“Please have a seat,” she said. As he sat, she paused to answer her own intercom. As she discussed something with a colleague, Brian took in the situation and it scared him. For one thing, she had him dead to rights and he knew it. For another, her striking good looks were matched by equally striking attitudes. The athletic 38 year old divorcee was known to be very nice but very firm, particularly with men. She often said (according to office rumor) that “I love them dearly, but most of them need direction.”
The phone conversation was over. The eyes, a mixture of will and compassion, turned on him.
“Several times now I’ve spoken to you about problems with your work ethic,” she began. “And now it’s to the point where I have to take action.”
He cleared his voice to speak but she raised a strong, slender hand to cut him off.