I had lunch today with a woman, Hilda, a friend of Sheryl’s.
Sheryl recommended me to Hilda as someone to help her on a project. I’ve been
working on this thing for 3-4 days. Usually she calls me in the mornings to
check on my progress and generally bitch at me. Today when she called she told
me to meet her for lunch.
I
called Sheryl and told her about Hilda calling and telling me to meet for
lunch. Sheryl said this is not unexpected, do it, her dictate of me being
plugged today remains in effect (she plugged me before she left for work), panties
are not in my dress code, otherwise dress professionally. She asked what I’d
wear, I told her; she made an alternate choice for me that included a black blouse,
the top 2 buttons undone and a pendant necklace that hung just above the 3rd
button, and, to wear a push up bra. Above all, make her proud.
FYI, I’d never met Hilda. Sheryl told me she was important.
FYI, I’d never met Hilda. Sheryl told me she was important.
When I
arrived at the restaurant (early) and told the hostess I was meeting someone,
the hostess told me she’d already seated my party and took me to a booth in the
corner. Hilda is a light-skinned black woman, my age maybe older, very
articulate and as demanding in person as she is over the phone.
She was seated so she could look into the restaurant. I sat facing her with my back to everything else in the room, thus able to focus only on her. I sensed an immediate power play. There were no introductory pleasantries beyond 60 seconds of “hello”. She immediately reiterated her opinion on a number of things regards the project. I discussed my progress. Though she seemed pleased, she was somewhat condescending and aloof. I was compliant and polite though I felt she was rating or judging me constantly.
She was seated so she could look into the restaurant. I sat facing her with my back to everything else in the room, thus able to focus only on her. I sensed an immediate power play. There were no introductory pleasantries beyond 60 seconds of “hello”. She immediately reiterated her opinion on a number of things regards the project. I discussed my progress. Though she seemed pleased, she was somewhat condescending and aloof. I was compliant and polite though I felt she was rating or judging me constantly.
She
asked about my relationship with Sheryl. I told her that we were good friends
and knew each other a couple of years.
I felt
antsy with my back to the room. Once I attempted to look around the room and
she asked me what I was doing. She told me the only thing I needed to be aware
of was her and what she wanted; these other people were inconsequential. She
leaned into my space a lot and I caught myself leaning back. The plug made me
uncomfortable, no panties made it worse. I felt like she knew more about me
than she let on. When lunch was over, she told me to pay for my own tab and go,
that she had calls to make before she left. Somehow, that got all over me; I
could have exploded but I thanked her for the meeting and the opportunity to
meet her. When I walked away, I felt like she was staring holes through me.
I called Sheryl and left a message. She called back about an hour later and said she’d spoken with Hilda but did not say anything about their conversation other than she was pleased with meeting me. Otherwise, Sheryl is saying nothing to me about this.
I called Sheryl and left a message. She called back about an hour later and said she’d spoken with Hilda but did not say anything about their conversation other than she was pleased with meeting me. Otherwise, Sheryl is saying nothing to me about this.
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