Just for context – I'm currently staying at this inn to get a bit of breathing space from my home life. I'm still at the inn, and I just put another payment down for the next week, and then I should probably look at moving forward after this. The past couple of weeks haven't been too good, but the break was probably necessary.
Anyways, I work in the paint industry where I serve this regular customer at my job most weeks, I've been at this place for over 4 years now. There are some regulars that normally hang around and have a yarn because we see them so often. Months ago, he mentioned he was looking at retiring from his painting and wallpaper hanging business and that he could potentially show me the ropes so I could take the business off his hands. I did actually think about it, but realistically and in all honesty, I'm not keen on commission based work, and not very good at putting myself out there, so I decided against it and actually gave him a business card for another painter who might be keen. Months later, I did a few paint colour matches for him, and I always flick the colour match customers a text from my work phone to let them know it's ready to be picked up. One day, I texted him to let him know his colour match was ready, and seconds after I hit Send, he called and asked me, "Are you calling me from your personal phone?" To which I told him that I have a work phone, so no. He brought me 2 more samples to match that same week, and when I texted him to say they were ready, on both occasions, he replied with "Thanks babe" 🤔 I didn't respond either time, but I did find it strange.
This past Thursday, he came in with a wallpaper sample to match. I go over and start flipping through the books because our wallpaper lady was busy with another customer. This is when he asks how everything is going with me and I said it's not so great at the moment so I'm currently on a little vacay away from home and then he brings up the subject of me leaving my partner to which I stupidly said "nah, I don't have one of those at the moment." This is when the guy's entire attitude shifted, and he goes,"REALLY?! I don't mean to be so forward but do you wanna have a few drinks with me later? We can go back to yours." I just stood there like a stunned mullet. The guy is 65, MARRIED, older than both of my parents, and the cherry on top – he also looks like he could be related to my estranged father. I said "noooo, I'm good thanks" and then he started looking for things we might have in common, "do you like motorsports? I have a car we can take for a drive sometime" and "I've got THIS type of car" I said no, and that I don't care about cars. He also told me that he and his wife were going their own separate ways very soon, and he brings up the whole retiring from the business again, (wtf, does his wife even know what's going on) then he goes "where did you say you were staying again?" I told him I never said where I was staying, then I shut the convo down and told him my workmate would be in touch with him about the wallpaper. After he left, I told my manager. I also discovered over the weekend from another workmate that he and his wife live 2 blocks away from the inn. 🤦🏽♀️ what are the odds, FFS. I just came back from the shops about an hour ago and made sure I parked between other cars just in case he drives past by chance and happens to see the work ute. I don't think he'll do anything, but now my creep radar finally went off, I no longer feel comfortable dealing with him by myself. I might be sad right now, but I am not vulnerable, not a homewrecker, not into old guys. When I think about every interaction I've had with him over the 4 years I've been serving him, I'm seeing it differently now. My manager thought it was funny, but I definitely wasn't laughing 🤢
Anyways, here is dinner. This room only has a fridge and microwave, so I've got a bunch of heat and eat things here. The mince and cheese pie I had earlier looked a bit questionable in photo form, so here is my ice cream, which looks a lot nicer.
EDIT – this is a long ass post. Sorry! 😅 I think I'm still wondering when this old bugger decided I was going to be excited about making my already shitty situation even worse lol