Susan breathed in deeply in another effort at self-control. "How dare Ray ask me! How dare he! 'A little overtime again!' he says. He knows I don't get any. But, it's not the money. It's the other issue - the issue of 'how dare he?'"

Susan was the administrative assistant to the vice-president. She loved her work. She kept everyone and everything in balance: the trainees, the secretarial staff, the president himself and Ray. She even had time to visit her parents and sail weekly with the team.

She felt her top teeth sink mercilessly into her lower lip and pinch the lip cruelly against her lower teeth. "Oh! That hurts! Be careful or I'll be bleeding!"

Her eye mechanically surveyed her office: diploma discreetly framed on the opposite wall, favorite photos of the boat and team to the right, her beautiful desk with its neat files, and the large window to the left overlooking the intersection. Numb in her thoughts, she gazed below. Red light. Green light. People crossing. Cars passing. "How dare he!" Her concentration returned to the report immediately in front of her.

Ever since she began, it was this way. Work hard. Give it her all. Every rating "Excellent!" But always, "Susan, this is great but I need you to .. a little overtime again!" Again she realized her lower lip was painfully squeezed between her teeth. She relaxed her jaw "What if I had a partner and children waiting somewhere? At least the team doesn't eat till 9 p.m. Maybe ..."

She glanced at the report: "Part 3. Include Bill's concerns. That'll take hours!" Picking up a pen she settled back into her chair. Bill's concerns were outlined on the top. Her eye scanned the first line. But then she raised her head.

"What's really going on? What's the real issue? Why all these last minute needs? Is it pity? I'm not married and so he needs to keep me busy? Is it power? He's on the board and I'm not. Is it I'm a woman and he's the man?" She shuddered at that thought. "Is he hard-hearted? Genuinely ignorant? Doesn't he see his own pattern? His meeting isn't 'til next Thursday. He doesn't 'just' need it ..." She breathed in deeply again. "That's it! I'll get the revision done and on time. But not tonight and not without talking to Ray and if necessary with Paul in personnel. The report will be done; it will also be noted in my office journal."

She opened the journal confidently and made a brief entry. "Paul will appreciate this journal - it was his idea when I last talked with him about Ray. Ray and I need to talk and reach an understanding or I move on. I'll no longer grin and bear. I'm worth it! Paul knows it. So does Ray."

Notation finished, Susan closed her journal and the report file and went determinedly and cheerfully to meet her team for the sail. "