Chapter 197: The chaos after the interview
Riya tossed and turned all night, unable to get any sleep. Nathaniel’s warning kept echoing in her head, and the thought of the recording he had on his phone gnawed at her relentlessly.
’What evidence does he have against me?’ she wondered, her mind racing.
He hadn’t shown her the video, and that only fueled her unease. She was certain he must have caught her bribing the waitress, but what unsettled her most was how he had discovered her link to Jaxon.
That evening at the event, she had only exchanged a few words with Jaxon in a secluded corridor near the restroom—a place she knew had no surveillance cameras.
How had Nathaniel gotten a video of her with him? Could it be that he had seen them together in person?
The realization struck her like ice: Nathaniel must have witnessed their interaction and secretly recorded it.
’I have to get rid of that footage—no matter what.’
Her hands shook as she reached for her phone, almost dialing Zachary before stopping abruptly. "No... I can’t let him know," she muttered, throwing the phone aside.
Zachary had always warned her against helping Jaxon, calling him a ticking time bomb that would eventually pull them into danger. But Riya had believed she could exploit Jaxon’s rage toward Zara and push him into taking revenge. That was the reason she had persuaded Zachary to give Jaxon shelter.
Yet Jaxon had failed repeatedly in carrying out his job, each failure stretching the timeline and heightening the risk of exposure. Now, she regretted her decision. By trusting Jaxon, she had put herself in peril.
If Zachary ever discovered that Nathaniel already suspected her of having ties with Jaxon, she knew he wouldn’t spare her. He would erase her existence without leaving a single trace.
"He is too dangerous. I can’t let him find out. I’ll have to handle this myself."
Cold sweat dampened her forehead as she picked up the phone and dialed a number. The moment the line connected, she spoke with urgency. Glancing around to ensure no one was within earshot, she leaned forward and whispered her command.
"Make sure it’s done fast," she ended firmly.
"It’ll be taken care of," came the assured voice from the other end.
Riya exhaled slowly, a flicker of relief softening her nerves. ’One step at a time,’ she told herself. ’Once this is over, I’ll figure out how to deal with Jaxon.’
"The set is ready," a voice suddenly cut through her thoughts.
Startled, Riya looked up to see the woman standing nearby. She had been so consumed by her plans, she had almost forgotten about the photoshoot. It took her a few seconds to steady herself.
"I know," she replied, turning back to the vanity mirror to meet her own reflection.
The makeup artist stepped in, deft hands moving over her face, giving the final touches of perfection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When word spread that the hiring process had concluded and a younger, less experienced candidate had been chosen, frustration quickly mounted among the applicants. Allegations of bias and unfairness circulated and began demanding clarification.
Upon learning of the disruption, Nathaniel immediately convened a meeting with all the candidates in the conference hall. Once everyone was seated, he addressed the room with a composed but unmistakably stern demeanor.
"Let me be perfectly clear," Nathaniel began, his tone measured yet commanding. "This organization does not tolerate disruption. You were invited here to be considered for a role. The responsibility of selection rests with me, and I have exercised that responsibility. The candidate I have chosen is standing right here."
He gestured toward Ian, who stood at his side.
"There should be no confusion," Nathaniel continued evenly. "The hiring process was not a formality, nor was it designed to mislead anyone. It was designed to identify the most suitable person. And that one is Ian. So I will ask again—why is there an issue?"
One of the men leaned forward, his tone sharp. "Because this feels misleading. We all participated in the interviews in good faith, yet you selected someone with far less experience than the rest of us. We deserve to know why he was chosen over us."
Nathaniel regarded him evenly. "You believe he is less suitable?" His lips curved into a restrained smile. "Let me correct you. He is more qualified than all of you. He holds two master’s degrees."
He slid Ian’s file across the table. As the applicants reviewed the impressive qualifications, their earlier confidence faltered, replaced by visible unease. None had anticipated that the seemingly unremarkable candidate possessed such strong academic qualifications.
"Yes, he is younger and has fewer years of experience," Nathaniel acknowledged. "But I do not measure potential by age alone. I measure it by adaptability, by commitment, by the ability to meet the demands of this organization without hesitation. His former employers have spoken highly of him—without a single complaint. Beyond that, I want someone willing to respond at any hour, without hesitation. In Ian, I see those qualities. In the rest of you, I do not."
His gaze swept across the room, sharp and unwavering. "This decision is final. If you cannot accept it, you are free to leave. But understand this—our standards remain non-negotiable, and excellence will always take precedence over entitlement."
Ian’s chest swelled with gratitude at Nathaniel’s words. Adjusting his glasses, he stood a little taller, pride evident in his stance. He had always given his best to his previous employers, working tirelessly and with unwavering dedication. While they had never complained against him, none had ever truly praised or valued him for the work he put in.
But Nathaniel was different. He hadn’t just hired him—he had defended him. He could easily have dismissed them and ordered security to escort them out, but instead, he chose to justify his decision to the angry candidates.
That gesture struck deep, leaving a lasting impression on Ian’s heart.
"I trust that answers your question," Nathaniel said at last, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Now leave my office quietly, before I involve the authorities."
At Nathaniel’s final words, silence gripped the room. No one dared to challenge him further. One by one, the disgruntled candidates rose and left, their shoulders hunched, heads lowered in defeat.
Only one man, the same one who had spoken up first, remained, hesitating to leave. Alone, he couldn’t fight.
Fury burned in his eyes.
He clenched the file in his hand before slamming it down onto the table. His gaze locked on Ian, seething with resentment, before he finally stormed out.
As soon as he came out of the building, he dialed a number. The line clicked, and Zachary’s deep, commanding voice answered almost instantly.
"Tell me the good news."
The man drew a heavy breath, his frustration spilling into his words. "There is no good news. I wasn’t hired."
"What did you just say?" There was a stiffness in Zachary’s tone. "You were the most qualified candidate. How could Nathaniel possibly overlook you?"
The man lowered his voice, bitterness lacing each word. "Because he wanted someone young, someone who could be at his beck and call. The one he picked is inexperienced, scruffy, and not at all fit for the role. And yet Nathaniel defended him. I even rallied the other candidates to protest, but it was useless. The plan failed."
On the other end, Zachary’s nostrils flared in quiet rage. His jaw tightened as the weight of failure sank in. He had calculated everything, but Nathaniel had turned the game on him.
His plan—shattered.