Chapter 26
Marcus
Waiting for her to say something took more than twenty seconds and that felt like a long time. I didn’t have such time to waste so I cleared my throat,
“I think you have a problem with that. Right?”
“No no,” she blurted and struck out the sentence she wrote. “I’m just trying to get the perfect questions.”
My hands brushed the tip of my nose. “And I expect you Miss Kane, to know that there’s hardly anything like perfection.”
Even though the liner swept under her eye took the best form and could pass for perfection, I still wouldn’t call it perfection. “So make your way around your imperfect questions and let’s get at something. I have a meeting, soon.”
She gave a sharp nod and I exhaled.
“Don’t you think you should record me instead? It’s going to be a chore keeping up with every word I say and I’m sure Miss Kane, that you know I don’t like repeating myself.”
“Oh shit–yes. Please, a second. Let me grab my phone.”
She sprawled up and stormed out of the office in a second. I couldn’t even think of anything other than how this whole interview thing is playing out.
I’ve been interviewed by a lot of people. So many that I’ve lost count and an all–night to count them wouldn’t even be enough.
All interviewers always had one question at the tip of their tongue–to know if I trust anyone always found unrelated and insignificant so let’s see if she also would want to know that.
aside my son. A question I’ve
She walked back to the office and took the same chair opposite me. I gave a nod acknowledging her presence and she adjusted on the seat.
“I’m ready.”
“Like you should have been.”
She fought back the urge to frown because she didn’t want to jinx this and that’s okay. “Ask away, Miss Kane.”
“How did you come up with a business plan?”
I cocked an eyebrow mainly because if we go with her question, we may not get at a destination she wants.
“How about you try to be more specific with your questions?”
I said that with a rueful smile and I could tell she was slightly aware of what it meant. Not impressed.
“I’m sorry. Can you tell me about your background and how you got started in the business world?”
Now, that was more like it.
“I wasn’t born into wealth,” I said trying to be as vague as possible. “And I started having an eye for business from an early stage. I delved into it after I found out I had what it takes.”
“Would you refer to this as a quality?”
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I gave a nod.
“And what quality are you referring to, Mr. Hills?”
“Understanding the market. The market is simply humans and I understand them. What they want, how they work, what doesn’t and how to incentivize them.”
“Was this an inbuilt quality or something you developed?”
“I sure as hell developed it after reading a bunch of self–development books. Having a degree in psychology wasn’t enough.”
“You have a degree in psychology?” she asked with her mouth wide open.
“Yes. What else?”
“What are the core values that have guided your business decisions?”
“Logical reasoning over emotions. Sam Harris, that’s if you know who he is; said something. Emotions are a magnificent tool of the human experience but they’re terrible masters of the human experience.”
She wrote that down but I could bet it was his name she took down. She possibly wants to check who the guy is so she could have a comeback next time but I don’t think there’ll be a next time here.
“So you always make logical decisions?”
“As often as possible although the word always sounds more certain than life itself.”
“Why Real Estate? There are thousands of other fields yet you chose this. Is there a reason why?”
“There’s a reason for everything and mine just happens to be due to how financially buoyant I aimed at becoming. It’s a lucrative field in the business world.”
“So you
any
don’t have other interest?”
“I have varied interests, Miss Kane and some of those interests are also fetching me good money.”
“How do you stay updated on industry trends in real estate and adapt your strategies?” She was now more relaxed and her questions were flowing accordingly.
“Well, Industry publication is one thing and networking is my major business activity that I use for my strategies.”
“Did you at any point get mentored?”
“No. I just had to figure my way around things, bet big and lost early to get here.”
“So you are not accountable to anyone? Not even a board?”
“None, Miss Kane. I own my company and I don’t answer to anyone.”
Whatever look she had on her face wasn’t that
I wasn’t concerned about that.
admiration, I could tell she was slightly irritated at my lack of humility but
“Are always like this?” She asked and then regretted it that moment.
It was the exact question she asked me on the night she was drunk and making passes at me.
I think it had to do with the drink
–
I don’t blame her. People are the weakest and most fearless when tipsy.
She had asked me if I wanted to fuck her that night but today, she doesn’t even look like she was capable of saying that.
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I scoff at the thought arrd before I could get to respond, she adjusted on the chair.
“You don’t have to answer that, Mr. Hills.”
“Of course.”
I barely even have enough time to think of what she may ask next. I cocked my head to one side and she nervously tucked her hair behind her car.
“You have never talked about your family to the media.”
+5
I remained where I was with a cocked eyebrow. “I enjoy being private. Keeping things away from the public eye helps it last.”
She gave a nod and for a moment, it felt like the interview was coming to an end.
“Anything else?” I asked and she gave one nod.
“One last thing,” she said gesturing one with her finger.
“Do you have an hallmark? The moment you knew you had to make it big?”
I love how she could twist questions to give exactly what she wanted.
“Well yes and I was seventeen at the time. I knew I needed to make it big when all I could give my then girlfriend for her birthday was sex.” I paused. “Just sex.”
My voice was light and that must have given an impression that was trying to be funny.
I caught her smiling and she turned. “She must have been a great motivation.”
“That’s right.”
“May I know what happened to the relationship?”
“Unfortunately, no. That’s a personal information and I’m sure you remember our deal
“Uh–yes. I do.” She closed the book. “Thank you for letting me interview you.”
As expected, I should have said thank you- give a small smile and remain professional but I didn’t. I chose to diffe time. “You can find me here if you also have another set of questions.”
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