Page 149 of In Sheets of Rain

I hadn’t thought of it like that.

“You don’t think BioMetrics would want me for my sales skills?” I asked.

“Oh, they’d want you for your sales skills, and so TEK’s products suddenly don’t have a winning rep to sell them.”

“Oh,” I said.

“It’s flattering, really,” Michael offered. “Are you tempted?” His voice was soft and careful.

“Not in the least,” I said.

“They are bigger than TEK. More perks, that sort of thing.”

“I’ve got enough perks at TEK, I think.”

“Really? What sort of perks?”

“A nice car, for one,” I said smiling.

“They’d give you a bigger one,” he shot back.

“I have a laptop and cell phone,” I argued.

“They’d offer you the same thing.”

“I’m paid well.”

“They might pay you more; they’ve got deeper pockets.”

I thought about it for a moment, then said, “BioMetric’s reps are bolshy.”

“Bolshy.”

“Lack all class.”

“What else do they lack?” he whispered.

“Handsome sales managers,” I said.

“Really? You think TEK has more handsome sales managers? Wait! How many handsome sales managers does TEK have?”

“Oh, let’s see. There’s Drew, Terry and Murray.”

“And?” he said.

“You,” I whispered.

“What about me?”

“BioMetrics definitely doesn’t have you.”

I could practically see his grin from all the way down in the South Island.

“What are you wearing?” he suddenly asked.

I giggled.

“Tell me,” he demanded.