Archie was genuinely grateful that his interview had gone smoothly. Despite initial nerves, his conviction in his eventual success turned that anticipation into reality.
The verdict on whether he would be accepted had not yet been delivered, but Archie was asked to wait and would be summoned again after the lunch hour.
The wait stretched on, a consequence of the large number of applicants. Worry gnawed at him as he considered the possibility of other candidates being more skilled.
When the clock struck half past twelve, Archie chose to join his fellow applicants for lunch.
Of the dozens of hopefuls he had seen that morning, only three remained, including himself.
"I'm scared of being rejected, especially since I've heard the CEO is a total perfectionist," said a girl in a white dress.
"Indeed. I've heard the CEO doesn't tolerate a single error, which is why he's selective when hiring a secretary," added another.
"Every company is selective in finding employees. Being here means we are the cream of the crop. Even if only one of us makes it, that's a cause for gratitude," Archie interjected with wisdom.
Unsure of whether or not he would be accepted, Archie was still proud to have made it this far.
"Chances are, after lunch, it'll be the CEO who interviews us further," the girl in white remarked.
"Really? Well, that's good news, as it's our chance to showcase our abilities," Archie responded with visible enthusiasm.
Determined to avoid mistakes and to answer the interviewer's questions correctly, Archie was deep in concentration.
"Come on, let's hurry up and pay so we can head back up," prompted a fellow candidate.
Together with the two women, Archie re-entered the skyscraper. He had been puzzled earlier since his husband had described the business as small.
But how could that be, when the building was privately owned?
Archie had researched the company but failed to discover its corporate hierarchy, so he was unaware of the CEO's identity.
As they returned to the interview room, they were called in one by one.
However, contrary to Archie's fellow applicant's assumption, it was not the CEO but the same HR representative who conducted the interviews.
Archie was the last to be interviewed, and when the others finished, they appeared worried.
"What's wrong? You seem sad," Archie asked.
"Not sad, just confused," one of them replied.
Before Archie could respond, the HR approached him for his interview.
"Our CEO will interview you directly, so please come with me," the woman in red said politely.
Archie met the gazes of his fellow candidates, wondering why his situation was different. They had been interviewed by HR, but he was to meet with the CEO himself.
His nerves noticeably rattled, Archie fidgeted with his fingers as he followed the HR representative to the CEO's office.
At the CEO's door, Archie read the nameplate.
"President Director, D'trax Company. Kaivan Arsangga Diando," he thought to himself.
His brow furrowed, and he was momentarily lost in thought, recognizing his husband's name.
"Please go in, Mr. Arsangga is waiting," said the woman escorting him.
Regaining his composure, Archie nodded graciously.
"Thank you, ma'am," he responded with a polite smile.
Knocking on the door, Archie slowly opened it and stepped inside, finding a man on the phone, his back turned.
Archie tried to recall the suit his husband wore, yet the man before him was only in a shirt.
"I'll call you back," the man said, ending his phone conversation.
"Good afternoon, sir. I was asked to come for an interview with you," Archie said respectfully.
The man smiled slightly and turned to face his potential secretary.
"Good afternoon. Please have a seat," said the man who was, indeed, Kaivan.
An internal scream welled up in Archie, not having imagined that the company he was applying to was his husband's.
What disappointed Archie the most was his ignorance of his own husband's occupation. Today, he learned of it, not as a spouse, but as the CEO.
Despite the revelation, Archie knew he had to maintain professionalism, especially given Kaivan's reputation for perfectionism.
"Thank you, sir," Archie replied with an awkward smile and quickly sat down.
Kaivan examined a folder, presumably containing Archie's application and CV.
"Archiena Kinan Xeviola, what skills do you possess that qualify you to be a secretary at our company?" Kaivan inquired with his usual penetrating gaze.
Archie answered confidently, presenting himself professionally and without hesitation.
"Are you married?" Kaivan asked next, seemingly satisfied with the previous response.
Archie hesitated. Why was Kaivan asking this question?
"Excuse me, sir. How is that question relevant to the position I am applying for?” Archie countered.
"A secretary, especially the director's secretary, will often work out of town or even abroad. This role requires someone who can work well outside regular office hours," Kaivan explained.
"Furthermore, this position will place you close to me. Won't your husband be jealous?" Kaivan probed further.
Archie took a deep breath, pausing momentarily before responding.
"My husband is a professional, sir. I discussed this job with him before applying, and he gave me his blessing," Archie replied, though his voice wavered slightly.
Kaivan nodded. "Last question," he stated.
"What salary do you expect?" Kaivan asked as he slipped Archie's CV into the folder.
"As a fresh graduate, I would ask for a salary within the 5-7 million rupiah range, sir. However, I would defer to the company's policy," Archie responded.
The figure was not arbitrary; Archie had conducted research and had taken into account the prevailing regional minimum wage.
Standing up, Kaivan prompted Archie to rise as well. They shook hands in agreement.
"Welcome to the company, you may start work from tomorrow," Kaivan pronounced, his expression characteristically unfazed.
Archie beamed with joy and thanked Kaivan for the opportunity, proud of having achieved this through hard work rather than nepotism.
If Kaivan had wanted him as a secretary, Archie realized, the job would have been secured from the start without the strenuous competition.
"Excuse me, sir. Thank you very much for this chance," said an elated Archie.
Kaivan simply nodded, allowing Archie to exit his office.
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Comments
author plz could u not change the gender of Archiena while writing. ofc we can understand it's ur hardwork n we shouldn't point out prbs but it's not once na. it's in almost every para every page. so plz I hope u will take care of it n don't mind me . I don't wanna be rude to u, ur fans or anyone
2024-06-01
1
author y u every time wrote his, he,him instead of her , she
2024-06-01
1