Tree Change

1. Gemma

Gemma's face hurt from the forced smile. She inhaled deeply through her nose, exhaling slowly through her mouth, and made a mental note to stay focussed and calm. The interview was drawing to a close. Josephine Stewart's summation had begun.

"Gemma, we absolutely adore you!" she began in her deep melodious voice. Melissa, the pretty young Human Resources officer who sat on her left hand side, nodded enthusiastically. "But I feel I must give you some feedback and share my thoughts here and now. " Mark, her direct report, glanced slyly at his watch. He clearly had somewhere else to be.

Oh no, Gemma thought, her heart dropping. Please no. This isn't sounding positive!

Josephine straightened the notebook and pen in front of her and cleared her throat. Gemma again noticed her perfectly manicured hands, the deep red nail polish, and the wrinkles which gave away her age. This was Gemma's third interview. She'd spent months preparing for this chance. She'd lived and breathed XYZ ever since she had put her application in for the job back in October. She had endured sleepless nights, tossing and turning as different questions and answers bounced around in her head. She'd spent hours on the internet researching the company and its competitors. And even more hours preparing the presentation she'd given at the second interview. She'd rehearsed, role played and practised for this interview in every spare moment she had. She'd been living on a knife-edge, waiting, hoping and preparing for this moment.

"We truly admire what you've achieved in your career, and were so impressed with your presentation" Josephine Stewart went on. "However we do feel that this role is a little too junior for you. With your experience, you would have been ideal for the Director of Marketing role, which I appointed last month."

I can't let this go now, Gemma thought. You need to change her mind now. Think. Think. Say something that will change her mind. "I'm ideal for this job", Gemma blurted out. "Please, I hope you'll change your mind. As we've discussed already, I'm dying to get stuck in to this job and turn things around. I won't let you down. You won't regret it if you take me on...." she trailed off. Josephine was already pushing her chair back and the other two followed suit. They stood and Josephine offered an outstretched hand.

"Melissa will be in touch with our final decision. We'll let all the candidates know by the end of the week", she shook Gemma's hand firmly. "Thank you for the time you've taken. We do realise you put a lot of work into your presentation." Gemma shook hands with Melissa and Mark and they filed out of the meeting room. "Melissa will show you out". With that Josephine click clacked down the corridor in her heels, with Mark, who had said very little throughout the interview, closely behind her.

Perhaps all's not lost, Gemma thought. I might still have a chance, despite Josephine's statement about her being too experienced. Clinging to a last modicum of hope, Gemma was shown out past the sumptuous reception area to the lift vestibule. She looked back through the glass doors at XYZ's trio of polished reception staff. Not a hair out of place. All three of them snappily dressed in neat office attire, perfectly coiffed blonde bobs and petite figures. Melissa the HR Officer, who stood beside her, was equally well-heeled. She was thanking Gemma again for all the effort she'd put it, with a finality that made Gemma's heart sink.

In the lift Gemma saw with dismay her reflection in the mirror. The bright smile she'd worn in the lift on the way up to the interview had turned into a grimace. Most of the lipstick she'd applied had disappeared from biting her lips. She noticed that her mascara had smudged and there was a black splodge under her left eye. The hair she had so carefully straightened with her GHD was already rebelling, kinking in places with those annoying wisps near her forehead standing on end, defying the hair spray she had generously applied before leaving her house for the interview. She straightened her back and sucked in her stomach. Her stomach rolled over her magic knickers and completely counteracted the effect they meant to have of a flat stomach and bum with no wobble.