Suddenly, I Am Rich

The next morning, the HR department was busy preparing for the interviews.

The interview room they had set up wasn’t large, but it wasn’t small either. It was one of the internal meeting rooms, just a few doors away from Gray’s office.

The lights were dimmed to a soft, warm tone, and the blinds on the windows were partially closed to block the direct morning sun. Two pitchers of water sat neatly on the side table, along with a stack of clean glasses. A small analog clock ticked lightly above the door.

In the center of the room was a long rectangular table. It was simple but clean and wide.

Gray sat in the middle seat.

To his left was a senior representative from HR, and to his right was Marcus, who had insisted on sitting in to ask questions and observe.

They didn’t say much.

There was nothing to say now that the schedule was set and the first set of candidates were being guided into the room one by one.

The first interview was scheduled for nine.

Gray checked the time. It was 8:58 in the morning.

He shifted slightly in his seat and adjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt. Today, he wore the white one, paired with navy slacks and a dark belt. He had also styled his hair for the occasion.

He looked more formal than usual without trying too hard.

Gray glanced briefly at the folders in front of him. Each one was labeled and arranged according to the time slots of the candidates.

He had printed out a copy of the resume for every candidate and scribbled small notes beside their names. It was just things he wanted to ask, points to clarify, or impressions he got from their initial applications.

Across the table, the HR director, Ms. Lopez, was flipping through her own folder with a professional but calm demeanor. Even though Ms. Lopez wasn’t at the table with them, she was there to observe and ask questions if needed.

She had done this a hundred times before, but Gray could tell she was curious to see how he would handle it.

He wasn’t nervous, not really. But he couldn’t deny that there was a certain pressure sitting in his chest that hadn’t been there the day before.

This wasn’t just about hiring someone.

This was about setting a new standard for the company.

*Knock *Knock.

A soft knock came from outside. A young assistant poked her head in with a clipboard in her hand and a polite smile on her face.

”Good morning, Sir, the first two applicants are here.”

Gray nodded once and smiled.

”Let them in.”

”Yes, Sir.”

As the assistant spoke, she opened the door quietly and stepped aside.

Two applicants entered the room, one after the other. Both were dressed cleanly and formally, but not in an overdone way. Their shirts were pressed, their shoes were polished. Each one held a folder tightly in hand, their fingers barely moving as they tried to keep their composure steady.

The first one was a woman in her early thirties. She had short hair that was neatly tucked behind her ears. She was wearing a muted navy blouse tucked into a pair of slacks. Her name tag read Diana Cortez.

Diana held her folder close to her chest, the corners slightly bent from how tightly she was pressing it. Her mouth curled into a polite smile, but when her eyes glanced at the table and the people behind it, she couldn’t help but tremble.

The second person to enter was a man. He was slightly older, maybe in his mid-thirties. He had square shoulders and a calm face. He wore a soft gray blazer over a collared shirt.

However, even as he walked with confidence, Gray noticed how his hand trembled as he adjusted the collar of his shirt. The nameplate on his chest read Joel Hernandez.

They bowed slightly in greeting and gave a unified and slightly nervous, ”Good morning, Sir.”

”Good morning to you two.”

”Good morning,” Gray answered with a nod. He gestured gently to the chairs set up across the table. ”Please, have a seat. Make yourselves comfortable.”

They both muttered thanks as they moved to sit down, but Gray didn’t miss the way Joel’s foot accidentally tapped the chair leg before he sat, or the way Diana sighed as soon as she sat.

The two were nervous, but they were trying not to show it.

Gray waited for a second, letting them catch their breath before reaching for the top folder. He opened it with a soft rustle of paper.

”This will be very straightforward,” he began, his tone calm and almost conversational. He had gone through a lot of interviews in his life, so he obviously knew what it felt like for them.

”This is just a chance for us to get to know each other. We’ll ask a few questions, then we’ll open the floor for you to share anything else. We’re not here to scare anyone.”

”Yes, Sir.”

”I understand, Sir.”

The two quickly replied.

The room settled into a brief silence.

The senior HR representative cleared his throat lightly and leaned forward, offering a warm and practiced smile. He was a composed man in his early fifties, dressed in a pale gray shirt and a simple tie. His nameplate read Mr. Caesar.

”Good morning, Diana. Joel,” he said, nodding at each of them in turn. ”I’m Mr. Caesar from the Human Resources Department. I’ll be opening the interview today with a few standard questions just to help us warm up.”

Both applicants nodded quickly.

”Let’s start with the basics,” he continued. ”Please tell us your full name, and just a little bit about yourself. Work background, anything you think we should know. Ms. Cortez, let’s begin with you.”

Diana sat up a little straighter. Her hands were still lightly clasped in her lap.

”Yes, sir,” she said as she prepared to answer.