Page 46 of Love Me Ever After
“Please, a latte would be great.”
Janine dispatched her PA off to get our drinks and gestured to the chair opposite her. We chit chatted about the Head of Software role and whether I thought one of my candidates would get it against the ones put up by other head-hunters. Confidently, I predicted my candidates would be placed first and second, so Lane & Parks would get the fee and I’d get a hefty commission. I’d already decided Ems and I would have an all-inclusive holiday somewhere like the Maldives if it all came off.
“You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Janine leaned back in her chair. “So different to the guy who came in here admitting his mistakes about trying to source candidates with legacy technologies.”
I shrugged. “Why not? I’ve learned a lot. Both from the team in New York and the senior team here.”
“Don’t let that confidence border on arrogance,” warned Janine. “I’ve seen it happen, and before long, the individual has been lured by a huge commission structure which they fail to achieve.”
Shit.
I didn’t like it when Janine used the word ‘fail’.
“Plus, I wouldn’t want to see you leave. Although I do have something to discuss with you.”
My brow furrowed. The last time we’d had that sort of discussion, I had ended up single and with the offer of a secondment. “Go on.”
Janine steepled her fingers together, gaze fixed firmly on me. “I’m not going to keep you hanging. There’s a permanent opportunity available at the New York office and Gareth would very much like you to apply for it. There would be a proper interview process, so you’d have to go over there to an assessment centre.”
I blinked, my jaw falling slack. It was like Deja vu.
The bright lights of New York calling again—this time permanently.
“Mason?”
I realised I hadn’t spoken, only flapped my mouth like a goldfish. This was more of a shock than the secondment opportunity.
So many considerations…
Leaving Ealynn Sands for good…
What would Ems think…?
What would my parents think…?
If I wanted to have a future with Ems, I had to include her in this decision. The last time I hadn’t, and look how that worked out.
“I need to think about it. What’s the deadline for applications?” I finally managed.
“Gareth needs a decision by the start of next week. The interviews are the week following that.” She paused. “What are your initial thoughts?”
I sucked in a breath, fixing on a spot in Janine’s office ceiling. “I’m flattered. That they, and you, think I’d be worth considering.”
“You made your mark there. And it’s got you visibility with Robert too.” A tight smile appeared on Janine’s face. “But like I already said, I wouldn’t want to see you leave.”
It was all too much to take in. A bombshell of an opportunity. And one I had to think aboutveryhard.
On the train journey back home, I pulled out my phone.
Mason: Hey, Whit, you around?
It was coming up to six here, so would be around lunchtime her time. As long as she wasn’t on a client lunch, I expected her to reply.
Whit: Mason! Good to hear from you. What’s up?
Mason: What do you know about the consultant interviews in a couple of weeks?
Whit: Are you on the panel for them? That would be awesome. It would be great to see you again!
