Pattern of Deceit [antikvár]

CHAPTER ONE'Please be seated, ladies.'The personnel manager flashed them a perfunctory smile. He waited until they were settled on the three chairs placed in front of his desk before sinking back into the far more comfortable chair behind it.Ann glanced unobtrusively at the other two women, wondering what they felt about this unusual procedure. She had recognised them instantly as her rivals for the job, knew this would be the final interview, and hoped her quahfications had an edge on theirs. What she hadn't expected was for all three of them to be invited in to face the manager together.Both women wore smooth, unruffled countenances. Ann had to concede that they were very smooth all over: their clothes smartly co-ordinated, make-up subtle, hair-styles chic and tidy. She wondered if she should have played herself up more, then emphatically discarded the thought. Until she knew what her new boss was like, it was better to be safe than sorry.The personnel manager cleared his throat. A typical executive underling, Ann thoughtpleased with himself for being a cog in a dynamic wheel, 5