Faye emitted an embarrassed chuckle. “I didn’t think it was an offer. I mean, a serious one.”

Ellen leaned against the partition that separated Faye’s desk from her colleague’s. “I don’t want to lose you, but I think he’s right; you’d make an excellent salesperson.”

She hadn’t expected this. Faye thought of salespeople as self-assured, garrulous types, people who enjoyed talking and always had a joke on hand. People like Derek.

“Really? But I don’t think I have the . . . the—”

Ellen raised her brows. “The confidence? Ego?”

Faye sniggered but said nothing.

“It’s different in this industry because of the nature of the products and the clientele.” Ellen waited a beat. “Do you want to know why George and I think that you would make an excellent salesperson?”

She nodded.

“You’re a hard worker and you learn quickly. But more than that, you’re genuinely interested in the company and its products, and you’re resourceful.” She looked around and continued more quietly. “I wouldn’t say this if anyone else was around and I will deny it if you ever quote me on it, but you’re wasted here, Faye.”

Within three months, Faye was visiting clients with George. By the end of the year, when George was booked off for knee surgery, Faye was making her own appointments and calling on hospitals, pharmacies, doctors and dentists alone.

George and Ellen were right; she was an excellent salesperson. But only, she reasoned modestly when anyone commented on it, because she was observant and paid attention when her clients told her about their experiences and trends they noticed in their fields. She made notes, kept lists, read up on innovations elsewhere and looked for answers when her clients pointed out problems or when she noticed there might be better ways of doing things. But it wasn’t just that she was good at selling medical equipment; she loved it. Her knowledge and interest was so well-regarded that she was soon co-opted to planning meetings by GNS’s buying department.

Shortly after that, one of the company’s principal suppliers, a German manufacturer of surgical equipment, invited George and the marketing director to Cologne for a factory visit and to attend a medical and pharmaceutical trade fair. George asked Faye if she would like to accompany them.

“That’s ridiculous,” said Derek, when, as they packed the dishwasher that evening, she told him about the invitation. They’d been married for almost a year by then. “George just wants to get you into a hotel on your own.”

Faye was shocked. “What? Why would you think that?”

“Oh, please. Don’t be so naïve. Why else would your boss want you to travel with him?”

“Because he believes—he says I’m good at spotting trends. At predicting what our clients want and what will sell. I’d be—”