Chapter 123 Interview Day
In the blink of an eye, it was the interview day at the Martins Group. Mr Martins asked his son, Aiden, to sit in the interview as an observer. He was over the moon.
Avery indicated to her father that she would come to the company around 10 am. She wanted to help her father with the Airport tender application.
The Human Resources department had shortlisted ten candidates per department. They had arranged different interview panels and Aiden chose to sit with the Finance department because it was close to his heart.
The interview candidates were sitting in the lounge, and they were very nervous. Some were meditating and some were reading their notes. They wanted to be afforded the chance to work at Martins Group because it was a good company to work for.
The Finance interview panel comprised the Finance Director, Leo Bailey, the Human Resources Director, Benny Acres, and Aiden as an observer.
The interview questions were set by both Director Bailey and Director Acres. The Human Resources Manager took the phone and asked the Administrator to escort the first candidate into the interview room.
The young man walked into the interview with confidence. He smiled at the interviewers and said, “Good morning, my name is Luca Sparrow, thank you for inviting me.” Director Bailey asked him to take a seat.
Luca thanked him and sat down. Director Acres introduced the panel and explained that the internship was for twelve months but there was the possibility of being retained if the intern was performing his or her tasks well.
Director Acres looked at Luca and said, “Mr Sparrow, we will ask you a few questions. If you want to think about the question, you can ask us to pass and come back to that question later.”
Then Director Acres asked him two soft skill questions. Then it was Director Bailey’s turn to ask the questions. He smiled at Luca and asked, “Mr Sparrow if we hired you to the Finance department, what would be your contribution?”
Luca smiled back at Director Bailey and replied, “Sir, I have good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team. I am willing to go above and beyond what is expected of me. Also, I have excellent computer skills.”
Director Bailey nodded his head; he was very impressed. Then he asked him if he had any questions to ask the panel. Luca smiled and asked, “How soon will I receive your feedback?” Director Acres indicated that the successful candidates would be notified in three days’ time.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
Luca thanked the panel, and then he shook their hands and left. Director Bailey looked at Aiden and asked, “Mr Martins, how do you feel about this interviewee?” Aiden smiled and replied, “I liked him a lot, and he has good communication skills.”
Director Bailey smiled at Aiden and said, “He impressed me a lot too. I wouldn’t mind giving him a chance.”
On the ground floor, he met Avery. She smiled at him and said, “Hi Luca, are you well? How was your interview?”
Luca smiled at her and replied, “Hi Miss Martins, the interview went well. I hope for the best.” Avery smiled, and then she bade him goodbye. She got into the lift and pressed the top floor button.
When Avery was walking toward her father’s office, she saw a tall and handsome young man. He was carrying a laptop. The young man looked at Avery. Something happened in his heart. It was love at first sight.
He smiled brightly at her. He hadn’t seen anyone so beautiful. He then knelt on one knee and asked, “Will you be my bride?”
Avery giggled and replied, “If you can ask my father for my hand in marriage, I will surely marry you.” The young man smiled brightly and asked, “Where can I find your father? I am willing to ask him for your hand in marriage.”
Avery smiled brightly and replied, “He is behind you.” The young man looked behind him. He was so shocked to see CEO Martins walking towards them smiling. The young man was Siyabonga Cele, CEO Martins’ Executive Secretary.
Siyabonga looked at his boss and said, “I am sorry, Sir, I didn’t know that she was your daughter.” Mr Martins smiled and walked to his office.
Avery recognized Siyabonga at first glance. Her father told her about Minister Cele’s request to groom his son. Also, she knew that Siyabonga would never ask her father for her hand in marriage. She was just testing him.
Siyabonga looked at Avery and said, “Nice to finally meet you, Miss Martins, my name is Siyabonga Cele. What is your name, Miss?”
Avery smiled and replied, “The pleasure is mine, Mr Cele. My name is Avery Martins.” Then Siyabonga reached his hand and shook her hand. He looked at Avery and asked, “Do you mind being my friend?”
Avery asked, “Why don’t you be my big brother instead?” Siyabonga smiled broadly and replied, “It’s an honour to be your brother, Miss Martins.” Avery smiled sweetly at him and said, “Please call me Avery. Can I call you Siya, big brother?”
Siyabonga nodded his head, then they walked to the CEO’s office. Avery smiled brightly at her father and said, “Daddy, please meet my big brother, Siya.” Her father smiled, and then he congratulated his daughter.
Avery helped her father with the Airport tender application. Then she looked at the proposals for cooperation which were sent by other companies. She rejected all the proposals, and she wrote down the reasons for rejection.
She then went to the Human Resources department in Director Acres’ office. She wanted to see how her boyfriend, Jordan, performed in the interview. She was dumbfounded to find that Jordan didn’t apply for the internship.
Avery was puzzled because she specifically asked Jordan to apply for an internship and he promised that he would apply. She took her phone and dialed his number. When the call was connected, she greeted him and asked, “Baby, did you apply for the internship post?”
Jordan’s face darkened and he replied with an attitude, “No, I didn’t. I’ve submitted my business plan to several companies, and I am waiting for feedback.
I don’t see myself working for someone else. I was born to be a leader, not a servant.” Then he hung up the phone.
Unbeknownst to Avery, her boyfriend was lying through his teeth. He didn’t submit any business plan to other companies. He was waiting for her to set up a company for him.
Avery was dumbfounded about her boyfriend’s attitude because she was not forcing him to work for the Martins Group. Also, on that day, he told her that he was going for an interview. Maybe he was working already.
At the CEO’s office, CEO Martins was having a chat with his Executive Secretary, Siyabonga. He looked at him and said, “Siya, I was disappointed in you today. Don’t ever allow the opportunity to pass you by. If you want something, go for it.
If you were brave enough to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage, I would have agreed. My daughter was not going to go back on her word. I don’t mind having you as my son-in-law.”
Siyabonga was shocked. He couldn’t believe his ears. He thought his boss was angry with him for approaching his daughter. He was kicking himself for being a coward. He wished he could press the rewind button. Avery stole his heart, but he ended up being her elder brother.