Chapter 1

“Would you like some coffee, sir?” the secretary asked.

I glanced down at the nameplate on her desk before answering. “No Rebecca, but thanks for asking,” I said.

I sat down on the mustard coloured couch opposite the secretary’s desk and looked at the sign above her head, which read “Persephone IT Corporation” in a swirly font that was supposed to look like cursive.

Then I moved my gaze down to the level of the secretary who was looking directly at me. I hope she’s not a bunny boiler, I thought. Also she’s a bit mousey: not really my type. I smiled politely at her and nodded.

A few seconds later the phone on the secretary’s desk buzzed. She picked it up, listened and then said “Jessica will see you now.” I walked up to the door that bore the legend “Jessica Chastain, CEO” and walked in.

Chastain’s office was on the 50th floor and looked out on the whole city with glass walls. Must cost a fortune to keep it warm in winter, I thought. She had a glass desk with a computer and a pile of memos on it. Behind her desk was a Herman Miller office chair. There was another door on the right of the room.

She was standing and looking out of the window. she was wearing a black dress and |Wolford tights and Louboutin high heels. She had long straight black hair, she looked fit not skinny, not fat, nice curly arse and breasts. Careful, you’re not supposed to notice that kind of thing, thought I.

“James Boynton, from sales?” she asked in a warm voice, turning towards me. I nodded.

She turned toward me and gestured to a maroon chair in front of her desk. “Do sit down,” she said. I obeyed.

Chastain looked directly at me with an expression that somehow managed to be friendly and appraising at the same time.

“You did a good job with landing the Global Dynamics deal: a five year contract with great profit margins: very impressive,” she said.

“Thank you,” said I.

“I’ve asked to speak with you because the head of sales, Daniel Petresky, will be moving on to a C suite position and I need a replacement.”

Well done, Danny you old dog, I thought. I chose my next words carefully. “I would be happy to provide any help I can during the transition to a new head of sales. I have knowledge of our processes and all of our most important clients, so I can provide advice to whoever succeeds Mr Petresky.”

“I was considering selecting you as his successor,” she said.

“I’m flattered,” said I. “I have some ideas on new sales strategies and on how to increase satisfaction of our current customers.”

She held up her right hand to indicate that I should stop talking.

“I’m sure you have all sorts of wonderful ideas, but there is a problem involving reputational risk,” she said sternly. “You’ve been working at home a lot and you were asked to install a VPN so you could link to the company’s servers. That program wasn’t just a VPN. It included a security program that copied itself into every computer connected to your router and that program monitors what websites your visit. The list has some disturbing entries that indicate that you objectify women. He looked at a piece of paper on her desk: does the website ‘Pantyhose bitches’ ring a bell?”