Executive

…11

Page 26 of the recruiting form was loading on the screen. This last page began with a paragraph of instructions.

Please read each question carefully, and reply truthfully. There are no wrong answers in this section.

The first question came as a shock.

Would you consider doing these things in order to reach your goal?

Alex replied out loud, "Well, depends on the damn goal, now, doesn't it?"

Lie?

She started typing—Yes.

Steal?

She thought, Hmmm. Maybe—Yes.

Kill?

"What?" — No.

Get someone physically intoxicated?

Alex laughed, "Buy them beers until they drop? Why not?" — Yes.

Use false identification?

Yes.

Blackmail?

"Am I going to get arrested, based on what I say on this damn form? Um" — Yes.

Cheat?

"I'd rather not cheat on Mr. Right when I find him." — No. "I'll try intoxication first, then blackmail, and if that doesn't cut it, then I'll reconsider this."

She chuckled, as she continued to fill out the form's numerous fields.

Finally, a field marked Comments concluded the form.

Alex looked at the digital clock on the wall. Four hours and 25 minutes had passed since she had started. It was already late, and she had just wasted more than four hours of her time on one single potential employer, instead of applying to at least 50 jobs during this time. She suddenly felt cheated, tired, and completely exposed. Why did I go through with this insanity? What was I thinking?

She typed a question in the Comments field.

Who are you people?

Then she clicked on the large button at the bottom of the page marked Submit Questionnaire.

A new page loaded on her screen.

Meet us for an interview tomorrow, at 10:00AM, and you'll find out. The address is 8 Corporate Park, Suite 300, Irvine, California 92606.

She suddenly felt she was not alone in the room anymore. Shivering, she copied the address on her notepad, turned off the computer, and poured herself a large Martini on top of the coffee leftovers in her mug.