Chasing My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 4

Bianca left the coffee shop feeling like she was floating on cloud nine. She couldn't believe that James had agreed to go out with her tomorrow night. She had honestly expected him to tell her to f.uck off. It wasn't that they didn't get along, they had hung out quite a few times, Jen just always happened to be there as well and acted like a buffer between the two. The other night at the club was the first time she had ever really talked to him alone and she had been hurt by what he said, as much as she didn't want to admit it. But now she was really looking forward to their date tomorrow, even if she said it wasn't one.

She arrived at the office, stealing herself to go in for the day. She f.ucking hated working here but she couldn't find a new job. She hadn't been able to find one that would match her salary as someone who was new to the marketing field. She may have been working in the field for three years now, but since her degree was in business and not marketing there just wasn't anything out there. All the jobs she had looked at required five years of experience given that her degree wasn't in her field and she couldn't afford to take the pay cut.

She hadn't always hated her job. When she was first hired she couldn't believe her luck. And then she met Greg, the son of the owner of the company. Nobody really knew what he did there because it never seemed like he was actually working. He just fluttered around whenever he happened to be in the office. Apparently, the owner's wife died when Greg was a kid and his father had let him get away with murder ever since then.

At first Greg just made off-hand comments to her. Telling her he liked the way she dressed and she should smile more. Annoying, yes but nothing to complain about. Then his comments started getting worse, saying what she did and did not look sexy in. He would complain when she wore pants saying she was hiding from him. She finally had to draw a line and told him that he was behaving inappropriately. He apologized and stopped for a little while but then he started again. Eventually, she approached HR and they said they would speak with him but she doubted they did.

Lately he had been finding small ways to touch her. A hand on her back, a squeeze on her shoulder. She had asked him to please not touch her and once again he apologized, saying he hadn't meant to offend her and stopped for awhile, but he was back at it. She had been keeping track of all the inappropriate things he had said and done to her and planned to ask for another meeting with HR, but going to work had become something she dreaded.

She really needed to find a new job. At this point she was thinking of taking a pay cut and finding a part time job on the side to make up the difference. She had told Jen about what was going on and they had been trying to get her out of there. Her best friend had even offered to give her money until she found a job but she would never take money from Jen. She firmly believed that Jen would never let her repay her and she would never be able to look past that. So for now she went into work, sat at her desk, and composed an email to HR hoping and praying that Greg wasn't going to come into the office today.

Bianca made it through most of her work day without a sighting of Greg and thought her luck was looking up. She should have known, she was never lucky. Greg strolled into her office an hour before the end of the day and she groaned internally while pasting on her most professional face. "Greg, what can I do for you today?"

"Bianca," he drawled, making goosebumps appear on her skin. "I think we have some miscommunication going on."

"Oh really? Over what, that new account?" She asked, a little confused because she didn't think he had ever worked with her on anything.

"No, hon, over the way I talk to you. And what else did Jamie in HR say? Oh right, the way I touch you inappropriately I believe were his words." Mother f.ucking f.uck, so that's why they hadn't gotten back to her. They were too busy talking with him first. That is so unprofessional of them. She had to figure out a recourse for this who was above them? Greg's dad, s.hit. Maybe she could report them to the state or something? "Earth to Bianca," Greg shouted, waving a hand in front of her face.

"Yes, what, sorry I zoned out for a minute."

"Yes I noticed," he said sounding annoyed. "Now, back to what I was saying. There seems to be something off with our communication, especially if you feel you have to go behind my back to HR and not to me directly."

This is exactly why they should have never gone right to him, Bianca was furious. "Listen, Greg, I'm sure it was a misunderstanding if you say it was, which is exactly why I think it should be handled with a rep from HR. That way we have another person that is part of the conversation to make sure we're all on the same page. So if it's all the same to you, I think we should table this discussion and meet with them at a later date."

"I don't think that's necessary, besides, I told Jamie we could handle this. We're adults not kids there's no need for a third party for a little squabble. I'd appreciate if you came directly to me from now on, okay beautiful." He said smirking and winking at her, ugh God that look on his face made her feel filthy, it felt like he was undressing her with his eyes.

"In that case Greg, I should tell you again, it makes me uncomfortable when you call me that. It's inappropriate in the workplace okay?"

"I think you just need to loosen up a bit honestly." He said as he walked further into her office, coming to stand next to her. She tried to refrain from standing up and moving which would allow him to corner her, but she hated the thought of him being close enough to touch her. Which was of course the very next thing he did. He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder right at the nape of her neck, and slid his thumb up and down the column of her throat. "We could have a lot of fun together if you just stopped being so uptight."

She hated the way she was feeling right now. The helplessness and vulnerability reminded her of a time in her life when she felt the same way. She was powerless then to stop it then but she wasn't anymore, and she wouldn't let someone make her feel that way ever again. Certainly not this entitled prick. She stood up so suddenly that her chair flew back and hit the wall. "Greg," she said in the most stern voice she could muster, "you are making me uncomfortable. Your behavior is not something I can tolerate and at this point I can longer stand for your harassment. You need to leave my office immediately. I will be filing another complaint with corporate and I will be sure to include your father in my email." She finally saw a flicker of something cross his face. Maybe his father was tired of his s.hit too.

Greg stood up and walked towards the door turning around before he left, "Bianca, let's just keep this between us. I didn't realize you were so opposed to my presence but I got the message loud and clear now and I promise I will leave you alone."

"Fine, just get out of my office." When he left she sat down at her computer and pulled up the drive folder where she kept these incidences in order. She added this one to the list but decided she wasn't going to email HR again quite yet. She was hoping he would keep to his word and leave her alone. If not, she would send this entire file to HR, Greg's father, and a lawyer she would find later on. After she had her records in order, she got up and got ready to leave for the day. She just wanted to get home and go out with Jen. It would make her feel better to rehash this conversation with her. She usually had a really good perspective on these kinds of things and it was nice to get that outside opinion, especially because now she wasn't sure if she should still send the email and request a meeting with HR or not.

For now she would unwind when she got home and think about her date with James tomorrow. She didn't think she would tell Jen about that. It would be between her and James for now.