Chapter Eight — The Comeback

Will’s POV:

I stepped down from the car feeling a bit anxious. I can’t believe I’m back here. But maybe it is the right thing to do and it’s better to face all of my worst fears and fight them now than to wait until later.

“Welcome Sir” Pete one of the messengers said as he walked up to me to collect my briefcase. I know dad would be mad at me for not letting the driver drop me off with the limo he bought in my name. I didn’t want anyone to be aware of my arrival. I wanted my resumption back to be a really quiet one.

I could see the receptionists and some other workers on the first floor tremble as I walked in. They all started saying fake greetings, but I ignored them and reached for the elevator.

My office looks just the same way I left it. I guess my Dad’s threat about letting someone else take over was false. I walked over to my seat and sat on the chair.

“Here’s your bag sir” Pete said as he placed the briefcase on the huge glass desk in front of me.

“Pete, tell Hailey to see me now” I said.

“Yes, sir” he said as he walked out hurriedly. After a few minutes she walked in, looking like her usual self, with an awfully bright red lipstick.

“Good Morning Sir” she said.

“Hi, Hailey. Good morning. Set up a board meeting right now with all the department heads,” I ordered.

“But sir, it’s unexpected; they weren’t told before ha—"

“Shut up and do exactly what I said right now.” I always thought she disliked me for some reason. But having the guts to question my words shows just how much she hated me. But no matter how strong that hate was, I would always be her boss, and she had to do what I said.

“O-okay, Sir,” she stuttered as she made her way out.

*****

The meeting had started already but a certain Mark, who I think is still the same one that was reported to have thrown Irene’s credentials down the trash happens to be delaying the meeting.

“Shall we start then?” I asked and they all replied ‘yes’ immediately. They knew whatever the meeting was about couldn’t be good. Especially when a lot of them made their hate known after I left because they didn’t ever think I would come back. Why would the spoilt billionaire’s son choose work over his parties? That’s what most of them thought, well here I am and I would be making a lot of changes starting today.

We were ten minutes into the meeting and a young man who should be about my age stormed into the conference room. He looked really disorganized and unkempt. He tried sneaking in quietly without getting anybody’s attention.

I paused from what I was saying and waited for him to take his seat. Everybody’s focus was now on him because I had my gaze fixed on him. I knew who he was already, it’s always people like him that abused whatever power they were given.

When he noticed everybody’s attention was on him he cleared his throat and apologized.

“Good morning everyone. Sorry for being late; I had a flat tire,” he said.

A few people nodded and acknowledged him and this made me chuckle. How did somebody so unprofessional get hired in the first place?

“You’re the head of the recruiting department?” I asked.

“Yes sir,” he said confidently and adjusted his suit. He had such a foolish pride.

“I see.” I nodded. “See me after this meeting.” I wanted to call him out on why he threw a candidate’s certificate in the trash without looking at it, but it would only get everyone’s attention and make them all have their eyes on Irene when she got employed here.

The rest of the meeting went smoothly. I made few changes to the rules of the company and addressed them about other areas where I feel they are slacking. I also got updated on all that has been going on while I was away.

“Sir, you said you wanted to see me” the Mark guy said as he stood at the entrance of my office.

“Yeah. Sit” I replied.

“How do you know a candidate is qualified for work before you select them” I asked.

“Uhm, there are certain requirements the company has asked for” he replied.

“And what are those requirements?” I frowned.

“It depends on the department they are applying to. But it’s basically about their qualifications and experience” he shifted uncomfortably on his seat.

“What’s the minimum degree that’s allowed?” I asked.

“A bachelor's degree, Sir,” he replied.

“I see,” I said, “and what degree did you come in with?"

“A master’s degree,” he answered.

“So why did you reject the last candidate that applied?"

“Uhm, there are a lot of people who have been rejected because they don’t meet up with the requirements."

“What requirement?” I asked angrily. This conversation was really infuriating.

“I mean they either don’t have the qualification or they lack the experience” he replied.

“If that’s the case why did you trash the credentials of Irene Juls” I asked. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Irene Juls,” he recited and tilted his head like he was trying to remember “I don’t know anybody like that Sir” he squinted like he was trying to remember.

“I’m not asking if you know anybody like that, I asked if you threw credentials with that name in the trash” I said.

“I didn’t go through any application form with that name so there’s no way I could have trashed it” he replied.

I chuckled. What was going on with him and why did he have to lie. Rachel told me over the phone when I called that he trashed it. Is this how he gambles with people’s dreams and chance at having a good life? He didn’t even know her or go through her credentials, yet he threw it in the bin? What then was the requirement he was following to employ people? I thought people in his department were experts and how did he even become the head of his department.

“Look, I referred her to this company to apply for a job and I know for a fact that she submitted her credentials, and I have gone through them and she meets all the requirements of this company. Now you and your team in your department should go find the credentials and application form she submitted and send her a congratulatory mail saying she got the job. You can leave now” I said.

“And yeah,” I added as he turned back, “If I find out you lied about throwing her credentials in the trash, you will be fired.” I could see disappointment written all over his face.