“You’re overdressed.”
The CEO said nothing.
The director continued:
“We’re not a fashion floor.”
“Good.”
The answer surprised her.
“What?”
“I said good.”
A pause.
The director smiled without warmth.
“Come with me.”
The next twenty minutes were illuminating.
The director explained branch rules.
Phones away during meetings.
No eating at desks during client hours.
No unauthorized overtime.
No “personal drama.”
The CEO asked what personal drama meant.
“You’ll know it when you see it.”
“That sounds subjective.”
The director looked at her.
“You’ll fit in much faster if you learn not to turn every sentence into a legal issue.”
The CEO almost smiled.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The director took her through the bullpen.
Introduced her to nobody.
Instead she said:
“These are analysts.”
“This is procurement.”
“Support sits back there.”
“Kitchen is down the hall.”
“Restrooms around the corner.”
Then they reached a conference room.
Coffee had spilled near the doorway.
A janitorial cart stood nearby because the day porter had been replacing supplies.
The director looked at the spill.
Then at the CEO.
“Perfect.”
She pointed.
“Clean that.”
The CEO thought she had misheard.
“What?”
“The coffee.”
The director walked toward the cart.
“You’re compliance support.”
“We all pitch in.”
Several employees looked up.
The CEO asked:
“Is this normally part of compliance support duties?”