F Is for Fiona

"Morning, Mary, Gavin. Are we OK for the 11 o'clock meeting, the promotions for next month? OK?"

Very matter-of fact. I just had to be. In some way or other this day had to go well, but it still had to be an ordinary working day. Or at least the ordinary things, like meeting staff to discuss projects, these things had to be done.

"I'll see you later, Fiona. Coffee at 10.15, first. Must go."

Mary did seem embarrassed, as Philip had done. Though I'm sure she did have things to sort out with her staff. Gavin turned, much as he had always done, we walked together towards the staff lift. He pushed the button, we waited.

"Fiona?"

I'd left clear instructions the previous week, that was to be my name. Absolutely no-one was to use the name 'Fred'. Gavin knew enough about me to realise that in a situation such as this, unusual though it was, the 'name' thing was crucial.

"Yes?" I replied, looking across to him as we waited.

Only then did I realise that in my heels I was three inches nearer to his height, he's about 6 foot 4.

"Fiona. I just thought you'd like to know. You look fucking gorgeous!"

We walked into the lift and I turned towards Gavin.

"Thanks for the compliment but - watch it. Comments like that and I'll have you up for sexual harassment."

It took a moment for Gavin to realise that my comment was intended to be humorous. Only once had I had to do that, to discipline and eventually to sack, an employee for use of inappropriate language in the company of female staff. Pity in one way, he'd been a good worker, good prospects. But he just couldn't calm down his extravagant vocabulary, the second time he used the c-word in the presence of a woman I had to let him go.

Yet my comment to Gavin had a serious side to it. I needed to make the point early on in our renewed relationship, manager and assistant that is. OK, so I had been Fred. But now I was Fiona. And I wanted, indeed I demanded the respect accorded to my status, even though I was 'manageress' instead on manager.