I was 17 and took my 1st job. I started work as a telemarketer at an alarm company. Probably on my 2nd evening there, as we all left for the night, my 27 yr. old “boss” asked me to stay behind and chat for a while. We were completely alone. Throughout our lovely conversation, he asked me to come out with him and his friends down to Atlantic City& stay in the hotel with them. I thought this to be odd, as I was only 17,I wasn’t sure what the hell I could actually do there. No drinking or gambling for me. He then went on to ask me what kind of reputation I had at my high school. Was I ” a good girl” or a “slut who slept around with all the guys”. I recall feeling oddly uncomfortable, and wishing I could run out of that desolate office and out to my car. I thought about how I could get outside should I need to run and escape for my safety. Somehow the conversation ended and I was able to leave without incident. I went home to find my boyfriend and friends at my house waiting for me. I recall feeling embarrassed, as though what I had just encountered was brought on by something I had done. All I said to them all was “I think my boss likes me” and i sort of laughed it off. As a mom now to 3 young daughters, I am frightened by the entire incident. How could I have downplayed it all. Did I really think that this guy just “liked” me. He was 10 years my senior, I wasn’t even a legal adult… and as my boss, I thought this type of conversation was normal?! I never told my parents. Somewhere deep down I knew this was not right. I somehow thought I did something to bring on that type of behavior. I was smart enough to quit a few days later. However I was dumb enough to not call this jerk out on his sexual harassment.
