Chapter 2: The interview

The hum of the central air conditioning was the only sound in the otherwise silent building of ZN Corporations, Mumbai. A handful of employees moved briskly through the corridors, their movements precise, almost mechanical, as though the very presence of the building demanded perfection.

And then, the world seemed to still.

A sleek black limousine rolled up to the front of the office building, glistening under the sunlight. The door opened, and a polished black Oxford shoe emerged, followed by a tall, imposing figure. Chris Zayden , the enigmatic CEO of ZN Corporations, stepped out of the car.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, Zayden exuded power with every step he took. His broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and piercing gray eyes made him look more like a monarch than a businessman. His posture was upright, his every movement calculated and deliberate. There was no need for words; his aura commanded silence and respect.

The staff froze. Some lowered their heads instinctively, while others exchanged panicked glances. Zayden’s reputation preceded him, and anyone who had worked at ZN Corporations knew that his inspections were sudden, thorough, and merciless.

“Sir,” the security guard at the entrance stammered, bowing slightly.

Zayden barely acknowledged him with a faint nod, his sharp gaze scanning the area. His bodyguard, followed close behind, his expression stoic and unreadable.

Inside the building, whispers broke out like wildfire.

“Is he here for an inspection again?”

“He just inspected this branch today, not even today just an hour before!”

“What did we miss? Why is he here?”

No one had the courage to voice their fears openly. Instead, they bowed their heads and made way for him as he strode through the lobby and into the elevator.

Upstairs, the candidates for the interview sat in tense silence, their files clutched in their hands. The air in the conference room was heavy with nerves, and Hema sat in a corner, her palms damp and her legs trembling slightly.

She wasn’t sure why, but her body was betraying her. Her feet shook involuntarily, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. She pressed them against the ground to stop the motion, but it only made her more aware of her anxiety.

Then, through the glass walls of the conference room, she saw him.

Zayden stepped out of the elevator like a storm in human form. His gray eyes scanned the area, missing nothing. For a moment, his gaze landed on Hema. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked down, gripping her file tighter.

“Calm down, calm down,” she whispered to herself. But her feet betrayed her, shaking with a rhythm she couldn’t control.

Zayden didn’t say a word, but the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched her. She wasn’t like the others, who tried to look confident or unaffected. Her vulnerability intrigued him, and for a fleeting moment, he let himself wonder if her composure would hold up when it mattered.

The conference room fell into hushed silence when Zayn entered. The murmurs were immediate.

“It’s him.”

“The CEO himself.”

“Why is he here?”

The manager, a middle-aged man in a navy blue suit, was standing at the head of the room, about to begin the interview process. When Zayden entered, he froze, his mouth slightly open in shock.

“Mr. Zayden !” he stammered, quickly moving away from the chair. “I didn’t expect you, sir. Please, take a seat.”

Zayden walked slowly to the chair, his gaze fixed on the manager. He didn’t sit immediately. Instead, he stood by the chair, his hands resting on the backrest as he spoke.

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t come to my own building whenever I want?” His tone was calm, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable.

The manager paled. “N-no, sir, of course not. I just—”

Zayden raised a hand, silencing him. “That’s what I thought.” With that, he sat down, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back slightly.

The manager, still flustered, quickly sat down as well, but his discomfort was evident.

“I’ll handle the interviews,” Zayden said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Y-yes, sir,” the manager replied, nodding quickly.

The Interviews Begin

The first candidate, a tall man in his early thirties, stepped forward. His suit was slightly wrinkled, and his tie was crooked—a detail Zayden noticed immediately.

“Your name?” Zayden asked, his voice sharp.

“Ajay Mehta, sir,” the man replied, his voice trembling.

Zayden leaned forward slightly, his gray eyes boring into Ajay’s. “You’ve worked in marketing for seven years, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then explain to me why your last campaign failed.”

Ajay blinked, caught off guard. “Sir, I—it wasn’t entirely my fault. The budget was limited, and—”

“Stop,” Zayden interrupted, holding up a hand. “You’re already making excuses. If you can’t take responsibility for your failures, why should I trust you with my company’s resources?”

Ajay opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Zayden leaned back in his chair, his expression cold.

“You’re dismissed,” he said.

Ajay slumped slightly and walked out of the room, his head bowed.

The second candidate, a young woman in a bright red blazer, approached the table. She was smiling nervously, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

Zayden didn’t give her a chance to speak. “You’ve listed project management as your strength,” he said, glancing at her resume. “Tell me how you’d handle a team member who refuses to follow instructions.”

The woman hesitated. “I—I would try to communicate with them and understand their perspective.”

“And if they still refuse?”

She fumbled for an answer. “Then… I would escalate the issue to my supervisor.”

Zayden raised an eyebrow. “So your solution is to pass the problem onto someone else? That doesn’t sound like leadership to me.”

The woman’s face turned red, and she quickly bowed her head. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“Next,” Zayden said, dismissing her.

The third candidate, a confident-looking man with a well-tailored suit, strode forward. His posture was upright, and he met Zayden’s gaze without hesitation.

Zayden studied him for a moment before speaking. “You seem sure of yourself. Tell me, what’s the most innovative idea you’ve brought to your previous company?”

The man smiled. “I initiated a new client onboarding system that increased efficiency by 30%.”

Zayden tilted his head slightly. “Interesting. But efficiency isn’t innovation. Anyone can improve a system. Show me something original.”

The man’s confidence faltered. “Well, I—I also contributed to—”

Zayden held up a hand. “That’s enough. I don’t need contributions. I need leaders. Dismissed.”

Finally, it was Hema’s turn.

She stood up slowly, clutching her file tightly. Her legs felt like jelly, but she forced herself to walk to the table.

Zayden’s eyes followed her every step, his gaze intense. When she stood before him, he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table and steepling his fingers.

“Your name?” he asked, his voice softer than it had been with the others.

“Hema, sir,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zayden opened her file, his eyes scanning the pages with interest. He noticed the simplicity of her resume—no exaggerated achievements, no false bravado.

“You don’t have much experience,” he said, glancing up at her.

“No, sir,” she admitted, “but I’m a quick learner, and I’m willing to work hard.”

Zayden leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Why should I take a chance on someone like you? My company doesn’t have room for mediocrity.”

Hema swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of her file. “Because I won’t let you down, sir. I don’t have experience, but I have determination. And I believe I can prove myself if given the chance.”

Zayden leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying her intently. “What makes you think you can handle the pressure of this job? It’s not for the faint-hearted.”

Hema took a deep breath. “I’ve faced challenges before. I’m not afraid of hard work.”

Zayden’s lips curled into a faint smile, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. He closed her file and nodded.

He gestured for her to leave, and she turned to walk away, her heart pounding.

Zayden’s eyes followed her as she left the room, lingering on the sway of her waist. For a moment, he allowed himself a small, almost imperceptible smile .