Part 1 of 3: The Unique Job Offer
It was her first time being called to the boss's office.
Katherine had been an intern for months with no correspondence during that time from upper management. Greetings had never been exchanged. Not even eye contact. Things were about to change, however. She had just been called into the office of Mr. Halper, a man who was highly regarded within the corporation, and who had a great deal of influence. Simply being his intern was a great resume booster itself, but she wanted more.
I'm finally going to get that job offer.
She thought.
Why else would a hotshot investment banker call me into his office?
The 27 year old intern made a quick stop to the bathroom. She dug into her purse to find whatever beauty products she could get her hand on. She touched up her makeup. Then she brushed her long brown hair, to ensure that any wayward frizz was tamed. After being satisfied with her looks, she took a step back to make sure that her outfit was wrinkle free. Her shirt was neatly buttoned and her office skirt was without a crease. Everything was classy. Nice, neat, and professional.
She quickly put her purse back to her desk and headed to Mr. Halper's office, which was several floors up. She had never been there before, but the directions seemed simple enough.
After speaking with the secretary, she was allowed to enter the office, and she closed the door behind her. Butterflies were in her stomach and she tried taking deep breaths to calm herself, and to appear confident; a technique she had been using for years to great effect.
The office was large and spacious. It was designed for someone of authority and power. Mr. Halper was the perfect fit for the office. He was a sharply dressed man in his 50's. He was handsome, but with a stern, emotionless look on his face. He sat behind his desk reviewing documents as she entered and closed the door behind her.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Halper," she said, walking up to shake his hand.
Mr. Halper glanced at her and shook hands, not bothering to stand.
"Sit."
She did as she was told without hesitation, although she did not quite conceal the slight pause and flicker of a disappointed look on her face when the formal greeting was declined. She sat down nervously in front of his desk, with her back straight and her hands on her lap. This was going to be mildly awkward, and she knew it. Especially since her personality was bubbly and he seemed like such a serious person.
"You have a beautiful office," she said politely.
"Thank you, Kate. Or was it Katie?"
"Katherine, sir."
He shrugged it off, not caring. "I saw you in the lobby earlier this week and I wondered who you were. I asked around and I was told you're an intern here, correct?"
"That's correct sir."
"Why haven't we met before?"
She looked confused. "I'm not sure, sir."
"You never thought to take the initiative? If you want a permanent job, why haven't you gone straight to management? Which is me. Are you not motivated enough to do that?"
The words felt like a punch in the gut. Her entire body tensed.
"I...I
am
motivated, sir."
"Relax. I'm only giving you a hard time," he replied, cracking a rare smile.
Finally, the words she wanted to hear. Her body relaxed.
"Oh, that's a relief. You had me worried for a moment."
Mr. Halper looked down at a paper on his desk. "I have your resume here. It's impressive. Masters degree in economics. Good schools, good grades, lots of activities. Lots of internships. Yet you've never held a real job."
"Actually I've had a few jobs in my life," she clarified. "But I've mostly interned at different places since graduating from college. It's tough finding a permanent entry level position in this city."
"Then why come to the city?"
"Because I like it here," she said vaguely, which the boss sensed.
He gave her a sharp look. "If you want to work for me, you've got to be honest. Why the city? Why such a ruthless place? Be precise in your answer."
Deep down, Katherine knew this was her chance. If she was vague again, and if she didn't give the straight answer that he wanted, then she knew that the doors would soon be closed to her.
"Honestly," she gulped. "I've always wanted to be a big city person. I'm from a suburban area. I was never very popular. This is my chance to reinvent myself into something new. Something better. It's a long story, and I don't want to bore you with it."
"Good. I like where this is headed. You can tell me the rest once we get to know each other better. Now, how would you like to take the first step in achieving that goal?"
She raised an eyebrow and blurted out, "Are you offering me a job?"
The moment those words left her mouth, she instantly regretted it. Being so blunt wasn't normally in her nature, but the excitement had gotten to her, and she hoped that he wasn't put off by it.
"I've always had an eye for good talent. So yes, I'm offering you a full-time job. When I saw you this week for the first time, I knew you had potential. When I reviewed your resume, I was right. Our meeting only reaffirms my decision."
She was taken aback by the good news, but she tried to control her excitement. She didn't want to look like a fool in front of the boss.
"Thank you. This means a lot. I certainly wasn't expecting this kind of news so soon."
"We'll make a good team, Kitty."
"Actually, it's Katherine. But you can call me whatever you want. I'm used to mix-ups with my name."
"Then I'll call you Kitten. Your face reminds me of a cat. You move like one too. Do you mind if I call you Kitten?"
"Not at all," she replied, feeling a little annoyed.
But he did have a point though, with the cat reference. With Katherine's feminine features, sharp eyes, a small mouth, and a slightly upturned little nose, she actually did kind of look like a kitten, in a cute way. Those features had always made her popular with boys growing up.
"I knew you'd like that name. Kitten. It suits you perfectly."
The name made her slightly uncomfortable. It felt like a stripper's name. But who was she to complain? She'd just been given a great opportunity to work for the prestigious company. She politely nodded.
"May I ask about the job I'm being offered?" she inquired, hoping to shift the conversation to more practical matters.
"Does it matter?"
She looked dumbfounded. "It does. I'd like to know what I'll be doing."
"How long have you been an intern here?" Mr. Halper asked.
"Nearly 4 months."
"And you calculate numbers everyday, correct?"
"Correct."