
"Who knows?" Brandon replied. "But I aim to find out."
Kathleen started to get queasy. "Look, I said I'm sorry. I'll tell you what, if it will make you happy I'll publicly apologize at the next staff meeting. I was over the line and I can admit it."
"I'm glad you can, Kathleen," Brandon replied. "But I need to protect myself from this kind of harassment in the future. Now, if you don't mind, I have some work to do."
Kathleen narrowed her eyes. "Brandon, stop it. It's not like you to be such a jerk."
"Leave me alone. Please." Brandon replied coolly. He stood and held the door.
Kathleen stalked out.
Minutes later, Brandon got an email from her.
"Dear Brandon,
I want to apologize again for embarrassing you today. That was not my intention.
I understand your desire to report me to HR. I really do. But I'm asking you not to. If you can just let this go, I'll make it up to you. I'm prepared to give you what you deserve - an assistant director position. Also, I'll promise to treat you with more respect in the future.
And if you need any more motivation to meet me halfway here, let me remind you that I have pictures of you and me in bed, naked, taken at a time well after the day you married Jane. If you go to HR with your complaint, I go to Jane with those pics. Two can play at this game, bub.
Love,
Kathleen."
Kathleen did not get a reply, and when she stopped by Brandon' office later that day, he was not there. She tried his cell, but no one answered.
She decided to call it a day, and left work early. When she arrived at her apartment, a swanky one bedroom with a balcony in the tony section of town, Brandon was waiting at her front stoop. He was smiling.
"Hi Brandon. Did you get my email?" Kathleen said pleasantly, fumbling for her keys. Want to come up for a drink?"
"Yes I got it," Brandon replied, "And sure, I'll have a drink."
She was relieved. He couldn't still be planning to turn her in if he was this chipper. They went up to her apartment, and she kicked off her pumps and went to her compact living-room bar to make him a drink. "Gin and tonic?" She asked.
"Perfect," He replied.
She fixed the drinks, then gave one to Brandon before plopping down on the sofa and hitting the switch for the fireplace, which immediately came to life as a gas-fed flame.
"So, what did you decide?" She asked.
Brandon smiled, and paused for a few moments before answering. "Kathleen, you hurt my feelings this afternoon, that's for sure. You embarrassed me in front of the whole staff, and for no good reason. You were just toying with your new power."
"Yes, that's probably true," Kathleen confirmed. "My bad."