It turned out that Amanda was the best liar I had ever seen. After being introduced to the CEO, we sat around one of the tables in his office and made small talk. Mr. James brought up old school ties to one of his board members, and then asked Amanda, "Where did you go to school?" I was about to attempt to redirect the conversation, but Amanda started answering.
"Well after boarding at Choate Rosemary Hall, I ended up deciding on Yale over Georgetown. But as a little girl I always saw myself going to school in the South, so I went back to Georgetown for law school."
"Wow, my son went to Georgetown law!"
"Oh my! Your son is Brian James?!"
I couldn't believe it. Not only did my tramp of a secretary pass as a well-educated executive, but she was name dropping and positioning herself as a bona fide member of the establishment. It was beautiful. Yesterday she was wearing vinyl boots and a polyester skirt, and today she was discussing how much she just loved her Georgetown professors. Once they were done talking about summering in the Cape, we got down to business.
When Mr. James brought his CFO in, she was not only female but also a truly glamorous, power-suited executive. Another woman, this one a real executive, would immediately sniff out the impostor, unfazed by her charms. After hearing some of Amanda's insights, she wrinkled her face and thought for a moment.
"Of course, that's a wonderful way to use credit derivatives to mitigate the risk of the transaction!" the CFO exclaimed. Smiling and turning to me, she said, "I'm glad to see that you've discovered such excellent talent. She is going to go far." With the last comment she looked over to Amanda. She stood up and said, "Unfortunately, I've got to make a 5pm car to get to the airport." She handed Amanda her card and Mr. James walked her to the door so they could confide in his antechamber.
"What the hell are you thinking?" I hissed at Amanda. "Georgetown? Brian James? Yale?"
"You gave me the OK to lie if needed," she retorted. "I researched the customer on the Internet and found out about his son."
"And what's going to happen when Mr. James asks his son about you?" I asked.
"He's on a safari in Africa, away from all communication, for another month. I'll find a way to get us out of this lie by then," she confidently whispered.
At that moment, Mr. James walked back into his office. Still raging mad, I was unable to start the conversation. "I'm so sorry we ran so late, Mr. James," Amanda apologized, "we will have to continue when she gets back."
"First of all, call me Paul. We will definitely continue this later, because we have decided to retain your firm." I nearly fainted. "But before we talk with strategy, I believe a celebration is in order. Will you two join me for dinner?"
Amanda had done it. Not only had she faked her way through the personal chitchat, the inspection by the alpha female, and the financial jargon, but she had also closed the deal. I noticed the pause in the conversation and realized that she had deferred the dinner decision to me. "Of course," I responded, and we agreed that we would meet at Le Cirque at eight.
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