Thank you all for your previous reviews, you've all been amazing and I'm having fun writing this fanfic.
It's been 3 excruciating weeks since my encounter with Ari.
I've turned into a woman I don't even recognize, my discipline, my focus, my concentration has all be thrown out of whack because the only thing consuming my mind has been the beautiful blonde. How I wish she left my number for me. Hell I even tried calling the (415) DESTINY number to try my luck and some Frank dude picked up, yeah that was pathetic, I knew it wasn't her real number but shit I thought I'd try at least.
I was also a dumbass for not asking for her full name or getting more info about her, I was just so enamored by her presence and beauty that all basic questions that I should ask someone when getting to know them left my mind. I mean how much research, googling or stalking can you do with "Ari". Yeah I'm one of those, I google people, it helps me get to know them better, well it works in business so why not this, right?
I've had so many questions in my mind though, was this just a one night stand for her, was she just having fun with me, did she want more? I couldn't tell because she was being vague with me. I guess everyone sort of has their guards up initially but we did have the most wonderful sex in the world and the cuddling and kissing that followed was blissful. What surprised me though is the deep and thoughtful conversation we had, I think that made me fall in love with her, I mean we talked about anything and everything without revealing too much of our personal details,from spirituality, love, ambition, careers, travelling, yoga, childhood, friends, ex's, social media, politics to social justice etc... However I don't think she knows who I really am, of course she doesn't she called "Eliza Minnick" a "stuckup startup millionaire who flaunts her wealth", I so do not!
It's 12 noon already and I'm headed to grab some lunch now, I'm of no use in my office right now. Nothing's getting done because all I'm thinking about is a Napa getaway and frolicking in the vineyards with the blonde or taking her away to Bora Bora or the beautiful beaches of Fiji.
Headed out the door I run into Jo and Miranda,
"Hey Eliza, don't forget your 1pm interview for marketing and then another one at 2:30 and the last one at 4pm"
"Thanks Jo" giving her a smile.
"Oh and all those 3 time slots are interviews for the Chief Marketing officer position, we've narrowed down the 3 final candidates and they all look good as they've gone through our multiple rounds of interviews with multiple department heads and the marketing team. Today's interview is with the Executive team and we need your final say Boss"
Giving Miranda a nod and a smile "Thanks Miranda, you're too good to me"
Being at the level and size I am at my company I do not have time to interview each and every candidate, though when I was starting off I did interview each and every one and sat in all the meetings. More than anything I made hiring the right people a priority and valued each one of their contributions. To me, people make the business and then comes the customers and then the product. You see, you can have the best products or services in the world but that doesn't mean shit when you don't have smart, intelligent, passionate people advocating for it and working on it to make it better and more innovative, staying ahead of the curve. 2nd is the customers, because without our customers we are nothing and than our products. When you take care of your customers, even if and when you mess up and you own up to it they will understand and stick with you as long as you alway go above and beyond in service. Then comes the products.
I'm looking forward to these interviews as the Chief Marketing Officer position is the last position to fill out before I round out my executive team. We've done exceptionally well thus far but the amount of responsibilities and to where we have grown requires someone more experienced that understands our products, how the market works and how to stay ahead of it, what our audience wants and how to grow our company to the next level. Marketing isn't just about graphic designs and ads etc, it's much more deeper, it's about behavior, psychology, keeping track of metrics and taking that data and analyzing it into customer demands, product innovation and revenue.
I like to get really deep and personal with my candidates because at the end of the day we aren't just going to be working 8-10 hours a day alongside each other but we are literally growing a company together and that requires a lot of time and energy. I sure as hell don't want to be working alongside assholes so I thoroughly vet all my candidates.
Grabbing a sandwich I head up to my office to review the resume of the candidates in front of me. I like to be prepared for all my meetings.
I see that Jo las left a file for each candidate on my desk.
Franklin Gerty, VP of Biz Dev and Marketing for Box Inc, applied via Linkedin
Megan Micah, Chief Marketing Officer at RGA Agency, recommended by exec staffing agency
Arizona Robbins, Chief Marketing Officer at DreamSpace VR, highly recommended by Richard Webber our board member.
So I guess these are the 3 that made it out of the few thousand that applied for the position. The last and final interview is with my executive team after you've gone through at least 3-4 rounds of interviews within the company and the absolute final one is a one on one with me after the exec group interview. We don't hire just based on skills but also a mix of personality, culture fit and what you have to bring to the table and help grow our company.
It's already been a long day and I just got done with my 2nd interview, things are looking well and I'm super giddy about filling this role, I already have my COO, CTO, CFO, CIO, CRO filled by some of the smartest people in Silicon Valley that have had years of experience at both small startups, startups that have IPO'd and gone public and those that have worked at larger corporations such as Microsoft, Google etc… I make sure to pay not only my executives but all my employees above average market rates with good benefits. While I am ambitious, money minded and have revenue targets to hit I am also socially aware and conscious that people have lives outside of the office (well not me) and I am responsible for their livelihood in some way or another. Keeping my employees happy by not only paying them well and giving them good benefits but also a chance to grow, have a sense of purpose and become somebody is what really really motivates me to work hard and grow my company.
I have 15 minutes to kill before my last interview for the day and I step out to get some iced coffee since I need a pick me up as I have a feeling it might be another long night at the office.
Leaving the boardroom to have my team deliberate on the candidates we just interviewed, I decide to take a breather at our rooftop terrace that is next to my office that overlooks the bay, fisherman's wharf and the ferry building, I can never get tired of this view, no matter how stressed or tired I am, this view gives me life back.
Hearing the door open, Jo my assistant informs me that my 4pm is here.
"They're waiting for you in the boardroom Eliza"
"Thanks Jo, they're here a little early"
"Yeah I guess so, first impressions you know"
"Sounds good, I'll be there, in a few"
Heading into my office, I freshen up my look a little and grab my coffee and head towards the boardroom. I see everyone is on their feet, I guess mingling and chatting with the new interviewee while I see my CTO and CIO engaged in a deep conversation mostly likely about the data and security network of our company, they're nerdy and geeky like that, I love it.
Stepping into the office, my team recognizing my presence, stop the chit chat and head back to their chairs and I see that the candidate has her back to me.
"So let's get this show on the road" I say as I sip on my coffee while walking towards the head of the table.
"Miss Minnick, this is Arizona Robbins our last interview for the day"
Miranda says excitedly while her back still towards me.
Rounding the corner, I get a side view of the candidate but not quite getting a full view of her yet and for some reason my heart is starting to beat faster and I don't know why. Maybe it's the coffee making me jittery.
"Arizona, this is Eliza Minnick the CEO and Chairman of Minnick Inc and our boss".
As she turns around and extends her hand for a handshake I freeze in my spot just a mere inches away from my chair and drop my coffee with a thud. As she looks up at me, her eyes go wide, her mouth opens but nothing comes out, we're both frozen in our spots for what seems like an eternity without saying a word. I have a million and one emotions running through my head, my heart is about to fall out of my chest, I've dropped my damn coffee in front of my entire executive team and now I'm frozen and can't utter a single word.
So Ari, I mean... Arizona, looks like a deer in the headlights, she's mirroring all my emotions and body language right now. I sense something between a shock, shyness, embarrassment, utter disbelief and just plain ol shock that comes with a slight smile.
Hearing the clearing of a throat from someone to help break the ice, I snap out of my conundrum and take her hand and give it a firm shake.
"It's a pleasure meeting you Arizona" giving her a smirk and then the biggest cheesiest grin appears on my face and I swear it can light up the entire Sahara desert at night.
As the corners of her mouth swing upwards and I hear most angelic voice "Likewise Miss Minnick", there is a little bit of professionalism, confidence and I can't quite point to it but maybe flirtation, in her voice and demeanor, I don't know, I don't want to assume.
"Oh please call me Eliza" giving her a smile as I take my seat.
Oh this is going to be good…
What do you think is going to happen next? Oh and I would love your feedback/reviews. I always love reading them.