Page 12 of Say My Name

I laugh, not at her but at her boldness. There’s zero attempt to hide the confidence in her answer. “Which part?”

“The growth assumption in year three.”

“That assumption came from the target company.”

“I know. It’s still wrong.”

She steps closer, turns the summary toward herself, and points to a line halfway down the page. Her fingernail is painted a pale pink that shouldn’t be distracting. I notice it anyway.

“They’re expecting retention to improve while simultaneously cutting the service team by twelve percent. It won’t. Their largest client accounts all require direct support, and two of those contracts renew before the projected savings begin. If service drops, retention drops with it.”

“They’re automating part of the support system.”

“Have you seen the system?”

“No.”

“Neither have they. It’s still in development.”

I look at the page, then at her. “You found that in the materials I sent?”

“I found the software announcement on their website. The rollout date is in the investor report.”

There’s the answer. She’s not just confident, she’s right and she’s exceptional.

She walks me through the numbers without notes, catches another assumption my team hasn’t questioned, and explains exactly how she’d restructure the deal before I remember I’m supposed to be interviewing her.

The prepared questions remain untouched on my desk. By the time she finishes, I already know I’m hiring her. I also know it’s going to be a fucking problem unless I get my thoughts under control.

She turns from the table. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Do I get the polite lunch, or are you going to offer me a job?”

Not just direct and confident but a little impatient too. And completely in control.

I straighten and put space between us. Reminding myself of three very obvious and important reasons I need to let any attraction I have for her go: Cliff, this job, and eleven years.

I repeat them once in my head and decide I’ll keep repeating them until my brain has carved them in stone.

“You’re assuming there’s a position available.”

“You’ve had the same senior acquisitions role open for six weeks.”

“How do you know that?”

“Your website.”

“Anything else you found while investigating me?”

Her mouth curves. “Your executive biography uses the word visionary twice.”

“I didn’t write it.”

“I hoped not.”

I laugh again, and she smiles fully this time. That’s the moment I know the three reasons are going to need to become a rule.