I'd been called to the GF's (general foreman's) office! 'What the hell is wrong now?' I thought.
As I entered the trailer, I blanched to see Charlene sitting there with Bob, the GF.
"Hey folks," I cheerfully cried, hoping like hell she hadn't followed up on her words yesterday.
"Sit down, Mills," Bob spoke in that low tone I knew meant big trouble. "Seems Miss Gavins has a rather large complaint."
Turning to her, I asked what was wrong.
"You, Mills," she replied haughtily. God, I hated that tone coming from any woman! "I told you I'd be coming in here today. I'm fed up with your remarks."
"Aw, c'mon, Charlene! I wasn't all that offensive!"
"No? Well, let's just see what Mr Stimson thinks of my complaint. And if HE agrees that it's perfectly alright to say & do the things you do, as my supervisor, then I'll just have to take it all to the court, & the papers!"
"Mills," Bob interjected, "it seems that you've gone way over the line any number of times with Ms Gavins. Did you actually say 'Nice ass,' yesterday, when she bent to pick up her tools?"
"Well...er...I might have said something, but I'm not sure it was those words."
"And did you really touch her buttocks several times? Brush against her chest? Make constant sexual innuendos?"
"Bob! You know me. Do you believe this stuff?"
Bob smiled, & looked at me over the top of his glasses.
"I've never liked you, truth be told, Mills. I think you're a big-headed jerk, but your work has always been above reproach...until this, that is. I'm afraid that, if any of this is true, you'll be out of a job, & most likely out of the union, as well."
"I haven't admitted to anything, here, Bob. It all comes down to her word against mine, and..."
"HAH!" Charlene guffawed. "I GOT you, Mills! I recorded your little comments yesterday on my handy little pocket recorder. Let's just hear the evidence, shall we?"
I reddened as she took out her little recorder, & clicked the play button.
"Hey, sweetie!" I heard myself say, "Shuffle that hot little ass of yours up to the rafters, so I can watch you work from below! I think I'd dearly love to work below you, if you get my meaning!"
She hit the pause button, & I said something about illegal recordings not being allowed as evidence.
"This is not a courtroom, Mills. I find your actions reprehensible in any setting! I am quite within my rights to fire you, AND to have you removed from the union, as well. And unless you can come up with another plan of action that satisfies both Ms Gavins AND myself, that will be what occurs, here."
I sat there, stunned, glancing frantically from the recorder to Gavins to Bob & back. I had no words within me to extricate myself from this situation.
"If I may," Charlene spoke after a full minute of silence. "I might have a solution that would satisfy me, anyway."
Bob turned to her.
"What could possibly be done to fix this?
"I want him off this job. Right now. But," here she paused, looking directly at me with pure evil in her eyes, "if Mills here wants to work, I'll give him a job, for the next six months. If he does that job in an adequate fashion, I'll drop all charges against him & the union. No harm done."
"What job?" I sputtered, grasping at any straw I could find.
"You'll be my personal assistant. My butler. My maid, if you will. You'll be on duty 24/7. Your food & uniform will be provided, & the pay is $250 per day."
"So, I'll have to move in with you?"
"I have a spare room," she sneered. "I've taken the liberty of writing up a little contract that would assure us all that everything is on the up & up."
Bob chuckled, "I see you've thought this through rather well, Miss Gavins. What do you say, Mills? You want to take a 6 month's leave of absence to fulfill your obligations, & to make things up to Miss Gavins?"
I reached for the contract. It had to be at least 20 pages long.
"Take your time," Charlene sneered. "Read it thoroughly if you wish. But the offer is off the table in exactly..." she checked her watch..."10 seconds."
What could I do? I signed it. I also initialed every paragraph in the damned thing, though I couldn't really read it, as she moved it around so fast for me to sign or initial every damned line of the thing.
Bob chuckled again, & I glared daggers into his eyes as he spoke.
"Mills, I don't envy you, but if you actually go through with this, I'll have all of this erased from your files. Nothing will ever be said about it again. DO follow through on the contract, or there will be huge ramifications. You will probably be sued for sexual harassment, as well as losing your job & your position in the union. You won't find work anytime soon if I have anything to say about it."
"I understand, Bob."
Charlene snatched up the contract as soon as it was signed, & Bob had witnessed it. I had a feeling that I was well & truly fucked.
Little did I know...
"Get your tools & your personal affects, & get the hell off my job site," Bob said, after having me sign the leave of absence papers.
Charlene smirked, following me all the way to my locker. She didn't say anything, thankfully, as I told some of the other guys that I had some family troubles, & had to leave for awhile.
As she escorted me to my truck, I asked her if she was happy that she'd ruined my life.
"Don't be such a drama queen, Mills! I SAVED your ass in there, & don't you forget it!"
"Yeah, I guess maybe you did."
"I took the day off to get you started in your new job. Do you have anything at home you need to take care of? Better get to it. Here's my address. Better hurry. Mills. You're on the clock! Your ass is mine for the next six months! I want you at the house in 3 hours."
"Yes ma'am!" I replied in a surly voice, as I climbed into the truck & raced home to get my new life in order.
I called Gina, a girl I'd taken out a few times, & told her I'd be gone for 6 months. It didn't seem to matter to her. Same for my friends. I cleaned up the place, stashed my tools, grabbed some clothes & headed to Charlene's with my heart in my throat.
Charlene met me at her little cabin in the woods. She had me park my truck behind her house so it couldn't be seen. She also had me leave my suitcase in the truck, reminding me that she would provide me with my uniform.
As I entered her small two-story house, Charlene cried "Strip! Right there! You will not be wearing those clothes for the next six months, 'Sweetie!' Your ass is mine, now!"
I stood there, shocked for a moment, both at her tone, & her words.
"Did you not understand me, Mills?"
I slowly took off my jacket, & she snatched it out of my hands.