"Patricia Miller?"
When Patricia returned to the waiting room, the person was already calling her na.
"Miss Patricia Miller—"
"Here!" Patricia rushed toward the person, raising her hand. "I’m here! Sorry. Just had a bathroom break."
The person glanced at her, catching her innocent smile. He nodded and said, "You’re up next. Please follow those people. You’ll be called again for your interview."
"Yes!" Patricia nodded vigorously, following the others who had been called with her.
As they walked down the hallway, where they would wait for a few more minutes, Patricia studied her batch. She gulped, recalling their achievents and experiences. She had been eavesdropping earlier and had morized the faces and nas of those who had boasted exceptional portfolios.
Just like the woman who was locked in the cubicle, this batch was probably the best. All of them had graduated at the top of their class at an elite university, with many possessing extensive work experience.
Then there was Patricia — best at nothing. Well, not really "nothing" since she was good at so other things like shopping and looking at worthy goods.
They took their seats in the waiting area just outside the interview room. Another batch was ahead of them, so they had so ti to prepare.
’It’s okay,’ she reassured herself, her eyes darting to the other candidates. ’Gosh, look at them. So focused. Just what are they focusing on? Focus on waiting?’
Another heavy sigh escaped her as she observed their intense concentration. So were moving their lips soundlessly as if rehearsing answers.
’Are there additional questions I don’t know about?’ she wondered. She recalled what Theo had told her about the interview process, though she hadn’t inford her brother she was applying for this job — she wanted it to be a surprise for her family.
Also, she wanted to save herself from humiliation and disappointnt if she failed.
The only person who knew about this was Charles Bennet. She had to inform the big boss why she couldn’t make it to the office today. All Charles had said was a simple "Good luck" and "Be yourself," assuring her that Penny would appreciate that more than anything.
’But then, when I was honest with her, she kicked out of this place.’ Bitterness settled on Patricia’s face. ’Gosh. Such a fickle boss. She wanted soone to be themselves, but when they do, she kicks them out.’
While she was busy ntally dissing her "future" boss, the interview room door flew open. Perking up, she watched as the previous batch walked out, their expressions grim.
"Huh?" she humd, studying their faces. "Why do they look like the world is ending?"
"Didn’t you hear?" The person seated beside her spoke disinterestedly. "The CEO joined the interview monts ago. They were the first batch to face him."
Patricia turned to the man beside her, her mouth falling open. "Oh, really?"
"Even though Pri Group only opened its Anteca office this year, they already had a solid structure beforehand," the man continued in a knowing tone. "It’s tough to get into this company, even for the smallest role."
"Really? Why’s that?"
"How co you don’t know that?" The man snapped his eyes toward her, looking over his black-rimd glasses. "As the CEO’s secretary, this is sothing you should know. This job is not just about following the CEO around — it’s about overseeing various departnts."
"..." Patricia pressed her lips together and gulped. ’Really?’
She had pursued this job because the empty office outside Penny’s looked important. And she liked the idea of being important. That’s why she had been pestering — no, harassing — Penny to give her the job.
But now, hearing this guy’s explanation, it sounded... complicated. A total headache.
"Tsk." The man shook his head and sighed. "If I were you, I’d use this ti to study so information."
With that, he stood and moved to another seat as the previous batch entered the interview room. The remaining candidates also stood and stepped forward, including Patricia.
"Say..." Patricia whispered, sitting beside the man again. "... why are you telling this?"
"Huh?"
"Aren’t we competitors?" She pointed at him, then at herself. "It’s only natural not to help ."
The man didn’t answer imdiately. He simply stared at her. "Because I’m confident in myself, and you don’t threaten ."
"..." Her eye twitched as she secretly clenched her teeth. ’These people... they really underestimate others.’
But then again, he wasn’t wrong. Patricia was probably the least threatening candidate here—or maybe in the entire applicant pool.
She sighed deeply, cupping her face as she stared at her résumé. "I’m confident in myself too," she mumbled, but the longer she looked at the paper, the more her confidence wavered.
This experience was truly humbling.
But to taste the riches of this world, she had to go through this.
"I’ll get hired," she whispered, making the man beside her glance at her. She smiled and turned to him. "I’m Patricia, by the way. What’s your na?"
"Does it matter?"
"Of course," she smirked. "So, when I get the job, I can thank you for your advice, Teddy Bear."
Her smirk widened. "I caught a glimpse of your résumé earlier."
The man in black-rimd glasses blinked, slightly surprised. She didn’t seem like the observant type, so this caught him off guard.
"It’s Teddy Arthur," he corrected, but Patricia didn’t seem to be listening anymore.
"Nice to et you, Teddy Bear." She waved him off and leaned back in her seat, filling herself with positivity. And by that, she ant fantasizing about what she would buy with her first paycheck. She had no idea what her starting salary would be — or if she would even get hired — but in her mind, her future salary was already spent.
The man, Teddy, studied her from the corner of his eye and shook his head. ’I don’t think manifesting is enough to get hired,’ he thought. But he stopped paying attention to Patricia and focused on himself.
Minutes later, the door opened, and the previous batch walked out—grim-faced, just like the batch before them.
But that didn’t discourage the next group, including Patricia, from walking into the interview room, determined to impress the panel.
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