Procurement Pin-up

In my office I am the only 22 year old girl. There are other women but they are all much older and what my husband would call "frumpy." Which isn't to say they actually are frumpy, they're very pretty. But this office being what it is they don't dress to show it.

I'm not saying I dress like the office slut. But I do attempt to put my best face forward. After all I'm a temp...I'm representing not just me, but my agency, the company I work for, everyone.

I'm also one of the very few women here who do not have children. If they're married they have kids. And if they're not married - there is a reason.

Not only am I the only young person - I work for a lot of older men. I'm an Executive Assistant for one of the VP's. And so anyone who works for him, I work for. Basically I exist to hide the fact that most Directors, VP's, CEO's, COP's, COO's, Managers, Analysts, and Specialist don't know how to use a computer. My VP especially.

All this in mind they whole gaggle of older men and one woman allows for two different situations to develop. 1) I become the mommy - making sure everyone is where they should be on time, that they have all there books and papers and haven't forgotten their lunch or 2) I become the playboy bunny of the procurement department

I think they've already decided what my role will be.

My first week everyone was very polite. I got lots of ma'am's and misses. Doors were help open for me, people smiled and said hello. People asked for thing politely. It was that kind of detached respect people have around one another when their forced to be in close contact with strangers. Being a temp I'm used to it and I know it will evolve.

Now, after they've interacted with me some more, they're a little bolder. I don't get any ma'am's. I get "hon" "sweetie" "cutie" "kiddo" and today the boldest of them all "thank ya sexy" *wink*

The other day I was fielding phone calls for my boss and sending them off to voicemail.
"Good Afternoon *************'s Office. No he's not available would you like to leave a message on his voicemail. Thank you."
Ring - Rinse - Repeat...until

"Good Afternoon **************'s Office. No he's in a meeting would you like to leave a message and have him get back to you?"

"What do you mean he's in a meeting. Is he there."

"Yes he's in this office today but is currently in another meeting. Would you like his..."

"Can you just tell him ***** called and have him call back.

"Of course"

And then 30 minutes later:

"Good Afternoon **************'s Office. No he's not available right..."

"He isn't back yet?"

"No, Mr. ***** I'm sorry he's not. He'll get back to you as soon as he is. Would you care to leave a detailed message on his voicemail so he can....

"No ma'am just tell him I called."

And then 30 minutes after THAT.

"Good Afternoon ***********'s Off..."

"Not yet huh."

"Nope. But if you leave a message on his voicemail he can listen to it on his blackberry in the meeting and email you right away."

"No honeypie, you just do like I say."

Followed by me considering banging my phone down on the desk - hard.

Do like you say? Do like you say? Clearly doing like you say hasn't helped you get your issue resolved has it? But now I'll see if Honeypie can go wiggle her ass into the boardroom and say ***** called and he wants you to call him back because he can't seem to be able to leave a message for you on the stupid blackberry like every other Tom, Dick and DICK!

Today was less annoying but still shocked me. I went to on of the managers to make sure he got his itinerary for a trip next week.

"Yes I did get that."

"Just wanted to make sure. Thanks. Remember to get the expense report to me right after and I'll get you your check early."

"You're just sweeter than sweetie. Thank ya sexy!" *wink*

"Uh...you're welcome?"

The really weird part was the wink. I feel certain if he was standing up next to me instead of sitting behind his desk he would have slapped my ass. It was an ass-slapping kind of a wink. And then later today as I was handing out the oh so elusive checks he saw me walking towards him in the hall and winked again.

I swear my butt hurt.

Now I can't even look him in the face. What happened to the "Could you book me a flight for next week ma'am?" Where did "sweeter than sweet" come from? I've noticed this comes from the more southern of the men here (Living in Maryland you get a mix of Southern and Northern.) Is this a southern thing? My father never said that to women. I know he thinks it...and he head does the tilting thing when a particularly cute girl walks by...but never would he deign to call a secretary sexy.

Or is this an older man thing in general? Is there some rule that if there is a young girl around they all have to turn dirty real quick?

How did I go from "Ma'am" to "Sexy"?