Bxdty

I work in a startup company as a developer. This is my first job and I have been working here for 3 weeks. The company shares the office space with another company, with a small corridor between the two. The other company is into real estate business, and I guess they own the building.

Along the way to the washroom, there is a cabin with a transparent glass partition. The cabin is used by the other company's Director, who is a beautiful lady.

Since the first day, when I passed by the cabin, I would bend down slightly to look at her. Initially she would give me a slight smile. I kept doing this and it became a habit.

Last Friday, when I did this, she came out of the cabin, and asked sternly, "Excuse me, do you need anything from me?", to which I could just respond, "No, miss."

It was then that I realized that I have been doing wrong, and my actions may have been quite harassing. No one likes someone peeping at them, especially so many times.

I have been worried since then that she might discuss it with my boss or my colleagues. I want to apologize to her, but I am not comfortable approaching women, so I don't know how to face her.

First thing of course is to just stop the behavior. If you've made it awkward for this woman, then as long as you don't keep doing it, then you're probably okay. Just stop doing it. She probably just wants to behavior the stop and she took action to stop it. Case closed.

If she does take this higher to your boss, then explain to them that you didn't mean any disrespect and offer to apologize.

What just happened is she had a situation arising with a colleague (that colleague being you), and took an action to resolve the situation quite diplomatically. What she most likely would like to see right now is total confirmation that this intrusive behavior from you is over. That would likely be a relief for her. Concocting apologies will do the total opposite of this. At best you were awkward and totally moving forward is a great way to stop being awkward. At worst you were intrusive or leering or gawking, and totally discontinuing the behavior is the best step.

I would not use the word harassing yet. Harassing behavior is repeated. Maybe if a lot of very unlucky things happen to you the fact that you "peeped" multiple times would constitute harassment, but responding to her simple request for you to stop doing that would be to not harass her. Which isn't to say this went well for you. You said she is a "beauty" and you seem to think this gives you allowance to treat her stupidly. It does not work like that. Women who men think are "beautiful" should not be treated rudely, with respectful treatment reserved for women who look just okay.

Kate McGregory has posted an answer on how out of the line a show of apology can be. Apologies can say, "You owe me more attention for this situation I put you in." In your case, nothing good will come out of your mouth if you try to explain that you were just awkward and that she is a beautiful lady (no, really, do not say that).

Interacting with people who you are attracted to is difficult and can cause problems for yourself or the other party. So until you are better at this go with the very rough rule of thumb, do not treat someone of the opposite sex a way you would not treat someone of the same sex. This is a very blunt rule but it sounds like you have not gained a basic understanding for how to even say hi to a woman even if she is a professional colleague, which can put you very close to causing danger for others or yourself. I would recommend applying this in and out of the workplace and working on the basics of respectfully interacting with women, but the workplace is a must.