He Had the Budget But No Boundaries

Dear Diary,

I had just finished filing my nails and dancing to Beyoncé’s Renaissance album.

Made a late lunch, lit a candle, and finally felt like I was ahead of my calendar.

Then that client's Zoom call came ringing.

I was mid-call, walking my client through Click Up, when he said,

“You know, you’re way too pretty to be this organized.”

I laughed it off...

Because what else do you do when a man with a budget says something weird and your rent is due?

At first, I convinced myself it was nothing.

But then came the 9 PM Slack messages.

“Just checking in 😉”

Sir, checking in on what? The time I clocked out? Seriously?

The compliments got bolder. The calls got longer. He started asking about my weekend and what I would do. My nails. My voice......

One Zoom, he told me I had “wife energy.”

And I still stayed on the call.

Why? Because I thought keeping it cute meant keeping the client.

But here’s what nobody tells you when you’re starting:

✨Professional doesn’t mean passive.

✨Being likable won’t protect you.

✨Silence is costly.

I should’ve said something the first time he made me uncomfortable.

Instead, I tried to “handle it” and ended up hating every second of working with him.

Now? I don’t play with my boundaries

→ One weird comment? I address it.

→ Personal calls? Canceled.

→ I have a line in my contract that says: respect is non-negotiable

To my fellow VAs:

🚫 You are not here to entertain anyone

🚫 You are not here to absorb creepy energy

🚫 You are not anyone's work crush, therapist, or emotional support VA.

Current Mood: No longer laughing at creepy jokes to keep the client

Peak of the Week: Fired a client mid-project and still got paid in full.

Glowing Gratitude: For the version of me who now leaves every man on read after 6 PM.

Until next time, I’ll be sipping something strong and re-reading my boundaries like a love letter to myself.

✌🏽❤️

— Monica