When my colleague, Jake, asked me out for dinner, I hesitated. We had always been friendly at work, but something about him gave me pause. Still, I convinced myself it was harmless—just a casual meal. I should have trusted my instincts.

The evening started off fine, but midway through dinner, Jake’s behavior shifted. He leaned in too close, making odd comments about how “different” I was from other women in the office. When I tried to steer the conversation to neutral topics, he kept bringing it back to how “perfect” we’d be together.

Then came the moment that sent chills down my spine. He casually mentioned how he had “looked into” my past relationships—details I had never shared. My stomach turned. I made an excuse, grabbed my purse, and left.

The next day at work, Jake acted as if nothing had happened, but I knew better. I learned a valuable lesson that night—always trust your gut.