Averi chapter 1: Averi's promotion
Step #2) The interview
Wearing her nicest pantsuit, Averi set her make up to look like a professional. In her day-to-day life, she wears almost none. When going on, she goes all in. At work, it's minimalist, but for an interview, it's like a 4 out of 10?
Monty was working from home entirely, so she could drive herself to the interview, arriving to the hotel conference room with 30 minutes to spare. She was the first on the location. She took in the room, picked what she thought was the best place, , still allowing her to set up her files in front of her.
But she didn't stay sitting down. What she hoped was to welcome the interviewers standing, and they didn't seem to be disappointed.
Both women smiled when they saw her.
Eleanor, the recruiter for the bank, wore a formal pantsuit, not unlike Averi's, but a lot more expensive and obviously tailor made just for her. Avery had been lucky, hers was almost perfect, but Eleanor's was just on point. In the mid-forties, Eleanor was still slim and attractive.
But the minister of immigration, Joi, shocked Averi. She was roughly Averi's age and is wearing a cocktail dress... to an interview!
"Don't mind me for the first part. I am here just if this works out", says Joi
"Nice to you nonetheless", says Averi
"Oh, I see you have documents. I am guessing your white paper on international investment is there?"
"Thrilling read. Didn't get half of it, but Eleanor tells me it's brilliant", says Joi
"Thank you?", says Averi, confused.
"Perhaps we should sit down, this isn't a conventional interview"
"It's not?", says Avery, completely destabilized.
"We spoke to some of your professors, and the bank realized you have what we need. At this point, we are not trying to evaluate if you can be a good employee and a good match for the position. We know you are. Instead, it's a reverse interview. We are trying to convince you to take the role, and accept our offer"
"What?"
"We have a formal job offer for you, Avery. We want you. It's that simple. We've spoken to your professors, to your supervisor, we know you are the real deal. I mean, we knew when we read your paper, but we had to be sure."
"So, no interview questions?"
"Well, we could ask your worst defect, and you'll say that you are a perfectionist, or that you work too hard. If we ask your best quality, you'll say your honesty or your dedication. We'll ask about your resume, but we spoke to your current supervisor, don't worry, they don't know it's for a job, and to many of your professors. We'll ask your position on investment, but you already wrote blog posts and white papers and we read all of it"
"You could ask my hobbies?", Avery jokes.
"There. We heard about your wit and your humor. You will fit right in with your team"
"But I will directly end up managing them? It's not like I have a lot of proven experience"
"Ok, can I be honest?"
"Of course", says Avery
"To manage a team of financial analysts, you need to speak their language but you don't need to be at their level. You do not have the qualification or experience to work for your department, but you do to manage it. I don't want to minimize what you do, but you won't be the one doing the actual analysis. You will be reviewing those of your employees and will be encouraging discussion between them to find the proper balance. For that, you are more than qualified and in the process, we hope to turn you in a cunning analyst in a few years. But until then, you will be a manager"
"Oh"
"But the salary, and the perks are there. And the title. And the opportunities to grow, you know?"
"Ok, can I rephrase all of that, and you tell me if my perception is wrong"
Joi laughs. "I told you. She is perfect"
"Joi?"
"Sorry Eleanor."
"Go ahead", says Eleanor
"In short, you are paying me to be an intern in financial planning, moonlighting as the office manager while I make my chops"
Eleanor looks at Avery, and then to Joi.
"I told you", says Joi
"In short yeah. You are not wrong. Leaving your position to become an analyst working for your successor wouldn't feel like a promotion, but it would be. We only hire the top experts, and while we think you will become one, and plan on it, you need to find your own ground"
"How long do I have?"
"To take the job?"
"No, to stay a manager?"
"Oh, as long as you want. You don't have to become an analyst. We are betting you will, and that the bank will make a fortune, but if you prefer to manage and milk your team for more profit, no one will force you out"
"Right"
"No woman was ever let go or laid off from our bank. Ever"
"But men were?"
"Well, there was, a few years ago, a sort of... transition", says Eleanor
"The bank is mostly led, managed and staffed by women. The few men who stay are mainly there until we find them a female replacement, like the current manager you will be replacing"
"Oh no"
"Don't worry. He is happy about it. You'll meet him. He wanted to move out with his wife to have kids anyway, so it works out for everyone"
"Good. But why move out for that?", says Averi
"Our small nation doesn't have schools. We have university, but not actual schools, for children", says Joi. "My parents are from our enclave, but I ended up being raised by my grandparents in the USA. Do you plan to have kids soon, Averi? You will still get the job, but it's not really a suitable place for children to be raised"
"Perhaps in a few years, but Monty and I didn't really feel the pressure yet"
"We'll talk about Monty soon, when it's my turn, but I'll let Eleanor finish"
"Well, I don't have much more to say. We have pictures of your apartment should you decide to take the position. It fully supplied, with a bed, a desk for your husband to work, full kitchen."
"And we would be neighbors", says Joi
"Right, by pure random chances, the apartment is on the same floor as Joi"
"Indoor poll in a sort of annex between our apartment tower and the next one. Fully supplied gym, and there is a spa just around the corner.", says Joi
"You would get benefits for spa treatments", says Eleanor.
"Lucky you"
"You do too"
"Yeah, since they named me minister of immigration. Oh, One of our neighbors, Kamala, does a ton for the community. She organizes events and such, but mostly, she runs a scooter rental shop"
"Scooter rental?"
"Yeah, the enclave is small, and the urban area even more so. So, she decided to buy a bunch of electric scooters and offer them for rental by the hour. She is super nice. She'll teach you and your husband how to ride them"
"We have a deal with her for directors, but also a car service", says Eleanor
"Winters can be cold compared to Florida, with some snow, but rarely that cold", says Joi
"It's a really beautiful place"
"What's the country's name?"
"It's not on many maps. It's called the High Rhine Enclave"
"I never heard of it, so it's an Enclave?"
"A former one. Of Germany, in Switzerland. After World War II it was occupied by the USA, and the Germans mostly left. Today, it's and independent country, but we do not sit at the UN or have many embassies. It's not a fake country, but it's not, like, a full one. Our passports are recognized, but mainly because of our bank. We are more or less a fiscal paradise"
"I see"
"No, you don't", says Joi.
"I don't?", says Avery.
"Almost no income tax, low VAT tax. Most of the government revenues are from low corporate taxes."
"But you have universal healthcare?"
"Yeah, and it's just about the number one expense. We have one hospital. We only need one. Furthermore, we only have two ambulances, and we usually need two in case one is broken. Did you ever see both used at the same time?", says Joi
"Yes, there was a big car accident a few years ago. You were with your Grandparents", says Eleanor
"Oh, well, scooters are now the main mode of transport, not cars, so it's less of an issue", adds Joi.
"Still have a lot of population, and Switzerland is just around the corner. Any corner", says Eleanor.
"Chocolate must be great", says Avery, who feels like she is almost excluded from the conversation.
"Hey, we have our own chocolate factory, and it's wonderful. Hey, I have some. I'll give you a box before you leave so you can eat them while thinking it over",
"I'd love that", says Avery
"Listen, I will email you the job offer. Now, you will notice that the salary is missing. It's on purpose. We use the US dollar, but if I we put the salary on your contract, you will laugh at us"
"Why?"
"Because it's a ridiculously low amount for the position", says Eleanor
"Oh"
"But here is the thing. If you take that amount, and back the difference in taxes, and the rent you save, you end up with a good salary. But then, every quarter, the bank posts its profit or loss. If there is a profit, it is split in part between the employees. On average, employees make 10 to 15% of their annual salary in profit sharing"
"That's good.", says Averi
"Per quarter", says Eleanor
"What? Are you telling me that 40 to 60% of the revenues come from profit sharing?"
"Last quarter was 22%."
"Ok"
"But remember, it's 22% of the actual amount. If you were paid to compensate taxes and rent, it might correspond to 5 to 7% of your salary"
"Right. It's a percent of a smaller amount"
"And you don't have that many expenses. Your husband won't get a pay cut, and won't pay rent either"
"I see", says Avery
"And the apartment is a retirement fund itself", says Joi
"What do you mean?", says Avery.
"It's more like a condo, so the bank takes a 25-year mortgage on it, and pays the property taxes and the mortgage while you work there. If you work with us for the whole 25 years, the condo is yours. Rent-free for life. You can even sell it and pocket the money. We call it an apartment because if you move before the 25 years, you lose it. ", says Eleanor
"I have the same deal with government, but only because I twisted their arm", says Joi
"But we can't move", says Avery
"But you don't want to move. It's the best building. Well, that and the three others like ours. Heat pump, sound insolation, large closets, heated flooring in the bathroom with the jet bathtub. Sorry, the heated jet bathtub, so that while you run the jets, the water gets reheated. It's perfect, especially on winter nights. I don't have a husband yet to keep me warm, so sometime I watch Netflix in my bathtub. Wait, did I mention there was a giant TV in the bathroom?", says Joi
"Wow"
"Yeah, I am in the building behind, and it is rather outstanding. And if you like doing sports, we have a tennis court on the property, two badminton ones, a basketball court and there is a soccer field nearby", says Eleanor
"We get high-speed internet for cheap.", says Joi
"Oh, and you can work from home up to 3 days per week, but we have a great cafeteria downstairs with really cheap high-quality meals", says Elanor
"I find excuses to eat there all of the time. Seriously", says Joi
"She does. But then again, she helps her recruit, and helps with new arrivals", says Eleanor
"I make a mean tuna casserole, so I hope you like that because when you arrive, you'll get one to help you settle"
"We do. I guess when I get the chance, I'll make you my mother's chicken Margherita", says Avery
"So you are considering it?", says Eleanor, excited
"I am. I mean, it sounds like it's the best position to get my dream job."
"Ok, I guess I'll let Joi explain the details about the High Rhine Enclave, and once she is done, if you are still interested, I'll send you the contract. Joi? Can you take it from here?"
But Averi didn't care. She wanted the job. She wanted to be Joi's neighbor. Furthermore, she wanted to move to Europe. Her mother died of cancer the previous year. Not because it wasn't treatable. Not because she was caught too late.
Because she didn't have the money for the treatments. Avery lost her mother because the USA can't get it together when it comes to health insurance.
The details did bother Avery, and the position Monty would be in would be tough. For her, and for him. She did ask a ton of questions about the details, but Joi was adamant. If Avery took the position, which she wanted, they had to follow the laws of the High Rhine Enclave.
"I guess I should tell my husband"
"It's up to you. Entirely up to you"
Avery couldn't make up her mind about that decision, but she told Eleanor that she was in.
At home, she celebrated with Monty and even gave him a wonderful explosive blow job, in which she swallowed what she could, and let drip on her breasts the rest.
She tried to tell him about the enclave, but he was just too excited.
"What would you to do to help me get this job?", asked Averi
"Anything Babe. Anything"
"For real?"
"Yeah. As long as I am with you, and I can do my job, I am happy.", he says, kissing her.
To his surprise, that night, they had sex. Usually, Averi gave him a blow job when she was in the mood to please him and nothing more.
His wife, he thought, looking at her, falling asleep, filled with his sperm.
Happy, he fell asleep cuddling her, not bothering to even clean up.
Monty was working from home entirely, so she could drive herself to the interview, arriving to the hotel conference room with 30 minutes to spare. She was the first on the location. She took in the room, picked what she thought was the best place, , still allowing her to set up her files in front of her.
But she didn't stay sitting down. What she hoped was to welcome the interviewers standing, and they didn't seem to be disappointed.
Both women smiled when they saw her.
Eleanor, the recruiter for the bank, wore a formal pantsuit, not unlike Averi's, but a lot more expensive and obviously tailor made just for her. Avery had been lucky, hers was almost perfect, but Eleanor's was just on point. In the mid-forties, Eleanor was still slim and attractive.
But the minister of immigration, Joi, shocked Averi. She was roughly Averi's age and is wearing a cocktail dress... to an interview!
"Don't mind me for the first part. I am here just if this works out", says Joi
"Nice to you nonetheless", says Averi
"Oh, I see you have documents. I am guessing your white paper on international investment is there?"
"Thrilling read. Didn't get half of it, but Eleanor tells me it's brilliant", says Joi
"Thank you?", says Averi, confused.
"Perhaps we should sit down, this isn't a conventional interview"
"It's not?", says Avery, completely destabilized.
"We spoke to some of your professors, and the bank realized you have what we need. At this point, we are not trying to evaluate if you can be a good employee and a good match for the position. We know you are. Instead, it's a reverse interview. We are trying to convince you to take the role, and accept our offer"
"What?"
"We have a formal job offer for you, Avery. We want you. It's that simple. We've spoken to your professors, to your supervisor, we know you are the real deal. I mean, we knew when we read your paper, but we had to be sure."
"So, no interview questions?"
"Well, we could ask your worst defect, and you'll say that you are a perfectionist, or that you work too hard. If we ask your best quality, you'll say your honesty or your dedication. We'll ask about your resume, but we spoke to your current supervisor, don't worry, they don't know it's for a job, and to many of your professors. We'll ask your position on investment, but you already wrote blog posts and white papers and we read all of it"
"You could ask my hobbies?", Avery jokes.
"There. We heard about your wit and your humor. You will fit right in with your team"
"But I will directly end up managing them? It's not like I have a lot of proven experience"
"Ok, can I be honest?"
"Of course", says Avery
"To manage a team of financial analysts, you need to speak their language but you don't need to be at their level. You do not have the qualification or experience to work for your department, but you do to manage it. I don't want to minimize what you do, but you won't be the one doing the actual analysis. You will be reviewing those of your employees and will be encouraging discussion between them to find the proper balance. For that, you are more than qualified and in the process, we hope to turn you in a cunning analyst in a few years. But until then, you will be a manager"
"Oh"
"But the salary, and the perks are there. And the title. And the opportunities to grow, you know?"
"Ok, can I rephrase all of that, and you tell me if my perception is wrong"
Joi laughs. "I told you. She is perfect"
"Joi?"
"Sorry Eleanor."
"Go ahead", says Eleanor
"In short, you are paying me to be an intern in financial planning, moonlighting as the office manager while I make my chops"
Eleanor looks at Avery, and then to Joi.
"I told you", says Joi
"In short yeah. You are not wrong. Leaving your position to become an analyst working for your successor wouldn't feel like a promotion, but it would be. We only hire the top experts, and while we think you will become one, and plan on it, you need to find your own ground"
"How long do I have?"
"To take the job?"
"No, to stay a manager?"
"Oh, as long as you want. You don't have to become an analyst. We are betting you will, and that the bank will make a fortune, but if you prefer to manage and milk your team for more profit, no one will force you out"
"Right"
"No woman was ever let go or laid off from our bank. Ever"
"But men were?"
"Well, there was, a few years ago, a sort of... transition", says Eleanor
"The bank is mostly led, managed and staffed by women. The few men who stay are mainly there until we find them a female replacement, like the current manager you will be replacing"
"Oh no"
"Don't worry. He is happy about it. You'll meet him. He wanted to move out with his wife to have kids anyway, so it works out for everyone"
"Good. But why move out for that?", says Averi
"Our small nation doesn't have schools. We have university, but not actual schools, for children", says Joi. "My parents are from our enclave, but I ended up being raised by my grandparents in the USA. Do you plan to have kids soon, Averi? You will still get the job, but it's not really a suitable place for children to be raised"
"Perhaps in a few years, but Monty and I didn't really feel the pressure yet"
"We'll talk about Monty soon, when it's my turn, but I'll let Eleanor finish"
"Well, I don't have much more to say. We have pictures of your apartment should you decide to take the position. It fully supplied, with a bed, a desk for your husband to work, full kitchen."
"And we would be neighbors", says Joi
"Right, by pure random chances, the apartment is on the same floor as Joi"
"Indoor poll in a sort of annex between our apartment tower and the next one. Fully supplied gym, and there is a spa just around the corner.", says Joi
"You would get benefits for spa treatments", says Eleanor.
"Lucky you"
"You do too"
"Yeah, since they named me minister of immigration. Oh, One of our neighbors, Kamala, does a ton for the community. She organizes events and such, but mostly, she runs a scooter rental shop"
"Scooter rental?"
"Yeah, the enclave is small, and the urban area even more so. So, she decided to buy a bunch of electric scooters and offer them for rental by the hour. She is super nice. She'll teach you and your husband how to ride them"
"We have a deal with her for directors, but also a car service", says Eleanor
"Winters can be cold compared to Florida, with some snow, but rarely that cold", says Joi
"It's a really beautiful place"
"What's the country's name?"
"It's not on many maps. It's called the High Rhine Enclave"
"I never heard of it, so it's an Enclave?"
"A former one. Of Germany, in Switzerland. After World War II it was occupied by the USA, and the Germans mostly left. Today, it's and independent country, but we do not sit at the UN or have many embassies. It's not a fake country, but it's not, like, a full one. Our passports are recognized, but mainly because of our bank. We are more or less a fiscal paradise"
"I see"
"No, you don't", says Joi.
"I don't?", says Avery.
"Almost no income tax, low VAT tax. Most of the government revenues are from low corporate taxes."
"But you have universal healthcare?"
"Yeah, and it's just about the number one expense. We have one hospital. We only need one. Furthermore, we only have two ambulances, and we usually need two in case one is broken. Did you ever see both used at the same time?", says Joi
"Yes, there was a big car accident a few years ago. You were with your Grandparents", says Eleanor
"Oh, well, scooters are now the main mode of transport, not cars, so it's less of an issue", adds Joi.
"Still have a lot of population, and Switzerland is just around the corner. Any corner", says Eleanor.
"Chocolate must be great", says Avery, who feels like she is almost excluded from the conversation.
"Hey, we have our own chocolate factory, and it's wonderful. Hey, I have some. I'll give you a box before you leave so you can eat them while thinking it over",
"I'd love that", says Avery
"Listen, I will email you the job offer. Now, you will notice that the salary is missing. It's on purpose. We use the US dollar, but if I we put the salary on your contract, you will laugh at us"
"Why?"
"Because it's a ridiculously low amount for the position", says Eleanor
"Oh"
"But here is the thing. If you take that amount, and back the difference in taxes, and the rent you save, you end up with a good salary. But then, every quarter, the bank posts its profit or loss. If there is a profit, it is split in part between the employees. On average, employees make 10 to 15% of their annual salary in profit sharing"
"That's good.", says Averi
"Per quarter", says Eleanor
"What? Are you telling me that 40 to 60% of the revenues come from profit sharing?"
"Last quarter was 22%."
"Ok"
"But remember, it's 22% of the actual amount. If you were paid to compensate taxes and rent, it might correspond to 5 to 7% of your salary"
"Right. It's a percent of a smaller amount"
"And you don't have that many expenses. Your husband won't get a pay cut, and won't pay rent either"
"I see", says Avery
"And the apartment is a retirement fund itself", says Joi
"What do you mean?", says Avery.
"It's more like a condo, so the bank takes a 25-year mortgage on it, and pays the property taxes and the mortgage while you work there. If you work with us for the whole 25 years, the condo is yours. Rent-free for life. You can even sell it and pocket the money. We call it an apartment because if you move before the 25 years, you lose it. ", says Eleanor
"I have the same deal with government, but only because I twisted their arm", says Joi
"But we can't move", says Avery
"But you don't want to move. It's the best building. Well, that and the three others like ours. Heat pump, sound insolation, large closets, heated flooring in the bathroom with the jet bathtub. Sorry, the heated jet bathtub, so that while you run the jets, the water gets reheated. It's perfect, especially on winter nights. I don't have a husband yet to keep me warm, so sometime I watch Netflix in my bathtub. Wait, did I mention there was a giant TV in the bathroom?", says Joi
"Wow"
"Yeah, I am in the building behind, and it is rather outstanding. And if you like doing sports, we have a tennis court on the property, two badminton ones, a basketball court and there is a soccer field nearby", says Eleanor
"We get high-speed internet for cheap.", says Joi
"Oh, and you can work from home up to 3 days per week, but we have a great cafeteria downstairs with really cheap high-quality meals", says Elanor
"I find excuses to eat there all of the time. Seriously", says Joi
"She does. But then again, she helps her recruit, and helps with new arrivals", says Eleanor
"I make a mean tuna casserole, so I hope you like that because when you arrive, you'll get one to help you settle"
"We do. I guess when I get the chance, I'll make you my mother's chicken Margherita", says Avery
"So you are considering it?", says Eleanor, excited
"I am. I mean, it sounds like it's the best position to get my dream job."
"Ok, I guess I'll let Joi explain the details about the High Rhine Enclave, and once she is done, if you are still interested, I'll send you the contract. Joi? Can you take it from here?"
But Averi didn't care. She wanted the job. She wanted to be Joi's neighbor. Furthermore, she wanted to move to Europe. Her mother died of cancer the previous year. Not because it wasn't treatable. Not because she was caught too late.
Because she didn't have the money for the treatments. Avery lost her mother because the USA can't get it together when it comes to health insurance.
The details did bother Avery, and the position Monty would be in would be tough. For her, and for him. She did ask a ton of questions about the details, but Joi was adamant. If Avery took the position, which she wanted, they had to follow the laws of the High Rhine Enclave.
"I guess I should tell my husband"
"It's up to you. Entirely up to you"
Avery couldn't make up her mind about that decision, but she told Eleanor that she was in.
At home, she celebrated with Monty and even gave him a wonderful explosive blow job, in which she swallowed what she could, and let drip on her breasts the rest.
She tried to tell him about the enclave, but he was just too excited.
"What would you to do to help me get this job?", asked Averi
"Anything Babe. Anything"
"For real?"
"Yeah. As long as I am with you, and I can do my job, I am happy.", he says, kissing her.
To his surprise, that night, they had sex. Usually, Averi gave him a blow job when she was in the mood to please him and nothing more.
His wife, he thought, looking at her, falling asleep, filled with his sperm.
Happy, he fell asleep cuddling her, not bothering to even clean up.
Characters
Averi
Joi
Monty
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Averi