1 Interview with a CEO

Lanie Lee sat in the one of many luxurious and modern lobbies of GeniSkin, the most sought after producer of skincare, fragrance, and cosmetics worldwide. The company was an global innovator and an industry leader and they were looking for a secretary and personal assistant for their CEO, Gavin Park.

Mr. Park had a notorious reputation of being difficult that many quit, but those who endured for a least a year were paid a nice severance package and a recommendation for a lead position in another department of their choice.

Lanie Lee was no stranger to hard and difficult times as she worked her way through high school and university with top honors despite an ill father and an absent mother. She had a caring but mothering older sister. She was stubborn, good-hearted, cheerful, and full of energy. With a Double Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Business Administration and Masters in Cosmetic Science, she was a force to be reckoned with. Lanie Lee was not well off but had a nice nest egg put away in case this interview did not work out.

She spent all of last night and morning finalizing her beige pantsuit and black heels from her many work outfits from many jobs. Doing her smooth pulled back ponytail took a while as her hair had a slight wave to it. Her makeup was understated and professional.

Lanie nervously awaited her interview with Mr. Park, her fingers tapping on the folio in her lap. Her resume was filled with work from small beauty industry labs and most with her heading projects to create signature products that were best sellers.

Why was Lanie Lee interviewing for the Secretary/P.A. position? It was because a scandal blacklisted her from doing lab work. Lanie was a genius chemist that only allowed a certain amount of formulas and notes out to her lab assistants. She had her secrets and it made certain people mad and jealous.She was considered too good for anyone and everyone. She had been working at developing a natural skin serum and was almost a breakthrough. Unfortunately, someone tampered with her samples causing numerous test subjects to break out in hives and rashes. Someone had leaked the industry information out and she was never allowed in a lab again. She sighed at her dreams of getting her Doctorate degree and her startup cosmetics company folded up like wet tissue on a rainy day.

"Miss Lee, Miss Lanie Lee?" A female voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked up and saw a gorgeous woman wearing a GeniSkin Secretary uniform with the nametag,"April Jeong."

"Yes,"Lanie finally spoke.

"I'm Secretary Jeong, please follow me to Mr. Park's office."

The two women went through the heavy double doors from the lobby down the empty corridor. The corridor wall was covered in advertising for past products and modern art. Since the office was on the top floor, Lanie could see the busy city skyline and the helicopter flying too close to the glass panes. She jumped and clung to the wall for dear life. She'd seen enough action and disaster films and bad luck to know what would happen next. She squeezed her eyes shut to brace for impact.

Secretary Jeong announced,"That must be him, just on time."

Lanie opened her eyes and blinked. Him? Who?

"Please come along, he will join us shortly once he touches down."

"Yes,"was all Lanie could say in response. She was in shock.

The two came to a glass paned office, the only one on this floor it seemed. Jeong pushed a code into the security pad in an adjacent wall; the glass panes slid into the wall and revealed a large open space.

The whole design scheme was grays and glass.

The whole office looked like the bridge of a space ship: the ceiling lamp a large floating bulb in the middle, the desk was an silvery arc bolted to the floor, and the desk chair was soft gray Italian leather and top of the line.

The furniture was gray as well, the sofa and armchair the same leather, and the rounded coffee table the same material as the desk.

There was an elevator and a staircase leading out to the roof.

"Impressive isn't it?" Jeong said, her voice echoing in the chamber," Spared no expense. Please hand me your folio and have a seat."

Secretary Jeong gestured for Lanie to take a seat in the armchair as she placed the folio on the desk.

There was a ding coming from the elevator. Secretary Jeong gracefully walked over and then bowed at the waist. The doors slid open.

What Lanie saw was like out of a movie or one of those dramas her mom liked to watch. The most handsome man stood in the elevator. He was six feet tall, broad shouldered, squared jaw, dark short perfectly styled hair, dark brown eyes with strong brows, straight nose, and the nicest full pink lips. The suit he wore was Armani, wingtip shoes polished, silk tie and corner square in his pocket were all perfectly pressed and folded. The trench coat he wore was draped over his shoulders and for some reason floating behind him like Superman's cape in the breeze.

"CEO Gavin Park, welcome back!" Jeong announced.

Lanie got to her feet and bowed as well.

Mr. Park swept his coat off and handed it to Jeong. He floated along past her and made no sound. As he passed, Lanie recognized his cologne: vintage masculine scent of leather, musk, sandalwood and other compounds she couldn't place, but a signature product.

Proprietary only for the Park Family and a chosen few. There had been knock-offs but not with the sensual impact this fragrance had with this man.

"Secretary Jeong?" Park's voice was deep and melodious.

"Sir?"

"Is this the only person who made the last group interview?"

"Yes, sir."

"Lanie Lee, eh? You have quite the reputation, Miss Lee."

Lanie looked up and her eyes made direct contact with Gavin Park's amused gaze. She felt her mouth go dry and her jaw get tight. Where did her nerve go? She was terrified.

"Miss Lee is highly qualified, too qualified in fact," Park said with a chuckle."You're a chemist and one time CEO yourself, you want to be my secretary and personal assistant?"

She didn't answer immediately, swallowed her pride and gazed into those challenging, amused eyes.

"Mr. Park, I am looking for a brand new start and even if that means being a secretary...for you."

Park laughed and it echoed everywhere.

"Very well. Secretary Jeong, draw up her contract!"

Lanie Lee was now Secretary Lanie Lee of GeniSkin WorldWide.