2
The Interview
Headquarters of Petrolsoft Corporation, Midtown Manhattan, 160 Madison Avenue, New York.
Jana Baker sat in front of the mahogany desk and hoped the interview would end soon. It was going well but her nerves were getting the best of her. She quietly congratulated herself for getting this far. The man sitting behind the desk was none other than billionaire Rune Dima, Petrolsoft’s founder and chief executive officer. Jana focused all her effort to maintain eye contact and avoid glancing out the glass wall behind him into the stunning view of Manhattan’s skyline.
“Well, Miss Baker, your credentials are outstanding. BBA from Georgetown University, very impressive. Number two in your class, very impressive indeed. I see you’ve passed your Series 6 and Series 7 exams in record time. Sounds like you’d like to be a Wall Street trader one day? Working the floor of the stock exchange, perhaps? And your resume also says you were captain of the track team. How did you have time to be captain of the track team and maintain that GPA? Now, you realize that you are interviewing for an intern position? It seems way below your skill level, if you don’t mind my saying. Anyone with the aptitude to pass the Series 7, General Securities Representative Exam at your age has particular ambitions.”
Jana readjusted her hands; it was as if she did not know where to put them.
“Yes, sir. My goal is to be involved in international stock trading and investing one day. This might be just an intern position, but working directly for the CEO, executing stock trades at your direction, would be invaluable experience.”
“I usually prefer my interns to still be at university.”
“And why is that, if I might ask?” she said.
“They are less likely to leave after a few months. But you, you could get any number of different jobs.”
“Sir, I know you feel like you’re taking a risk with me, but I’ll make you a promise. You bring me on as your intern, and I’ll stay in that role for a minimum twelve months.”
“A twelve-month commitment before an employee finds a better opportunity is hardly worth my time, Miss Baker.”
Jana smiled. “You’ll have promoted me by then, sir.”
He stood and extended a hand.
“Congratulations, Miss Baker. You start tomorrow morning. We can use the help. We’ve got some investing of our own to do. But the global oil technology business is unforgiving. We work long days here, so be prepared.”
“Thank you, sir. You won’t regret your decision.”
He grinned. “I’d better not.”
Jana walked out of the office and struggled to restrain the grin that was beginning to form on her face, not wanting the other office workers to think she was cocky. She pulled the door closed behind her, readjusted the tight pony tail restraining her silky blonde hair, and tugged her suit jacket. This might be just an intern position, but it was the beginning of what she had planned, a career in the lucrative field of international trading and investments.
After she had left, a lean man with slick black hair and dark olive-colored skin walked into the office of the CEO, Rune Dima, and let the door close behind him. His clothes screamed young New York wealth.
“Did you see the ass on that thing?” the man said.
“Jeffrey.” It was mild rebuke.
“Oh come on. Now tell me you wouldn’t like to tap that.”
“The interns in this office are not yours to have s*x with, Jeffrey. Granted, she is a beautiful young woman. But if you want to succeed as an executive, where your subordinates are concerned, you will have to keep your fly zipped. You are the chief financial officer of one of the top technology companies in the world. Remember, we are not in our homeland. Here, bad things happen to the stock valuations of companies like ours if a scandal hits Wall Street, particularly in this country. And with what we have planned, we have no room for scandal. The only way our plan works is if our stock valuation stays at current levels.”
“You hired her, didn’t you?” Jeffrey smiled.
“Yes.”
“I knew it,” he said as he clapped his hands together and laughed. “And don’t hand me that politically correct crap. Let me guess, she was the most beautiful female applicant for the position? A trim body, long blonde hair down to the center of her back, legs up to here, and a nice tight—”
“Enough. I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior, from you or anyone. She’s off limits, is that understood? And besides, what makes you think she has a such a great figure? That double-breasted business suit she was wearing obscures anything you might think you are seeing.”
“Oh, the hot body is there. Believe me, it’s there. Come on, Rune, don’t be such a hard-ass. Tell me her name.”
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you? Jana Baker. She has an BBA with a major in finance from Georgetown, Jeffrey. Graduated second in her class. She’s not a play toy. Already passed her Series 7 exam. And based on the project she ran during her prior internship at our competitor, Oracle, she’ll be invaluable.”
“And all with a body like that.”
“You never quit, do you?”
“I’m afraid not, cousin. Not until I get what I want, that is.”