She couldn’t find her bathrobe or slippers in her bedroom and was reluctant to make any noise in case she woke up Jason. Claire padded barefoot to the kitchen to make some coffee when she heard a beep from her phone. She walked over to the other side of the counter to the electronic charging station and grabbed her phone. She read the text and gave a sigh of annoyance when she saw it was from Max.
How is the reinvention assignment going?
Claire rolled her eyes. She couldn’t deal with Max first thing in the morning. She leaned against the kitchen counter as she pondered how to respond.
She noticed that she didn’t feel any anxiety as she had a week ago. She was now confident she could reinvent herself for this interview. But was she still interested in a job that asked her to be someone she wasn’t? It was a position that so many of her peers wanted, but was that the only reason she was considering it?
Recovering from my Roller Derby injury, she replied. Claire added a picture from her night roller-skating. There was no way she could have faked flying through the air like that and she had the bruises to prove it.
She suddenly wished she hadn’t sent the picture. Why had she felt compelled to share it? His attitude and treatment toward her no longer meant anything. She knew who she was and what she wanted in life. So why was she too proud to show that side of herself? Maybe she hadn’t truly accepted who she was.
Her phone rang and Claire almost dropped it on the counter. She hissed when she recognized the number. Max Blair. She took a deep breath and answered the phone.
“Hello, Max,” she said in friendly tone.
“You are very committed to this reinvention,” he said.
“I always give my projects 100 percent,” she said. She pressed her lips together. Why was she telling him that? She was still interviewing for the job she was having second thoughts about. “And I have to get ready for a meeting. Are you still flying in to Seattle tomorrow?”
“Of course. I didn’t think I could spare the time to do this workshop but the tech company who hired me is paying me an obscene amount of money. They really wanted me to share my expertise.”
Claire felt her nostrils flare with aggravation as he bragged. “That’s wonderful, Max.”
“You should come to my workshop, Claire.”
She had no interest in paying to hear the man talk for hours about himself and his accomplishments. “It’s okay to have a few empty seats.”
“It’ll be standing room only,” he said with indignation. “I’m inviting you because you might learn a few things.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. His words no longer wounded, but they still had the power to sting. “Thanks for your concern but I keep up-to-date on what’s new and cutting-edge.”
“I disagree,” Max said. “I’ve looked at your website and portfolio. The work you do is basic and outdated. You haven’t come up with any fresh ideas.”
“That’s not true.” She shook her head at her answer. She needed a better comeback than that.
“You play it safe. Too safe,” he decided. “If you don’t innovate, you’re going to be out of business within the next year.”
It was as if he could sense her deepest fears. Sometimes she did play it safe and she often worried that she was going to wake up one day and realize the industry had changed and left her behind.
“Your clients don’t see what I saw at the conference. At least, not yet,” Max said, ignoring her silence. “You are not an expert like I am. You are a follower and not a leader.”
Why would he think that? Because she was shy and reserved? She enjoyed sharing her ideas with clients and guiding them to making the best choices for their business. Her style was different from his, but it didn’t mean she was a weak leader.
“Of course, if I hire you,” Max said breezily, “I would have to erase what you have learned and teach you everything from the beginning.”
She gripped her cell phone closer to her ear. She couldn’t have possibly heard that correctly. “What are you saying?”
“I start all of my employees at an entry level, of course.”
Claire frowned. It sounded as if he was hiring an intern instead of a colleague. “Why did you think of me for the job?”
“You aren’t very creative but you understand the business. You know how to manage a project and you can hold down the fort when I’m away from the office.”
The realization hit her squarely in the chest. Max had noticed her at the conference because she was organized and had an attention to detail. He wanted her as his assistant. His errand girl. He needed to find someone who preferred to be behind-the-scenes, work hard and put in the long hours. Someone who could hide his weaknesses and make him look good while he took all the credit.