Page 2 of Dominic Powers Duet Box Set
“Please, call me Sophia. Just a glass of water, thank you.”
“Very well, Sophia. Please have a seat and I will be right with you.”
Walking back to the fully stocked bar, I feel her eyes watching me, sizing me up and trying to read me. I know she hasn’t taken her seat yet because her back would be to me and I wouldn’t feel her eyes on me, burning through me and creating a physical presence on my skin. She obviously thinks she has time to take me in before I finish making her drink. I’m letting her believe she can stare at me without getting caught, just to gauge her true reaction. Merely envisioning the imminent busted look on her face makes me smile.
Turning quickly, our eyes lock and her face heats to bright red after I catch her brazenly ogling me. “Do you want that water on the rocks, Sophia?”
The tone of my voice doesn’t give away my delight but there is no doubt that my eyes betray me. The truth is I attract women most everywhere I go but I’m used to it by now. I am in no way conceited, but I know I’m a handsome man and I work hard to maintain my physical fitness. My personal trainer puts me through a grueling workout every morning, alternating weights and calisthenics, but it’s paid off in ways most people have never considered.
“Um, whatever is easiest for you, Mr. Powers,” she answers before she quickly takes her seat as I previously instructed. Her answer pleases me in ways that have nothing to do with business deals. That’s the part that concerns me, however. I need someone who can be as ruthless in business as I am, who can represent me when I am otherwise engaged, and who can make the best decisions for my company.
I muse over this as I drop a few ice cubes into a tumbler and fill it with bottled water. My mind questions if she has enough backbone to stand up to the many executives I meet with on a daily basis. Executives of otherFortune 500companies who are accustomed to getting their way and having others jump at their command. Right or wrong, this is still very much a man’s business world. Many business deals are brokered over a game of golf and a few stiff drinks. This tradition doesn’t normally include women unless the executives specifically request to bring their wives along.
If she’s trainable, she could be a formidable asset, though. They wouldn’t see it coming from her and she would knock them off their game. Any weakness of theirs gives us the advantage in a negotiation. It’s time for me to test her strengths and weaknesses by suddenly thrusting her into an uncomfortable and stressful situation. My interview process is unconventional in ways but effective as the company retention rate is excellent.
I watch the movement of Sophia’s shoulders as her chest rises and falls with each breath. She’s practicing a calming technique and preparing herself mentally for the difficult questions she knows are coming. Intently focused on her meditation, she doesn’t hear me walk up behind her. Reaching over her to place the tumbler on my desk directly in front of her chair, I keep my voice low as I say, “Here’s your water, Sophie.”
She jumps slightly as my proximity startles her. Her eyes fly open and she inhales sharply—our faces are inches apart and her eyes flit to my mouth. She watches with baited breath as I intentionally lick my lips, her eyes tracking the movement of my tongue across my lips. Willingly or not, she can’t deny that I affect her—the desire is there and I have but to ask and she would be mine.
Keeping my movements fluid, I quickly retreat from her space and walk around my desk. She clears her throat and takes a quick sip of water. “Sophia,” she responds.
“Sorry?” I quiz, knowing exactly what she means. This is the first test. Is she too polite to correct a basic misunderstanding? Will she subjugate herself and give someone else the upper hand in her attempt to be nice, to not offend the other person? Or will she stand up for herself and tell me that I’ve misstated her name?
“My name is Sophia. I believe you said Sophie. I just wanted to make sure you knew so that you don’t give the job to the wrong person,” she explains amiably but pointedly. Score one point forSophia.
“So it is, Sophia,” I reply as I take my seat. “Easy question first. Tell me about yourself,” I request as I lean back in my chair. This is actually a very telling question even though it’s one of the least structured of the interview questions. The information this applicant chooses to disclose tells me where her true intentions lie. If she replies with personal information, it tells me that my business is not her main priority. If she replies with her business accomplishments, I know she’s attuned to the needs of my business.
“I graduated from the University of Texas—double majoring in International Business and Management. Since graduation, I have worked in the software development field in increasingly responsible positions over the two years. My latest position was as a manager of a small team of software engineers. I was responsible for overseeing every aspect of a ten million dollar project with averytight timeframe for completion and a high probability of failure. Under my leadership, the project was completed ahead of schedule, resulting in a bonus for the companyandmy team.
“While I have been successful in my current role, it is time that I expand my horizon, learn more and apply more of my skills and expertise. My current employer doesn’t offer that opportunity and when I saw this position, I wanted to interview with you to determine if this is the right place for me.”
Her enthusiasm and genuineness are obvious in the way she speaks, the tone and inflection of her voice, and in her mannerisms. But she doesn’t show the desperation that so many applicants demonstrate. This question sets the tone for the entire interview and she hit the mark dead center. She focused on her education, her accomplishments, and the reason why she is interested in making a job change without automatically assuming that this job is a perfect fit for her. She understands that she is interviewing me just as much as I am interviewing her.
Impressive.
Throughout the rest of the interview, I learn so much more about Sophia and what makes her tick, what she likes, and her sense of humor. Even during a formal interview for a very high level position, she has managed to infuse her humor into it in a professional and genial way. I can’t recall the last time I actually laughed during a formal interview or enjoyed it so much. My mind goes to the everyday tasks and plays through how the scenarios would change if I add her to the mix. The only downside I’ve been able to determine is that being in such close proximity to her for prolonged periods of time will be hell on my libido.
“As you know, this position works directly with me. If chosen, you would be my go-to person—that includes making business decisions when I’m not here, acting on my behalf, and taking responsibility for major interactions. I expect each task to be carried out to my strict instructions and I expect you to make the decisionsIwould make. That requires you to spend an extraordinary amount of time with me, learning my methods, vision, and long-term goals for the company. I have to be able to trust youimplicitly. Do you foresee any problems with any of that?” I ask, holding her gaze with a burning intensity in my eyes and giving no room for her to break our eye contact.
“No, I have no problem with any part of those duties. I want to do the best I can possibly do for the company, for you and for myself. I would be honored to spend time with you, learning from you and perfecting my skills. I know there’s a great deal I can learn under your guidance,” she finishes and I’m glad my desk hides the lower half of my body from her view.
“If chosen, when can you start?”
“After a two-week notice. I wouldn’t leave without giving them time to replace me, even if that’s only on an interim basis.”
I regard her for a moment, watching her as she waits for me to reply to her last statement. The truth is, I can’t control my racing thoughts about late nights, early mornings, and out of town trips with the splendid beauty sitting across from me. None of my thoughts are what anyone would consider wholesome and I can’t help but feel that I will ultimately lead her into temptation. I see myself as the serpent and I’m tempting her with the fruit of knowledge—knowledge of a life of which she has no clue. This life could very well be her unraveling, destroying her delicate nature and shattering her innocence.
The intense pull is too much for me to resist, even with my great arsenal of self-control techniques. The devil on my shoulder whispers to me, telling me to teach her everything she wants to learn. He says to let her be the guide and reassures me that Sophia will tell me when it gets too intense for her. He lies to me frequently and I can usually ignore him, but I have to admit to myself that this time I don’twantto ignore him. I want to take him at his word and bring her neck deep into my world.
Giving her my best smile, the one that always works on the ladies, I watch the pink creep up her face again. I know she likes what she sees and it spurs me on in my plans for her. “I’m glad to hear that, Sophia. You’re hired. Report here in two weeks at nine o’clock on Monday morning. Dana will get you set up with all the paperwork and then we will begin your training,” I explain and finish my sentence in my head,in more ways than one.
Sophia stands, grasps my hand in hers, and says, “Thank you so much, Mr. Powers. I am very much looking forward to working with you and learning everything you want to teach me.”
Score one point for Mr. Powers.
