Chapter 4 - The Devil CEO

CADEN POV

"None of the applicants meet the company's standards. Are you sure you've thoroughly checked all the documents they submitted?" I asked one of my employees.

"I-I'm sorry, Sir. I reviewed every single application, and they're all qualified for the position."

"Are you sure?" I asked, noticing him swallow nervously. "Then why hasn't anyone passed?"

"I'm sorry, Sir..."

"Your apology won't change anything. Leave."

I rubbed my temples in frustration after he left.

I couldn't understand why people kept forcing their way into this company when they should already know they didn't stand a chance.

A few minutes later, my phone rang.

I answered it immediately.

"S-Sir..."

"Yes?"

"We still have one applicant left, and she’s at the balcony right now.”

"Tell that person to make it quick. If he or she can't make it here within three minutes, reject the application," I said.

ELISHA POV

I slapped my forehead in frustration when the elevator suddenly stopped.

Unlucky day indeed.

Of all the times for this to happen, it had to be when I was already in a hurry.

It took several more minutes before it finally started working again.

The moment the doors opened, I ran as fast as I could, nearly tripping over my own feet.

"Why are you late?" The man asked.

"I'm sorry! The elevator—"

"I don't accept excuses."

My eyes shifted to the man standing with his back turned toward me.

"I'm just explaining."

"Did I ask?" he replied without even bothering to face me.

"Don't judge someone without knowing their reasons or listening to their explanation," I said firmly.

"Who are you to tell me what to do in my own company?"

"I'm speaking as an applicant," I said.

He slowly turned around, and the cold look in his eyes immediately caught my attention.

"You're applying to my company," he said. "And it's my right to reject anyone who doesn't follow the rules."

"I understand your point. But then why did you even open job applications if you never intended to hire anyone? You're only wasting the applicants' time. I know this company has high standards, but how can you judge an applicant's capabilities if you don't even give them a chance to prove themselves? So tell me... are they really the problem, or is it you?"

I heard the woman standing beside him gasp.

She probably hadn't expected me to answer her boss like that.

But what surprised me even more...

...was seeing the man in front of me smile.

I had expected him to get angry after I openly challenged him.

"Alright," he said.

"You're in."

"Huh?"

For a moment, I thought I'd misheard him.

"You're here to apply, aren't you?" A smirk appeared on his face. "Then you're hired. You can start tomorrow."

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

For some reason...

I had the feeling this wasn't going to end well.

I thanked him before leaving the office.

I honestly didn't know if accepting this job was the right decision.

"Miss, thank you," I said to the woman who had assisted me.

"You're welcome, Ms. Gonzales. Congratulations again. Do you know you're the very first applicant who dared talk back to Sir? I was the one getting nervous for you earlier."

I simply smiled before saying goodbye.

****

As I sat inside the Grab, I couldn't stop thinking about my future boss.

Ever since he told me I was hired, the uneasy feeling in my chest hadn't disappeared.

I had this strong feeling that nothing good was going to come from working under him. I don’t want to be a judgmental person; nothing good was going to come from working under him. I don’t want to be a judgmental person, but I can’t read what’s going on in his mind. He doesn’t show any other emotions when you talk to him, so you can’t help but feel nervous or scared when he’s around.

My phone suddenly rang.

When I saw Yana's name on the screen, I answered immediately.

"So? How did the interview go?" she asked the moment I picked up.

"I don't even know if you could call it an interview. He didn't even look at my résumé."

"What happened then? Did you get the job?"

"Yeah. I start tomorrow."

"Where are you going to work?"

I let out a sigh. "At Guevarra Corporation."

I had to pull the phone away from my ear when she suddenly screamed.

"Are you serious? You're not joking, are you?"

"What do you think I am, a comedian?" I rolled my eyes.

"Waaaah! You're so lucky, girl! I heard so many people have tried applying there, but almost no one gets accepted. Their standards are unbelievably high."

I scoffed.

"Lucky? Shouldn't you be saying I'm unlucky instead? That CEO doesn't seem trustworthy at all."

"W-what do you mean? Don't tell me the CEO himself interviewed you?"

"He's the one conducting the interview! He's so cold... and unbelievably arrogant."

"Well... that's actually how he is. But despite that, a lot of people still have a crush on him. Although... I wonder why he personally interviewed you. As far as I know, one of his assistants usually handles the interviews and meets with the applicants."

"How would I know?" I shrugged. "Maybe he wasn't busy today. Or maybe he wanted to choose the applicants himself. From what I heard, none of the other applicants who came in with me passed."

After chatting for a while longer, I ended the call because I'd already arrived at my condominium building.

I wanted to get some rest.

Tomorrow...

A new chapter of my life would begin.

And somehow...

I couldn't shake the feeling that meeting Caden Guevarra today wasn't just a coincidence.

It felt like fate had quietly started moving the moment our eyes met.