"It's at a dairy," Dan replied. He smiled across the diner table where the two friends sat, sharing lunch. Even this place was more than Steve could afford, but Dan was treating him.
"The dairy uses genetic engineering to produce special milk. For a long time they sold only to the elite, but they've recently decided to expand into the general market. To do so while guarding their proprietary secrets, they contacted my firm."
Dan worked at an advertising agency. The job had done well for him financially, and he had also grown more polished and urbane. Though, some might have thought him too slick to be sincere. Steve, however, still trusted him as a friend.
He was, nonetheless, confused by this proposal.
"A dairy? I don't know anything about cows."
Dan waved his sandwich dismissively. "That's fine. It's a very simple job, and from what I've heard -- I'm not directly involved in the account -- it pays more than what I make."
Steve's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yup." Dan paused to take a bite. "A good deal more. And they're eager to hire -- they're desperate to expand production now that they're going mainstream. So there's an additional bonus for those who join up right away."
There was also a reward for those who recommended the job, but Dan didn't mention that.
"So, what is the job?"
Dan shook his head. "Client confidentiality, man. I can't tell you anything specific about it until you sign the waivers and non-disclosure agreement."
Steve blinked. "That's... weird. What's so secret about a dairy? They have two-headed cows or something?"
Dan laughed. "You got me there. I've never actually seen the, uh, livestock. But yeah, it has to do both with the engineering bit and with their means of production. But our guy who looked it over confirmed that they're well-treated -- pampered, in fact. Office gossip has it that he's actually considering resigning and working at the dairy himself."
"What, as a cow?" joked Steve. Dan smiled and took another bite of his sandwich.
"Why don't we head down there tomorrow?" he suggested. "They insist that one of their staff see you physically sign the agreements -- they're very picky about it. Then you can get your questions answered -- and it's not like signing the non-disclosure form obligates you to the job."
Steve shrugged. "Fair enough, I guess." An easy job with high pay -- it couldn't hurt just to learn about it. Right? Though obviously there was something Dan wasn't telling him.