But then there were a couple of good candidates, too.
One was a very attractive young woman, probably only two or three years older than Nicole, with a killer resume and a confident demeanor. She sat across from them with a friendly smile and talked about her college soccer playing and how playing in a competitive team environment had made her unafraid to take risks.
“Tell me what it means to take risks professionally,” Red said to her.
The woman, whose name was Gia, sat up straight in her chair and met his gaze levelly. “It means that I take bold risks when they’re warranted. For instance, when I came out of high school, I was heavily recruited by some of the lesser-known division one colleges. I knew I’d get a scholarship and a spot on the starting team if I wanted it.”
“But you didn’t go with any of those smaller programs?”
She shook her head no. “I tried out as a walk-on at Duke and made the team. I started all four years, and I qualified for scholarships three of those years.”
“Very nice,” Red replied, exchanging a glance with Nicole.
Nicole merely nodded noncommittally.
After Gia, the other possible candidate was a man named Rick. Rick was older, probably in his late twenties, and a bit effeminate. He wore glasses and clothes that made him resemble Alton Brown from The Food Network Channel. Red didn’t seem quite as taken with Rick, but Nicole got along quite well with him.
Her favorite moment of the interview was when Red had asked Rick what he did for fun, outside of work.
“I’m kind of into playing poker,” Rick said.
Red sat up in his seat, his eyes bright with interest. “I love poker. What do you play? What’s your game?”
Rick smiled. “I play some Texas Hold ‘Em.”
“Me too,” Red had replied. “Maybe we’ll play some time.”
“Oh, and I like Omaha.”
“Really?”
“Hi Lo, Stud, PLO.”
“So you’re basically a card shark.”
“I did win a satellite to the Main Event three years ago, and I cashed for fifty thousand dollars.”
When Rick left, Red turned to Nicole. “Was that guy for real?”
“I think you’re just intimidated because you realized he’s better at poker than you.”
Later on, Red and Nicole were walking down the street to grab some dinner, and Nicole was confused about who they should hire.
Red pressed her for a decision. “Tell me who you liked best,” he said.
“I liked Rick and Gia the best, by far,” she told him.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Either one of them could do the job.”
She looked at him as they walked arm in arm. “You liked Gia a lot,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “That was clear as day.”
Red shook his head at her. “Don’t make it about that,” he said.
“She’s incredibly attractive.”
“She’s okay, but not my type.”
“Are you sure about that?” Nicole asked him.
He smiled at her. “I’m very sure. Gia’s young and overconfident and she’s got a lot to learn.”
“I seem to remember you enjoy teaching.”
“Not anymore. My teaching career is over, I’m happily retired.”
Nicole laughed, but her stomach was churning. She didn’t like that this was making her feel so strange. “What about Rick?” she asked him.
“He’s very attractive too,” Red deadpanned.
“I’m serious.”
“He’s fine. I don’t think he’s a great fit, but he’ll do.”
Nicole wasn’t sure what to think. “I liked Rick a lot. To be honest, I got a really nice, sweet vibe from him. I think he’d make the office a fun place to work.”
“He’d probably have everyone playing poker after hours.”
“You don’t like him?”
Red smiled. “I like whoever you like, honey. You decide.”
“So I can totally make this call,” she said.
“Yup.” He kept walking without breaking stride.
When she brought it up again later, Red still didn’t want to discuss the two choices. He told her to simply inform him who she wanted to hire, or if she wanted to keep looking instead.
At home, Nicole stewed over the issue. Finally, she called Danielle and explained her dilemma.
“So who would you choose if they were both guys?” Danielle asked her.
Nicole considered this. “I can’t even imagine Gia as a man. She’s so feminine and cute and sexy.”
“Do you dislike her because you’re threatened by her?”
“I just can’t tell,” Nicole said. “I don’t want to hire someone who’s not right for the position just because I’m insecure.”
“You have no reason to be insecure,” Danielle told her. “Red loves you.”
“Thanks,” Nicole said. “I just wish I could figure out what I’m feeling. Do I not like her because she’s competition, or because I just have a bad feeling about her?”
“I say, go with your gut and hire Rick.”