KATHERINE…
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About an hour and a half passed, I was still waiting, and my number still has not been called for. Until finally:
"Number fifty-four, please be at my office!" Mr. Baker's voice came.
Finally! I stood up, and felt my legs wobbling under me. I was so nervous, my hands were slightly shivering, and my mouth was dry. I headed to Mr. Leonard's office, and when I reached there, I took a deep breath, knocked, and waited for his reply.
"Come in!" -Came his cheerful voice from inside.
I turned the knob, took a deep breath again, and entered. He was sitting behind his desk, with some papers and files in front of him. He looked up at me when I entered.
"Oh it's the cutie from earlier, Miss Katherine -did I get that right?" He smiled at me as he questioned.
I couldn't suppress a smile that crept on my lips, "Uhm, yes, Mr. Baker. Good morning."
"Very well then, come and take a seat so we can start!" He motioned towards the chair in front of his desk.
I came closer and sat down.
"So, shall we start?" he asked with a reassuring smile and a gentle voice.
"Sure!" I smiled.
And so the "test" started…
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After about twenty minutes or so, finally, the questions stopped. I felt like I had done well, personally, I answered questions confidently and knew answers directly, I did have good marks at the university too, so that supported me massively, when he examined my CV.
It was only after I stood up, preparing to leave, that I let a relieved breath escape me.
Phew, fingers crossed-
"Ah, Miss Katherine, I have one more thing to add about earlier!"
I frowned, softly turning as I arced a brow at him.
He kept his amused smile, "That was some nice snap at Rickard in the elevator, when he accused you of not being capable enough to deserve the position." He chuckled.
I blinked, color rising to my cheeks. "Ahh... That..."
Can we please forget I snapped at the president who now holds my future in the palm of his hand? Argh, Katherine, you idiot!
I wet my lips.
"I-It was really not my intention to snap at him, I was just a little pissed when he stated such prejudices against me. That was a bit unfair!" I said in a serious manner, but still blushing.
"Hmm, is that so? Well, at any case, I found it really cute!" He looked me in the eyes and continued, "I bet even Rickard himself was taken aback when you spoke to him like that!"
I gulped, not very positive signs.
"Well, that I cannot reply for!" I forced a nervous smile, murmuring with a small chuckle, "I have not seen any expression from that man's face since I had met him." I pouted. But then an idea hit me, and I shrugged, "Meh! Why
am I even wasting time pondering over this? I don't really care." I turned again, "Excuse me, Mr. Be-"
He cut me off, again.
"Hmm, you don't?"
My eyes widened slightly, turning to eye him wifh slight disbelief. "No. No, I don't." I denied softly, my heart skipping a bit.
"Huh?" The man before me blinked for a moment, then continued, "There has not been a single female employee in the whole company who did not set her eyes on Rickard." He smiled slyly. "Fifty three applicants before you confirmed that, if anything."
"Not only do I not think this case might be different, but also you have a blushing face that gives off more than you might want." He chuckled playfully.
My eyes widened, and I gasped.
"Pardon?" I frowned, a knot forming in my throat.
This… the heck was this generalizing tone…
"Oh, let me clarify, Mr. Baker, apart from the fact that…" I hesitated before continuing, knowing he had my acceptance in his hands, but then again, I was too pissed because he crossed his line anyway.
"It is rather rude on your side to generalize like that before knowing me, I would like to tell you that the thing is not about President Rickard Langley and his fandom. I am a person who has shut my heart away for personal reasons. I don't think I'm comfortable enough to share them, but I'm not okay with being addressed in such a tonality." I panted after the whole breathless speech, and felt hot moisture ready to climb my up eyes." A-and one more thing…" I started again, and bit my lips.
Once again remembering why I never wanted to enter the business world and preferred a humane relationship with students.
"The applicants are not mere numbers. I do not know why any of them is applying, but I do not believe generalizing like that about them is… is appropriate."
Wow.
Way to go tiger…
I bit my lips, expecting to hear my exact dismissal. And yet again… I received the exact opposite. From before me, the baby blue eyes of Leonard Baker glowed…
With clear interest and… admiration as he smiled at me.
And he spoke, confidently, "Perfect."
W-what?
I blinked at his direction, not registering what… what he'd just said?
"This was exactly the kind of answer I was looking for."
I gasped at this, my eyes widening, "Wh-what?"
He gestured, smoothly, "You see, I attempted intimidating the other applicants with a similar question structure." He murmured, fixing his deep blue eyes into mine. "The structure of the question is aimed to trigger their ego, thus baiting them into falling into the common error committed by employees in administrative positions; treating fellow employees like numbers."
My eyes remained wide open, as I just gulped. "S-so you…"
From before me, Leonard Baker just grinned, "You don't seem too pleased Miss Reed, that's hilarious!" He kept his amused expression, "Alright, fine. As a make up for my teasing and considering you passed the assessment, I'll reveal to you that you'll meet Rickard in a bit."
I blinked, "Y-you mean I passed the test?"
"Only if you stop being pissed." He winked, and I flushed again.
"But keep that a secret from the others," the VP ordered at that, calmly, "Because I still haven't announced those who have advanced to the second level." He smiled at me.
I smiled softly at his direction at this. "Thank you. Have a great day!"
"Good luck, miss Katherine Reed."
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After waiting for some time, finally, Mr. Barker started announcing those who had advanced to the next stage and thankfully, I was one of them.
After a few minutes, the President's voice came through the speakers as he started calling the numbers of those who had ascended to the level where they had the fortune to see him.
Thankfully, my wait didn't last long as his steel voice called me into the office.
As I heard my number being called, my mouth became like dry desert somewhere in Africa, as my body started shivering slightly and I felt goosebumps sneak over my body. After reaching the office, I hesitated a bit before reaching out to knock on the door.
"Entrare." -came his cold manly voice from inside.
**Entrare— enter**
I took a very deep, long breath, turned the door knob, and stepped in.