Suffering harassment
Harassment, which in this story happens in the workplace, is a serious situation that any human being can suffer when they find themselves in a relationship of abuse of power. Sex, religion, race, or any other excuse can be used by the harasser. In this story one of our friends from the gang will suffer it, overcoming it and then seeking justice will be his challenge.
I hope you like the story, and that you tell me your opinions, through them I know if I'm on the right path.
Remember English is not my native language, I hope the translation is correct, check it, but sometimes I miss some incorrect personal pronouns for the phrase, sorry.
I reiterate, I do not own the characters of Friends I only rely on them for the pure pleasure of writing stories without any economic interest, and Monica and Chandler inspire me
Chapter 1
On the Sunday before Christmas, while greeting everyone and tenderly kissing Monica, Chandler announced that he would not be able to return from Tulsa for Christmas, nor for New Year's Eve, they were closing accounts and they would not be able to finish on time if they stopped those days.
Monica had just found out about this news and it bothered her that he had waited until the last minute to tell her, but Chandler always told her that it was better to lie or keep quiet than to have a complicated discussion, and now he had done just that, he had kept quiet so as not to argue because he had to stay in Tulsa during all the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Chandler sadly left everyone and left for Tulsa, during the trip he felt very bad, he knew he would miss Monica and also his friends, who in recent years had become his family and these holidays he always spent with them, ... but work was work and they needed the money, more now that they were trying to have a baby.
So he swallowed and got to work.
But on December 24 at the work meeting everyone was upset about not being able to spend that day with their families. Chandler tried to explain to them that at least they would be at home that night and the next day, instead he would be alone in a hotel… But the faces didn't change, so in the middle of the morning he sent everyone home, they ran away except Wendy, the second in command.
It hadn't been long since the rest of the collaborators had left when he received a call from Monica who was with her friends and everyone wanted to say "hello"
As Chandler was always one to talk a lot and get tangled up in the answers when the situation was uncomfortable, he ended up telling them that he had been left alone with Wendy and the rest had gone home.
Obviously Monica began to feel uneasy, who Wendy was. Then to Chandler's confusing answers was added Joey's comment that Wendy had participated in a contest to choose the most beautiful woman in Tulsa, which put Monica on high alert. The only thing Chandler could answer, clearly nervous, was that Wendy had come second.
They said goodbye and at Monica's annoying voice, Chandler was worried, he didn't want her to think anything bad.
When he hung up, Wendy began to advance on him, who, surprised by being an object of desire in Tulsa, was clear with Wendy: "Nothing will ever happen between us, I love my wife, she's beautiful, sweet, and surely if she finds out about your advances, don't doubt that she'd kick your ass."
Wendy gave up, but saying, "If your marriage is so good and your wife so perfect, why are you spending Christmas here with me and not with her"
Chandler went to his desk, and said to himself, "What am I doing here, away from the woman I love, from my friends, all for a job I hate... "
He had tried to quit many times but never got the courage to do so. He was comfortable with the job because it was easy for him despite the responsibilities it brought. His bosses appreciated him, but his indecision had always been more related to money. He didn't intend to make a fortune like his parents did. He just wanted to be able to treat himself and help his friends if they needed it.
Now he was married to Monica, the woman of his dreams, but his savings had been greatly reduced by the wedding expenses, and they were now looking for a baby. How could he do without that income? It was precisely because of all that that he accepted the transfer to Tulsa.
Sitting at his desk, evaluating his past decisions against the deep feelings he had now, he thought, "Is money more important than the happiness I promised to give Monica, more important than my own happiness? I love her like crazy. I miss not having her by my side every night when I go to sleep or when I wake up. I miss not kissing her. I miss her scolding me for leaving my jacket anywhere or for putting my shoes on the couch or not putting my dirty clothes in the right basket. She is all of that together, inseparable. I love her just the way she is."
These feelings led him to make a decision; "It's time for me to take the risk, I'm going to get something in the City, but I don't want to stay in this place for a minute longer."
He took his laptop, wrote his resignation which he left in the office of the President of the Tulsa Regional, took a taxi and went to the airport. He had no time to lose; he had to get a flight that would arrive in NY before midnight. Clearly he left without his luggage; from the City he would ask the hotel manager to pack his things and send them to his house.
He managed to take a flight that left at 4:30 p.m., so he would be arriving at La Guardia at 7:30 p.m., enough time to celebrate Christmas Eve with Monica and his friends.
In the meantime, Monica in New York had become extremely worried and jealous that Chandler was alone in Tulsa with that Wendy.
All kinds of erotic situations were going through her head, "maybe they were having sex on the photocopier" was one of the things she worriedly expressed to her friends.
"Monica, stop thinking nonsense, Chandler loves you, and besides, he is not that kind of man, he will never be unfaithful to you" Ross told her
"Of course, Ross knows very well what kind of men are the ones who are unfaithful to you at the first opportunity" Rachel said ironically.
Ross with the Geller look and with the Geller sign, he gave her a high fist bump.
It was almost 8 pm, it had started to snow, Monica felt alone and worried, insisting to her friends about what Chandler was doing in Tulsa with Wendy, and they were getting annoyed by continuing with that subject, until suddenly the door opened.
Everyone turned around and it was Chandler, he is there, Monica ran to hug him, "You are here, what happened, and work? …. You couldn't leave him... you'd be fired"
"No, I can't be fired because I quit... I didn't want to be away from you anymore... I need you in my life"
Everyone was happy to see him and relieved because this surprise appearance would chase away Monica's worries.
Deep inside she knew that Chandler loved her, that he wasn't a guy who would throw himself at the first woman who offered to him, he wasn't Joey, but that 20-year-old boy, restless, funny, immature, with a phobia of commitment, had become an extremely handsome, sexy, self-confident man, a good hunting prey, who, to top it all off, was an incredible lover who made her burn, the best she had ever had. Anyway, now she was relieved to have him with her that night and all the following ones of her life.
The reunion was perfect, not only with Monica, but also with her friends.
The next morning, after the previous day's excitement and the night of hot love, Chandler realized that he had no idea what his work life would be like, and although he was happy and sure of his decision, he couldn't help but feel a little fear and insecurity about the future.
He had to look for a job, but he was clear that he didn't want a job like the one he had left. Inside his brain all kinds of interests were bubbling, he knew he was intelligent, quick-witted, he wanted a job more in line with his restless and playful personality, something that would allow him to create, come up with ideas, find new alternatives... But where would he find any of that?
He began to read the job offers in the pages of the newspaper, but most of them were directed to the systems area, and he didn't want to go back there. He also applied to three or four agencies that were dedicated to executive searches in various areas, but he couldn't find any job that excited him. Those that appeared were more of the same, systems and accounting areas that he had fled from.
He felt disappointed, he had realized that it was what he liked, it excited him, but he couldn't find an offer that had anything that resembled his interests.
A few days after returning from Tulsa, talking to Monica, he explained to her that he was looking for a creative job, where he could give free rein to his personality, then she remembered that a classmate from High School was a vice president at an advertising agency.
This possibility did excite him, and Monica got him an interview.
Steve, that was the name of the friend, met with Chandler, who behaved as always, intelligent, funny, with a quick mind and although he was overly talkative, characteristics that Steve had been warned about by Monica, the man liked Chandler, he seemed like an intelligent man, very witty and eager to work in something where he could give free rein to his personality, he thought he could fit in, but he had to check it out.
They agreed that he would call him, the company was evaluating putting together a group to do an internship during which he could see their qualities for the business. When the decision was made, he would be part of that group.
Two months passed without news and Chandler was worried about work, bored of being at home while Monica worked, to top it off, Monica and he were still trying to get pregnant, which was taking a while, although now he thought it wasn't the best time to bring a baby into the world, Monica wanted to move on, and he would do everything she wanted to make her happy.
Obviously, the lack of their income led them to start having financial problems, he had managed to accumulate some savings after the wedding expenses, and he had a trust that his grandparents put in his name, but Monica didn't want that money to be touched, she considered that it had to be used to achieve more important goals, one day to buy a house or face the education of the children that came.
The lack of sufficient income to cover expenses, coupled with not seeing a possible job in his near future, led him to speculate about returning to his previous job, which he hated, but which assured him a good income. However, Monica flatly refused. It was time for him to do a job he loved, they would sort it out.
In turn, Chandler opposed Monica asking her parents for help. "Dad taught me that, in addition to knocking on the door of the pool house before entering, I should never ask for money on loan."
But the situation was getting worse, so each of them, without the other knowing, asked Joey to borrow money. It was the first time in 10 years that Joey would be the one to help Chandler with money, but now he had a job on television, he could and wanted to help him.
One afternoon, Monica came home exultant from Javu. The executive chef was going to work in LA and they offered her that position. She was happy, she hugged Chandler and said, "Thank you, love. If it hadn't been for you supporting me to take the job at Javu while you had to go to Tulsa, this opportunity would not have been given to me for several years."
Chandler was happy for her, he went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of champagne with which they toasted, "Now tell me, what does this new position entail?"
Monica explained, "This implied more responsibility in the operation of the restaurant. I have to manage the budget, design the menus, control the raw materials that come in, control the preparation of the dishes and that the staff meets the quality standards, guarantee food safety ..."
"But my pay will also increase and I will have freedom in my schedules, I don't have set shifts, if I follow what Edward did, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have to go early to check the entry of raw materials, and on Fridays and Saturdays I have to be present at the beginning of the dinner shift, to see that everything is correct, but once the service starts I don't need to stay"
So we will have more time for ourselves! Monica said with a huge smile.
Although she clarified "In any case, in the first few times, while I adapt to the new tasks, I will surely be busier during the day." She concluded.
Chandler felt proud of his beloved wife, but he also felt that he needed to find something quickly, he didn't want to be a husband who wasn't in charge of supporting his family, this had him worried and discouraged.
A week later Steve calls him, the internship will begin, he will be with a group of young people, when it ends three of them will be chosen to join a team as assistants, in principle that is all he can offer him. In addition, he clarifies that the internship is unpaid and will last approximately two months.
Chandler is excited, even though he doesn't have pay, they will be able to see if his profile and ability are suitable for this type of work, but at the same time he is confident, he knows he has the skills, a creative mind with many good ideas.
Of course, on his first day at the meeting with the rest of the group he turns out to be the oldest, and although he is a young man of just over 32 years old, he is facing young people at least ten years younger, another generation, which makes him feel uncomfortable since the rest see him as an older man who talks about people they don't even know.
However, as the internship progresses, his ideas turn out to be interesting, innovative, with an adult perspective and more knowledgeable about the idiosyncrasies of the age groups of society and he knows how to reach everyone.
Steve sees potential in him.
The internship ends, now he has to wait for the information to be given to those who obtained one of the three vacancies, which makes him anxious to know the results. -
