which died terrible deaths trying to comprehend why someone would beat his father for being involved with his birth.
Something about sending the email put me at ease, and I spent the rest of the wait smiling while browsing the internet in search of an even better article.
“Miss Kensingvale?” Garret asked.
According to my phone, I’d spent almost an hour and a half reading news articles, likely grinning like an idiot. I stowed my phone in my purse, rose, and kept on smiling. “Hope, please.”
“Come this way. I apologize it took longer than anticipated.”
“It’s no problem at all.” I fell into step with him, and we returned to the conference room.
We were alone, and I remembered he’d claimed to discuss my odd interview with others. At his invitation, I took a seat.
“We spoke to some of your other contacts,” he announced, sitting across the table from me.
I saw writing on the wall, but I had no idea what it said. “Well, this is either about to go really good or really badly.”
Humor wouldn’t lose me the interview if I’d already lost it in the first and strange part of the process. I’d be disappointed, but New York firms big and small needed accountants, and I’d get hired by someone eventually.
My plan would still work.
“Well, one of your references told me, without preamble, I’d be a bloody idiot if I didn’t hire you, and that he resented losing you to me. I asked if he was one of the clients you worked for after hours, and when he confirmed that, I did reassure him you could continue your work with him. He then informed me that I might do. As what, I’m not sure.”
Of my friends, Wolfgang would have pulled a stunt like that. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to thank him, smack him, or find some other way to get some payback. “That would be Wolfgang. He’s one of two candidates who would resent something like that, but he’s also vocal with a protective streak.”
Garret chuckled. “You would be correct. We appreciate your strong relationship with your clients, and your previous employer informed me he’d taken steps trying to keep you. His sentiments were similar. That’s, honestly, why we skipped the traditional first part of our interview and went straight to the logic test.”
Ah. I’d have to thank Wolfgang and the others I’d used as references.
“Is it bad form for me to admit I actually like this style of interview better?”
“Not at all. We prefer seeing a potential employee in action. Your logical and methodical approach to seeing the file for the first time is required for this sort of auditing work. Your education is what we’re looking for, you have the appropriate licenses in New York, and your ability to prepare for relocation on short notice is exactly what we need. When can you be ready for a full move?”
“My apartment is packed and in storage already. I moved out on Wednesday, as I planned on moving to New York City anyway. I’m currently staying in a hotel down the street, but I will be looking for an apartment soon.”
“We’ll expense your hotel as part of your hiring bonus.” Garret reached down, retrieved a briefcase, and opened it, pulling out a folder filled with papers. “Here is our hiring proposal.”
Well, so much for the second discussion and portion of the interview. I took the folder, opened it, and began to read.
From everything I’d read, survival in Manhattan required at least fifty thousand a year, and that was only if I found an apartment with a roommate. Living on my own would require over a hundred thousand. Cercson Investment Group wanted to pay me just shy of one-ninety, and I’d be salaried with overtime pay should my hours exceed forty a week. My brows rose at that, as most firms used salaries to bleed employees dry. Everything else about the company seemed standard with the exception of parking; a reserved spot would be made available for my use in the building’s garage at no extra fee to me. The thirty thousand dollar hiring bonus, paid out in cash and calculated to be after taxes, would make my life a lot easier while settling in the city. Three weeks of paid vacation and ten sick days transformed the offer into my personal slice of heaven.
Who knew hard work could actually pay off?
To sweeten the pie, I would have access to a financial manager to handle investments, and the company matched retirement investments