No.

Before Fred could respond, Millie answered her own question.

"She won't."

"How did you know?"

Of course, Fred didn't need to ask that. Millie was a big-time Liberal. There were speculations that she was prepared to suck donkey dick if it meant that Hillary would have won the previous election. Fred was certain that the #MeToo and #TimeIsUp movements were popping up behind her eyelids, like the red spots you get when you close your eyes against the sun.

Millie ignored Fred's question. "What happens to Barry?"

"Nothing. I can't fire him without just cause."

"But, there is just cause! He **** Tess!"

Fred sighed. "Tess says that he didn't touch her. My hands are tied."

Millie gritted her teeth. Fred knew that she wanted to punch him. He was prepared to offer her that satisfaction. He had spent the last decade constructing a workplace that was welcoming to everyone. Gender, race, and religion--both political and spiritual--didn't matter here. If you could make money, then you would be hired.

Fred would have liked to believe that Barry had ruined that workplace Babel without assistance but that would be bullshit. Everyone, including Fred, knew what Barry was like. If Fred had disciplined him sooner, then maybe (probably) this would not have happened. A quick look at Millie told him that she was thinking the same thing.

When Barry returned to work the following week, he acted as if nothing had ever happened. As if he had not planned on **** one of his co-workers. This falsehood was helped partly by the misinformation which circulated the office. The very few who knew the full story did not tell anyone and some in the office were beginning to believe that they had gotten Barry all wrong.

After all, no one had seen Barry do anything bad. Yes, he could be a drunk oaf but that was not a crime. Also, Barry seemed more subdued, as if whatever had transpired at his party had humbled him. Fred knew better, of course. He had told Barry that he would lose his job if Fred saw Barry do anything remotely resembling sexual harassment.

Even Barry knew not to push his luck.

Millie Satra, on the other hand, was less accommodating towards Barry's return than her co-workers. Even Tess, who seemed prepared to put the incident behind her, exchanged a nod with Barry when he waltzed into his office, which was across from hers. In contrast, Millie greeted Barry with the cold stare that reminded Barry of a wife who had just discovered her husband's affair. Vengeful.

Fred noticed Millie's spite, also. Sometimes, it was directed at him. When Millie announced that she was hosting a barbecue at her house--only a few months after Barry's party--Fred called her into his office. "Please, tell me you aren't planning anything." Fred said.

"With?"

Fred frowned. He hated it when people acted dumb. Millie decided to drop the act. "I'm just hosting a small get together," she said. "Is that a problem?"

"It is if you're trying to go after Barry."

Millie narrowed her brows. For a split second, Fred thought that she would make a damn good lawyer. "And if I am? You're going to fire me?"

"Don't, Millie. This can only create trouble."

"That's the problem with men," she smiled. "You always think you can get your way. You can either come to the barbecue or not. That's all the power you have."