Headhunters Read Online Free PDF Page B

seemed eager
to push me out the door. That was fine with me. He’d cared enough to check on
me the night before and to refer me to Donovan. I couldn’t fault him for it.
    “Of course.”
    “Good, good,” replied Donovan. “Based on your background, it
looks like you’d make a fantastic addition to our team here. I’d like the
opportunity to discuss that with you.”
    I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to come along that easily.
    “Mr. Donovan, I really—“
    “Please, call me ‘Max’.”
    “Max… there would be a significant cost to relocate my
family and then the cost of living factor. I’m just not sure—”
    Donovan quoted a significant salary, more than what I was
making at Blackthorn, plus bonuses and a generous relocation package.
    “You come highly recommended,” he told me. “I’m not being
presumptuous when I say that. I truly think you’d be a great asset to our
group. I’d like to fly you out for lunch. Let’s get together, shake hands like
a couple of men and see if this would be a good match.”
    To be honest, I was hesitant. I could have easily taken a
year off to clear my head. But part of me told me that wasn’t going to get the
job done. I looked out the window and saw David and Melissa running, playing,
hugging Alaina again. And just then Alaina looked back at me and smiled,
shaking her head and waved. I waved back, smiling too.
    “I’ll come if I can bring my family, Max. I can’t leave
them. Not right now.”
    “Totally understand, my friend,” his voice boomed. Max had a
way of making you feel as if you’d been his hunting buddy forever. “I’ll have
my assistant call you to set up the details.”
    I thanked him and rang off. The kids were coming in from
outside.
    “Hey guys! Did you have fun?” I asked.
    “Yeah, we went on the slide and down the swing—” they both
started in unison, David and Mel and then each told about their own adventures
in the great backyard as if they’d just explored a forgotten rainforest. I
couldn’t help but smile. I hugged them to me. I looked up and Alaina was
standing in the doorway smiling.
    “Sleep okay?” she asked. I knew she knew.
    “Sorry,” I grimaced.
    She waved it off and smiled. She went to the cabinet and
looked inside.
    “Who wants hot chocolate?” she asked.
    “Me! Me! Me!” they chorused.
    “Okay, guys! Go take off your boots—“
    “And wash your hands,” Alaina added.
    “And wash your hands,” I continued. They disappeared out of
the kitchen to take care of their appointed tasks. “I knew that part.”
    Alaina smiled, “Of course you did.”
    “Alaina,” I said, and she looked up at me. “I’m sorry that
I’ve been… difficult lately. Distracted.”
    “Oh…” she scoffed.
    “No, seriously,” I replied. “It’s not fair to you. It’s not
fair to the kids… it’s not right for me…”
    Alaina was looking at me then, her eyes big and brown and
taking in every word I said.
    “It won’t happen again,” I said.
    She smiled, put her hand on my arm. “Good.”
    She grabbed the mugs of hot chocolate and placed them on the
table.
    “Who wants marshmallows?” she called. In a flash the kids
returned. David had washed his hands, but had somehow managed to get dirt on
his forehead. Mel was clean and ready, but her hair looked to be in an
impossible tangle from the wind outside. It occurred to me then, just how
little time I’d spent with my kids, watching them, raising them, enjoying them.
    “Ok, kiddos,” I said. “How’d you like to go with me on a
little trip?”
    Cheers all around. Alaina raised her eyebrows and smiled
expectantly.
    “There’s a man in Chicago who’d like to talk to me about a
job. And he’s agreed to fly us all out there and spend the night in a hotel.
What do you think?”
    Cheers from the kids, followed by a million questions, then
the suggestions that they pack, followed by an argument over whether or not
they could bring toys.
    “All of us?” Alaina asked. I