I shouldn’t have this here – a letter from a prisoner that this firm helped convict. I should have left it at home, not brought it in to work, but when it showed up at my house after my conversation with Kelly, it was like I couldn’t just leave it at home; I had to have it with me.
For a violent murderer, Bain’s writings have gotten more and more romantic as they’ve gone on, one particular part specifically:
Every day inside here is torture, like being in a nest with vipers, my only solace being the moments when I’m alone and am able to gaze upon the one object of beauty I have managed to sneak past the guards – the one item they don’t know I have. A picture of you. I remember you from my trial, Elena, and how you looked at me like I was a human, a man worthy of being treated fairly, and that kindness went straight to my heart.
I stay awake at night thinking of seeing you again, being close to you, not having to simply dream of your touch, your scent, seeing your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine. I know that you know I would never hurt you. I want only to make you happy like you have made me. Come and see me, Elena. Let me show you my gratitude for the way you treated me.
“Wow…” I sigh, my eyes going over the letter again for the third time this morning. Am I really thinking about going to see Bain, the serial killer? Kelly made a good point last night; it’s not like he’s going to be getting out of prison any time soon – at all, as a matter of fact. So what do I really have to worry about?
And just imagine the ferocity, the intensity, the power…God, I’m getting turned on right here in the break room just thinking about it.
“Is that the Jansen contract?” A voice behind me spooks me and causes me to whirl around, but not before tucking Bain’s letter into my pocket. I see Rick Paulson, not quite a partner but almost, leaning in the door behind me, a cup of coffee in his hand, the overpowering stench of Armani cologne invading my space like a powerful plague.
“No.” I smile. “Something personal.”
“Personal on hard copy? You must be old fashioned.” He smiles, stepping into the room. “I like that in a woman. Old fashioned.”
I already can see where this is going and shrug. “Well, ya know. Professional, career woman here, so…”
“I know that.” Rick grins, showing coffee- and cigarette-stained teeth. “And I bet you’re always looking for someone who could help…fast-track your career. Am I right?”
Yup. He’s definitely going there. Shamelessly too.
Rick’s got some kind of new cologne on today, and it’s not great. Smells like a mixture of something a college bro would wear and leftover garbage. He also has on way too much of it like he bathed in it.
“Well, I believe in old fashioned hard work, ya know?” I reply, forcing a smile. While Paul may not be a partner, he is good friends with the partners and will make partner within a few years. This is one of those awkward situations where I can’t offend him, but I also, for my own mental health, can’t go and sleep with him for whatever favors he may have in mind for me.
“You know what the difference is between you and me, Elena?” he asks, stepping even closer, so close I can hardly breathe through the overpowering stench of cologne.
“Um, I’m a girl?”
“Exactly!” he laughs, pointing a finger in my face. “And as a guy, I’m the guy who has to do that old fashioned hard work. You shouldn’t have to!”
“Excuse me?”
“See, God granted you with gifts. Gifts like a sexy face, breasts, and an ass that make men like me swoon.”
“Okay, I should get back to my desk—”
“And I know I may not look like much,” he interrupts, stepping in front of me. “But a little blue pill, and I’ll rock your world all night long.”
I force the hardest smile I’ve ever had to force in my life and say, “I’ve got to go” before slipping past him and out the door.
Thank God, I want to groan as I take a step, but before I can even get three feet away from the break room, I feel a hand around my arm. I’m pulled back and find myself face to face with Rick, who is glaring down at me with a burning hatred.
“You better watch what you say to me, little girl,” he hisses through bared teeth. “I’m a very powerful man around here, and I could ruin you!”
“Let go of me!”
“I could have chosen any one of the little bitches running around here to make my offer to, but I chose you, and you should feel lucky! I’d suggest rethinking my offer if you want to keep working here!”
With that, he releases me, but also pushes me out of his way as he strides past me toward the partners’ offices.
A hideous shiver slithers up my spine, like an ice-cold serpent making its way from the base of my skull to my midsection. I’ve heard of things happening like this before in my profession but passed them off as a myth as they’d never happened to me or anyone else I knew.
Such a stark contrast between the incredibly romantic language used by Bain, a prisoner locked up for murder. Who’s the criminal now? What Rick just did to me was not only sexual harassment, but it was also a threat, basically saying if I don’t sleep with him I’ll lose my job.
“Well, that’s not happening,” I mutter as I quickly grab my things and head to the front desk.
“I’m leaving early today, Becky. Think I may be coming down with something.”
Becky, the germaphobe, eyes me with suspicion and pushes her chair away a few feet. “Okay, I’ll let the office know.”
“Thanks, Becky,” I say as I push the door open. The elevator doors are open, letting someone on from the advertising office we share the floor with, and I quickly slide in before they close and we begin our descent for the lobby.
On the way down, I take out Bain’s letter and go over it again. After what just happened with Rick, his words just hit me differently. Harder, stronger, more impactful. And by the time we reach the lobby and the elevator doors ding, I have my mind made up; I’m going to visit him just like Kelly said I should. And if he’s anything like the man in the letters, I’m going to have the time of my life.
