“As if the CEO would need you to be either of those things,” Whitney said with an eye roll.“He has staff to clean and doesn’t need to step on anyone in his position.”
“Perfect.Then he has no reason to look at me, and I have no reason to look for him.Is there anything else I should know?”
Both of them gave me doubtful looks, and Whitney finally shook her head.
I had no idea what type of coworkers they’d had to deal with in the past to warn me away from the CEO, but I looked forward to hearing their stories once they trusted me.
“Ms.Elmantas?”
Turning, I saw Gail by Lianna Stonestock’s open office door and hoped she hadn’t been standing there for the whole conversation.
The VP’s office suite was impressive, with a conversation seating area off to the side, a grand desk surrounded by shelves lined with books and awards, and pictures of various build sites on the walls.But none of that was as impressive as the woman behind the desk.
Lianna Stonestock had the same level of stunning beauty that made me think of Konni at the bar.Perfect bone structure.Sculpted brows and cheekbones.Flawless makeup.
The only thing she was missing was even a hint of friendliness.And chairs.Apparently, she was the type of boss who expected people to stand in front of her while she sat behind her desk.
“Ms.Stonestock, this is Ms.Elmantas, the newest member of your team.”
“Thank you, Gail,” Ms.Stonestock said.
The HR manager left, closing the door behind her.
“Sophia, may I call you Sophia?”
“If you’re comfortable with us being on a first-name basis, then so am I,” I said, not missing how she’d used Gail’s first name, despite the woman’s respectful use of her last name.
“Ms.Elmantas, then,” she said, drawing a line with ease.“Why Steele Corp?”
“The corporate values align with mine, the position is what I was looking for, and I feel I can make valuable contributions to the team.”
“And your aspirations?Where do you see yourself in four years?”
“In a senior position of your administrative team.”
“Not a management position?”
“I have no aspirations for management.”I aspired to become a direct member of the marketing team, but I knew better than saying that up front.
“Are you dating?Any plans to get married and start a family?”
I hated the questions, only because I doubted she’d ask any man in my position the same.
“No, I’m not dating.No, I have no immediate plans to get married or start a family.”
She nodded and leaned forward in her chair.
“Your predecessor abruptly vacated this position because she wasn’t interested in putting as much effort into her job as she was into catching the CEO’s attention.If you’re here for the same reason, I suggest you leave now.”
“I have no interest in developing romantic attachments at Steele Corporation.From what I’ve witnessed, workplace romance leads to incomplete or poorly executed tasks, extra work for coworkers, and often ends with a woman in tears.I’m here to work, Ms.Stonestock.That’s it.”
She sat back again, studying me for a long moment.“I hope, for your sake, that’s the only reason you’re here.Whitney will train you.”With a wave, she dismissed me.
I left without a single facial twitch giving away what I was thinking—that she was an egocentric bitch with a capital E.
“I’m all yours, Whitney,” I said as I approached the workstation.“Teach me what I need to know to lighten your workload.”
She seemed a little surprised by that, but motioned me closer.I angled my chair to observe and settled in for one of the longest training days of my life.
