James Smith stared at his reflection in the hotel mirror, hyping himself up. You can do this, you’ve come too far to fail now. You have a firm handshake, firmer than anyone else in your class. He closed his eyes and visualized his father. James had grown up on a farm in Idaho, pulling potatoes and living a simple life. His father had saved up everything, scraped together every last dollar he could to give James the opportunity to go to business school and now he’d graduated with honors. Now that he’d finished the video interviews it was time for the face to face, and that inevitably meant a handshake. He’d grown up hearing horror stories about how firm the businessman handshake had become over the centuries. It was said that some of the wealthiest men in the world had their hands replaced with bionic implements to make their grips that much firmer. Bone crushing grips that could turn coal to diamonds. In school he’d practiced with his peers, growing up as a farm boy he had a naturally firm grip, his father, uncles, and neighbors had all valued a firm handshake, but he knew nothing could prepare him for the real thing.
Today James was meeting with Steve Johnson, a midlevel manager at Buffet Incorporated. They’d spoken a few times during the interview process, Steve seemed like a pleasant guy but in order to have come as far as he had in his career he certainly had a formidable handshake. James opened his eyes and checked his reflection again, firming his resolve he nodded and left the hotel room.
As he walked out the front door of the lobby, he eyed the waiting taxis trying to decide which one would smell the least repulsive. He turned to a tap on the shoulder to find the doorman begging his attention, “Mr. Smith?” James nodded, “The company has sent you a car…” he gestured towards a black limousine. James stopped, that was odd, he was interviewing for a low level finance job, why would they have sent a car? James tensed up but nodded to the door man stepping towards the car.
Before he reached the car Steve Johnson stepped out of the back. He smiled at James and extended his hand. James began to sweat. He could feel it dripping along the insides of his shirt, collecting on his brow and around his neck. James took a deep breath and received the handshake. He was shocked at how quickly the handshake went, a brief touch and then Steve had yanked his hand free. Could this have been a courtesy to a new graduate? Was he sparing James the humiliation of a broken hand?
“It’s good to finally meet you face to face,” Steve was saying, “I’m sorry about the change of plans, but… well... “ He gestured to the waiting car. James nodded feigning confidence and stepped into the car sliding across backseat. Then he stopped cold when he saw who else was there.
Sitting across from him was an older man, with jovial face but intimidating eyes. He had silver hair and a suit that matched. Edouard Buffet, heir to the Buffet fortune and head-man himself watched him with a smile. James had read about him in school and in preparing for his interviews, the man was a shark, cunning and smart, every bit as formidable as any of his predecessors. “Hello James,” Steve slid into the seat next to James and closed the door, “I’m sorry about the change in plans. After reviewing your application I wanted to meet you myself”. Edouard grinned James just sat their agape, the car had begun moving and James hadn’t even noticed. “I’ve taken a keen interest in your hiring because frankly, if all works out well, you’ll be reporting directly to me.” A million thoughts rushed through James’ head, he was thrilled that he’d done so well in the interviews, terrified to be sitting in the presence of this legend. “Forgive my manners,” Edouard said suddenly, leaning across the car, “I’m Edouard Buffet,” as he offered his hand James could hear servos whirring and spinning up, the man had a legendary handshake, one that could crush the hands of some of the most formidable businessmen in the world.
James gulped, preparing himself for yet another handshake and he didn’t think he’d get off easy this time. He thought back to University, “Business Etiquette 310” had an entire chapter on the handshake, the trick was to … was to what? James’ mind went blank. Edouard was waiting, amusement draining from his eyes being replaced with impatience. James remembered his father, the disappointment he would feel if James failed in this. Gathering himself he grabbed the man’s hand, remembering every handshake he’d ever had, recalling his father’s firm handshake when he was just a boy of 10, putting everything he could into this, he knew if he broke a few bones they would all laugh and say it was understandable, but James would be taken down a peg in these men’s eyes. He squeezed, the whine of motors pierced the air in the quiet and tense car, James could hear grinding but with his adrenaline pumping he didn’t know if it was his hand or perhaps some other mechanism of the artificial appendage he held.
James looked up to meet Edouard’s gaze and was surprised what he saw. The man’s face was red with determination, all hints of mirth gone from his eyes, sweat was appearing on his brow. James abruptly broke off the handshake confused. “That’s quite the handshake you have there,” Edouard said with obviously feigned amusement in his voice. He was casually rubbing the inside of his palm.
James shrugged, his confidence building. “I worked on my father’s farm as a boy, I guess working with one’s hands your whole life gives you a firm grip.” James smiled at Edouard who nodded skeptically.
Originally written for: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/45uat2/wp_the_year_is_3000_only_people_with_the_firmest/
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