I don't know what possessed me to kiss a complete stranger and my involuntary reaction to being in close contact for the first time in months with a woman surprised me and shocked her. I appreciated that she didn't pull away and leave my embarrassment on show for everyone. She asked if she made me uncomfortable and apologized profusely. I didn't understand why until it finally hit me, she was concerned about me going off about kissing a guy. I don't think she'll believe me but I tell her anyway, I kissed a woman. It was as simple and complicated as that.

All I could say is my brain, my lips and my body said it was a woman that kissed me back. I had no doubt of that. It was a sign of how badly she was treated at the office that she automatically assumed I would be no different than them.

I needed to bring her and myself back down to earth so I summoned the waiter to take our order. I asked if it was alright if I ordered for her. She smiled. I think a lot of other women might have been insulted even though I asked and didn't tell. And there it was. Other women. Christina worried that I thought about her as a transexual, a woman in a man's body. Well, she was wrong. She was just a woman. Maybe she had a birth defect but that wasn't the point, she resonated woman and I was responding to that.

I looked up and the waiter was patiently waiting. I apologized and ordered a couple of regular cuban sandwiches, pressed and cuban toast. As I still had a client meeting tonight I had iced tea but suggested Christina might want something stronger. She just said to bring her iced tea too. She told me she didn't want to drive home with liquor on her breath.

Tony didn't understand so I told him. The local cops weren't any better than the people at work and I didn't want any trouble like the last time when one of my coworkers broke a taillight on my car and caused me to get stopped.

I think the cop would have treated an escaped axe murderer better than he treated me. The moment he saw my license with the M on it and he looked down at me I knew I was in trouble. Having been warned about something like this online I had immediately taken my phone out of my purse at the same time I had taken out my wallet. I turned it on record and informed the officer that I was taping everything. Of course he wanted to take my phone and I recited the law about illegal search and seizure and asked why he wanted my phone. He had no real answer for that or perhaps felt he better not say.

Tony looked at me like I had two heads. I guess it was finally sinking in just who he had gotten himself mixed up with. Turns out he was looking behind me at someone else, our boss and his wife. I don't think he knew who I was as I had my back to him but I recognized his voice. I prayed Tony would be able to fend him off without him realizing who he was with. My hopes were dashed when Dan said he was sure I was exaggerating things. I barely kept my temper in check when Tony said he doubted that.

"I suppose that fact that she came out to find all four of her tires slashed is an exaggeration too. It's sickening that you let this go on."

"Me? What's this got to do with me. I can't help it if others have a problem with his perversion."

I thought Tony was going to get up and slug the man when I heard another voice.

"Is this the way you treat a valued employee Dan? Perversion? It's you and those yahoos who work for you that are perverted. I expect you to see that the company's insurance pays for the damage. If not, you call me young lady and I'll make sure a check is issued for the damages directly from the company."

The woman handed me her card.