Posted by sar on February 14, 2002, at 15:30:04
i'd thought that i'd take a break for awhile, but once again i must ask some advice...(and i apologise for not being able, for the time being, to contribute much to other people's threads)
so, i got this new retail job, very pleasant and in an upscale neighborhood, and a middle-aged man (more than twice my age) and i got to talking. he asked if i babysit--"we pay our babysitters very well"--and i said that i hadn't for awhile but sure, why not.
so he calls later to set up the babysitting plans, then tells me that he needs a receptionist for the company he owns with his wife. would i like to be their new receptionist? i warn them that i've never done this type of work before, he says it doesn't matter, and before i know it, he's working on my finances with me (i'm jumping at jobs all over the place because i am, for all practical purposes, broke). "well," he says, "my wife and i need a new massage therapist. can you do that?" by this time my heart is pumping--oh no, i'm dealing with a skeeve, i think--"well, don't you want a *professional*?" i ask. "i'm no masseuse."
"it doesn't matter," he says. "this CMT stuff is a bunch of crap. anyone can be a good masseuse. besides, all those CMT's look like earth mothers, and you're all sweet and cute."
hmmm, more skeeviness, eh?
i talk to my older female friend (also twice my age) about the situation; she says, "it sounds like he thinks you just fell off the turnip truck, you've got to make sure he knows you're not down for anything weird..." and i agreed. i'm opportunistic. i'm poor. right now i'm trying to figure out if it's worth dancing around this poor rich bastard for the money he's paying me (fairly good) and the things he wants to give me (!!!)--a bicycle, a TV, a gift certificate to a very swank salon.
just by writing this i know it sounds as if i just fell off the turnip truck, i'm just wondering if--i don't know...why does this happen? it was actually the guy's wife who interviewed me, and they discussed how i'd get to work without a car. this is how much interest they were taking in me--discussing mileage, financing a car loan, bus skeds, everything.
"Well honey, can she borrow your bike?" Mr. Black Leather Jacket and dark shades asks his frazzled, much younger wife.
"Look, J___, the bike is a piece of crap." she looks pissed.
"And she's going to be babysitting the kids, too," Black Leather tells her later.
she doesn't look happy, but she's kind to me, and hires me on the spot.
Mr. Black Sports Car drives me home and gives me his cell # "in case you feel like reaching out and touching someone." all of these innuendoes that i just laugh off or ignore, when my heart just wants to say "Look fuckface, if you wanna hire me, FINE, i'll work for the good money you want to pay me, i'll even take your gifts! but i've got no price! so quit being all skeevy and shit and drop it with the ha-ha innuendoes that smell of Wilson leather!"
instead i say "bye, thank you," and go into my apartment, and he roars off in the shiny car like the bad-ass he is.
this man is nearly 60.
is it *possible* to navigate a situation like this to my advantage? *are* there any free lunches, or is the salon certificate so that he can see my bony waxed legs or whatever the hell else rituals they do there?
any opinions greatly appreciated. i mean, the guy seems kind of sleazy, but he's also held out a hand--which i need badly--as far as professions/promises to help me get a bunch of stuff i need. i'm not gonna have sex with Mr. Old-Stud, *nothing close,* but do guys like this exist? ones that wanna just give away money for the hell of it?
poster:sar
thread:18267
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020214/msgs/18267.html