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Shelia sat in her parked car, staring
up at the huge mirrored building. She was nervous about her job
interview. She had never fit into the business world. She took a
deep breath; it was time to go in.
Her dark blonde hair was neatly
sculpted back into a French twist. The dusty rose business suit
brought out a calm glow in her skin that created a warm backdrop for
her facial features, all highlighted in seemingly natural
perfection. Her brows were dark and substantial but shapely and not
too thick. Her eyelids were shadowed to enhance the natural almond
shape of her eyes, which, because of the contrasting shadows
appeared bright but relaxed. Her cheeks had a slightly darker rose
accent on the bone—just enough to indicate a morning in the fresh
air and sunlight. She stood five feet seven inches, but now over
five feet nine with her stylish pumps.
She entered the building, passing
various people on her way to the suite where her interview would
take place. She smiled pleasingly at them, not too big or bubbly,
showing a lot of teeth and as slight as a grimace, which would make
them uncertain of a warm greeting. She smiled just enough to exude
compassion and friendship with the understanding of needing nothing
back—just the right amount of each element to make them all feel
comfortable. She moved gracefully down the hallway, politely
thanking each person who directed her along the way and the
gentlemen who had opened doors for her. She had finally reached the
correct suite, opened the door, approached the receptionist,
introduced herself and stated her purpose.
“Good
Morning. My name is Shelia Perry; I have a 9:30 appointment with
Mr. Gilbert.” She smiled and waited for an invitation to wait. She
was her usual 10 minutes early.
The receptionist responded the way
most of them usually did, “Okay, Ms. Perry; I’ll let Mr. Gilbert
know you’re here. Please have a seat; he’ll be right with you.”
“Thank you.” Another smile to secure
the safety net and perhaps be remembered after the droves of
interviewees had come and gone. She glided gracefully to a chair,
sat down, neatly crossing her legs at the ankles, and gently set
down her portfolio and purse on her lap, careful not to take up more
space than what was allotted for one person. She arranged these
things so that she could quickly pick them up with her left hand,
leaving her right hand free to shake Mr. Gilbert’s hand when he came
out to greet her, as she knew he would.
She found a copy of the employee
newsletter on the table next to her and perused it. She saw the
company mission statement printed on the sidebar and was grateful
she had incorporated elements of it into her presentation. Thank
goodness for the Internet; it made researching companies so easy.
She reviewed her employment history, remembering the connections
between her past experience and what she believed she would be doing
in this job.
A man briskly opened the door, spotted
her as he entered the room, and extended his hand. “Shelia Perry?
I’m Grant Gilbert.”
She felt her eyes lock on to his. She
smiled, exuding that warm, glowing confidence, as she rose from her
chair, easily securing her purse and portfolio with her left hand.
She shook his hand firmly and in a rich, well-modulated tone of
voice, still holding his eyes, she said, “It’s very nice to meet you
Mr. Gilbert.”
to be continued . . .
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