I used to work for a certain company and had a good relationship with a particular manager. At a certain point, I left the company to do other things, but maintained good ties with the manager.
A few years later, we met up for lunch and things that day started to go ... beyond the professional realm. This would have been a bad idea due to our personal lives. Nothing much happened except some awkwardness. I think we both ended up being embarrassed and mortified. She got second thoughts and left.
I would have been happy to go back to the way things were. But she no longer answered my messages (one or two of them) on our preferred social platform and soon unfriended me. A few years passed and we didn't speak.
Now there's a job I'd like to have in the company, and going back would mean a pretty good position and salary. I think I have a good shot at it, but this awkwardness makes me think twice. She's still in the company, and well-connected and influential. We would work in different cities and probably not ever need to interact. (My role would be a few levels below hers anyway, and not in a direct chain of command.)
My sense was that during our interaction several years ago, something went wrong, I made her feel bad, and she wanted to forget about it and not have anyone find out.
I reached out to her on a different platform the other day, hoping to see if things were still awkward. She left me on "read," although we remain connected on the platform. As for her thoughts now, it's hard to say, but clearly she doesn't want to be in touch.
Before I continue, I will mention that she's someone whose bad side I wouldn't want to be on.
My concerns are that she might not want me back in the company due to awkwardness or bad feelings. While she doesn't have a direct influence on that, if she were to say something negative to the right people, I might not get the job. And if I got the job and she found my presence offensive or threatening, could I end up in a bad situation?
Ideally I could go back to the company and we'd simply never interact. But I feel uneasy. I don't want to leave the job I have and then end up in a compromised situation due to this old complication.
Is it worth a try? Or should I steer clear?