“Private caller,” read the phone’s display. Sean Mullins looked at the phone with contempt. His instinct was to just let the call go to voice mail, but the ringing had already broken his concentration. Staring at the CAD drawings all morning had only produced a headache. Perhaps the distraction would do him good. He picked up the phone and rolled his chair back, out of the shade and against the glass wall. Instantly he felt the radiant heat from the window warm his back.

“Control systems, Mullins,” he snapped into the receiver.

“Mr. Mullins, my name is Eugene Santos, and I represent a gentleman who is very interested in employing you.”

“Is this a joke? Is that you Kevin?” No one outside the company and his immediate family had his direct number.

“I assure you I am not joking. I would prefer if we could have this conversation in person. Are you available for lunch?”

“Look, I already have a job that I’m very happy with so you’re just wasting…”

“I am quite aware of your current position, Mr. Mullins. In fact, it is your accomplishments in this capacity that have led my client to seek to recruit you. You are very good at what you do, and those skills are quite valuable. If you’d give me a few minutes of your time I’d like to explain to you just how lucrative the position we have in mind for you could be.”

“I’ve got a lot of work to do here, so if you have an offer to make let’s hear it.”

“As much as I’d like to, a certain amount of discretion is called for here. This is a very competitive world, as I’m sure you know. Suffice to say, we are seeking your assistance in a field that you have been very interested in for quite a long time. A field in which your current employer is not offering you any opportunities. And, as I said, we are willing to pay quite handsomely for your services.”

Sean had to admit, he was suddenly interested. A field he’d been interested in…he didn’t like how much this Santos knew about him. How did he know what opportunities he was being offered? He was the chief engineer for the entire control systems division, he could work on any project he wanted to. Except….

“What field are we talking about here?”

“Again, Mr. Mullins, that is something that I am only comfortable discussing in person.”