Dead in a Week (Forensic Instincts 7)

“I have a promotion on the horizon,” she’d replied, pausing and ultimately deciding there was no point in closing off her options. “As it happens, it’s in the human resources department. I’ve always had aspirations of going in that direction.”

“And you’re more than qualified to do so.” David hadn’t looked surprised. He’d looked like he was about to pitch something.

Zoe waited.

David had indeed wanted to pitch something, but it was not at all what Zoe had been expecting. Rather than presenting a potential career opportunity at another company, he’d flatly asked if she’d be interested in coming on board at Franklin Wales—not as an employee but as a full partner.

“We’re actively pursuing qualified people who can bring with them a substantial network of tech contacts and do a buy-in into our company.”

Zoe had felt the wind go out of her sails. She knew exactly what a buy-in would mean. “I don’t have the kind of capital to invest that you’d require,” she’d said. “But I’m flattered that Franklin Wales would consider me.”

David had waved away her obviously anticipated objection. “Given your income range, we assumed the monetary investment would be a no-go. But there are other perks you bring with you. For example, you know a large number of high-level executives, both inside and outside NanoUSA—executives we’d love to have access to.”

Access to? That triggered warning bells in Zoe’s head. “What exactly is it we’re talking about here?”

“Nothing unethical,” David had reassured her with a hint of a smile. “Although I do admire your loyalty. I’m just saying that your value-add is that you’d open a lot of doors for us if you joined our

team. Yes, we do have clients who are interested in recruiting people out of Nano—but only if those people are equally interested in moving. But the same applies to executives at the many other companies you deal with. You’re in a unique position to match the right people with the right opportunities—and to know which executives and which companies to approach.”

Zoe had sipped her wine. She couldn’t argue that point.

David went the next step—one that was the very Achilles heel she’d been contemplating when he’d approached her. “You said you have a promotion on the horizon. Just beware that as you walk, the horizon always recedes—you rarely actually get to it.”

“I recognize that. But I work for a very honorable company.”

“Company dynamics change—especially when the CEO is in his sixties and about to reach the pinnacle of his career by releasing cutting-edge, game-changing technology. Sounds like a great swan song to me.”

Zoe pressed her lips together and said nothing.

“Look,” David had said. “Franklin Wales doesn’t need to solicit employees, much less partners. I wouldn’t be approaching you if I didn’t think this would be a great fit. You know the industry. You know the players. You have the connections. And—speaking on a strictly professional basis—you’re an attractive woman in a male-dominated field. Much as we all try to pretend that doesn’t matter, it does. It’s a reality and a plus.”

That was one of Zoe’s hot buttons. But she couldn’t say he was wrong. He wasn’t.

“Let’s say I’m interested,” she said. “What would be the next step—interviews with the other senior partners?”

“Not necessary, not in your case. My partners are comfortable with my making the right call. But we have aggressive financial targets and we need to get started on achieving them. So we need to know in short order if you’re game.”

“I see.”

“If you do join us, we’d want you to recruit at Nano and other tech companies right away. And—on a separate note, and not a caveat to the job—I’d appreciate if you could get me a meeting with Olivia Stack. Striking up a relationship with Nano’s VP of Human Resources would be a coup for me and an in to a new corporate client—an in that you can nurture if you choose to come aboard.”

Nothing David had said was sleazy. He wanted resolution. He wanted contacts. And as an ambitious guy, he wanted to connect with a VP who could make things happen for him.

“Fair enough,” Zoe had replied. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. And while I appreciate your sense of urgency, I do need some time to consider my options. I’ve worked at Nano for fifteen years. This would be a major change for me. And I want to make sure it’s the right one. I don’t want to waste either Franklin Wales’ time or my own. As for Olivia, I’ll talk to her tomorrow. I’m sure she’ll agree to a meeting.”

That was a day and a half ago.

And here was David, following up like a good executive recruiter— one who smelled victory.

She still didn’t know whether that victory was in the cards. But she’d done enough research on Franklin Wales to know that opportunities like this didn’t come along often. And as for her future at Nano—she was about to walk into the meeting she’d set up with Robert to discuss that very thing.

On that thought, she pushed aside the rest of her sandwich and rose, head held high.

Time to take her future into her own hands.

18

NanoUSA