Chapter 01: Toy Interview
The ringing phone on Neil's desk is an unwelcome disturbance to his busy day. Glancing over at the clock it shows four-nineteen in harsh red numbers. He returns his attention to the phone on his desk and examines the display to see that the call is from security. Taking the receiver from its base, his deep authoritative voice rolls out filling the sterile setting of the office. "Neil speaking." The voice of the guard on the other end of the line advises him that he has a Ms. Jen Smith waiting to see him for a four-thirty appointment. "Send her up please," he replies and hangs up the phone.
Neil's attention reverts to his computer and he saves the document that he had been working on. He opens the folder that contains resumes of people to be interviewed. Going through his list of resumes he then double checks and is still unable to find a Jen, or Jennifer Smith's resume.
Neil examines his schedule to see what appointments he has set for today. There seems to be only one interview scheduled for today it is for five pm with someone named Carla! Shrugging he casually chalks it up to a mistake on his part, or the lady at the main reception who temporarily serves as his secretary. With no resume to go over before her arrival he takes the time to leave his plush leather chair and head to his private restroom.
Gazing into the hard unforgiving mirror Neil examines the charcoal grey business suit, blood red shirt, and the silver and black-stripped tie that adorn him. There is no grey in his closely shaven black tightly curled hair. His dark angular face stares back at him, youthful in appearance carefully hiding his age from most observers.
Neil takes a long hard look into his almond shaped deep dark brown eyes. He can see the cold emptiness that most people see, but hidden behind the hard exterior shell is a towering fire that has driven him to where he is today. Years ago he could have said he would be in a place like this. Nobody else could see his potential or the possibility of him achieving his goals, well almost nobody.
The ringing telephone on his desk forces Neil from his self-analysis and makes him step lively from the restroom to his desk to answer. "Hello Mr. Jones your four-thirty appointment is here," states the nasal voice at the other end of the phone line. "Show her in please," he responds then takes a seat at his desk in the comfortable black and burgundy leather chair. Impatience is clearly written on the waiting man's face. Leaning far back in the comfy chair he steeples his hands before him.
The outer office door opens piercing the silence. A firm yet polite knock comes from the large mahogany office door. "Enter" Neil's voice rings out in the silence. The heavy office door opens and the receptionist greets him with a cheerful smile. Her voice cuts through the air with a high pitch nasal quality as she ushers in a woman before her. "Mr. Jones, here is Ms. Smith to see you." There is a look of uncertainty in the receptionist's eyes as she makes the comment.
Neil takes a closer look at the woman that has arrived in his harsh and sterile office. It is very easy to perceive why the receptionist is uncertain about this candidate. Two rows of studs going up each ear are clearly visible as Ms. Smith makes her way towards the desk. Her face is a mask trying to hide fear and hurt deep inside. Desperation is also clearly written on her for the entire world to see. He pulls his vision back to take all of her in. Carefully examining her statuesque body with his sharp all seeing eyes. Neil rises slowly to his feet to shake hands with her. Glancing over his visitors shoulder he casually dismisses the receptionist with a polite nod. "Good day Ms. Smith please have a seat," he states while resuming his chair.
Jen takes a seat trying to be graceful, but manages to accomplish it in a very graceless fashion. The focus of Neil's intense eyes boring into her assessing and weighing her merit cause obvious discomfort. She has never met someone that gives of that level of intensity with just a look. He went from being friendly and open to something cold, calculating, and mechanical.
Ms. Smith's hair is dull and lifeless, and her eyes seem almost as dead. Neil catches the faintest sparkle of fire from the green-grey eyes peeking out at him. Fear fills the room with its sharp tangy acrid odour that he picks up with ease. She fumbles awkwardly with her purse and extracts a wrinkled copy of her resume. Handing the wrinkled papers across the desk into his waiting hands.
Ms. Smith looks downward not meeting his eyes and biting her bottom lip nervously. Neil takes a brief glance down at the paper in his hands then does a double take. Looking hard at the document thoughts run through his head. He is angry with HR for sending someone with no experience, and no qualifications for the position. The resume is full of spelling mistakes, and other errors. She has not a clue how to logically organize a simple resume much less something more complicated in a work environment.
The interview begins and the questions are asked and answered. Jen becomes shaky as they proceed through the questions. It becomes even more painfully obvious that she is not the right person for this job. Neil asks his final question. "What makes you the ideal candidate for this position?" She moistens her ruby red-coated lips with her pink tongue then states, "Mr. Jones I will do anything that is asked of me without question!"