A Middle-Aged Woman

"Hello???" Kyle called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous interior of the abandoned factory. No answer.

Clang.

The sound of metal slamming together suddenly caught his attention.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

It was coming from a long, unlit hallway. Kyle attempted to look for the source of the noise but found nothing but darkness.

"I'm here for the assistant position!" he called out.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

He was beginning to feel creeped out. Maybe this job wasn't worth it after all? Kyle backed away from the dark corridor. He headed toward the exit, unwilling to risk his life. The thought had never occurred to him that this could all be a trap for some creepy murderer or pervert. Soon it was all he could think about and he was practically sprinting toward the exit. But just as he reached the doorway, a voice boomed over the entire room.

"Very good."

Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman had appeared dead center in the middle of the factory. Despite being middle-aged, she looked vibrantly youthful. Her hair was long and a bright shade of red. She wore a tight-fighting black dress and heavy black boots. Her soft blue eyes seemed to beckon, calling him toward her. A smile spread across her lips.

"Your instincts are better than most," she remarked.

"Instincts?" Kyle questioned.

"The clanging. You didn't mindlessly go toward it and certain doom! First applicant in weeks... by God they're just getting dumber and dumber these days..."

"Excuse me," Kyle interrupted, "My name's Kyle," he stretched out his hand toward her and approached, "Are you the person I'm interviewing with today?"

"Hmm," the woman grinned, "Why yes I am. Kyle, you say? Interesting. Why don't I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course."

The woman lazily took Kyle's outstretched hand. She looked it over back and forth. Her fingers brushed over his smooth skin. The touch of her hand made Kyle's heart race. It wasn't everyday that a beautiful older woman caressed him. She stopped, released his hand, and nodded to herself if he had passed some secret test.

"First question," she began, "What is your role?"

Shit- a trick question. Kyle felt his palms get sweaty. Maybe not looking up the job description before coming her was a bad idea? His only option was to wing it.

"An Assistant's primary function is, of course, always to answer to the boss's demands and needs. It's an essential support role for the overall functioning of office life."

"Demands and needs you say?" she smiled, "Very good. Next question- what is your greatest weakness and conversely, your greatest superpower."

"Superpower?" Kyle laughed, "I guess time management. I'm pretty good at that. And weakness? I can't seem to recall any off the top of my head... er... maybe being too dedicated to my job?"

The woman took in his answer and scratched at her chin, deep in thought.

"Good enough," she remarked, "Now for the final question- How adaptable are you?"

"I can adapt to ANYTHING," Kyle boasted, "Put me in any situation and- bam- I can find my way out. Give me new tasks? I'll have them down easily. I'm just a very adaptable guy, y'know?"

After stumbling through his answer, Kyle watched closely as the woman considered his final answer. He felt the pressure inside of him build and build as he waited. Doubts and worries clouded his mind. The agony grew and grew until finally, the mysterious woman came to a decision.