Haunted by the past

Chapter Three

Evan made a brief appearance at the office the following Wednesday, but other than a quick wave from reception, he kept his distance. He was doing exactly as he promised, and just as she thought he wasn’t interested anymore, which was what she kept telling herself she wanted, she was awash with disappointment. Then an email would come, chatty, familiar, and all together rather funnily flirtatious, and she’d be intrigued all over again.

The work was great, varied, and busy, yet she never felt out of her depth. Gina had recovered from her early hatred of her, and now that she was dating some third division footballer, Evan had been placed on her back burner. So over coffee or lunch, Maddie would sit and listen patiently to all that her friend had to update her on, then back to the office, where Eric would take every opportunity to flirt with her in an obvious and rather repulsive way.

                “You could report him to Evan,” Gina offered after he’d managed to follow Maddie into the stationary cupboard. She’d come out furious, he’d sauntered along a little later oblivious to how she felt.
She’d be a liar if she said she hadn’t thought about complaining about him, but she also knew that that would draw attention to her, both in the company, and from Evan himself. She’d rather weather the storm a little longer first.

And it was going well until a week later when he collared her one afternoon. She’d been photocopying some documents at the machine in the corridor that linked their two offices, when she felt him approach. Her Eric radar had become finely tuned in the three weeks she’d worked at the office.

                "Would you like to sample the new menu at our flagship restaurant?"

She looked up to see him almost comically lounging against the wall opposite her. If he wasn’t so persistent, so inappropriate in his manner she’d find him hysterical, a David Brent in the making. But he was all of the above, and his behaviour more than bordered on sexual harassment, it was almost assault, and she’d been tolerant for long enough.

                "Umm..."she struggled to formulate a non confrontational response, and he took her hesitation as insecurity, "it’s important that you at least try the food here, and there’s a new menu which I haven’t even tried. Come along tonight, and we can eat and discuss the menu?"

Her skin crawled at the thought, and as she was thinking of an excuse a voice like a Guardian Angel intervened, "Now come on Eric, what would Mrs Vonden say if you’re out wining and dining a young lady who isn’t her?”

Evan.

Madeline couldn’t hide her smile as she turned to look back at him, he smiled, "and anyway who knows the intricacies of the menu better than the creator? What do you say Maddie? It’s Friday, no work tomorrow, we can have a laugh!"

Glancing up she almost laughed at the strangulated look in Eric’s face. They both knew she was pinned in a corner, and when she looked back to Evan she could see that confidence in his smile. She couldn’t refuse, if she did then Eric could read more into it, the only other option was to accept, go out with him, and prepare herself to take the consequences.

"Thank you Evan, that sounds a great idea, and takes the obligation from Eric, I’m such a burden, and he’s so generous to offer," she said sweetly, avoiding Evan’s eyes as she knew if she saw the hidden humour there, she’d burst out laughing!

"Great!" Evan announced a few seconds too late. "I’ll go change, then I’ll pick you up at five, we can have a few drinks first, get to know my employee a bit better." He clapped Eric on the back, "your generosity has saved me a quiet night in alone! Remind me when it’s contract negotiation time what an asset you are!"