When he started talking, I was shocked at the depth of personal information and knowledge he had and sought confirmation about. He probed into the nature of the relationship of my father and mother. He probed into the religious influence in my upbringing and how that affected me today. He probed into my failed marriage, what I thought the cause was and how the experience affected me now.

He probed into my current relationships with men, both at work and socially. I was at first put off by his probing into my life, but I remembered what Trudy had said about his style and need for complete trust. I decided to go along with his probing to see where it took us.

MY FEELINGS about the process began as he questioned and I answered or clarified. I could feel a process behind his approach. This wasn't merely showing me how much he already knew and intimidation.

He was after something. I could decide later, after all this, if pursuing this position was what I really wanted. I was sure I was going to learn more about his style on top of what Trudy had already given me.
The shock went deeper when he asked me deeper, more personal questions about my parents. I admitted I knew nothing about how they met or their romance leading them to marriage.

He showed me a report, a birth certificate, and a wedding license. My mother had become pregnant with me by my father. She was wild and "easy" as the term was used then. Both families made sure the two got married. The tight, controlling, and conservative religious element of our lives was punishing and controlling of my mother and me. I had heard of the expression 'the sins of the father' but this was 'sins of the mother'. It was expected that without rigid, tight interventions I would follow the same path as my mother. Some of this my mother had apologized for when I was getting ready to leave home. Some were still new to me.

It helped explain, though, the choices I had made in my life, the kinds of men I was programmed to seek out and attach myself to. My husband had been of the same ilk as my father. It was ironic that the man who was looked to for "straightening out" my mother and controlling me was the same man who was equally responsible for the problem.

It also provided some satisfaction and relief in the final realization that I wasn't perverted in my desires. I had kept them private, even though they came out easily. My husband found my desires and needs sexually to be a perversion of our upbringing and the nature of the holy nature of marriage blessed by God. I saw it as a bodily need to be fulfilled, but I was fighting my entire life to overcome it.

The men who I interacted with weren't worthy of me. I had wondered, struggled with those intense feelings. Men at work were manipulative and always playing games, always with motivations they resisted divulging. Men in social situations were similarly manipulative but it was easier to identify what they were. Their needs were basic. Any who had interest in a prolonged relationship found my reserved and compliant nature to be an opening to control. That control, though, was stifling, restrictive, and limiting like my experiences with my father, brothers, and husband.

The more the discussion with Mr. Woodburn progress, the more I saw the difference in the man from the others. This was a man of real power and control. In him, though, I felt the ability to be guided and directed in ways that would be freeing and empowering. She saw what Trudy had shared with her. Mr. Woodburn's strength and control could release a person's potential.

He was smiling at me from behind his desk. It was as though he could read the monitor of my mind as all those thoughts and realizations passed through me. He could see my understanding and acceptance. Our eyes locked. How could I not trust and follow someone who went to such lengths and effort to know and understand who I was? He seemed to see that, too.

"May I call you Tina?"

"Of course." It wasn't lost on me that he didn't offer me to use his first name. But that was for the better. If he was to lead me fully, this couldn't be a casual relationship.

"This position has never been attempted here, certainly not at this level. Despite the job description, I have prepared for Human Resources, the real performance of the position will be an evolution between us as we learn to function as an intimate team for the clients and accounts." I nodded.

He passed me a written job description, which I skimmed. As he indicated, it was common language for managing accounts except for the references to working directly for and at the discretion of the CEO on accounts and assignment directed by him. Following that was a sheet with benefits and compensation. It was staggering compared to what I was currently getting. It also spoke volumes about the man. He could have offered a fraction of this and it would still have seemed exceptional. My office would be located on the 10th floor where all senior executives resided who weren't on the 11th. Other benefits were also increased dramatically: medical, vacation, personal free days, profit sharing, and incentives.

I was flabbergasted and ready to take the job, whatever it might be, right there. He apparently read that in me, too.

He smiled knowingly at me. He buzzed Trudy who quickly entered the office and strode to stand at his side.

"Before we get too far into formally offering the position and you accepting if that might have been where this was going ...", he smiled, "I want Trudy here to witness the rest the of the discussion. No offense, Miss James, but we don't yet have that understanding of your commitment and devotion. I need Miss Michaels for a witness of my words and your responses so we don't end up with a 'He said, She said' legal conflict."