Part 12 (1/2)
”Elona. Before Phil comes back, is there anything you want to share with me privately?”
She glanced at me and shook her head quickly in denial.
Phil entered the room with two cups of tea and a gla.s.s of water. He put one cup on my desk, keeping the other for himself. Although Elona had declined the tea, she immediately picked up the gla.s.s of water and drank half of it. As she put the gla.s.s down, she summoned up a slight smile and I felt ready to begin.
”Thanks for coming in again,” I began, and she looked a little more relaxed. ”As I was saying earlier, we are grateful that you made a complaint and raised some important issues. Phils talked to others in your team and they admit they behaved inappropriately to you. Ill be talking to them in due course.”
Elona seemed to relax when I told her this.
”What they say is that they flirted with you, you ignored them, and they stopped. Would you agree with that?”
Elona said nothing but nodded her agreement.
”Thanks for that,” I said rea.s.suringly.
”There is one thing, however.”
”Whats that?” she asked, finally finding her voice.
I looked squarely at her.
”Well, the lads in the team said that one of them, called Nathan, gave you some attention and that you did not seem to mind.”
At the mention of Nathans name, Elona immediately went bright red and got extremely agitated.
”Elona. Elona. It is alright. If you like Nathans attention, n.o.body minds.”
She looked down at the table in front of her, saying nothing. I tried to calm the atmosphere further, but clearly this was a sensitive matter and she was deeply embarra.s.sed. Phil chipped in too.
”Elona. n.o.body is judging you, love. We just need to understand whether there is any link between this and the incident with Mike? Is there?”
Elona seemed to be petrified by this suggestion and started to shake. I remembered that Mike said he would talk if Elona gave her permission. I tried a new tack.
”Mike mentioned that you confided some information in him. He has refused to talk about it because he gave you his word that he wouldnt.”
At this, Elona looked up at me and her mouth dropped open. She was clearly fighting back tears but to my surprise she started to nod.
”Yes? You did confide in Mike?”
She nodded again.
”Something about Nathan?” Phil asked.
She nodded again.
”Mike wont speak about it without your permission. Would you give your permission?”
At this suggestion, her face went red again and her eyes filled with moisture. Her shaking got more acute and suddenly she exploded.
”No! No! No! I dont want to talk to anyone about any of this. Leave me alone!” She got up and ran out of the room in tears. Phil got up to follow her, but I shot him a look that he should let her go.
”Not now,” I said. ”Let her calm down. We can always go and see her later.”
”f.u.c.k!” offered Phil. ”Some serious s.h.i.+t has happened to her. Thats for sure!”
I felt angry that Elona was still so distressed. It fuelled my desire to find out more.
”Go get Nathan!” I commanded Phil.
”Now?” he asked.
”Yes! Now!” I said raising my voice. Phil held up both his hands as if to hold me at bay and quietly made his way out of the room.
My mind was spinning again. What had Nathan done to her? Had he raped her? Had she confided this in Mike? Had Mike done nothing? Had Mike tried to take advantage? Why was she later upset with Mike and not Nathan? None of this seemed to make any sense. As I was running over all these things in my mind, Phil returned with suspect in hand. I was in no mood to be pushed around any more.
”Nathan. Come on in. Take a seat.”
He sat down, looking as puzzled as he was concerned.
”Ive just had Elona in here and clearly something has happened between you and her. She is extremely distressed. Can you explain?”
Nathan seemed to go completely white and started reeling in his chair.
”f.u.c.k!” he said as his eyes seemed to look everywhere in the room except at Phil or myself. But no more words came forth. I started to get angry again.
”Nathan,” I said. ”Look at me!”
Nathan looked pale and distressed but finally looked me in the eye.
”Tell me what happened.”
”What has Elona said?” he asked.
”Nothing. That is why I am asking you.”
Nathan held my gaze and did not flinch for even a fraction of a second.
”I would like to leave, please,” he asked.
Phil, who was sitting in the corner, seemed to get agitated and looked at me and if to indicate that he should be allowed to go. That did not satisfy me, however.
”Nathan,” I said, ”Let me be completely open with you.....”
I saw Nathans lips go tight and the whites of his teeth show.
Phil was gently moving his head from side to side to indicate 'no, but my anger got the better of me and I let rip.
”We have a situation here. Someone in Elonas team has made a s.e.xual advance. She is seriously distressed and will not talk. She confided something to Mike, but he will not talk either. You can either give me an account of your behaviour or Ill call a disciplinary hearing. You can give a full account to your line manager and myself. What is it to be?”
I imagine that while I said this, the whites of my teeth were showing too. With Phil in the room I felt a bit bolder.