Sounds like they knew each other well enough, and she didn’t want to be as close to him as he wanted to be with her.
In my younger years, there was a guy I worked with on occasion. We were cordial with each other during the work day, but didn’t socialize beyond that. He actually creeped me out some, but I never said that outright. I eventually moved to another job in another city a 5 hour drive away. I didn’t stay in touch him or with many of the folks I worked with.
One time, out of the blue, about a year later, he showed up at my new place of employment and begged me to marry him. I had not seen nor talked with him after I left the previous job. To boot, I was engaged to my husband by then. This guy had met my then boyfriend, turned fiancé back when we worked together. It was very unnerving to be stalked like that.
Interesting. I think you hit the nail on the. head re this guy’s obsession.
Was he Asian or from Chechnya? If so, it’s a cultural thing. I’ve heard of them courting toll-booth workers!