Ethan looked at Mia and asked, "The resumes are certainly impressive. What's their current work situation?"
Mia was clearly prepared and immediately answered fluently, "According to the latest update from the search firm, three of these five are actively job hunting right now. Ryan, Marcus, and Tyler are all actively looking. The other two, Jake and Derek, are still currently employed."
"Oh? Jake and Derek are still employed?" Ethan tapped his finger lightly on the table and pressed, "Did the recruiter say anything about why they'd be open to a change? Limited growth, or just general dissatisfaction?"
"The recruiter didn't get specific, only that they're open to new opportunities, especially at companies like ours — early-stage but well-capitalized." Mia answered truthfully.
She then added her own read: "That said, someone like Derek at Paramount and Jake at Walmart are both at established giants. Given their age and background, there's a good chance they're looking for a bigger role or more autonomy."
Ethan nodded.
He glanced at his watch; it was just past 10:30 in the morning.
Then he looked up at Mia and said, "Mia, reach out to all five right now. Tell them that if their schedule allows, the company founder would like to meet them in person today. Send over the company address and ask how soon they can get to the Meridian Tower."
"Now?" Mia double-checked. Such short-notice invitations, especially for candidates who were currently employed, usually needed more coordination time.
"Yes, right now." It was still relatively early, so there was plenty of time.
"Alright, I'll reach out to them right now." Mia walked out of the office, picked up the phone, and started dialing.
About ten minutes later.
Mia returned with the results and reported clearly to Ethan: "I've reached all five. Ryan, Marcus, and Tyler said they have plenty of time and can come now, but it'll take about 20 to 30 minutes to get here. Jake and Derek are currently at their offices and need to step out, so they'll be a bit later."
Mia paused: "Jake should arrive around 11:30. Derek seems to be tied up with something urgent and needs to work out the timing. She said the earliest she can get to the office is by noon."
Ethan nodded, indicating it didn't matter; he didn't have anything pressing right now anyway.
He picked up the glass on the table and took a sip, his gaze calm.
He knew very well that recruiting top talent was never a one-sided selection process, especially for candidates with impressive resumes and plenty of options.
The company's vision, efficiency, the founder's presence and demeanor, and the appeal of the project itself were all deciding factors.
This impromptu interview was itself an important part of the mutual evaluation.
He needed to observe the candidates' on-the-spot reactions, professionalism, and alignment in values, while they, in turn, would be sizing him up as a boss worth following.
...
More than twenty minutes later.
The vast office was silent, with only the faint hum of the central air conditioning.
Suddenly, the office phone rang crisply, shattering the silence.
Mia, a bit disheveled, instantly sat up straight in Ethan's arms. A faint blush still lingered on her cheeks, and she quickly lowered her head to tidy her slightly messy collar and hair.
"I'll get it." She spoke softly, her voice tinged with a barely noticeable breathlessness, then stood up and quickly walked out of Ethan's spacious office.
Ethan watched her figure disappear at the doorway, a playful smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
Soon, Mia returned.
Ethan gestured at her, signaling her to come sit next to him again.
Mia, however, didn't take him up on it and said, "Marcus has arrived downstairs and is checking in at the front desk. He'll be up in about five minutes."
"When he gets here, just show him straight in." Ethan also turned serious.
"Alright, let me go get ready first." After saying this, Mia left the office.
Taking advantage of the moment, she quickly pulled out a small compact mirror and a tube of lipstick from her bag.
She walked to the well-lit window, back to the office, quickly touched up her fading lip color, and used her fingers to comb through her slightly mussed hair.
Finally, she looked down to carefully check her beige professional suit, smoothed out any wrinkles, took a deep breath, and confirmed she'd returned to her sharp, professional look before picking up her folder and notebook.
A few minutes later.
"Knock knock knock." The office door was knocked on evenly.
"Come in." Ethan's voice was steady.
Mia pushed the door open and entered, her posture poised and wearing a professional smile.
She stepped aside, and a man dressed in a tailored navy suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding refined elegance, appeared at the door.
He looked much younger than his actual age, carrying a simple black leather briefcase, his gaze calm and sharp.
"Ethan, this is Marcus, here for the interview." Mia introduced him clearly.
Ethan's gaze lingered on Mia's face for a moment, catching the hint of nervousness she was trying hard to hide beneath her deliberately serious expression. He couldn't help but wink at her, a mischievous smile flashing across his face.
This left Mia feeling a bit exasperated.
Ethan was someone who, most of the time, carried a maturity and composure far beyond his years. Talking with him, Mia, who was several years older, kept finding herself at a disadvantage.
But in moments like these, he'd show this almost childish, mischievous side, leaving her both amused and worn out.
She could only tense her facial muscles, struggling to hold onto a professional expression, secretly relieved that Ethan had only teased her with a look and hadn't done anything more overt, which let Mia breathe a sigh of relief.
She knew very well that even if their little private joke — "on duty, the secretary does it all; off duty, she doesn't" — carried some unspoken understanding between them, she absolutely couldn't let a hint of it show in front of others, or the professional image she'd worked so hard to build would be completely wrecked.
That's the self-discipline of a good secretary...
Ethan stopped teasing Mia and stood up, greeting the refined man behind her seriously, "Hello, Marcus!"
Marcus immediately stepped forward and firmly shook Ethan's hand: "Hello, Ethan. Marcus, here. Thanks for making time in your schedule for this."
His voice was gentle and polite, but behind the glasses, there was an unmistakable trace of genuine surprise.
Before coming, he'd learned through the recruiter and industry chatter that although this new company called "Beacon Media" had only just been founded, the strong $3 million in paid-in capital at registration and its mysterious backing had already stirred up quite a bit of buzz in the industry.
There are 130 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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