Olivia closed her eyes as her body was pressed against her seat in the 737 as it roared down the runway.
The pressure from the jet's acceleration seemed fitting given all she'd be going through. The last few weeks had been intense, unlike anything she'd ever experienced. Ever since she submitted her application to be a professional guide at Adventure Travel Inc.
She could hardly believe it was really happening. She'd made it through the first few rounds of interviews and now they were flying her to Hawaii of all places for the final step in the process. She would be "trained" over two weeks. If she made it through the training, she'd be offered the job.
She looked out the window as the jet slowly banked to the southwest. It would be a dream job for her. Working as an adventure guide escorting guests to some of the world's most exotic locations. It would combine her passion for travel and her desire to work at a company where she could really prosper.
And the opportunity came at just the right time.
Olivia had just turned 30 when she got word she was being laid off from the pharmaceutical firm where she worked. She had been working in sales and while she didn't love working there, she was making good money. After a merger with another company, it wasn't long before the rumors of layoffs started. In the end, half the sales team was let go. All in the name of "reducing redundancy".
Olivia tried to put a positive spin on it. Yes, it was scary to be unemployed but maybe this was the kick the butt she needed. To find a career that truly satisfied her. To work with people she liked. To travel and see the world.
Adventure Travel Inc., or ATI for short, seemed like a chance to do just that.
She'd heard about the company from her college roommate, Gabby. She knew Olivia loved to travel and that she was a huge nature enthusiast. She heard ATI was hiring and thought Olivia might be a good fit.
Olivia was intrigued and decided to do some research online.
On the ATI website, she learned that the company was based in Kona, Hawaii and was growing fast. They offered trips in North America, Europe, the South Pacific and South America. They were looking to expand to Southeast Asia and Africa. On social media, she learned guides who worked there could earn some serious money. She saw posts by former guides celebrating new homes, sailboats, and even boasting of early retirement.
Olivia wasn't motivated by money so much as the chance to grow, to be part of something that had potential. And if she could do that while indulging her passion for seeing the world, so much the better.
On LinkedIn, she found she was indirectly connected to some former ATI employees. That is, she knew people who knew people who had worked there. After making some calls, she was able to get an introduction. A few days later, she heard back from a woman named Claire who'd been an adventure guide at ATI.
Claire said she couldn't reveal too much about the inner workings of the company because of an NDA she signed, but she could talk generally about their hiring process. It was pretty grueling, she said. It lasted about a month start to finish, with multiple rounds of interviews and a training period of two weeks. The company's founder, Wesley Llewellyn, considered the quality of the guides to be the company's "secret sauce".
She added "they only hire guides who're drop dead gorgeous. If you're not, don't even bother applying."
Olivia felt pretty confident about her looks. Most of the time. She had held her own in the image-conscious world of pharmaceutical sales after all. At the same time, she'd gone through an awkward adolescent stage, like a lot of people. While she'd gotten past the braces and pimples phase and blossomed into an attractive woman, she didn't always feel that way.
She was what you might call an unconventional beauty, with intelligent green eyes and high cheek bones. Her lips were full, her honey-colored hair shoulder length and silky smooth.
But it was her body that really set her apart. An avid hiker and cyclist, she was fit with shapely legs, slender hips, and a swayed back which led to an exquisite ass. To top it off, her breasts were lovely. Not huge, but perfectly shaped for her petite figure.
And yet, while she turned heads wherever she went, there was always a tinge of doubt. Would she measure up?
She glanced around the cabin wondering if any other finalists were aboard. Maybe that cute redhead she saw at the gate? Or the athletic guy sitting up front? There was no way of knowing. She'd find out soon enough.
When Olivia applied for the job, she had to provide an introductory video and a short essay about "her greatest travel experience." Thanks to what she'd learned from her research, she made the video in a way that highlighted her assets.
She shot the video in various locations wearing different outfits and then edited the shots together. For the opening, she wore short hiking shorts and a tight-fitting top and walked straight towards the camera, swinging her hips, with a sexy smile on her face. Then, she cut to shot where she was glammed up, her hair on top of her head, and wearing a low-cut gown. Finally, she cut to the beach where she was wearing a bikini, a super cute one with a thong bottom. She ended the video by spinning on her heels and running into the ocean.
A week later she got an email saying she'd passed the initial screening and was scheduled for a remote interview with a recruiter.
The recruiter, an attractive woman in her 30's, asked a lot of "why" questions - why she wanted to work at ATI, why she was drawn to adventure travel, and why she left her last job. Olivia felt good about her answers. The words were coming easily and she felt she was connecting with the recruiter.
At the end of the half hour, the recruiter asked if Olivia had any questions. Olivia was prepared for that too. She asked for more details about 2-week "training" session.
What she heard back surprised her.
Final candidates would be invited to Hawaii to undergo a two-week training led by none other than Wesley Llewellyn himself. They'd be required to participate in "simulations" that mirrored the experiences they would have with guests. Applicants who didn't measure up would be dismissed and sent home.
Sheesh. Talk about intimidating.
But Olivia didn't flinch. She responded by doing even more research. She vowed to find out as much as she could about Wesley Llewellyn.
An Oxford-educated Brit, Llewellyn was CEO and President of the company. He had self-funded the company and remained its largest shareholder. His primary residence was in Hawaii and he had homes in New York, London, and Switzerland. He was a philanthropist, loved extreme sports, and was single. And then, when she clicked on Google Images, she felt her heart stop.
He was incredibly hot.
Dark, piercing eyes and curly brown hair that he wore swept back. A suave smile that was knowing and a bit mysterious, without being arrogant. He looked to be in great shape, with broad shoulders and a flat stomach, though it was hard to tell from the photos which were mainly taken at galas, charity events, and gallery openings.
She found herself fantasizing about what his body was like under that tuxedo. She guessed he had a lean, athletic body, toned and supple from all that traipsing around the world and all.
She imagined his voice, deep and soothing, with a charming English accent.
"Hello Olivia, I'm been looking forward to meeting you. You're even more lovely than your video. Let me share some of my insights on what makes a superior adventure guide..."
She hadn't even started packing for her trip and she was already crushing on the founder of Adventure Travel Inc.
After arriving in Kona, Olivia rode by taxi to the Kona Village resort just 30 minutes north of the airport. She took in the massive lava flows, a craggy black sea of basalt, and the majestic slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the twin volcanos.
The contrast of colors -- the black lava, the turquoise water, the green kiawe trees, the white snowcaps on the volcanos, and the clear blue sky felt almost surreal in its beauty.
They turned off the main road towards the ocean twisting down through the acacia and mesquite. A sign marked their destination: Kona Village, a group of thatched buildings scattered on the lava rocks at the edge of the Pacific along the Kohala Coast. Isolated and idyllic, the resort had for years been a favorite of Hollywood types who wanted to escape the bustle of city life. "No TV, no phones, no cars, no stress" was its mantra. For the past year, it had been closed to the public while it was undergoing renovation.
ATI was the first company to book an event since the remodeling.
The lobby was expansive with an open-air view of the Pacific. Olivia rolled her bag to the front desk.
"Welcome to Kona Village," the woman behind the desk intoned.
She was told she would be staying in a two-bedroom kauhale with an ocean view.
"Kauhale?" she asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"A kauhale is a traditional living place in the Hawaiian culture, with communal areas for sleeping, cooking, and gathering."
A bellman appeared offering to take her bag.
