I tried to relax and gather my thoughts as I sat in the well-appointed waiting room impatiently rehearsing my best interview responses. It had been a long day already, up before 4 am to make the 6 am flight from Des Moines to La Guardia, then a cab to the Manhattan office. I was just barely early for my 1:30 interview. Not only a long day, but it had been a long year. Unemployed after an unexpected layoff, I hadn't had many real opportunities for good jobs.
And my wife Kelli was becoming very frustrated with me. She had been advancing in her career and she didn't seem to understand how hard it was for me to find a job. After all, I was now over 50 and I knew my job skills were lacking. Fortunately she had found me this interview. I was grateful that she'd set it all up for me, even booked my flight. And she told me that she had spoken to Ms. Panington, the director, and given her some background on my behalf. BMI, Behavior Modification Institute was the company. I had tried to research them on the internet, but the company website only listed contact information and displayed a notice that, due to the private nature of their mission, no other information was available.
I figured Ms. Panington would fill me in soon enough. If the office furnishings were any indication, this company was doing pretty dang well. All Kelli had told me was that the position would require extensive on-site training and that they were looking to fill it immediately. She had purchased an open-ended return ticket for me, and had packed my suitcase for me as well. She seemed to expect that I would get the position. We both knew I needed it. She had become so frustrated with me that our sex life had suffered and I hadn't made love with her for months.
The phone rang at the reception desk. "Yes, Ms. Panington. He is here. Shall I send him in?"
"She's sending out Ms. Jenson to get you. You can bring your suitcase in with you."
I could feel my nerves beginning to rise. I needed this job, and I didn't know how I'd face Kelli if I went home without it.
The door next to the reception desk opened, "Tom? I'm Ms. Jensen. Please follow me." Very formal, I thought, no handshake, hope this isn't a bad sign. Ms Jensen was a petite redhead with a bust line that must have made it hard for her to balance on her 4 inch pumps. I tried not to look at her well-rounded rear under her tight A-line linen skirt as I followed her down the hall. I knew that if I let myself become aroused that I would have trouble focusing in the interview.
Finally, at the end of the hall Ms. Jensen entered a door to a corner office and closed it behind her. "This is Ms. Panington, our director and chief trainer. Sit there, Tom," and she directed me to an overstuffed easy chair a few feet from Ms. Panington, who did not get up. I sat as directed and immediately recognized that I was not at eye level with Ms. Panington. She sat in a large leather desk chair on wheels and the chair I sat in left me several inches lower. Ms. Jensen sat on the nearby desk and seemed to make a display of crossing her legs.
"So, Tom, what do you know about BMI?" Ms. Panington began.
"I know that you are Behavior Modification Institute and I assume that you sell your programs to companies looking to change the behavior of their employees?" I ventured.
"That's a reasonable guess, Tom, but that's not at all what we do. We actually are a one hundred percent female company and our customers are one hundred percent women. We help women change the behavior of their husbands, their boyfriends, or their sons." I was confused and wondered what I was doing applying for a job with an all-female company. She continued, "You see Tom, there has been a bit of deception in getting you here. We do not have a job for you. Kelli has hired us to change your behavior."
"What? You've got to be kidding?" I manage to say, "And what behavior is it that she wants changed?"
"There appears to be plenty that is in need of changing, Tom. Kelli completed our questionnaire, which is quite extensive, and actually she was here last month for an in-person assessment," Ms. Panington explained with notable disdain, "She is quite disgusted with you, and frankly, I don't blame her."
"Why? What? What did she tell you about me?" I am both curious and angry.