Eyes on Iris

3. Admirable Honesty

HUNTER

Sommerbank.

Hunter clenched his jaws while taking another glimpse of the diver’s watch on his wrist. He didn’t like waiting and yet there he was, sitting in the lobby of a big accounting firm, waiting for his name to be called. He was in a job interview that he didn’t even want to have.

But he needed it.

He needed the money.

Impatiently, he leaned back and forth for the nth time in his seat – quietly observing the people walking in front of him. Men wore black suits and women were swaying in their high-waisted fitted pencil skirts. About eighty-five percent of those were either on a phone call, some were frantically glancing at their wristwatches, and the others were rushing to catch the elevator.

Nobody cared about anyone. A lot even bumped into one another but neither apologized. Everyone lived in their own little bubble – always in a rush – as if nothing else mattered but the sickening daily routine of going to work and then back home.

Hunter sighed, looking out of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

It would be Christmas in less than twelve hours – the very reason why he was sitting there, waiting for God-knows-who to get a well-paying job. He was afraid that his exhausted bank account would not last longer than three months because of the extravagant lifestyle in the city. Moreover, the holidays prompted him to spend a few more thousand to buy a fancy gift, reducing its life further.

Though he knew he did not have to oblige himself, Hunter stood by his belief that it was a man’s duty to please his woman.

And he would keep doing so.

It had been almost three years since he moved to Sommerbank with his girlfriend, Cathy. As much as he hated the metropolis, he couldn’t let her leave Thayers alone. She was in love with the glitzy lifestyle here and he was in love with her.

If it wasn’t just for Cathy, he wouldn’t have survived the tedious city life.

Hunter’s attention was pulled back by the giggling of the two women at the far corner of the room. They have been stealing glances at him ever since he arrived. Politely, he gave them a light nod and redirected his attention back to the paper he was holding.

Typical.

Receiving such kinds of attention from women wasn’t new to him. It was one of the very few things that remained the same ever since he moved away from home. Hunter supposed, wherever he was, some ladies would be the same – hungry for attention.

“Mr Kingston?” said the raspy voice of a middle-aged woman. She was the plump secretary of the manager who oversaw the interview process for the position he was applying for.

Breathing in relief, Hunter raised his head and rose from his seat. He buttoned his jacket back as the lady looked at him under her silver-rimmed eyeglasses, motioning him to enter the two-way glass door behind her.

“Mr Carter is waiting for you inside,” she spoke before settling back in her seat, typing away on her keyboard.

With a light bob of his head, Hunter stepped into the room. A man in his late fifties was sitting behind a large office table with towering piles of papers on one side. Mr Carter held a file in his right hand which he presumed to be his application papers.

“Good morning, Mr Kingston. It’s good to see you,” greeted the man, getting up on his feet, offering a handshake for formalities.

Politely, Hunter obliged, then sat on the chair in front of the table. That was not the first time he had met a person who held a high position or his first job interview. He recalled that his father had always reminded him of creating a good first impression to people who wielded power, saying that taking care of one’s image during the initial meeting would make or break a person.

However, Hunter always disagreed with this idea. He believed that there was no need to fake his personality just to be accepted by others. Trying to please people he did not give a sh*t about was not in his vocabulary.

Sure, he could be flexible to some degree, but he had his limits.

They labeled it as arrogance.

He called it honesty.

“Your résumé tells me that this is your second job after graduating from Thayers University. You even have a Ph.D. This job is very different from your previous work. Do you think you wouldn’t have a hard time getting used to it?”

Hunter stared at Mr Carter scanning through the pages of his file. True enough, the only job he had before this was when he was running the family farm. He may have finished a degree that was business-related, but he liked having soil in his hands from planting crops rather than sitting in a box all day.

After finishing his degree, he attended a few other interviews but he either declined the offer in the end or the interviewer outright sent him out because of his rough answers. But this time around, he was determined to get the job and had long prepared for these questions.

“I am a fast learner, Mr Carter. I catch on to things faster than others. I earnestly believe that my abilities are enough to fulfill what is required of me for this position.”

He was a confident man. Never in his life had he ever doubted his abilities. This was one of his strengths and knowing his limitations was part of it, too.

“I like you. You are a positive guy.”

“Thank you.”

“May I know why you wanted this job?”

Hunter shrugged. “I don’t want this job. But I need it.”

Mr Carter crumpled his forehead as he twirled the fountain in his fingers.

Hunter was not even surprised when the manager started scribbling notes on his notepad.

“Would you mind elaborating why you needed to get this job?” the man asked, lifted his head, and stroked his chin while staring at him with great interest.

Crossing his hands on his lap, Hunter let out a calculated smile and nodded, saying, “I moved here a few years ago even though I don’t fancy the city life. The only reason I’m staying here is my girlfriend. I need this job to pay for the rent and bills. As a man, I want to provide and give her a good life. In order to do that, I need to earn money. This job pays well – good enough to support us.”

He was applying for a position that required at least two years of work experience. Yet, with his educational background, he was confident that he had a shot despite his lack of track record. The fact that he was sitting there for the final screening had proven him right.

And it boosted his self-esteem.

After a few moments of silence, Mr Carter broke into an approving smile, his wrinkled face looking friendlier than ever.

“Your honesty is admirable. That is so responsible of you, Mr Kingston.”

Hunter replied with a courteous grin as he answered all the standard questions Mr Carter had thrown at him. After nearly thirty minutes, the interview had concluded.

“Thank you for coming in today. You will hear from us within a week,” said the manager, rising from his seat and extending his arm for another handshake.

When he left the room, he sighed in relief, finally loosening the tie around his neck. He did his best but it would be presumptuous of him if he said he was confident to getting the job. There would only be two possible reasons if Mr Carter would ever consider him for the position; his high-caliber educational background and potential or the honesty he had shown the man.

However, in the world of business, Hunter knew better that the latter would be next to impossible.