I
think I've left quite enough passage of time to write (and expose)
the following, though all I have to back it up is my word, my own
detective work and a hunch that the information I'd found was dead
on target. Nothing was ever corroborated, verbally or in writing, nor
was the information forthcoming when I met the person to whom I would
report to should I be successful, and I didn't press that person
because well, it was a weird situation and I didn't really want to
have that conversation: to have what I thought confirmed, nor to have
to spell out, in person, my reluctance to be further involved.
Now,
I'm not a investigative journalist nor an undercover reporter but
this to me, then as of now, had the hallmarks of an exposure piece
like that shown on Panorama
or
Dispatches.
I'm not sure what I would have found had I gone deeper, or if I'd
have liked it, though I think it's safe to say I would have found it
seedy and felt uncomfortable about facilitating these services.
Maybe
you, however, will think I'm prudish...perhaps I am.
Maybe
I'm too distrustful and moralistic. Judge for yourselves.
*
Lesson
1 – Be careful answering ads that are (deliberately?) vague in
detail
June,
last year, I answer an ad for a part-time post as an admin
assistant/receptionist/PA where salary and duties were listed, but no
mention was made about the nature of the business other than that it
was a start-up. A week later I receive a reply from the director
inviting me to an interview where I was advised I would learn more
about what she does and what she was looking for.
Lesson
2 – Turn detective and chase clues
In
none of the subsequent emails exchanged agreeing (and confirming)
date, time, venue and contact numbers etc. was any company
information divulged: no company name and first name basis only. I
even had to probe for the office address where we were due to meet –
I had the postcode which only gave a rough location. I had no real
suspicions at that point, and had planned to be more open-minded;
entering into it less prepared than usual. But that instinct to want
to know never dies and so I attempted to google businesses registered
to the shared office building. No match. Next I googled the contact
number I'd been given and bingo!
A
cleaning company offering nude (and clothed) services. Oh God, it
could only happen to me! Do I pull out? No, it was too late (and
rude) to do so, plus I admit I was curious. Do I go and let on, ask
outright? Could my internet-gathered intelligence be wrong? Please
let it be wrong. Please let it wrong. All these thoughts flashed
through and yet I already knew I was spot on. Still my mind said: go
along. But how to play it, how to react?
Lesson
3 - Conceal (don't reveal) what you know
The
interview date arrived. At the venue, after I'd loitered outside and
felt decidedly dodgy doing so – the director was unlisted on the
intercom and I didn't know what floor she was on – I called her,
she came down and led me to an upstairs broom cupboard: basically a
space big enough for a table and two chairs, and from there the
interview proceeded as you would expect. The nature of the business
was confirmed as cleaning and that they wanted to expand
geographically as well as possibly introduce further services: carpet
and window cleaning (I almost choked on suppressed laughter), but it
was left at that, apart from the fact that the workforce was all
female (and freelance) visiting male clients and there was a lone
working policy. I waited, with bated breath, but nothing further
came. Perhaps I should have pressed...but maybe she, like me, was
sussing me out.
Lesson
4 - Don't think it's over till it's over
Naturally
(well this is me we're talking about) the inevitable occurred: an
offer was made. I declined, excusing myself with a half-truth to
maintain my cover. Until now.
Picture credit: Collage for Nude with White Flower, 1994, Roy Lichtenstein (souce: WikiArt)
All posts published this year were penned during the last.
