Interview

Grace tried to stifle the yawn that was threatening to escape her mouth. She was sleep-deprived and working too hard. Instead of resting, she was here taking her anger out on the poor applicants. Well, if they had done a good job, she wouldn't have taken it out on them in the first place. Most of the applicants were trying to impress them instead of talking about their passion for the role and how it was going to help them achieve their long-term goals as well as how they would contribute to the growth of the company. 

'I went to the best school in the world. I was at the top of my class. I can speak 10 languages. My father is the chairman of...' She was tired of hearing all of that.

People without talent.

If they thought she was simply going to choose them because of the kind of background they came from, then they were wrong. 

'MICHAEL STONER SETS TO WED.' 

She shook that thought out of her head. Why wouldn't that leave her head for goodness sake? 

The next applicant entered and sat down.

She looked at the document in front of her and briefly scanned through.

'Applicant 043. Bradley Morgan.'

She sighed softly. This one was even worse. No talent whatsoever. Who screened these people?

She looked up and almost did a double-take when she came into contact with a pair of sharp hazel eyes. They were just like Michael's. 

'MICHAEL STONER SET TO WED.'

She pushed that to the back of her head and looked at the applicant. He was looking right back at her. 

That was new. 

The others usually looked at the others and not her. 

"You have no talent or experience whatsoever." She said this in a quiet but cold voice. "Is this place a joke to you?" 

Brad snapped out of his daze and became focused. 

He understood why the others had picked up their bags and left earlier. She was scary. She sounded nothing like she looked. Even Nerd had simply walked out of the room and straight for the exit without sparing him a glance. 

"Uhm..." He tried to say something but was cut off.

"Bradley Morgan. 24 years old. Graduated 2 years ago. That's practically what this thing is saying." She waved the document which he believed was his. "Go ahead and tell me why you should be considered for this position." 

"Uhm... I am passionate about—"

She cut him off again. 

"Every single person who has entered this room today are either passionate, creative or motivated. Some are even the three of them combined." She laughed humourlessly. 

"So save all that and tell me the magic word that should make me consider you." 

He was stunned. This wasn't going to be as easy as he had thought.

Grace watched him rack his brain for something to say. She was about to send him out when he said,

"Emmm... please?" 

Her brows furrowed and the other interviewers seemed to have the same reaction as her. 

"You... asked for the magic word?" He explained when he saw their reactions.

"Oh God! Who screened this guy in?" 

Grace asked, looking at the other interviewers who avoided her eye contact. 

"Applicant O43. You should get out." She said, trying to get up to leave before he spoke again. 

"I think this is unfair and biased."

"W..hat?" She asked in surprise and confusion as she sat back down.

"You are trying to judge me based on what you have on that piece of paper. Maybe I am not as experienced as the others, but how can I ever get an experience when every company want someone with some kind of experience? Which company is going to volunteer to give us the 'experience' everyone is passionately looking for?" He asked, sounding a bit frustrated.

The other interviewers including Grace listened to him without interrupting.

"I can do a good job. You just have to try me and see." 

He looked confident. But Grace could see it was only a facade. He was nervous and knew how to hide it well. He was also brave, she would give him that. 

"Your time is up, O43." One of the interviewers said. 

"Wait." Grace raised a hand and looked at Bradley intensely. 

"One of the reasons we asked for a male applicant is because there are some instances where the ladies have to travel far for a meeting and sometimes, the people they are meeting with are disgusting perverts who try to take advantage of them." She relaxed on the chair and pointed her pen at him. 

"Let's say you have to go with one of the ladies and ensure she is able to seal a deal with a prospective client. But then..." She sat up quickly and looked at him. 

"The bastard gropes her boobs right in front of you!" She exclaimed, causing Brad to flinch in his seat. "And mind you, the business deal is very important, so there has to be no mess up. SHE. HAS. TO. SIGN. THE. DEAL." She said, emphasizing each word. 

"What are you going to do, then?" 

Brad was thrown off. For some reason, he felt his answer was going to determine whether he would get the job or not. Was this a test of his values and temper? Or a test of his work ethic?

He could not turn a blind eye to harassment. Sexual harassment was a big 'NO' for him. 

But the lady has to seal the deal, right? Which means, he has to control himself and hold himself back from doing anything rash. 

"I..." He paused, trying to think through his answers. He had to stick to his belief whether or not it was going to cost him this job. 

"I would... punch the bastard in the nose!" 

He heard gasps and scoffs from the other interviewers, especially the men. 

He looked at Grace. Her face was straight. Maybe he should just leave now before she threw his document at him. 

He stood up and awkwardly left the room. 

As soon as he left, Grace smiled.

It was that day. 

She made a stupid decision that changed her life. 

"043."