This morning I went up to the Department Managers Office to punch the day's order into the computer. It's a sparse space, maybe 12x12 with a counter, computer and a phone. When I got there, someone was already in there, but on the phone and not using the computer. It's a communal space so I shimmied on over to the computer and started typing. The man on the phone set his back to me and faced the wall to make his phone calls, he was, I guess, seeking a little privacy.

Turns out, he should have sought a whole hell of a lot more privacy.

I wasn't trying to listen in, I was concentrating on my work. However, you can't help but hear somethings--after all, he was talking in an otherwise silent room. At first I thought he was just trying to find someone to hang out with after work. "I get out of work in an hour and thought maybe we could get together, give me a call back." But then it started to seem less that way after more phone calls. "I'm very interested in what you're talking about. I love it, love it love it love it."

Hmmm, what is this guy talking about anyway? There was just something about the snippets I was catching and the way he was talking that made me think he wasn't talking to a buddy after all. "Yeah, I'd be very interested in watching that, let me know how to get in touch with you." And the curious "Four or fives times a day", which became "Four or fives times a day, at least."

I was feeling pretty sure that he was talking to women...he didn't know...who took money for their services. And then I heard him use the words "Golden Showers". Um, I'm trying to get some work done here, buddy, is this really the place for this? I'm pretty sure I heard him say something about his cell phone. Shouldn't he be using that? Somewhere else? At one point I also heard him use the word "Discreet". I can only hope he was talking about her, because he was not being what I'd call discreet. I was about 99% sure this man was trying to hire a prostitute to meet up with after work. "Mmmm, yeah, I'd love that, maybe we could get together."

Anxious to exit the room, I entered my order quickly, clapped my order book shut and left the room. I got back to produce and told my coworker that I think I just listened to a manager trying to hire a hooker on the phone. She pondered "Doesn't he know someone can pick up the phone and listen anywhere in the store?" "Maybe," I said, "But he definitely knew I was in the room with him."

Dude.