Women are Not Men

Riley POV

"10 years of my life wasted because of one overbearing, ridiculous... stupid... asshole!" I threw some random papers and nick-nacks into a box from my desk as I carried on with my rant.

"Ri, you will get through this. It was one bad meeting. Everyone has bad days, even you girl." Becky was sitting in my leather chair watching me throw my little tantrum.

She was the closest thing to a friend I have and thankfully she knew me well enough to know the most recent office gossip was total bullshit. How anyone would believe I touched that sleazy, vile, sorry excuse for a human is beyond me. Now that I completely humiliated myself to one of our biggest clients, no one is going to believe me that I was setup.

I was the top of my class all through school, then worked my ass off to get to assistant marketing director at one of the top firms in New York.

I would never need to sleep my way to the top, but once it is out there, the truth doesn't matter. Everyone wants to believe the dirty drama.

I probably didn't help by always closing myself off except to my superiors or clients. I heard office gossip before that I sealed more deals with my body than actual work but I ignored them. It was just jealous women that couldn't admit I was that good.

Never once did it cross my mind that a man would be one to start such ridiculous rumors. He did warn me though and I should had believe him. Now I have blindly fallen for all his stupid tricks and taunts, leaving me with nothing.

I sunk into my black leather chair resting my head into my hands. My long finger tips lightly massaged my honey brown hair trying to calm my nerves. "I can't recover from this Becky. My career here is done. I'm down with Darrell and all his bullshit anyways."

Becky's pale face gave me a small smile. "You weren't fired Riley. You can pick yourself up and show that bastard how good you really are. If you walk away then your letting that sexist pig get away with treating women like we are below him."

I understood what she was saying but I didn't have an ounce of fight left in me. Last year I lost my mother and now my dad is sick. Work had always been my outlet outside of my personal life. I know that's sound backwards but when you have the luck I do then you would understand. I rather been buried in work then out trying to meet a husband or have any of those little creatures every women seems to want.

"I haven't been fired... yet. I know him and he will use this to try and get what he wants or let me go. I won't do it Becky."

"Maybe you should file a complaint."

"I have no proof and every single person in this company will vouch for what a stand up guy he is. Shit! If it was a year ago I would of vouched for him too. I'm just screwed."

Right before Becky could respond my phone rang. I rolled my eyes as I answered already knowing who it was.

"Riley Parker, how can I help?"

"You stupid bitch. My office now!" The bastard, also known as my boss, yelled through the receiver making me hold the phone out from ear.

I stood up, took a deep breath, flattened the wrinkles from my skirt, then headed to his office with my head held high. I was a ticking time bomb but I wasn't going to let him see it.

"You got this Ri!" Becky shouted to me as I left. I wanted to believe her but we both knew my career here was over.

———

I took one last deep breath then knocked on my bosses door before entering.

"Ah! The embarrassment of the decade is finally here. Close my door and sit down." He ordered.

I wanted to punch that stupid smirk off his face. He knew he set me up and was now throwing it in my face.

"I'm sorry for the presentation, sir. I was given false information." I tried to keep my shaky tone to a minimum. I knew I was losing my job, I didn't need to add an arrest or murder to today's events too.

"False information? I don't see how that is possible. You know how to research, correct?" He said, leaning over the back of my chair. I wanted to gag as his hot breath swept across my cheek.

"You're right. It was my fault and I have no excuses. I already began to clean out my desk. If there isn't anything else, then I will be leaving." I spoke with all my confidence not liking how close he was to me.

The past three months his attitude and touches had got more and more inappropriate. I should had said something earlier, done something other than shy away from him.

His hand came to my shoulders making me tilt my neck to crack it. "I can make this go away Riley. You career doesn't have to be over because you failed so miserable this morning." His lips laid on top my ear lobe and it took everything inside me not to shiver.

I quickly stood up, using every ounce of my power not to smack him across the face. I shouldn't be surprised because I knew this would be his first offer; sex and it all disappears.

"I can handle my own problems." I said moving to walk passed him.

His hand grabbed my waist pushing his body to mine until I was pinned to his desk. Stupid move on my part. Of course he would get more aggressive. Why did I even come to his office? I should had just left and said fuck off for good.

"Stop teasing me. You know our little game of cat and mouse turns me on." His lips went to my neck and I lost it. Lock me up because this piece of shit is getting his throat sliced.

I pushed him back, but he didn't move far. I knew he wouldn't since he was much stronger then me but it created enough space to smack him, then knee him right where it counts.

"You fucking bitch. You will pay for this." Darrell spoke through coughs as he grabbed himself. I couldn't help but smile as he knelt at my feet in pain.

"I'm the best at what I do. I'll find another job and when I'm at the top I'll make sure you are destroyed." I turned on my heels to leave when he started laughing at me. I should have kept walking but I'm not the wisest person and turned back to him.

"You will never work in this field again until you apologize for what you just did, then spend many, many hours making it up to me with that dirty mouth of yours."

I couldn't help it. My arm extended back and my full force, closed fist, punched him square in the jaw. This time I ran out of the office before anything else could happen.

I yank my heels off and rushed down the stairs afraid the elevator would be too slow and headed straight to my office.

Becky was there twirling her blond hair looking through my projects. I didn't have time to process what she was doing though. "Oh! You're back already. I thought it would be atleast an hour."

"Yeah, well, he pissed me off and I punched him. I got to go and now."

"You what! You can't just punch people Ri. Fuck! Is he going to press charges?"

"I have no idea. I punched him then ran."

I grabbed as much as I could throwing it in a box then strapped everything to a hand truck I borrowed from maintenance. I was leaving most my stuff behind but not my projects or my pictures.

Becky ran after me jumping in the elevator to the main floor. "Shit! This is bad Ri."

"I know. After everything that has happened no one is going to believe me he tried to offer sex to make this go away and that's why I kneed him in the balls."

"Wait! He did what? And I thought you punched him."

"I did punch him but that was after I slapped him then kneed him."

"Slapped! Shit Riley! You could get an assault charges."

"I know. I need to leave. I'm sorry for this mess."

"It's fine Ri just calm down and stay far away from here for now."

I handed the security guard my badge then turned and hugged my only friend I had here. At first we didn't get along but after a few years we somehow find a friendship. I hope her being nice to me doesn't get her in trouble now.

"Thank you, Becky. I'll call you when I get settled."

"Yes, please do. I'll let you know what gossip starts after what happen today."

"Thanks." I said again then left that horrid building for the last time.

No matter what happens after today I will never go back there. I don't care if they are the best or most influential company. It isn't worth having to sell my body just to have an ounce of respect. I'll make my own way, like I always have, then I'll teach them all a lesson.

I wish I recorded what he said or had a video of all the times he made advances on me. I don't know why I kept making excuses. I guess it was so good in the beginning and I was rising so fast in my career I just kept ignoring it. I probably deserved this because I didn't do anything to stop him.

When I got home I put on a pot for tea and quickly stripped from my work clothes. I love a sexy power suit paired with thin heels, but once I got home my sweatpants, tank, and fluffy socks were my best friend. I had a feeling this would be my wardrobe for the next week while I felt sorry for myself.

Waiting for the water to boil I closed my eyes and prayed. "Please stop that bastard. If you can hear me mom, make him pay for all he has done, but most of all don't let another woman fall into his trap. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to stop him but I'll do better."

The whistling of the tea made me jump. My mother was always so strong. A force no one dared to reckon with. She taught me to never let a man own me. Never allow society to push me down. She believed in helping others whenever and however she could. That gene obviously skipped a generation with me.

I couldn't help but feel like I failed her. I was so focused on my career, I just kept brushing it under the rug. Then I lost my mother and hid myself away. I wasn't going to do that anymore though. I won't be selfish or afraid of anyone.

I grabbed one of my moms favorite books then sat on my couch to read and drink my tea. I needed to feel a connection to her, feel her embrace and these old tattered books filled with monsters, betrayals and love that conquered them all was all I had left of her.