Discarded

Chpater Two: When You Interview Yourself

Sitting at your desk, drinking coffee while never looking away from the screen. You're efficient, you're in a hard working mode, you're a well oiled machine. At least you were until you get erupted but your boss.

"Hey I need-"

"I put the reports on your desk this morning sir, if you couldn't find them I have a secondary copy with me. I didn't want the secretary spill incident to occur again, but I can't do anymore overtime until I finish my part on the Sabre Project. I know not every part is completed but I don't want myself to be responsible for a pushback date." The blonde let out a hard breath, it was hard to get it all out without breathing. He looked up at his boss, who was significantly taller, not just because he was standing rather than sitting, but because the boy always seemed smaller than the people around him.

"Woah, are you okay? I got the report and the presentation, I just wanted you run the interviews today. You see, Bryan called in sick a moment ago, however I applaud your effort to stay on top of things."

There was a moment of silence between them before one broke the silence, "of course, I'll do it."

"That's the spirit!" His boss started to walk away, returning to his office, "with that attitude I might actually pay you for overtime."

The boy laughed at the joke, but it felt like a punch to the gut for all the lost sleep. Nonetheless, he sat at his desk for a minute before getting up and heading to the conference room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two hours. Two hours of sitting still and doing nothing until Alice, who he has met an hour and a half ago, motioned that it was his turn for the interview. "Your turn Felix," she called out absentmindedly. He got up and, as directed by a posted sign in the elevator, pressed the button to the twentieth floor. After the short ride, he stepped out of the transport and walked into the open door of the conference room. To his surprise, the person on the other side of the desk was the same reckless blonde that ran into him in the lobby, looking down at a paper with a pen in his hand. "Please take a seat and close the door."

When the door closed and they both were seated the blonde behind the table looked up and almost had a look of shock on his face. However he had regained his composure so quickly and cleared his throat you'd question if they had been shocked at all.

"Welcome to the Sterile Technological Office, my name is Felix, and I will be interviewing you today. Can I have your name?"

"What's your last name?"

".......excuse me?" Felix looked up at the interviewee with a look of confusion.

"I asked about your last name."

"I don't see the relevance."

"What?"

"I don't see why my last name is needed to share your name." Felix put down the pen, some annoyance spreading into his face.

"Okay, okay, my name is Theodore James Huxley, but I'm sure you already knew that."

"From your resume? Yes, but oral conversation is required for these interviews-"

"I meant from like the news or the internet, but now why don't you share YOUR last name now."

Felix looked at Theodore with a puzzled look before looking down and started writing notes. "I don't feel comfortable with sharing my last name, you do know that comments like these interrupt the flow and efficiency of the interview? Things like that usually reflect negatively against you in the selection process."

"I still want to know." Theodore said innocently.

"Look, I don't HAVE a last name, okay? It's JUST Felix."

"How is that even possible-"

"Anyway, moving onto the next section, under "Prior Work Experiences" you listed "apprenticeship under David Huxley." Can you elaborate on what you did during the apprenticeship?"

"Well, I sorted paperwork and did some publicity promotions."

"Uh Huh, that's a good response." More notes were written down on paper beside Felix's arm, which was really filling up with scribbles.

"Why don't you write words? How is someone supposed to read that?" Theodore extended his neck in an attempt to read the scribbles.

"They are words," Felix said with a sigh, "it's called shorthand. It makes me write faster."

"Oh."

"Anyway, you wrote that you were a C student in High School? You also didn't write down any universities you've attended after that. How do you think you'll benefit Sterile Technology if you're hired?"

"Oh! Professional advancement opportunities." Theodore started without missing a beat.

"Alright."

The two sat in silence until Felix looked up again from his notes. "Well? Explain it."

"Explain what?"

"Can you explain how you'll benefit professional advancement opportunities?"

"Well, I know people that could help with advancement..." Theodore said very slowly.

"So networking ...one last thing, before I can wrap this up. So Theodore-"

"You can just call me Ted."

"So Ted, if you had to pick one animal to represent you, what animal would that be?"

"That's not a normal question."

"It's a personality question, which is normal."

"Oh....." this hadn't been at all in any practices that Ted had seen. "I pick a dog."

"Why a dog in particular?"

"Well, dogs are fun and good companions, and they're adorable." Ted replied really happily.

"Okay and that's the end of the interview so I'll get back to you about a secondary interview via email or phone call."

"I have a question."

Felix hesitated before answering, "is the question related to the interview, job applications or methods of communication?"

"I wanted to know what hair dye you use since it looks so nice."

"That's not related to the interview, job applications or methods of communication."

"Please? I really want to know the brand."

"I.....I don't use hair dye. This is my natural hair color."

"Hm, okay! Bye Felix!"

"Um, goodbye? And keep the door open in your way out."

Theodore left the conference room and went back to the lobby, walking back towards the parked and waiting limousine. He knew that Father would want a report and he'll have to share all about the interview, but he still thought that Felix was strange with his exact hair color and lack of a last name.