Liam rubbed his temples, trying to knead away the throbbing headache that pulsed behind his eyes.
It was a dreadful day filled with a seemingly endless parade of job applicants. Each one had either an eager smile or nervous laughter.
Now, he found himself facing another interviewee. He leaned back in his ergonomic chair and let out a heavy sigh.
Two years.
He had devoted two years of his life to this company, pouring his heart and soul into every project, every task, no matter how monumental or menial.
What had he received in return?
The scare of his life.
The higher-ups suddenly decided to purge the ranks, sifting through the workforce with ruthless efficiency.
Oh, he was one of the lucky ones. His conscience and work ethic served as his shield against the corporate axe.
But still, watching his colleagues, his friends, being escorted out of the building. Their faces were ashen, and their shoulders slumped in defeat.
That had left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Look at him now, he was one of the HR employees tasked to interview a massive influx of applicants, all vying for a chance to fill the vacancies left after the purge.
The massive crowd in the atrium when he arrived this morning was enough to make him want to laugh—Or cry—Or maybe a little bit of both.
Ting!
The sound of the notification on his light brain dragged him out of his musings.
He glanced at his email. His eyes went wide as he read the message displayed there in glowing holographic letters.
The CEO, Grayson Maxwell, himself would be observing today's interviews.
Liam felt a bead of sweat trickle down his spine.
The weight of this news was heavy on his shoulders.
Grayson Maxwell was a legend. He was a titan in industry whose name was spoken in whispers of admiration throughout the corporate world.
To have him watch and scrutinize every word, every gesture of the people in the interview room was both an honor and a terrifying thought.
Even though he was nervous, Liam felt a flicker of determination. There was a burning desire to prove himself.
This was his chance, his moment to shine.
If he could impress Grayson Maxwell, showcase his skills and ability, perhaps he would be one of the chosen few who would be selected for promotion once the new hires were settled down.
He straightened his tie, smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles from his crisp white shirt. He took a deep, steadying breath.
The game is on. He was ready to give it his all.
As if on cue, the door to the interview room opened silently. A young man who seemed to challenge his descriptive ability entered.
He was beautiful, there was no other word for it. He had the typical natural brown hair, but he looked dazzling in it.
But it wasn't just his unnaturally ordinary look that caught his attention.
There was something more.
It was the poise and aura of professionalism that was hidden behind those youthful features.
The interviewer blinked, dazzled by the presence of the young man before him.
How could someone who looked so ordinary and had such common features feel extraordinary?
It was a question at the tip of his tongue.
The moment he had this thought, he quickly shook it off. He mentally blamed himself for losing his focus.
He was also a professional employee, and he had a job to do.
With a gesture that was equal parts welcoming and businesslike, he invited the applicant to take a seat.
As the man settled into the chair across from him, Liam glanced down at the glowing screen of his quantum computer, pulling up the applicant's resume.
What he saw there made his jaw drop, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The credentials listed were sparse and barely covered the work history, with random jobs. He wondered how this kind of resume even got approved by the system.
Reading some more, another thing caught Liam's attention.
Name: Neville
Age: 20
20? Liam peeked at Neville. That seasoned veteran air is just from a 20-year-old? I thought he was just young, but I didn't expect that he is actually young!
Liam was in no position to question this. After all, their CEO, Grayson Maxwell, was also young when he reached the highest position in the military and retired to become the wealthiest man in the empire.
Some people are just that gifted.
Cough, Liam cleared his throat and thoroughly read the resume at hand. From time to time, he would look at Neville.
No matter how much he reviewed this trash resume and looked at the young man in front of him, he couldn't see their similarities.
"Neville…Hope, is it?" Liam asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
Neville nodded with a small and polite smile. "Yes, that's correct. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Liam did not expect him to reply so steadily and smoothly. It was in the tone of a man who was exactly where he wanted to be.
He tapped a finger on the edge of his desk, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet room. He had to address the elephant in the room.
"Your resume," he began, trying to keep his tone neutral. "It's quite lacking. It lists a few short-term contracts... it started just barely 2 months ago."
He looked up, expecting some sort of justification, a nervous explanation. But Neville simply nodded, as if Liam had commented on the weather. "It's a summary."
Liam blinked. "A summary? A resume is a summary. This barely qualifies as a list. Frankly, Mr. Hope, your profile doesn't align with the high-stress, high-competency environment we have here. How did you hear about this opening?"
"A position opened up, and I became available," Neville replied, his hands resting calmly in his lap. "The timing was convenient."
The answer was so devoid of detail that it was almost insulting.
It was a verbal dead end.
Liam felt the throbbing in his temples returning.
This boy—this man—was a walking contradiction. He had the presence of a senior executive and the work history of a high school graduate on summer break.
Liam leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Look, I'll be direct. We just went through a major corporate restructuring. The people who fill these seats are expected to be the best. I need to understand why you believe you're qualified."
For the first time, Neville's expression shifted. He tilted his head, and his gaze sharpened, becoming unnervingly perceptive.
It felt as if he were looking straight through Liam's professional facade and seeing the exhausted, stressed-out man underneath.
"Is that what you need to understand, Mr…Liam?" Neville asked, his tone still perfectly calm. "Or are you trying to understand how my file made it past your system's filters and onto your desk?"
The question hit Liam like a physical blow. It was exactly what he was thinking. He was caught off guard by the sheer audacity, the directness of it.
Neville looked at Liam, his gaze steady. "The paper in front of you is irrelevant. It tells you nothing of value. This is a face-to-face interview. You and me. So, can we proceed now?"
Liam was left speechless.
The power in the room had completely shifted.
Neville smiled, "I assure you that everything in my resume is accurate and filled in with the best of my abilities."
Liam slowly nodded with his gaze still locked on Neville's face. He was searching for something—fear, guilt, any kind of crack in that beautiful face.
But there was—none.
There was only sincerity and honesty in Neville's clear, pure ocean blue eyes.
However, Liam couldn't shake the doubt nagging at the back of his mind, like an itch that he couldn't scratch.
He glanced down at the resume again, scanning.
"It says that you were raised in an orphanage," Liam said in a neutral voice, rephrasing his earlier suspicions to get a proper answer. "Given the sparse resources of the orphanage, it's expected that you have not so remarkable work history and educational background. But you still managed to pass our AI screening. It's not that I doubt you or our mainframe technology, but it was rare to have someone like you in our final applicants. Can you give me some explanation? Maybe some tips?"
For a moment, Neville was silent. He was gazing at a distance, lost in some memory. Then he shook his head.
He looked at Liam sincerely and said, "I have always believed that one's circumstances will not define them. I may be from a humble background, but I refuse to let that limit me. I worked hard and pushed myself to the best of my ability to be the best that I could be. Some people believe in me, saw potential in me, and are praying for me right now to pass this interview. I guess that's the reason why my resume luckily passed the screening of the best technology available in today's time."
Liam was in awe of his attitude, and a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.
That's right. Good people will have good luck.
Liam quickly set aside his sentimental side, reminding himself that he was still in the middle of his job.
His job required him to be impartial and assess the applicant's suitability for the position they were applying for. He shouldn't be swayed by that beautiful face and heartwarming backstory.
Liam cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "Very well then. Let's move on to the proper interview, shall we?"
Neville nodded, still looking professional, but became extra attentive.
"Tell me about yourself," Liam asked, the words rolling off his tongue with ease. It was the most standard of questions, a comfortable return to familiar ground.
Neville didn't break eye contact. He didn't list his hobbies or his nonexistent work history. The small, professional smile on his face faded, replaced by an expression of quiet intensity.
He spoke of the childhood tragedy that led him to the orphanage. The siblinghood of the children of the orphanage. How those who have already graduated and moved out of the orphanage sometimes visit the orphanage to teach them about the world. And how he was determined to impart what he would learn in today's interview to those left in the orphanage, too.
Liam's hand hovered motionless over the holographic keyboard while he took notes.
This was not the answer he was expecting.