Page 10 of Corrupt Game

An honest person stood out. Mostly as a potential victim.

I gave her an appraising glance and smiled. She glanced away, her flush deepening, a flicker of confusion on her face.

For a moment, I let my mind linger on the possibility that she was interviewing to be one of my assistants. It had been a while since I’d had an assistant of this type.

She piqued my interest. That didn’t happen often anymore.

While her outfit of business slacks and a blouse was a little drab, she had a natural beauty that make-up and the right outfit would enhance.

The classic method of trying to find the right assistant was always hit or miss and took time I didn’t have to spare. I needed someone that had fire in their gut and a passion to handle my needs. There were too many demands placed on me, so I had to have the right person to even everything out.

The woman in the elevator fidgeted, hands shifting, clenching and unclenching on her bag.

She squared her shoulders, as if she’d reached a decision. Her mouth opened just as the elevator dinged.

Never having been one to wait on others, I walked quickly through the now open doors and away from her.

Oh, well, I’d get to see her in the interview office soon enough, if that was what she was here for. If it was important, she’d have to learn to speak up.

With rare amusement and anticipation singing in my blood, I made my way into the office.

Not pausing at the reception desk, I turned to close the door to my office and found the little spitfire had followed me.

The door shut just as she approached.

I could hear her splutter faintly through the large oak door.

I smiled at the door. With her presence for an interview confirmed, today had just gotten very interesting.

Settling into the leather upholstery of my office chair, I relaxed in the muted tones of the room. My office was decorated to fit my personal tastes and needs. Soundproofed, it was swept for bugs daily to ensure that no one was trying to steal my technology.

Both I and my company required privacy.

I sent a message to my personal security guard.

Rossi, I believe I’ve found the perfect candidate. She just came through the door.Please find out her name and any other information you can so that we can vet her properly.

He responded quickly.

Yes, sir.

Rossi was very talented and would be able to get information about this mystery woman while finishing up vetting the other women in the outer waiting room.

A flick of a finger turned my computer screen on, and I glanced through the first set of files for any red flags. If I found someonethat looked promising, then I’d have Rossi do a deeper dive after the interview.

After just ten minutes, well into the tedium of vetting the interviewees, my phone rang.

“Sir, her name is Collette DeLandro. She just graduated with a master’s in library science. She’s a qualified competitive intelligence analyst for data research. She has no family ties that I could uncover.” Rossi spoke in a clear, succinct manner.

“She’s been trying to get a job since graduation. For unknown reasons, she stopped abruptly three weeks ago. She came here to San Francisco, and this is the first job that she’s tried to interview for in this area.”

“Well, that is interesting. It could mean a variety of things, but I’d like you to go ahead and do a deeper dive on her now. I feel that she may very well be what I’m looking for.” I gave the order, knowing that he would do whatever I asked of him quickly and well. I required obedience and loyalty from my personal employees,

“Yes, sir. Would you like me to look into her finances as well?” He was well paid to make sure that my assets—both physical and financial—were protected.

“Please do.” An unfamiliar smile settled onto my face. “I believe I will see the other interviewees first. Which leaves her till the last, and a nice way to find out how much she really wants this position.”

“Very good, sir,” Rossi said and quickly hung up the phone. He was abrupt, but he anticipated my needs. More than most bodyguards were required to do, and after our years together, he had become someone that I trusted implicitly to carry out mywishes without asking questions. If there was something to find about her, he would uncover it.