Friends Or Lovers Part 5

"John. Im not sure it is appropriate for me to talk about this. You understand?" I said.

"Yes. Completely. But Im under no such obligation. I have a friend who felt a young woman was getting too close to him. Shed been having some difficulties at home and she singled him out as a father figure to talk to. He only became worried after she started to flirt a bit. He tried to cool it off."

John looked at me in a way that suggested he did not know whether to carry on. I raised my eyebrows, nodded and then tilted my head slightly to one side to indicate that he should continue.

"He suggested they meet outside work to sort things and made it clear that he was providing her support as her manager and not asking her out on a date. She backed off and was hurt. Next thing he knew shed complained about him."

"Its always complicated, isnt it?" I said.

"Yes. Always. A minefield."

He held my gaze. We both knew exactly what the other was thinking. We had our own minefield to navigate.

I said softly....

"...well have to tread very carefully..."

He nodded and also spoke softly.

"I dont want to tread on any mines."

"Me neither," I responded.

Men and women talk to each other in such oblique ways. I could have said "Ill be very sensitive about your marriage". He could have said "I dont want to ruin this by sleeping with you." But, no, we danced around each other using metaphors hoping the other would understand, protecting our egos while leaving the door open just in case we both had a change of heart.

"Well be fine," he a.s.serted.

I hoped he was right.

After coffees, he paid, but only after I made him promise that it would be my treat next time. We both agreed there would be a next time in about a month. We swapped mobile phone numbers too. When we parted, we hugged. As I walked back to my car, I felt good. I hoped that I had found a friend a real friend.

Chapter 11.

When I returned to work, I met Dave to discuss the interviews, then confirmed the final shortlist. I got Phil to phone all the candidates and give them the news. Four accepted an invitation to our offices for the following week. The a.s.sessment centre uses an array of techniques to provide a more rounded picture of a candidates suitability for a position. They undertake a psychometric test, partic.i.p.ate in role playing exercises, we introduce them to teams that undertake similar work to give them a flavour of the 'real workplace, and also to give the teams a chance to evaluate the candidates in a less formal setting. Lastly, there is a formal interview that asks a series of technical and social questions that enable us to probe their experience and handling of social situations.

Even with all this care and effort, recruitment is a hit and miss affair. More than once, weve found our perfect candidate only for them to decline the position at the last minute. At other times, those that were marginal in the recruitment process turn out to be the best performers. Id like to better understand why people decline, but Im confident that were reducing the recruitment lottery through the use of these techniques.

After I rounded off with Dave, I called Phil into my office for an update on Mike.

"Have you been able to find out anything?" I asked.

"Some. Not quite what I expected, but interesting nevertheless."

"I chatted to Elona too. Anyway, you first?"

"Okay. Nearly all his team talk highly of him. I found them a good deal more open than I expected. They are sad that hes moved on, particularly the women. It sounds like he had a reputation for not putting up with any nonsense, but was also sympathetic and supportive when his staff had problems. A couple found him a bit 'old school, you know, polite and caring to women and a bit rougher and more argumentative with the men, but they all respect his abilities as a manager and as a salesperson."

"Did you pick anything up about Elona? Were he and Elona close?"

"Yes and no. People liked her well enough but they found her a bit quiet. She worked closely with Mike that went with the job. They were always working together to resolve customer issues. Some didnt mention the complaint in fact I got the impression they didnt know about it."

Phil stopped talking for a moment and had a puzzled look on his face, then he gave out a slight laugh.

"I can feel a 'but coming....," I said.

"Those that knew she had made a complaint were surprised. Some said they were shocked because they thought the two got on extremely well. They wouldnt elaborate, and I felt that it wasnt the right time to probe."

I decided to share what I found out.

"Elona told me she felt uncomfortable socialising with her team. Mike, and some of the younger men, touch her and make her feel uncomfortable. I still think there is something going on that we dont know about."

Phil paused. He rubbed his chin and touched his eyebrow before making several attempts to start speaking. Finally, some words were forthcoming.

"I agree.....something didnt feel right but I cant put my finger on it."

"What about Mikes marriage?"

"Ah! Yes. He did have a rough patch a couple of years back. I think they sensed at this point why I was taking an interest. They clammed up a bit. I got the impression that they were saying 'dont go there."

"Interpretation?"

Phil was hesitant, but I pressed him.

"Tricky. n.o.body said it out loud, but I would hazard a guess that he broke up with his wife for a while."

I shared something that Dave had told me.

"Ive heard that too. He got close to Sally, one of the sales reps, and his wife kicked him out for a while."

Then Phil said something that shocked me.

"Yes I gathered that much and Im sure I spoke to her."

"Why dyou think that?" I said with genuine surprise.

"Sallys att.i.tude to him was so different from the others. She spoke about him almost like...."

He rubbed his chin vigorously as he sat thinking. He was searching for words.

"Yes?" I prompted.

"....a cross between a brother and a lover....No. I dont know. There was such a familiarity in the way she talked about him, as if they had spent a considerable amount of time together outside work....."

He paused again and I was starting to get a little frustrated.

"Come on Phil, spit it out."

"Well. I got the feeling that Sally had lived with him for while. So far as I can see, he still lives with his wife. I just cant work it out at the moment."

"Hmm. Okay. Keep your ear to the ground, Ill see what I can find out my end."

After Phil left my office I pondered what Id learnt. What do I know? Firstly, Mike asked Elona out for a drink. Secondly, Elona is upset. Thirdly, Mike admits that he put his arm around her, and when he admitted this he was definitely agitated. We now know that Elona has been troubled by over attentive men at social events and that shes hiding something. Fourth, Mike had an affair with a sales rep, his wife kicked him out, he lived with the rep for a while, his wife forgave him and he moved back in.

What I find hard to understand is why his team is so supportive of him. Am I missing something? Why would the women put their jobs on the line to move with him? Why is his ex-lover so supportive? I think I should talk to Mike again it is only fair to let him tell his side of the story.

Chapter 12.

"Hi. Come on in, Mike," I said with a welcoming tone.

He did not look relaxed so I tried to put him at ease.

"Mike. Im trying to clear up the background to this situation with Elona and, to be frank, it doesnt make sense to me. Are you happy to talk about it some more?"

Mikes hands were locked together and he looked very tense.

"What do you want to know?" he asked.

"I talked with Elona about a week ago and I cant help feeling that shes holding something back. I understand that you worked closely with her."

The moment I said this, Mike shuffled a bit in his seat. I let him settle before I continued.

"Im not accusing you of anything, but I wondered if there is anything that you can tell me that would help me understand the situation."

Mike looked at me for quite a few seconds. It was as if he was trying to decide whether he should speak.

"Has she told you about her problems at home?" he asked.

"Not in any detail. I understand that things have not gone smoothly with her boyfriend. Is that right?"

"Er. Yes....." but he stopped short of saying anything more and looked down at his knees while he pondered further.

"Is there anything further you can tell me about your working relationship with her?"

He knew he had to talk and I watched as he drew in a large breath and settled into his chair.

"It was good. She worked well. We worked well. She was not the most talkative or outgoing young woman, but I liked her and worked well with her. She does have problems at home and some issues within the team my old team but I felt she and I had a good understanding. Her complaint took me by surprise."

"She didnt make a complaint, Mike," I corrected.

"She didnt?" he asked.

"No. It was someone else in the department."

"Well that explains a lot," he commented.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, they clearly had no idea what was going on."

His statement puzzled me. I was not sure where to go next.

"Why did you ask her out for a drink?"

Mike tensed and I could see his hands clench. Then his right hand moved swiftly to his face and he touched his cheek. His hands settled back into lap and he started to speak.

"Havent we been over this before?" he asked. "Why are we raking it up again?"

"Because I think theres more that I dont know and maybe I didnt fully understand," I said.

He started to nod slowly and relaxed a bit. I thought I detected a wry smile.

"There is more," he said deliberately, "but she spoke to me in confidence. I would feel more comfortable if you talked to her directly about it."

"Ive tried. But shes hedging," I a.s.serted.

"Penny, she confided personal stuff to me and I dont think I should break her confidence."

I felt myself start to get irritated, but tried to remain calm.

"If Ive made a mistake, I need to know, Mike. n.o.bodys interests are served by withholding relevant information."

He thought for a moment, then gathered his thoughts. He decided to open up.

"She spoke to me in private about issues with her boyfriend and also an upsetting incident with a team member. I talked to her several times over a number of weeks, gave her whatever support I was able. I also offered to meet her outside work and the next thing theres a complaint against me. I thought I mustve said or done something insensitive. If I have, I apologise but I really dont know what was alleged or why."

"Why didnt you come to me earlier?" I asked.

"I am used to handling these things within my team."

I found that remark patronising and privately wondered if he resented my involvement.

"You get close to people dont you?" I commented.