“You were watching that interview?”
“Well, yes. We find that we get better responses when a neutral party handles the interview and the executives observe. Then we can choose which candidates to meet face-to-face.”
“And that means the candidates also don’t see your face until you’ve decided you’re interested.”
“See, that’s the kind of insight we need,” he said, flashing those white teeth at me. Did he gargle with bleach to get them that white? “But, yes, that is a factor. As I’m sure you’ve been told a dozen times so far today, security is very important to us. It’s easier to maintain a level of secrecy when outsiders know as little as possible. But congratulations, you’ve made it through all the layers, and I must say, there was some competition over you.”
“Does this mean I’m hired?” I asked.
“We’re at the point where it’s down to a mutual decision. You needed to meet me to know if you even want the job, and I needed to meet you to be sure you’re a good personality fit. Is there anything you want to know about me?”
“Well, what do you do?” I thought it was a pretty obvious question. Usually, you went into an interview already knowing what a company produced or did.
“I thought they explained your job description.”
“Yes, my job. But since my job would be supporting your job, what do you do?”
“Mostly, I suppose you could say I move money around.”
“So, finance?”
“Yes, finance.”
“And the company? What does the company do, make, buy, sell, whatever? You haven’t even told me the name of the business I’ll be working for.”
“We mostly deal in financial matters. And we’re a consortium that doesn’t have a branded identity. Trust me, even if I told you the name, it wouldn’t mean anything to you. If we do our jobs properly, no one hears about us.”
I smiled. “Now, was that so hard? I know security is important, but you can hardly expect anyone to take a job without knowing that much. I’d learn pretty quickly, anyway, in order to get my job done.”
“True, I guess. Funny, but no one ever asks that question.”
“Really? I guess they’re all dazzled by the spectacle or stunned by the process.”
“Most of our recruits haven’t yet realized that they’re immune to magic, so the testing goes a very different way, and then they’re so distracted by learning that magic is real that they don’t think much about what we really do.”
“That’s how it went when I joined MSI, which is why I know the questions to ask now.”
“I can promise you one thing: I won’t treat you they way they have. I will appreciate and utilize all your talents.” He stared me directly in the eye as he spoke, his face a picture of sincerity. If it hadn’t been for Owen, there was a good chance I’d have developed a hopeless crush. As it was, there may have been the slightest bit of a flutter somewhere inside me. Purely involuntary, of course.
“That’s why I’m here,” I said with a smile that I hoped looked as sincere as his gaze.
“Then shall we talk details?” He opened the folder he’d brought in with him and took out a sheet of paper, which he handed to me. “Here’s our offer.”
When I saw the number on the page under “salary,” I could see why people didn’t ask many questions. I didn’t think I could ethically keep it, since I was here under false pretenses and I didn’t want to compromise my true loyalties, but I supposed I would have to use some of the money to look like I was living with that kind of salary.
There were other benefits, including the car and driver to take me to work—probably so that I’d never find out where work actually was—and, oddly enough, a wardrobe. It clicked then that the expensive suits I’d noticed weren’t just standard-issue New Yorker black working attire. The regular employees probably had to go through the same ritual of changing clothes and leaving their things behind, only they got tailored suits instead of a generic gown. Meals during working hours were included, as well, since we probably couldn’t leave the office for lunch while not knowing where we were, and brown-bagging would mean bringing something personal that couldn’t be allowed inside.
Then I noticed that there was company-owned housing for employees who made it past the probationary phase, and although there was nothing saying it was mandatory, it also wasn’t presented as an option. In the New York real estate market, that alone would keep people in a job, if quitting meant having to find a new place to live, possibly with very little notice. It was kind of a pity that I had to pretend to be broken up with Owen, since having actual privacy at my place would be really nice.
“It’s very generous,” I said.
“As you said about your old job, if loyalty is expected, it has to be returned. We believe that if we keep our employees happy, they’ll be loyal to us. Now, do you accept?”
Seven
I hesitated, and not just because I was still trying to avoid looking like I was eagerly infiltrating their organization. This wasn’t turning out to be at all what I’d expected.
Then again, I hadn’t really had a clear picture of what would happen. I guess I thought I’d get in, learn where their secret headquarters was and the identities of a few of the people, maybe smuggle out some documents or take pictures with a tiny camera cleverly disguised as a lipstick tube, possibly plant a hidden camera or listening device, and then quit once we had what we needed to either take them down or defend ourselves.