"Your resume seems quite satisfactory, Miss Keene. Your work history covers the kind of things we're looking for—the secretarial work, the typing, the customer service, ..."
"I was also part of the Employee Morale program at my last job," Madison put in, hurrying after her potential new employer on unaccustomed heels.
"Do you know, I took particular note of that." Miss Jennings gave her a warm smile. "It's important to us that we're making people happy—both outside and inside the company."
They stopped beside a desk with a laptop on it. "Now, we have a questionnaire we give all our applicants before we get to the interview stage. A sort of personality test, psychological test, you know the sort of thing?"
Madison nodded. It was not that unusual.
"Some of the questions may seem unusual, and some may seem repetitive, but that's just how they work. Please give it your full attention."
Madison sat down, smoothing her short skirt. "Full attention. I mean, yes, of course."
"And then after that we'll have the skills tests, including the typing test. OK?"
She nodded again. She felt like that's all she had been doing for 20 minutes, nodding along with rapid-fire words and instructions, agreeing with questions half-heard and understood, and repeating key words. Her mind felt exhausted already and she was glad she was going to get to sit down, to rest a little, and do some work in silence.
It was a good company - she'd heard good things from several men she knew, who'd been dying to get hired here. She was thrilled to get this far, and didn't want to blow it. And clearly they needed help - the job posting had included an egregious typo that she was surprised no one had caught. "Sexcretary," indeed!
"I'll leave you to it. I'll check back with you in a few minutes." Miss Jennings tap-tapped down the hall, and Madison set to work in the blessed quiet.
Are you married? No. Do you prefer to be called Madison? Yes. What did you like best about your last job? A. Making people happy. B. Pushing myself with new challenges and - ... (B.) What do you consider your strengths? How would you handle the following customer complaint, A, B, or C ... Standard stuff, really.
She rolled her shoulders and clicked to the next page. There was an occasional flicker to the screen, but nothing too distracting. The soothing music in the office helped to keep her from getting too worked up about it.
Are you seeing anyone? No. Do you usually date men? Yes. Do you like being called Maddie? No. Tell us about your last three jobs. When did you lose your virginity? Where do you see yourself in five years? ... Standard stuff, really.
She relaxed a little deeper into her chair.
How many sexual partners have you had? What was your first job after college? How would you handle this prioritization issue with management? How would you handle this sexual harassment issue with management? Do you like to challenge yourself? Do you like to challenge yourself sexually? Have you ever been with a woman? Would you like to? You'd like to, wouldn't you? Say yes, there's a good girl.
... Standard stuff, really.
What do you like most about women? A. Their softness. B. Their scent. C. Their taste ... It's good to please people, it's good to make people happy, isn't it, Maddie? You like to be called Maddie, don't you? Yes.
*Good Girl.*
What did you like best about your last job? A. Making people happy. B - ... (A.)
*Good Girl.*
Maddie blinked. Had there been words? Just for a second—were there words in the flicker?
She wanted to see if she could make it happen again.
