A Special Kind of Perfect

CHAPTER 25

"The candidate has arrived." Lothier, the chief of guards at The Base, cracked a door open, peeking inside. "I'll let the two of you talk and go back to my duties. The boys on the night shift will be busy tonight." He cast a significance-filled look to the person behind the desk.

"Please, come inside, Mister Wilcox, nice to meet you." Peyton smiled warmly, extending a hand over the desk. "My name is Peyton Bloom-Hunter, and I'm responsible for interviewing the candidates for the teacher positions. Also, I'm in charge of helping the teachers' accommodation. You see, we can't afford to pay them very much, so we offer them rent-free housing and also support the expenses with utilities."

"That's extremely generous of you, Mister Bloom-Hunter, considering that most of the paycheck goes on rent and utilities," the young man on the other side of the desk said, pleasantly impressed.

"You can bring your babies or toddlers to the daycare center. Gaspard adores taking care of the little ones. He was born for this." Peyton offered the other man a warm, encouraging smile. "The expenses with children's education are also covered if you choose to enroll them at our school or kindergarten. Oh, and you'll also benefit from free medical assistance for you and all the members of your family who live with you. I wish we could do more, but that's all we can afford to offer at the moment."

The candidate for the substitute teacher position examined the person across the desk as they were talking, paying great attention to their body language. Thanks to his late father's lessons, he was a good reader of the gestures and body posture, that skill helping him to win difficult negotiations. However, he couldn't detect hidden intentions in the way the other moved or talked.

"So, what do you say? I would love to collaborate with you, but I would also understand if you refuse. I'm aware we can't compete with most of the private schools out there, that would pay a small fortune to have such a talented person like you working for them." Peyton smiled shyly.

"Since you brought it up," the man frowned a little, "I want to tell you I don't have a formal qualification as a teacher. The resume I sent you..."

"The resume is simply amazing," Peyton cut him short, their voice enthusiastic. "The one who evaluated it knows a thing or two about plants and their therapeutic uses, and he was thrilled at the perspective of collaborating with you. Your idea of including information about how to grow plants and animals in the classes is brilliant. It will encourage the kids to be resourceful and use what nature give them in many other ways, not just for food."

"I'm beyond happy to hear that an expert considered my amateurish research noteworthy," the man smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. "Now, that everything's clear, where do I sign and when can I start?"

"Here is the collaboration contract." Peyton indicated the papers in front of the candidate. "As for the second question, I won't make a secret of the fact that we are in dire need of teachers, so you can start as soon as you want, tomorrow even, if you're ready."

"Tomorrow it is, then." The other man smiled small, running his hand over his face. "There's only me and a couple of bags in the trunk of the car. I don't need a fancy house, just a bed to sleep at night and a place for my personal hygiene, that's all."

"Lothier or one of the other guys at the gates will take you to your house, that is everything you need and more. You have the rest of the day off, so you can get used to the surroundings. Here it is my phone number and email, in case you have other questions. Have a nice day, Mister Wilcox!"

"Thank you, Mister Bloom-Hunter. Have a good day, too. See you tomorrow, I guess." The man took Peyton's extended hand, lightly squeezing it, then stepped out of the office.