Chapter 4 - The Devil CEO

CADEN POV

"None of the applicants meet the company's standards." I closed the last résumé and tossed it onto the desk. "Did you even review these properly?"

The HR officer lowered his head. "I-I'm sorry, Sir. We checked every application. They all met the minimum qualifications."

I leaned back in my chair. "Minimum qualifications and Guevarra Corporation's standards are two different things."

Silence.

"If anyone can replace my secretary just because they have a good resume, then my company wouldn't be where it is today."

"I understand, Sir."

"No, you don't." I pushed the stack of resume toward him. "They look good on paper. But paper doesn't tell me how they'll react under pressure."

"I'm sorry, Sir."

"Your apology won't improve the quality of applicants." I looked at him coldly. "You may leave."

"Yes, Sir."

The door closed.

I massaged my temple.

Finding competent people had become harder every year.

Skills could be taught.

Character couldn't.

My phone rang.

"The last applicant has arrived, Sir."

I glanced at my watch. "Late?"

"A few minutes, Sir."

"Tell the applicant she has three minutes."

"Sir?"

"If she can't make it within three minutes, reject her."

"Yes, Sir."

I ended the call.

If someone couldn't manage their own time, how could they manage mine?

---

ELISHA POV

"No, no, no..." I stared at the frozen elevator doors.

Seriously?

The elevator suddenly stopped moving.

"Come on. Please, I need to be on time."

I repeatedly pressed the button, but nothing happened.

Several agonizing minutes later, the doors finally opened.

I immediately ran out. "I'm so sorry!"

The woman looked relieved. "There you are!"

"The elevator—"

"I don't accept excuses." A deep voice interrupted me.

The man remained facing the window, his back turned.

"I'm not making excuses," I replied. "I'm explaining."

"Did I ask for an explanation?"

My eyebrows furrowed. "Don't judge someone without knowing what actually happened."

The room fell silent.

"Who are you to tell me that?"

He slowly turned around.

For a second I forgot what I wanted to say.

He looked exactly like the rumors described.

Cold.

Unreadable.

Intimidating.

"I'm speaking as an applicant."

"And I'm speaking as the CEO." His sharp eyes met mine. "And you're applying to my company. It's my right to reject anyone who fails to follow the rules."

I took a deep breath. "I understand that. But why open applications if you've already decided no one's good enough?"

"You've rejected everyone without giving them a real chance. How can you measure someone's capability after only a few minutes?"

I held his gaze.

"So tell me... Are the applicants really the problem or is it you?"

The woman beside me looks like ready to faint anytime.

The corner of the CEO's lips lifted.

The smallest smile.

Interesting.

"You're hired."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"You heard me."

"I haven't even had my interview."

"I already had it."

"Excuse me?"

"You challenged me.You defended your point without being disrespectful. You stayed calm despite the pressure."

He crossed his arms. "I don't hire perfect resumes. I hire people who can think."

"You start tomorrow."

I stared at him.

Was this man serious?

Before I could ask another question, he turned away.

"The interview is over."

I blinked several times. Did I really get the job?

---

Outside the building...

I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.

What just happened?

The woman hurried after me.

"Miss Gonzales!"

I turned around.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

She smiled awkwardly.

"Do you know you're the first applicant who actually argued with Sir Caden?"

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Everyone else was too scared to even look him in the eye."

I laughed nervously. "Well...I guess I didn't know any better."

She laughed too. "Good luck tomorrow. I think you'll need it."

---

Inside the Grab I stared outside the window.

Something about that man bothered me.

He wasn't just strict.

He observed everything.

Every reaction.

Every word.

Every hesitation.

I couldn't read him at all.

My phone suddenly rang.

"Yana."

I answered immediately.

"How was the interview?!"

I sighed. "I don't even know if I should call it an interview."

"What happened?"

"The CEO interviewed me."

"What?!"

I pulled the phone away from my ear after hearing her scream.

"You're kidding!"

"I wish I were."

"Were you accepted?"

"Yeah."

Silence.

"Seriously?"

"I start tomorrow."

"Oh my gosh! I heard almost nobody passes Guevarra Corporation's hiring process!"

I leaned back. "Lucky?"

"I don't think so."

"My future boss seems impossible to deal with."

"What do you mean?"

"He's arrogant, strict, and impossible to read."

Yana laughed. "That's exactly what everyone says about Caden Guevarra."

"Then the rumors are true."

We talked until the Grab stopped in front of my condominium.

Tomorrow my real challenge would begin.