Rising

Harassed

        “I really appreciate your help, but now you’re going too far” I said. I didn’t want anyone else to think I am sleeping with the boss just to get what I want. I want to work hard for my money. 

       “Niray, stop worrying. You will need this, I promise” he replied with a soft smile. I looked around and I could see my coworkers looking at us and murmuring to each other. I am sure there will be rumors and I just started here. 

       “I can’t accept it, Jayden. It’s nice of you but I can’t” I tried to reason with him. He nodded and leaned to the table. He wanted to say something, but he decided to get up and pick up the trash before he left, leaving me there with an incomplete conversation. 

      I felt bad, I am sure I hurt his feelings, but I can’t afford to lose my job or to be the talk for the office. I kept eating the lunch he bought me and after the break was over, I headed back to the storage room. I picked up my cart and once again I headed up to the top floor. This time I had to clean Jayden’s office. 

      When I arrived, I knocked on the door and no one answered, so I headed in and proceeded to clean. As soon as I was done, I was ready to leave the office, when Mr. Belleview entered looking for his son. I froze on the spot at his presence.

      “Hello, young lady. Have you seen my son around?” He asked with a soft voice. That voice was soothing to my ears and my heart wanted to jump out of my chest. 

     “No, Mr. Belleview. I haven’t seen Jay....your son since lunch” I corrected myself, didn’t want him to think I was too close to Jayden. 

     “Do I know you?” he asked “it’s like I’ve seen you before”

    “I don’t think so, sir. I just arrived and started working today. Maybe I look like someone you know”

     “Yeah, maybe” he replied with a smile “Well, have a good day young lady” he walked out, and I continued my work.

     I had finished my shift and decided to take my cart to the cleaning closet and restock to have it ready for the next day. As I was doing so, José approached me from behind and locked the door. I turned around and realized we were by ourselves. My heart was pounding and I was scared.

     “Please, open the door. I don’t want anyone thinking there is something happening here” I said, trying to stay away from him.

     “But sweetheart, there is something happening here. Tell me, what did you give the boss to give you the job?” He said, poison laced in his voice. I just shook my head and reached for the glass cleaner on the shelf.

      “I didn’t do anything. He just offered to help me, and I needed the job”

     “Help you? For free? I don’t think anyone helps without wanting something in return. Come on, darling, I can give you what you want and you won’t need him” he said before he grabbed me forcefully. I tried to scream, but he muffled my sounds with his mouth. I almost forgot about the glass cleaner in my hands, when I came to my senses and sprayed him on the face with it.

     He screamed, and I’m sure his eyes will be red by the time he opens them, but that didn’t stop him from hitting me in the face, causing my mouth to bleed and I was sure it would bruise.

     “You, b***h! You’ll pay for this. I will make sure the boss sends you back where you came from!” He threatened. I took my chance and ran out of there, crying. Everyone was looking at me and I was suddenly stopped by the lovely manager that showed me the reins. 

     “What happened dear?” She asked, as she saw Jose come out of the closet. She noticed my frantic attempt to escape and she walked to Jose, slapping him in the face “how dare you touch her? I will file a s****l harassment complaint against you”

     “No, Milly. Please don’t. I need this job, I have a family to feed” he begged and I looked at him. How dare he try to put his hands on a woman, being married and possibly kids? I sometimes think, why did I leave my home? Why did I decide to pursue this craziness. It was such a bad idea and I should have heard my grandma. 

     Milly took me by the arm and brought me outside. She hailed a cab for me. “Dear, go home and forget this maniac touched you. I will call Mr. Belleview to let him know what happened”

    “No, I don’t want you to do that. He can’t know” I pleaded as she helped me in. 

    “Go home and rest” she ordered, closing the cab door and letting us drive off. I arrived to the apartment after a few minutes and decided to just go to sleep. I opened the door and Minerva was there with a handsome guy, laughing and chatting. She waved at me and I walked into my room. As I was getting comfortable, a sudden dread came to me. I realized, my job was going to be my nightmare. And I thought the American Dream everyone talked about would be easy to achieve. I guess I was wrong.