Interview Gone Wrong (1)

"Mr Saverio, it is time for the interview," Saverio's outgoing secretary said, walking behind his boss.

"I know I talked about hearing them out but I don't think so now. No one would be as good as you are, Leon."

Since the day Leon had talked about resigning, Saverio had been doing all his best to talk sense into his secretary and make him stay, unfortunately, it seemed that his secretary had long made up his mind.

"Mr Saverio, the interview starts now, I hope we won't delay them. I will be off to meet with them now."

"How many are they?"

"Seven in total, I'm informed that one is yet to arrive," Leon replied, already clearing off the last interviewee out of the way. Leon hesitated when he saw his boss unmoving as he walked to the entrance. "Mr Saverio, if perhaps you are not in the mood, I would do it all myself and I assure you that I will pick the best out there, my absence won't be felt at the end of the day when I'm done handing over the role."

If Leon wasn't familiar with his boss, he would have thought his boss was showing some emotions because he was leaving him after good seven years, however, he only knew his boss was only doubting there was anyone but him who would satisfy him.

"What if I increase the pay, Leon? I will increase your salary by two hundred thousand won." Mr Saverio sighed as he looked at Leon, "You should have told me if the pay is the problem. Leaving now is not the best way to solve issues like this."

Leon became startled with the amount his boss had put down. Two hundred thousand? What could that meagre amount of money do? Was his boss trying to be sarcastic? However, he replied, "I'm sorry, boss. But I am not leaving because of the salary. You have been so nice to me and I wouldn't leave pertaining to that."

"Then what is the issue? A promotion? I can do that right away."

"Oh no...Boss. You are not understanding me."

"How would I? You clearly state that your resignation isn't something I should understand. You are undoubtedly not thinking about others, Leon. You know how tough everything has been for me and you are leaving now? No new person would be able to understand me just like you do."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Saverio. My resignation is prompted for a personal reason and as an apology, I will ensure I pick the best and train the succeeding applicant. Everything he or she needs to know has been sorted out by me into a document and it is comprehensive."

Saverio nodded. He realised that he was overreacting so he just decided to go on with whatever was going to happen at the end. Squeezing his brows, Saverio recalled hearing Leon talk about a female applicant. "There is a she?"

"Yes, boss."

"Why? Females are usually clumsy. They have many hormones to battle with and of course, many issues they are unable to solve. How would such a female be able to deal with the stress we go through?"

Leon let out a small laugh before he said, "Boss, I am quite surprised you are not aware that nowadays, females are chosen over males when it comes to the role of secretaries."

"And why is that?" Saverio crooked his brows, not understanding any reason at all.

"Well, perhaps, if a female secretary is lucky enough to be chosen, you might know the reason."

Saverio breathed in and out before he gave Leon a sign to start with the interview while he went to sit on his chair. He looked at the system right before him and pressed a few buttons, immediately, an empty office room was displayed on the screen.

After some minutes, Saverio checked his system and saw Leon, already sitting and interviewing a man in his forties.

He listened to some questions Leon asked and how he answered them fluently. After a while, the man stood up from his seat and another man walked in.

Already bored, Saverio said through his radio earpiece, "The first is such a liar bomber, the second definitely need urgent money, the third...is just...suspicious."

Leon, after talking to the third interviewee, opted for a break and asked, "Mr Saverio, whatever do you mean?"

"You remember his face? The man who walked in with our valued client and turned out to sway him off to another supplier because of his selfish desire."

"Oh...I remember but I think you are mistaken. He walked in with the client but wasn't the one who swayed his interest off to something else."

"Okay, but he is out."

"Pretty much, he is not suitable."

Meanwhile, Eva already walked into the company and was talking to the receptionist who intentionally delayed her. "Madam, you are late for the interview, you are automatically fished out."

"I am not late," Eva stated and then glanced at her wrist, "This is just 8:00."

The receptionist looked at Eva like she was a mad woman and then cleared her throat, "You are wrong, ma'am." She pointed over to a wall where a panel was fixed and on it was a digital time. "This is 8:15. Even though it is 8:00, you are already too late. The interview started at 7:45."

The receptionist had been informed by the HR, saying she should send away whoever was late for the interview, and she couldn't hesitate to, especially seeing this woman whose only charm was definitely beauty. How could she be late on her interview?

"What?" Eva exclaimed before murmuring, "How dare I be wrong when at this critical hour?"

"The job is not for late birds like you. I am sorry you are not fit for it. Anyway, the interview is almost over, so please use the door."

"Wait...you..." Eva wanted to cuss but she licked her lips and then said, "Please... I am very sure I can still meet up if you let me go. Please. Besides, I don't even know if the receptionists are allowed to send interviewees away." She paused, "I might report to..." The receptionist eyes ogled at her and she swallowed her saliva down. Knowing she was crossing the line, she feigned puppy eyes as she said, "Pretty please. I am so sorry for being disrespectful at this very place but please consider me. I will indeed be nice to you if I get the job."

The receptionist rolled her eyes, muttering, "Not like a woman would."

Eva however, heard her. "Why not?"

"Ma'am, you do not look any official. I don't speak this informally to people but I'm telling you the truth and want to avoid you of any embar-"

A call rang through and the receptionist picked it up before replying, "Yes, she is here. Okay, sir." She hung the call and looked over at her, "Perhaps, you already have the connections right?"

Eva wondered what the receptionist was saying but the receptionist already waved it off and then directed her to where she was to be interviewed.

Eva hurried up, knowing that the receptionist intentionally exhausted her time. She took the lift as told and hurriedly got to the entrance of the office.

She walked into the office and smiled gently as she took her seat after being told to.

Leon looked over at the woman and sincerely hoped she was the right person.

All the men he had interviewed for a long were not at all suitable. The CEO had said No to most of them. Though he knew the CEO was picky but to be factual, they could not handle half the job that he does.

Leon didn't want another day to be fixed on more interviewees, he just wanted to be done with it almost immediately.

However, just like he had been instructed by his boss before he phoned the receptionist, he informed Eva that he was going to fix a lie detector on her.

"This is a lie detector, we fix it on all our interviewees, are you comfortable with it?" He lied. He had no reason for his boss to make him do this.

Eva was extremely shocked.

A lie detector?

She immediately responded, "Yes, sir."

After fixing the lie detector and telling her what to do, Leon said, "Let's start, Miss Lee, shall we?"

"Yes, sir," Eva replied almost instantly. She had practised severally with Ruby and was quite confident but the look on this man's face made all her rehearsed answers flow into the pit when she hadn't even started at all.

"Five points have been deducted for coming late, Miss Lee, however, for some reason, we are going to give you a pass and hear you out."

"I am grateful, sir."

"Let's skip the introductory questions and go to the main, Miss Lee, shall we?"

"Yes, sir."

Eva listened silently. Expecting questions like, "What experience do you have As Secretary to CEO?" and its sort, however, she was shocked as the questions came forth.

Meanwhile, Saverio, who had taken a break, decided to check the last applicant since he was informed that she was a woman. He wanted to prove Leon wrong, so he decided to ask the questions himself and of course, he had told Leon to fix a lie detector. Women are chronic liars, just like his mother.

He talked through the earpiece, "Ask her..."

Leon, hearing all that his boss said, was a bit shocked which Eva noticed almost immediately.

"Is there anything wrong, sir?"

"Why were you fired from WILANDTECH?"

Eva's eyes widened and she swallowed.

WILANDTECH was the name of the company she worked for last. The company her stupid boss had requested a nightstand from her. She was fired because she didn't approve of his advances. Could she say that here?

However, Eva could spot a lie detector on her body. She knew lying would let go her opportunity but telling about what truly happened is putting a bad reputation on her boss. As a secretary, you are never allowed to tell things to people about the company.

This was tight.

Could this man be testing her?

"Miss Lee?" Leon called her attention. "You have exhausted ten seconds."