The Best Is Yet to Come (The Best Girls 0.50)

She paused, flummoxed by his use of the wrong name. He saw her mind racing, trying to decide on the correct move. She decided to ignore the blunder, and answer his question.

“Mr. Gherring. I’ve studied Gherring Inc.’s prospectus thoroughly. I admire you and everything you’ve accomplished through this company. I would love to be a part of your work. I feel I’ll be up to any challenge you present. Essentially, it would be a chance to study at the feet of greatness.”

“I see.”

He stared for a full thirty seconds of silence before turning back to his computer to answer a few more emails. After more uncomfortable silence, he looked up again, as if surprised to see her still sitting there.

“And why do you want to leave the job you have already. You’re currently working for Barnes and Graves? Is there something wrong with your current job?”

“No sir, Mr. Gherring. I just feel this is an awesome opportunity. The kind of opportunity I can’t afford to miss.”

“And are you prepared to leave Barnes and Graves with a two week notice?”

“Yes sir. Absolutely sir.”

“But what if they haven’t found a replacement in two weeks? Will you leave them high and dry?”

“No sir. I mean, yes sir. I mean... I’m sure they can find someone to replace me.”

“So you think you’re easily replaced? Non-essential? Not very valuable?”

“Uhmm... No, I just think... I’m...”

“How much would you expect to be paid?”

“Well, the job description said the pay was commensurate with experience. And I’ve been an executive assistant for six years.”

“So, what do you think you’re worth, Ms. Hartley?”

“It’s not...”

“Yes, Ms. Hartley?”

“I think I’m worth at least eighty thousand per year, but I would take the job for sixty.”

“Very well.” He spoke in a bored tone, carefully avoiding Katie’s eyes. “That will be all. Ms. Carson. Will you see Ms. Hartley out?”

When Katie shut the door behind the interviewee, she marched to Gherring’s desk with her hands on her hips.

“You’ll never find someone if you keep this up. You didn’t give her a chance. You were rude, and you called her by the wrong name, and you goaded her.”

“Yes, I know. I’m not a very nice man, Ms. Carson. I need to know if my new personal executive assistant can cope with the fact.” His smug response drew her ire.

“That’s not what you’re doing. You’re just trying to sabotage these interviews. But, it’s not going to work. At the end of this day, you need to choose someone. Either from this set of candidates or from the other two sets you’ve already interviewed.” She fumed at him until he imagined steam pouring from her ears.

He regarded her with amusement. He seldom managed to ruffle her calm demeanor. He certainly would miss her if she left to work with Gary.

“Yes, Ms. Carson. Please don’t yell at me.” He winked and grinned.

The wind went out of her sails immediately. “You make me crazy! I can’t wait to get out of here and work at Climbing High.”

He pretended to be hurt. “But won’t you miss me? Even a little?”

“Yes, Mr. Gherring,” she answered, her cool control back in place. “But I’m going to leave you, anyway. No matter what. So you’d better take these interviews seriously.”

“Of course, Ms. Carson. I always take my job seriously. You can send in the next candidate.”

Katie called another interviewee into the room. Once again, Gherring refused to acknowledge the girl’s presence until he had studied her cover letter, resume, and letters of recommendation. When he raised his eyes to the candidate, he found she was still standing before him, having refused to take the chair Katie indicated.