Community Chat

[KittyLouWho]

A new client came into the office this afternoon. He has been here maybe twice before in the last few weeks.

I don't know him, I'm not involved directly with the project he's having us work on. I just say HI, how are you? and he goes about his business. Seems like a nice enough person.

Anyway, so I'm standing in the doorway of the UnderBoss (the woman who's second command here) and we're talking about Arnold S. and his Love Child announcement and we're saying how awful he is and whatnot and here comes the client to the door and puts his arm over my shoulder, looks into the UnderBoss' office and says, "You talkin about me?" with a friendly smile (he knows her, their sons play sports together). But he doesn't know me and there is his arm over my shoulder. I kind of backed away and just smiled, said something about how we were talking about Arnold and then I just went about my business.

He looked a little embarassed, I think, and I don't really think he meant any harm, but I had a really visceral reaction to it. I think it's just so inappropriate for a man to touch a woman they don't know. Had I been in another situation I think I would have removed his arm from my shoulder and glared at him rather than just backing away like a little girl who didn't know what to do.

It is my office. I did not want to make a big deal out of something that maybe isn't really a big deal. But I felt like a little girl who was not in control. I don't like feeling that way. I think I know where this comes from, but I should be past that at this stage in my life.

What do you think? Should I have handled this differently?