It was a good thing that Mark was used to surprises in the middle of a deal.  His facial expressions didn’t change as red flags went up in his mind.  In his eyes, Abigail was the one for the job before she’d even walked in the door.  Her looks, manner and voice had it locked down and then he listened to what she said.  She didn’t talk about helping him growing his empire or making it more profitable.  She didn’t talk about serving him to make his trips more efficient or less stressful.  The way he heard her was that she was just wanting to use this position to make the next step for her career easier.<br/><br/>Abigail wanted to compete with him with her own company and wanted Mark to teach her the way the business worked at the next level.  She also wanted to meet all his clients and leverage them in the future for her own benefit.  He smiled inwardly knowing that most of his customers wouldn’t deal directly with a woman, even if it were his own mother or sister.  It just wasn’t done in that part of the world.<br/><br/>The saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” came to mind but he knew how to deal with her.  Her knowledge could come in handy and Mark had lawyers that knew how to tie people’s hands that tried to use him and his work to advance their own.  It is always good to try to better yourself but if someone is paying you, your main goal should be to make it better for them.<br/><br/>As she went on, Mark came up with a plan.  He knew where she lived and how she stood financially.  He knew that she’d done some firearms deals with some police departments and even the cost and return of those deals.  Looking at someone’s bank and credit card records was almost the same as reading a book about their lives.  When she finished her talk, she stood until it felt uncomfortable and then she sat down on the couch again.<br/><br/>The routine where he sat behind a big desk to intimidate the people across from him was never his style.  His calm, steady, emotions, his piercing, blue, eyes, and his half smile always made him feel in control and made others leery about what he was thinking.  As she sat and smoothed her skirt, he waited until he had her full attention before he spoke.<br/><br/>“Abigail, I think you are the right person for the job.  I would like to hire you and have you start immediately.  I have a deal that I’m putting together in Sicily and need to leave in an hour or so.  I would like to hire you at a hundred and fifty thousand a year to start.  The first three months will be a trial to see how you do and how well we work together.  There will be all the normal non-disclosure agreements and such in the contract.<br/><br/>“If you want the job, we will leave for Italy tonight.  I will have my driver pick you up at your home in an hour or so.  Pack what you have on and wear something comfortable for the long flight.  We will sleep on the plane and have meetings in the morning.”  He didn’t wait for her reply but stood and held out his hand as a presumptive close to the deal.