Maria Wilson is over the moon. After years of working long hours, networking with every professional contact she could, and building a reputation as a smart, ambitious, and talented employee, slowly working her way up the ladder, it has all paid off. A large corporation had a recruiter contact her about an opening they had for Executive Vice President of Global Operations. Maria, now 35 years old, has toiled away the last several years managing a large team that has grown her current employer, a much smaller privately owned company, expanding it across several states from its humble beginnings as a local company, including buying out a competitor. However, she really has no room to climb any higher, since the business is family owned, all of the top positions are occupied by family members and their spouses and children. Basically, she can’t climb any higher. This new opportunity has a huge pay increase and much more generous benefits package, further promotional opportunities, and a chance to prove she can manage a much larger team of employees, while expanding the corporation’s global reach.

Maria has a two week period of interviews with several corporate officers over Teams video calls, including the COO, CFO, and now in person with the CEO. Taking a couple vacation days from her current job, the corporation paid for her to fly to their headquarters this morning for this final interview, where she will work if hired. They are also paying for her to stay at a five star hotel nearby for the night, and fly home tomorrow. Maria wondered why, she could have flown back the same day, there are several flights a day between her city and the city the headquarters is located. She landed at ten this morning, the interview at eleven, she thought maybe there will be an orientation of some kind that will take the rest of the day if she got the job.

After a lengthy interview with the CEO that lasts 45 minutes, he makes an offer and Maria accepts. It’s official, she is hired! She finds out why she is staying the night at the hotel instead of catching the next flight home. The CEO offers to take her to a dinner with several other executives that evening, to meet everyone she will work most closely with, and talk about their plans for the future growth of the company at a Michelin star restaurant. Maria can’t believe this! Not only was it her first time flying business class this morning, and being chauffeured from the airport in a luxury car, a Mercedes S class sedan, but her first time staying at a five star hotel and eating at a Michelin star restaurant. Of course she accepted! She can get used to this!

Maria had asked for and was granted a month to finish up with her current employer, and to prepare to move. Since the corporate office is located several hours away from where she lives now, part of the benefits package includes her moving expenses being paid for by the company. They will also assist with selling her home, which she bought only six years ago with her husband, Bryce. Luckily they do have equity in the house, they bought it just before the pandemic, the skyrocketing home values combined with them making extra payments on the principal will net them at least 100 grand in equity, which they will need to buy a new house in their new city.

The CEO sends Maria to the head of HR to go over her contract, and get all the associated paperwork done today so when she starts in a month, she can hit the ground running. She is about to find out some of the small print she wasn’t aware of.

“Congratulations Mrs. Wilson, and welcome aboard”! says the head of HR, Sam Mullins. Maria shakes his hand and with a big smile says “Thank you, I am honored for the opportunity, and I can’t wait to begin”! Sam says “Excellent, have a seat and we will get started”. Maria sits down and crosses her long well toned legs. She looks polished and professional, she dressed for the part she was just hired for. Wearing her best skirt suit, the five foot eight inch tall blonde haired blue eyed beauty has on a Navy blue fitted pencil skirt, which comes down to a couple inches above her knees when standing, and rides up to almost mid thigh while seated. It has a walking slit in the back, and zips up the back. She has on a matching fitted Navy blue blazer, the hem of the blazer comes down to meet her firm, curvy hips, and is cinched in at her small, trim waist. She has it buttoned. Under the blazer is a white fitted silk blouse, it buttons down the front and is sleeveless. She has the top two buttons undone, with only a hint of cleavage showing, but not too much, she has to maintain a professional appearance and demeanor. Her outfit is finished off with a pair of shiny beige nylon thigh top stockings, the stockings come up to the very top of her thighs, almost touching her crotch, so no stocking tops show while she is seated. She doesn’t like pantyhose and only wears thigh top stockings with her skirts and dresses, only wearing pantyhose in the winter, and only if it is bitterly cold outside. And she is wearing Navy blue high heels, which match the color of her suit perfectly. The heels have a thin ankle strap that buckles around each slender ankle. Her long blonde hair is down, not tied up, and is brushed out perfectly, not a hair out of place. The length of her hair comes down about four inches below her shoulders. She is wearing light makeup, enough to look professional without looking like she is going clubbing on a girls night out.

Sam has a seat across from her at his desk. He goes over a rather lengthy contract, it contains all the details of what her compensation package entails, her obligations and responsibilities, all of which she already knew from the numerous interviews. But there was one clause she didn’t know about. It is a stipulation that she has to submit to a preemployment drug screening and physical examination. Maria says “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember this requirement being mentioned”. Sam replies “I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned during the interview process. It is a standard requirement for all new executives to have a medical exam as a part of the hiring process. The job is highly stressful with often times long hours, and in your case, frequent domestic and international travel. I’m sorry you’re only finding out now, but we scheduled an appointment with the clinic we contract with that provides executive physicals. It is at four o’clock this afternoon, so you will have time to get there after we finish with the paperwork and orientation. This isn’t an issue, is it”? Maria, keeping a pleasant demeanor, even though she is suddenly nervous inside, says “Oh, no, it’s no issue at all, I was just a little surprised. I will go to the appointment as scheduled”. Maria has always disliked physicals, in fact she is overdue for one by several months, her doctor keeps sending reminders to make an appointment. She always procrastinates making the appointment for her physical each year, but this year she has really dragged it out, because she knows this year she is due for a Pap and pelvic as well. Sam replies “Very good, let’s finish going over your contract, then we can complete some other paperwork for your benefits and tax withholdings. Then I can show you how to get around the building, and you can meet some of your soon to be colleagues”. Maria, hiding her sudden nervousness, smiles and says “I’m looking forward to meeting my team”!

After signing her contract, and completing all the other paperwork, she is shown around the headquarters, from the employee cafeteria to the in house fitness center. Both the cafeteria and fitness center are huge! The fitness center is as well equipped as any commercial gym she has seen, which is good, because she loves working out. Knowing she will be putting in some long hours at her new job, it will be very convenient to be able to keep getting her workouts in by having a gym literally in the same building as her office. She lifts weights three days a week, and alternates cardio and yoga on the non weightlifting days. She played volleyball and tennis in high school and college, in fact she got a full ride scholarship for volleyball. After grad school, she kept working out, maintaining her athletic figure and has kept in great shape. At 35 years old, she easily looks a decade younger, between keeping very physically active and fit, and always eating a clean healthy diet, it has paid off for her. Sam offers her to have a late lunch at the cafeteria, since it is mid afternoon now. She accepts, but only has a salad, she isn’t feeling that hungry. Her nerves about her upcoming appointment have suppressed her appetite.

Sam finishes the tour of the headquarters, Maria also had the opportunity to meet and briefly talk with several of her soon to be new colleagues. She has a very good feeling about this new job. Everyone she has met has been very friendly and positive, and she knows how important that will be starting a new job in a new city far from her hometown. Sam says “Well, you have about an hour until your appointment, so the car service can bring you to the hotel to check in, then bring you to your appointment. The clinic is about ten minutes from here, and the hotel is between here and the clinic. The car service will take you anywhere you need to go while you are here, including tonight’s dinner and back to the airport tomorrow morning”. Maria says “Thank you, it will be nice to check into the hotel and freshen up before my appointment”. Sam says “No problem, the addresses to the hotel, the clinic and the restaurant are with the copies of your contract and other papers in the manila envelope you have, along with your flight itinerary for tomorrow. Enjoy tonight’s dinner with our CEO and other executives. Remember, 7pm sharp”. Maria replies “There is no way I will be late to a dinner with my new bosses. And thank you for the car service”. Sam says “You’re welcome. The food and service at the restaurant is most excellent, with a wine selection that would make an Italian sommelier proud. I will see you on your first day. I’ll be the one to bring you to security to get your access badge, laptop, tablet and phone issued. Again, congratulations and welcome aboard”! Maria smiles broadly while shaking his hand and says “Thank you so much, I am looking forward to my first day and my new opportunity”.