It started off innocently enough. My boss, Mr. Collins, invited me to his place for a small gathering—just a few colleagues, some drinks, and a swim in his pool. I didn’t think much of it at first. Being one of the younger, single women at the company, I was used to navigating situations where the line between professional and personal got blurred. But this… this was different.

I arrived at his house, dressed casually, and everything seemed normal. There were a few others there, but as the evening went on, people began leaving. Before I knew it, it was just me and him, standing by the pool. He offered me another drink, and I politely declined. That’s when he looked me in the eye, his voice dropping to a tone that made my stomach churn.

“You know,” he said, “there’s a promotion coming up. I think you’d be perfect for it.” I smiled politely, excited at the thought. But before I could thank him, he added, “Of course… if you’re willing to do something for me in return.”

I froze. His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. The pool water glittered in the moonlight, but everything felt dark and wrong. I tried to laugh it off, hoping I misunderstood, but the way he looked at me, his gaze lingering on me in my swimsuit, made it clear that this wasn’t a joke.

He leaned in a little too close and said, “Just think about it. A little fun, a little favor, and I can make sure the promotion is yours.”

I felt sick. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts—was this how it always worked behind the scenes? Would refusing cost me not just the promotion, but my job? I had worked so hard to get where I was, and now everything felt tainted. I wanted to leave immediately, but I also didn’t want to let him see me rattled.

I stood up, grabbed my things, and told him I’d think about it, just to get out of there. As I walked to my car, the cool night air hitting my skin, I realized there was no thinking to be done. There was no way I’d sell myself for a job, no matter how tempting the title or pay raise.

Now, I’m stuck with a decision: do I report him, or do I quietly find another job and leave this mess behind? Either way, my perception of this company—and the people who run it—has changed forever.