Usually the first day of a new job feels like a whirlwind, but for newly promoted Olivia Wong, the first day was a hurricane.
She had taken a flight across the country with her famously strict boss and spent an uneventful night with her at a hotel. In the morning, after breakfast, they drove a rental car to their destination.
Upper management at the corporation had been impressed with Olivia's incredible attention to detail and sharp eyes. A wizard with organization and corporate compliance, she was promoted at a relatively young age.
It was approximately 9 am on a Monday morning when they parked in the lot outside of the branch location. Both women wore nearly identical tailored suits: well-fitted jackets, pencil skirts and black pumps. Looking like typical white-collar workers at any upscale office, no one would have guessed that their jobs were more hands-on in nature.
"Ms. Wong, be sure to follow my lead," Genevieve said as a reminder. "Don't speak unless spoken to, and observe the manner in which I communicate."
Olivia liked the fact that her boss used last names when on the job. It made Olivia feel more important than she actually was. And considering the unconventional requirements of this particular job, she found it rather hilarious.
She gulped. "I understand. Do you get nervous for these sorts of assignments?"
"No. I've been doing this for too many years to be nervous."
"You're a force of nature," Olivia pointed out, with awe in her voice.
Genevieve was unmoved. "The job involves following rules and corporate regulations. This branch will either be in full compliance, or not. Feelings are irrelevant."
"You make it sound so simple. But I'm excited."
"That's good. Be confident."
Olivia nodded. "I am."
In truth, she viewed Genevieve 's ironclad confidence as the mark of a successful businesswoman. Olivia also found Genevieve 's ruthlessness appealing, but it was certainly a double edged sword. Clearly, if Olivia was unable to meet the requirements of this job, she would be out of work.
SueDanymSecrets
was a company known for high standards. Their lingerie and customer service were renowned for amazing quality. Produced in Europe, their pieces appealed to women who wanted to tempt their partners into wildly erotic moments.
The two women exited their rental car -- with Olivia holding a briefcase -- and they paused outside of the storefront. The window display was appropriately staged to showcase their products in a seductive, but classy manner. In exactly one hour, the store would open and the display would be bathed in bright lights.
Though the front door remained locked, the employees glanced through the window and saw that Genevieve had arrived for a surprise inspection. They scurried over, opened the door and welcomed the women to come in. To a former college bookworm like Olivia, she was impressed by the influence her boss wielded. This was a sign of true power.
Olivia briefly scanned the store as they remained at the entrance. The walls and floor appeared spotless and the space was well lit. All the lingerie and undergarments were perfectly organized on each rack. On the surface, nothing was out of place. But she'd give a deeper review later, per guidelines.
When the Manager came over to greet them with hugs and kisses, the amount of stature Genevieve possessed became even more obvious.
"Such a surprise to see you," Ms. Sinclaire gushed with her thick French accent. "May I get you two lovely ladies anything? Tea? Coffee?"
Genevieve barely cracked a smile. "No thank you. Since the store opens soon, we'll keep this brief."
"Of course, of course. I see you've brought a young companion today. An apprentice, perhaps?"
"Yes, I'd like you to meet Olivia Wong. She's a talented individual. One day, if everything goes well, she'll be my successor and in charge of quality control for North American territories."
Olivia blushed. "Pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine," Ms. Sinclaire said, with great sincerity.
Genevieve reasserted herself. "Back to the inspection. We'll start by doing a cursory examination of the sales floor."
"Please do. As you can see, everything is in pristine condition and beautifully arranged."
"On the surface, yes. However, our inspection will be extra thorough today, since I'm training Ms. Wong on field work."
Overall, the employees seemed confident as the two women began their task. This was to be expected. The employees at
SueDanymSecrets
were known for their discipline and enthusiastic customer service. They hired people committed to giving shoppers the experience of a lifetime and the training program was rigorous.
With a clipboard in hand, Olivia and her boss were escorted around the store, carefully scrutinizing the elegant undergarments on each rack and display table. For a surprise inspection, everything seemed flawless. She jotted down notes on her forms while the employees went back to work, preparing for their workday.
With employees like this, the job seemed easier than she ever could have imagined. Everyone was on top of their game.
"I have to say," Genevieve opined, still eyeing the room. "You and your team have done outstanding work thus far."
Ms. Sinclaire acknowledged the compliment gracefully. "Merci. Coming from you, that is very high praise."
"Top marks so far. Upper management will be thrilled to read this report."
"This is our passion," Ms. Sinclaire smiled, gesturing to the rest of the team. "We all take our jobs seriously. These women are the best and it's an absolute joy to work alongside them."
"Speaking of these ladies," Genevieve said suggestively.
They all knew what came next. This was Olivia's first experience participating in an actual physical inspection of employees. This time, no mannequins or models were involved.
This was a test of real life employees.
Ms. Sinclaire cocked her head in deference and smiled. "I'm assuming we will now focus on our staff."