Damn! It looks like I have no choice... I knock on the door. I start with moderate enthusiasm, but after a while I hit them with both fists – is anybody out there?! It looks like everyone left the office or moved to another part of the building. Suddenly, as I'm about to resign, I hear a key turning in the lock. The stands Miriam in the open doorway! Before I'm able to recover from the surprise, the girl closes the door again and sits down in front of me with her legs crossed.
– I have a request. – she says quietly as if she was afraid that someone could hear her. –You've heard that Henry appointed me to interview Victor Oaker. Because of various reasons... I can't do that. However – to hell with that! – it must be done, so I have a proposition: I'll manage it in a way that you will interview him! As a result of this… you'll do me a favor in exchange. I certainly will not forget about your help and you'll be able to start your impressive career. There has not been such a situation when an intern interviews one of the country's richest businessmen yet. But do not imagine too much! – she looks at me coldly. – You just need to talk to him, gather necessary information, and that's all. Do not accept any of his personal propositions he has had dozens of such youngsters like you
My consent to her proposal is obvious.
Hmm, what should I do? If I agree with her proposition, I have a chance to start a career and talk with one of the most powerful people in the country that I've only seen on TV. But if Miriam hides something and tries to drag me into her dirty little game? She must have a really serious reason to not engage herself in this interview...
I spent the rest of the day studying the interview questions and collecting information about the Oaker's company. Amazingly, Miriam is very helpful and friendly, which looks extremely strange. Something's not right here… I need to check what hides under Miriam's refusal to meet with Oaker. Or maybe it's some… personal stuff?
Well, I will deal with that later, now I am unable to find out anything about their relationships. I go back to my flat, drink a glass of wine with Karina, and go to bed early, but I can't get to sleep until late at night. I'm struggling whether I should tell Victor what the interview is for or I should keep my mouth shut. If I tell him about everything, it will unleash a huge scandal and I will immediately lose my internship. But can I build my career, my life on lies, treachery, or slandering of possibly an innocent man from the very start? Tomorrow will be decisive a lot – the beginning of my real career or... the end of it.
I show up at Oaker's office at 10 am sharp. Although my visit was previously announced by Henry, a reluctant secretary treats me as if I made something to her. Finally, after a long while, I get permission to meet with the company's president. A large, glazed room is decorated tastefully, and as far as I'm concerned in the realms of decor – the room has an understated elegance. Victor gets up from behind his desk and greets me warmly. He smiles honestly and boyishly at me while his sparkling eyes staring at me with kind attention. I feel that I really like this guy...– Would you like something to drink? – he points at one of the chairs set in front of his desk, and turns to an extensive shelf full of bottles. He prepares a colorful drink. – I want to apologize for yesterday, I have no idea what came over me...
– Oh, come on – I say with a smile. His embarrassment is really cute! Well, I really like this guy, but I did not come here for a date now. – Let's do this interview, and then... we'll see.
I take out a voice recorder and ask him all the questions which I learned by heart yesterday. I pretend that his answers are really interesting to me. Oaker constantly glances at his laptop, which makes my job a lot easier – I discreetly look around the room and wonder where I could hide the wiretapping...
The interview slowly comes to an end and I know now where I can put my magic pens. Suddenly, an interesting thought starts in my head: what would happen if I told him about my real job? That it's not about this meaningless interview, but it's about something more serious? Of course, then I could say goodbye to any post in the newspaper, and I will be exposed to a probably huge scandal, but on the other hand... This guy has something amazing in him, and he is going to get in deep shit... I really struggle with myself. And not to mention that tapping someone without court consent is a crime!
I guess I should tell him why I really came here...
–... and that's the reason why our sales to Asian markets increased rapidly last year…
– I'm not here for the interview – I interrupt him unceremoniously. – My real task is to put the wiretapping in your office…
He looks surprised, he is completely stunned at the moment…
I take out one of the prepared pens and disassemble it. I show him a listening device mounted inside.
– I have two more of these and my job is to discreetly leave them here in your office. My boss hopes to collect some evidence against you. Then there would be a scandal in the media and, of course, the newspaper sales would increase...
– But why? – Oaker is visibly shocked and I feel that I probably did the right thing by telling him about all of that. – I've known Henry for so many years, we are friends. I mean we were friends – he corrects himself after a long pause. – I don't know what evidence you supposed to gather. Recently, I've signed several profitable contracts, so maybe Henry thinks that I bribed people to seal the contracts, or that I did some scams and other illegal activities. Of course, you will find no evidence for this, because nothing of this sort happened here – everything was done according to the law. What really worries me, and what I regret the most, is the lost friendship – I've known Henry since college, then our paths diverged. I started my career in business and he became interested in journalism. I really did not think that he would sell our friendship for... increased sales of his newspaper?!
Oaker smiles bitterly to his own thoughts, then he raises his eyes and looks at me thoughtfully. Now I see that the pain and anger that make him even more attractive...
– In general, the first thing I should do is to call the police and tell them about the attempt to install an illegal wiretap in my office – Oaker looks me straight in the eyes and I feel my stomach turns, I'm full of fear. His eyes are no longer happy, they are cold now. – But first, let me ask you a question. And think about it carefully, because a lot depends on your answer – especially for you. Can you help me find and expose those who want to destroy my business and me personally? It certainly will not be an easy task, but I appreciate your honesty – after all, you could have just left these bugs here and picked up probably a suitable reward from Henry by risking almost nothing. But, if you refuse to help me, there won't be any consequences – I can defend myself and it's not the first time when my enemies want to destroy me.
Oaker looks at me expectantly, then he suddenly gets up and kisses my hand. This gallant gesture breaks my last defense.
– Well, Mr. Oaker – I hide my eyes modestly. I'm blushing suddenly. – If you insist...
– Oh, come on, you don't need to be so official! I'm Victor.
– Marta – he squeezes my hand firmly, like a man, but still it's very gently...
– Then let's meet today at 6 pm in Circus? It's a quiet place, we will be able to talk calmly – Victor is clearly satisfied, but all in all I do not blame him; he goes out for a coffee with a really nice girl!
– Yes, I know this restaurant. So, coffee then – in fact, I have no idea where it is. But there's the Internet, right?
– Well, what about the wiretapping? – unfortunately, after a while Victor finishes this nice atmosphere. – You can take these pens back to Henry and conclude that there were no conditions to plant them or leave them to me – I'll take care of them properly...