Chapter Text
The rain had started even before dawn, thankfully it wasn't a storm, not yet.
Just a steady drizzle that fogged up the windows of the buildings and turned the streets into a grayish reflection of white lights and traffic signals.
Alexis Ness watched the sky from the bus stop as he adjusted for the fifth time the black folder he held against his chest.
Inside rested several copies of his résumé, printed the night before with an almost obsessive level of care. Not a single sheet was folded, not a single corner stuck out. Each document occupied exactly the same place inside the folder, separated by small colored tabs that allowed him to find them within a matter of seconds.
It was a habit.
One he had developed years ago.
Order made it easier to find answers.
So did numbers.
Ever since he was little, he had discovered that people were unpredictable, but data wasn't. Numbers always hid a pattern. A reason. An explanation that only required enough patience to be uncovered.
Perhaps that was why he had chosen to study Accounting and, later, specialize in Statistics.
Many of his classmates considered that combination a punishment.
He, on the other hand, found a satisfaction that was difficult to explain every time a sheet full of figures ended up becoming a clear answer.
There was something... beautiful about it.
Almost magical.
Not because he believed in spells or miracles.
But because he enjoyed that feeling of taking hundreds of unrelated pieces of data and discovering a story where everyone else only saw endless columns of numbers.
It was like looking at a puzzle already solved before everyone else.
It was like knowing what spell a magician would cast before he even took out his wand.
The bus arrived several minutes late. Ness got on, scanned his transit card, and chose a seat by the window. He looked at the street for a couple of seconds before taking out his phone and checking the time.
It was 08:17 AM, but his first interview was at nine. The second one was at 10:30 AM. After that, he would have time to eat something, and then he planned to visit several companies that accepted in-person applications.
It wasn't the ideal plan; in fact, it was quite disorganized for someone as methodical as him.
But he had been looking for a job for almost two months.
He could no longer afford to go home saying that he would «keep trying tomorrow.»
If he didn't get any money, he wouldn't be able to pay the rent for his apartment. The money his parents gave him wasn't enough to cover all of his monthly expenses.
The vehicle moved slowly through the morning traffic as Alexis became lost in his thoughts. He mentally went over the answers they would probably ask him again.
«What would you consider to be your strengths?»
"Data analysis, problem-solving, statistical thinking, and working under pressure." He muttered to himself, raising one finger each time he mentioned one of his qualities.
«And your weaknesses?»
He always hesitated with that one and fell silent. He simply clenched his fist and lowered his hand to one of his legs, letting it rest there.
Telling the truth to a question like that; it never seemed to be the right answer.
He could admit that he was a perfectionist, that he found it difficult to abandon a problem before solving it, that he preferred to review a report five times before submitting it.
Interviewers usually smiled when he answered that way, then thanked him for his time.
And a few days later, the same email would arrive.
«We regret to inform you...»
His phone vibrated, his shoulders tensing at the sound.
He lifted his phone and turned on the screen, realizing that the notification was a message from an old university classmate.
«How's the job search going?»
The magenta-haired man stared at the screen for a few seconds, his brow furrowing slightly before his fingers began to type.
«Good!»
His fingers stopped, and he deleted the sentence he had written, replacing it with another.
«I'm still looking..»
It was a more honest answer. After sending it, he slipped his phone into his pocket just as the bus stopped in front of the first building of the morning.
He breathed slowly and deeply, his chest rising and falling gently. He adjusted his tie and fixed his magenta hair a little, gripping the folder tightly as he crossed the automatic doors, convinced that perhaps, this time, things would be different.
The automatic doors closed behind him with a soft hiss.
Before entering the building, however, he had to cross the few meters separating the sidewalk from the main entrance. The rain was still light, barely a curtain of tiny droplets, but it was enough to leave small dark spots on the pavement and dampen the tips of his black shoes.
A puddle had formed right in front of the staircase, and Ness carefully avoided it. The last thing he needed was to show up to an interview with his pants splattered with mud.
As he climbed the steps leading to the entrance, he discreetly shook off the droplets that had settled on the sleeves of his coat and ran a hand over the front of his jacket. It wasn't wrinkled. His tie was still perfectly centered. His hair, fortunately, had barely lost any of its volume.
He sighed, satisfied, and finally crossed the entrance. The warmth of the lobby immediately enveloped him, the tip of his nose, which had been cold, barely beginning to warm up.
It was an elegant building, though rather understated. Nothing extravagant; the white walls contrasted with the dark wooden details, and the polished marble floor reflected the warm lights from the ceiling.
At that hour, there was already quite a bit of activity, as there was in any important or high-profile company. Employees carrying cups of coffee walked back and forth while looking over documents or talking on the phone. The sound of heels, elevator doors opening and closing, and the constant tapping of keyboards came together to form a sort of organized melody.
It was magically pleasant. There was life in that building, there was routine.
And Ness wanted to be a part of it.
He approached the reception desk with quiet steps, barely looking around so he wouldn't bump into anything and could keep his eyes on the path ahead. The woman at the desk looked up as soon as he approached and gave him a kind smile.
“Good morning. How can I help you?”
“Good morning.” Alexis replied with the same courtesy. “My name is Alexis Ness. I have an interview scheduled for nine.” The receptionist quickly typed something into her computer.
“Let me check... Yes, here it is. Please, take a seat. Someone will come to get you in a few minutes.”
“Thank you very much.” With a slight nod of his head, he made his way toward the waiting area.
There were five chairs lined up in front of a large window, four of them already occupied.
A man in his forties flipped through a leather portfolio filled with documents marked with colorful sticky notes. Beside him, an elegantly dressed woman in a gray suit reviewed a presentation on her tablet with almost complete concentration. The other two candidates were speaking quietly among themselves. Judging by the natural way they talked, it seemed they already knew each other.
The magenta-haired man chose the only empty seat and carefully placed the folder on his lap while glancing at the others.
They all seemed older, more experienced. Definitely, one of them was already a senior. Or perhaps it was just an impression they wanted to give. Or maybe not.
He lowered his gaze toward his own hands, slowly intertwining them to keep his nervousness from showing through the slight trembling of his fingers.
He couldn't afford to get anxious. He had studied for years for this. He knew his field inside and out, he knew the programs they asked for. He knew how to interpret financial statements, create projections, build statistical models, and analyze databases quickly.
He was prepared.
He just needed someone to give him a chance.
It wasn't long before a door at the end of the hallway opened. A middle-aged man stepped out holding a blue folder, his gaze sweeping across the waiting room.
“Alexis Ness?” The magenta-haired man stood up almost immediately.
“Yes, that's me.”
“Perfect. Come with me, please.” He held his folder firmly and followed him down the hallway.
As they walked, he couldn't help but observe the place with curiosity. Glass offices revealed employees focused in front of enormous monitors filled with graphs, pivot tables, and spreadsheets. In a meeting room, several people discussed something around a screen displaying financial indicators.
Everything seemed to move at a constant, precise rhythm, as if it were a clock, and all those employees were its hands.
And, for the first time in weeks, Ness felt that he could truly imagine himself working in a place like this. A small smile formed on his face, but it didn't last long, as after a few steps he found himself standing at the door to the man's office.
The same man with the blue folder carefully opened the door, allowing him into his office.
“Come in.”
“Thank you very much.” He inclined his head slightly, grateful for the gesture.
The interviewer's office was spacious, though rather simple. A wooden desk occupied the center of the room, accompanied by two chairs facing it and a bookshelf filled with books on management, finance, and economics. Beside the window, a small plant broke up the monotony of the gray tones that dominated the room.
“Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you.” He settled in carefully, making sure to keep his back straight. He placed the folder on his lap as the man sat down across from him and flipped through his résumé for a few seconds.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable. Alexis took advantage of the moment to discreetly observe the office.
There were no family photographs on the desk, as there usually were in other offices he had visited. Only perfectly stacked documents, a laptop, and a cup of coffee that seemed to have gone cold quite some time ago.
Finally, the interviewer looked up.
“Well, Alexis. First of all, thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for having me.” The man smiled slightly.
“I see you graduated relatively recently.”
“Yes. Two months ago.”
“Accounting... and a specialization in Statistics.” Ness nodded.
“I've always been interested in complementing both fields. I believe accounting explains what happened within a company, while statistics allows us to understand why it happened... and even anticipate what might happen next.” The interviewer raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That's quite an interesting way of looking at it.” The magenta-haired man smiled somewhat shyly.
“Numbers tell stories... You just have to know how to read them.” For a brief moment, the man remained silent. Then he lowered his gaze back to the résumé.
“Here, you mention a university project on inventory optimization. Could you explain it to me?”
His nervousness disappeared almost instantly. That was a question he could answer. One that had no right or wrong answers, only the truth.
“I built a database with several years' worth of sales records. I cleaned the information to eliminate inconsistencies, and, using predictive models, I was also able to estimate the future demand for different products.” As he continued speaking, his hands began to move naturally.
He wasn't exaggerating his gestures; they simply accompanied his words. It also helped him stay more relaxed when he moved some part of his body.
It was obvious that he enjoyed the subject.
“...That way, it was possible to reduce excess inventory without affecting the availability of the products with the highest turnover.” The interviewer rested his elbows on the desk.
“Did you develop that entire project by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“From data collection all the way to the final analysis?”
“Yes.” The man let out a small whistle.
“Not bad.” Ness felt a tiny spark of hope begin to ignite inside his chest.
They continued talking for several minutes about his knowledge of programs such as Excel, Power BI, and even SQL. They also discussed his proficiency in financial analysis and statistical models.
With every answer, the interviewer nodded slowly. He even asked a few additional questions, interested in understanding the reasoning behind certain decisions Ness had made during his university projects.
This was new. Normally, interviews ended much sooner. This time, for the first time in weeks, he felt like someone was actually listening to him.
Maybe...
Maybe this would be the opportunity he had been waiting for all this time.
The interviewer finally closed the folder.
“I have to say, I find your profile quite solid.” Ness's heart gave a small flutter, and his cheeks even developed a faint blush.
“Thank you very much.”
“It’s clear that you’re proficient with the tools we’re looking for and that you have a very good analytical ability.” Alexis could barely contain the smile threatening to appear.
Then came the next question.
The usual one.
“Now then... could you tell me a little about your work experience?”
Silence suddenly fell over the office. The magenta-haired man's smile faltered for just a moment. Long enough for the interviewer to understand the answer even before hearing it.
“...I don't have any professional experience yet.” He admitted honestly. “All the projects listed on my résumé were developed during university.”
The man remained silent for a few seconds, but fortunately, he didn't seem disappointed. He just seemed... saddened.
As if he already knew the outcome of that conversation by heart.
He sighed discreetly before resting both hands on the desk.
“It's a shame. Because, honestly, I think you have a lot of potential.” The hopeful gleam in Ness's eyes slowly disappeared, and that serious expression returned to his face.
The interviewer honestly explained the company's hiring policies, answered a couple of questions about future openings, and, before saying goodbye, gave him another kind smile.
Alexis kept his gaze lowered for the rest of the conversation.
“Keep that attitude, Alexis. It's clear that you enjoy what you do. I'm sure you'll find a place where they can appreciate that. Thank you very much for your time.”
They shook hands, the man accompanied him to the office door, and before he left, he added:
“And don't stop applying here. In a few months, we might open a junior position.”
“I will.”
The door closed behind him, and the hallway was still just as busy as it had been when he arrived.
Employees walked from one place to another carrying folders, some quietly discussing figures while others hurried out of meeting rooms with a laptop tucked under their arms.
Ness walked through the hallways at a calm pace.
He had been close.
Very close.
He could feel it.
It wasn't the first time an interviewer had praised his knowledge. But it wasn't the first time he had been rejected for exactly the same reason, either.
He crossed the lobby in silence, thanked the receptionist with a small nod, and stepped back outside.
The rain was still falling. It was just as light as it had been that morning, though the sky was beginning to darken with denser clouds.
He opened his umbrella as soon as he stepped onto the sidewalk, the damp air hitting his face as he took out his phone.
09:37 AM
He still had some time before the next interview.
Not enough to go back home; it wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth waiting around in the rain, either.
As he put his phone away, a faint coffee aroma reached him. He gently turned his head, noticing that a few meters from the entrance was a tiny café integrated into the building. It wasn't an elegant establishment, nor did it pretend to be. Just a counter, a couple of display cases filled with pastries, and a coffee machine that worked tirelessly for the employees coming and going throughout the morning.
He hesitated for a few seconds, then checked his account balance through his banking app.
He did a quick mental calculation. He could afford a coffee.
Just one.
Without hesitating any longer, he went inside. A little bell rang above the door.
“Good morning.” The barista greeted him with a smile.
“Good morning.”
His eyes scanned the menu hanging on the wall; Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, Americano.
He ended up pointing at the cheapest option.
“Could I have an instant coffee, please? The small size is fine.”
“Of course!” She replied with a smile.
While he waited, he observed the people filling the small establishment. Most of them wore the same ID badge hanging around their necks. Some chatted animatedly about meetings, while others talked about quarterly reports, important clients, and deadlines as if those were part of any everyday conversation.
Ness smiled without realizing it. He liked listening to that kind of thing. Someday, those conversations would be part of his routine too.
“Here you go.” The barista's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Thank you very much.” He held the cardboard cup between both hands. The warmth immediately seeped through the thin layer of paper and began to warm his fingers, still cold from the rain.
He took a small sip. It wasn't a particularly good coffee. In fact, it tasted quite bitter.
But it was hot. And, for the moment, that was enough.
He looked at the time again.
9:45 AM.
It was time to head to the next interview. With the coffee in one hand and the folder firmly tucked under his arm, Alexis stepped back into the drizzle, determined not to let a single rejection be enough to make him go home.
Once again, the cold air lashed against his face, but fortunately, he now had a source of warmth that would help him for a while. He walked a little farther until he reached the entrance of that building. It was very different from the first one; it was much taller.
The dark glass façade reflected the gray clouds covering the city, while enormous steel columns framed the main entrance. Several people entered and exited at a hurried pace, all dressed in impeccable office suits with ID badges hanging around their necks.
Ness looked up and took a deep breath. He checked the address on his phone again. It was the right place. He still had several minutes before the interview.
Perfect. He had more time to prepare.
He finished another small sip of his coffee. It wasn't as hot as it had been a few minutes ago, but it was still enough to keep the cold at bay.
He put his phone away, adjusted the folder under his left arm, and began climbing the entrance steps until the automatic doors started to open. At the same time, someone stepped out of the building with hurried steps.
Everything happened too quickly.
“Ah...” Ness barely had time to look up before his shoulder collided with the stranger's, and the cardboard cup immediately slipped from his fingers. “Ah!”
The coffee went flying, the dark liquid landing directly on the man's white shirt and part of his navy-blue suit jacket.
For a second, neither of them spoke. The only sound breaking the silence was that of the empty cup bouncing against the floor, a drop of coffee slowly trickling down the sleeve of the suit.
“What the hell are you doing?!” The man's voice echoed throughout the entire place, including in Ness's eardrums, leaving him slightly dazed. Alexis took a step backward, completely terrified.
“I-I'm so sorry! I...”
“Do you have any idea how much this suit costs?”
“I'm really sorry, it was an accident. Please, let me help you...” He hurriedly pulled a packet of tissues from his pocket, but the man brushed his hand away with a sharp gesture.
“Don't touch me.” His expression was a mixture of anger and utter contempt. The magenta-haired man's eyes were wide with terror, frightened by the consequences he would have to face.
By then, several people had already stopped to watch the scene. Two receptionists exchanged a quick glance before approaching.
“Are you alright, sir?” One of them asked. Alexis swallowed nervously as he looked at the two people. He assumed that man must be someone important.
Very important.
The man breathed out in obvious annoyance as he looked at the enormous coffee stain covering part of his shirt.
“Who let this kid in?”
“I have an interview...” Alexis tried to explain, still holding the tissues in his hand. “I came for a job interview. It was an accident, really...” One of the receptionists frowned slightly when she heard him.
“Your name?”
“Alexis Ness.” The woman quickly searched for something on her computer and found the appointment. Then she looked back at the man in the suit, who let out a dry laugh.
“If this is how he starts before even working here, I don't want to imagine what he'll be like with a client.” Alexis felt a knot forming in his stomach.
“Sir, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to.”
“Intentions don't clean a suit.” The receptionist intervened again, this time with a much colder tone.
“Mr. Ness...” She paused briefly before continuing. “I think it would be best to cancel today's interview.”
The words took a moment to sink in.
“Cancel...?”
“Yes.”
“But...”
“We're going to have to ask you to leave the building.”
Ness opened his mouth slightly. He wanted to say that it had been an accident, that he hadn't even had time to react, or that he could even pay for the suit to be cleaned, even if it meant being left without money for the rest of the month.
But no words came out of his throat, as if his vocal cords had been ripped out. He simply lowered his gaze slowly and held the folder tightly against his chest.
“...I understand.” He bowed slightly, almost out of reflex. “I'm sorry for the inconvenience.”
Without waiting for a response, he picked up the empty cup from the ground and walked back down the steps.
Suddenly, he felt his dry hair beginning to grow damp. He raised his gaze slightly and realized that the rain was still falling with the same calmness as always.
As if nothing had happened.
Alexis remained motionless on the sidewalk for a few seconds. The coffee cup, now crushed between his fingers, no longer held a single drop of warmth. He threw it into the nearest trash can and opened his umbrella.
He took out his phone and checked the time.
10:17 AM
It was still early.
And yet...
It felt as though that day had been going on forever.
He walked aimlessly, while raindrops struck his umbrella and the soles of his shoes created splashes whenever they hit the wet pavement.
His stomach barely growled, and he frowned at the small vibration in his abdomen. That morning, he had decided not to have breakfast, since the food he had left was already beginning to run out, and he was trying to make it last a little longer by skipping meals.
From time to time, he wouldn't have breakfast or lunch. Sometimes, he would go to bed without dinner and wouldn't eat breakfast until it was time for lunch. He used the little money he had left to buy a bit more food. Saving was pointless when all his funds would eventually run out on all the expenses he had to cover anyway.
In any case, lunchtime was approaching. He couldn't risk enduring the hunger until dinner and perhaps fainting somewhere on some godforsaken street.
He couldn't even afford a full lunch, much less a hospital bill for medical care.
A café was just a block away from the building. It was quite small, to the point that it barely had six tables beside a large window overlooking the main avenue.
Inside cafés or restaurants, nobody seemed to be in a hurry. It was rather comforting compared to the frantic pace of the offices.
He walked a little farther and pushed open the glass door. The little bell announced his arrival with a soft chime.
“Welcome.” The employee replied with a polite smile before approaching the counter. “What would you like?” she asked, still holding her smile.
“A ham and cheese sandwich and a small bottle of water, please.” While he waited for his order, he checked the banking app again. His balance was lower than he would have liked to admit; it was still enough to survive for a while, but it wasn't enough to keep going for weeks without finding a job.
He quickly put his phone away before that number could keep spinning around in his head.
“Here you go. Enjoy.”
“Thank you very much.” He took the tray and chose the table closest to the large window. Outside, it was still raining. The drops slowly trickled down the glass, distorting the cityscape.
For several minutes, the only sounds were those of the café: the clinking of cutlery, the coffee machine, and distant conversations he could barely make out.
Ness unwrapped the sandwich with the characteristic care he applied to most things. Once it was unwrapped, he took a bite. He forced himself to eat something, because he still had several hours to spend away from home and his body would need the energy.
He chewed slowly, barely paying attention to the taste. His mind was still on those steps; the suit stained with coffee, the man's expression, the receptionist's words.
"We're going to have to ask you to leave the building."
He hadn't even had the chance to show who he was. An accident lasting barely a few seconds had been enough for a door to close before it even had a chance to open.
He rested an elbow on the table as he took another bite of the sandwich, looking at the small bottle of water without much interest.
Maybe... Maybe the problem was him.
He shook his head slightly. He couldn't think that way. He knew he was good at what he did. He had studied for years, spent entire nights perfecting statistical models that weren't even required to pass a class.
He had graduated with excellent grades. His professors spoke of him with pride, as if he were a trophy.
Then... why did he still feel like he wasn't enough?
He lowered his gaze toward his hands, as if he could find the answers to his doubts within them.
They were the same hands that had filled dozens of notebooks with formulas, financial statements, and projections. The same ones that had built university projects that some professors even used as examples for later generations.
And yet, it seemed that all of that lost its value the moment an interview reached the same question.
«How much work experience do you have?»
None.
Always none.
It was absurd. How was someone who had just graduated supposed to gain experience if every company asked for previous experience? It was a cycle he couldn't find a way out of.
For a moment, he even considered abandoning the idea of working for a large company. Perhaps a small accounting office, some family business, or anywhere where he could simply get started.
It wasn't the job he had dreamed of while studying. But after so many rejections, he was beginning to wonder if he still had the right to be picky.
He bit into the last piece of the sandwich without even remembering its taste. He had more important things to remember. He opened the bottle of water and took a sip, then closed it again as he looked out the window beside him.
The rain seemed to have eased, but people continued walking back and forth, umbrellas in hand, completely unaware of the doubts weighing on Alexis's chest at that moment.
Ness rested his forehead against the cold glass for a few seconds and gently closed his eyes. One of his hands moved toward his chest, his fingers playing with the fabric slightly.
“I just need one chance...” He murmured almost in a whisper, squeezing the fabric with his cold fingers.
Just one.
Just one company willing to look a little beyond the box that said «Work Experience.»
The sandwich was gone long before Alexis finished sorting through his thoughts. He remained seated for a few more minutes, absentmindedly watching the drops that continued sliding down the large window.
He hadn't found any answers, only more questions. He sighed, somewhat overwhelmed. He couldn't stay there all afternoon feeling sorry for himself. He stood up and thanked the employee with a small smile before leaving the establishment.
The air was still humid, although the rain had diminished considerably. The sky remained covered by a thick gray blanket.
Alexis began walking without a particularly clear destination again, the folder still firmly tucked under his arm.
Every now and then, he looked up at the buildings he passed along the way; banks, law firms, auditing firms, insurance companies.
He had already visited several of them over the past few weeks. Others required interviews to be scheduled exclusively online.
He kept walking, passing one block, then another.
That's when a building caught his attention.
It wasn't the tallest on the avenue, nor the most eye-catching.
However, there was something about it that made it different.
Maybe it was the enormous metal logo above the main entrance, or the number of people entering and leaving without stopping for even a second.
Alexis finally slowed his steps and looked up.
«KAISER STRATEGIC CONSULTING»
He frowned slightly.
“Consulting...?” He murmured to himself.
He had never heard that name.
Not during university, nor at the countless career talks he had attended. Much less from his professors. Was it a new company?
He took out his phone, almost searched for information... but ended up putting it away again.
He had nothing to lose by going inside and asking. If there were no openings... he would simply keep walking and look somewhere else.
He climbed the entrance steps, and the automatic doors opened smoothly, welcoming him warmly. The world seemed to change its pace the moment he entered that immense lobby.
Digital screens covered parts of the walls, displaying graphs, financial indicators, and project schedules.
Several people crossed from one end to the other carrying laptops, folders, or tablets. Some were talking on the phone, others were discussing figures as they walked, and there were even small groups gathered standing in front of enormous glass boards completely covered with formulas, diagrams, and sticky notes of different colors.
It was quite chaotic, but it wasn't exactly a disorganized kind of chaos.
Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going.
“Has the PIFA report arrived yet?”
“Not yet. Ask the Finance team.”
“The meeting with HY Interactive was moved up twenty minutes.”
“Who's with the Mikage client?”
The conversations overlapped with one another, and Alexis could barely understand half of them.
Then he heard it again.
“Has Kaiser left the meeting yet?”
“No, he's still with the supervisor.”
“Tell him I need five minutes when he's done.”
“Impossible. He has the call with Germany afterward.”
Alexis turned his head slightly.
That name again.
Kaiser.
Was he the owner of the company? Some important manager?
He didn't have time to keep thinking about it, because someone walked past him with a folder tucked under his arm.
A young man with brown hair, elegant glasses, and a surprisingly calm stride compared to everyone else. Unlike the others, he didn't seem to be in a hurry.
Alexis hesitated for just a moment before approaching him.
“Excuse me...” The man stopped and turned his head toward him.
“Yes?” Unlike the others, his eyes seemed much kinder, to the point that they held a small, natural glimmer. There was no annoyance in his expression, only curiosity.
“Sorry for interrupting you... it's just that...” Ness smiled somewhat shyly as he slightly raised the folder he was carrying. “I was wondering if you know where I could leave my résumé... or ask if you have any available positions.”
The brunette looked at the folder, then back at Alexis, and a small smile appeared on his face.
“Are you here to apply?”
“Yes.”
“What good timing.” The magenta-haired man blinked, confused.
“...Timing?”
“Human Resources happens to be looking for people for a few junior positions.”
Alexis's heart gave a small flutter.
“Really?”
“Yep.” The man casually adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “I'm Kenyuu Yukimiya, Senior Business Analyst.” He extended his hand with a naturalness that completely disarmed the other's nerves.
“Alexis Ness.”
“Nice to meet you.” They shook hands, and the brunette let out a small laugh.
“Don't look so tense. Nobody bites here... well, almost nobody.”
Alexis couldn't help but smile too. It was the first truly relaxed conversation he'd had with someone all day.
“Come on.” He gestured with his head for him to follow. “I'll take you to Human Resources. If there's anyone who can help you, it's them.”
Ness immediately nodded, held the folder against his chest again, and began walking behind him. As they crossed the enormous office floor, he heard that name once more.
“Where's Kaiser?”
“I think he's still on the executive floor.”
“Let him know one of his clients moved the video call up.”
Alexis looked away for a moment. He didn't know who this Kaiser person was.
But, for some reason...
He had the feeling that the entire company revolved around him.
And, without yet understanding why, he followed Yukimiya down the hallway until they reached an office whose glass doors bore discreet silver lettering.
«Human Resources.»
Kenyuu gently pushed open a frosted glass door.
“Can you wait here for a moment?” The room was small, though cozy. There was a round table surrounded by four chairs, a coffee maker on a side cabinet, and a large window offering a partial view of the rest of the office. Through the glass, he could see the endless movement of employees walking between desks and meeting rooms. “Have a seat. I shouldn't be too long.”
The magenta-haired man nodded.
“Thank you very much.”
“Don't mention it.” Kenyuu gave him a calm smile before leaving the room. The door closed with a soft click.
Ness remained motionless for a few seconds before sitting down. He carefully placed the folder on the table, and his hands rested on top of it almost instinctively.
The silence didn't last long. Even from that room, he could hear the company's constant activity.
Several phones ringing, hurried footsteps, doors opening and closing, and someone laughing in the hallway.
“...The client from Paris...”
“...Reschedule the meeting...”
“...Is Kaiser still busy?”
Again.
That name.
Alexis frowned slightly.
Who exactly was he?
He didn't seem to simply be the CEO. There were too many people keeping track of him.
Too many.
As if an important part of the company depended on his decisions, his curiosity slowly began to grow.
Although, to be honest with himself, that wasn't what occupied his mind the most at that moment.
He looked at the folder again. Maybe... this wouldn't work either. Perhaps Human Resources would simply take his résumé and tell him they would contact him if a position became available.
That was the usual procedure. He wasn't expecting much. He wasn't trying to be pessimistic; he simply didn't want to get his hopes up too early again.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching and looked up. The door opened again, the brunette entering first. Behind him walked a tall man with white hair, impeccably slicked back. He wore a perfectly tailored dark suit and held a tablet tucked under one arm.
His expression was completely neutral, neither serious nor kind. Simply... unflappable.
The man with glasses was the first to speak.
“Sorry for the wait.” The magenta-haired man stood up almost immediately.
“It wasn't long.”
“Alexis, this is Noel Noa, our Chief Operating Officer.” The magenta-haired man's eyes widened slightly. A Chief Operating Officer; he hadn't expected someone in such a high position to come and meet him personally. He inclined his head slightly.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Noa.” The white-haired man responded with an almost imperceptible nod.
“Alexis Ness.” It wasn't a question. He was simply confirming the name after briefly observing the folder resting on the table.
“Yes.”
Yukimiya spoke next.
“I found him at reception asking where he could leave his résumé. He had just come from another interview, and I thought perhaps Human Resources could point him in the right direction.”
Noa turned his attention toward Alexis. His eyes seemed to analyze every little detail.
There was no harshness in his gaze, nor warmth. It was completely objective observation, as if he were reading a report. He remained silent for a few seconds before asking a single question.
“What is your goal?”
Ness blinked. He had prepared answers for many questions, but that wasn't one of them. He glanced at the folder between his hands for a moment, then looked up again and decided to answer with complete honesty.
“Getting a job. I'm not looking for a specific company...” He gently shook his head as the other two remained silent. “I just want an opportunity to start my professional career. I'm willing to learn, adapt, and prove that I can bring value... wherever I'm needed.”
The room fell silent after he finished speaking. Noel didn't respond immediately. He simply held the magenta-haired man's gaze for several long seconds.
As if he were trying to decide whether those words were sincere...
Or simply the answer an applicant thought he was supposed to give.
The white-haired man didn't look away from the magenta-haired man. After a few seconds, he spoke with the same calmness with which he had asked his first question.
“You didn't answer what I asked.”
“...Excuse me?”
“Getting a job isn't a goal.” His voice conveyed no annoyance. It was simply an observation. “It's a means.” His words hung in the air. “A goal is what you want to achieve by using that means.”
Alexis felt every prepared answer disappear at once. No one had ever made that distinction before. He had spent weeks answering interviews. They always asked about strengths, weaknesses, experience, availability.
They had never asked him what his actual goal was.
He lowered his gaze for a few seconds and thought, much longer than he expected to, before finally raising his head again.
“I want to... prove that all the time I spent studying was worth something.” Kenyuu smiled slightly. “My parents always thought I should choose a more... secure path.” He smiled somewhat sheepishly. “They never understood why I enjoyed working with numbers so much. To me... discovering patterns, solving problems... it's entertaining. I don't know how to explain it. When I manage to find a solution, I feel like...” He paused briefly, searching for the right words. “...Like I made something appear that no one could see before.”
The brunette's smile grew ever so slightly.
“Like a magic trick?”
Alexis looked at him in surprise, then let out a small laugh.
“Yes. Something like that.”
Noa didn't comment on the comparison. He simply spoke again.
“Then your goal isn't to get a job. It's to prove the value of your abilities.”
“...Yes. That's what I want.”
The white-haired man gave a single nod.
“Now you answered.”
“Come on. I think we'll be more comfortable in the office.” Kenyuu suggested.
Noa immediately turned on his heel. Ness picked up his folder and followed them.
The office turned out to be much larger than he had imagined. An enormous window occupied an entire wall, allowing them to see much of the city beneath the gray afternoon sky.
There was no unnecessary decoration. Only an impeccably organized desk, a meeting table for four people, and a huge screen displaying several financial charts.
Everything seemed functional. As if every object existed solely because it served a specific purpose.
The three of them took their seats, and Yukimiya was the one to break the silence. He rested both forearms on the table and smiled calmly.
“Well, Alexis. Let's put the nerves aside for a moment. Tell us a little about yourself. How was your time at university?”
The other man shifted slightly in his chair before answering.
“I really enjoyed it. It was... different from what I expected. At first, I thought Accounting was going to be nothing but memorizing regulations and recording transactions, but I discovered it was much more than that. Each subject taught me a different way of understanding how a company works.” He smiled somewhat nostalgically. “I spent quite a lot of time in the library. Not because it was mandatory, but because I enjoyed it. Many times, I would stay after class trying to solve statistics exercises even though they had already finished grading them.”
Yukimiya let out a small laugh, and Noa glanced at him.
“So you really were one of those people who studied for fun.”
“I suppose so...” He admitted somewhat embarrassedly.
“Did you make any friends?” That question caught him slightly off guard.
“A few... although most of the time, I preferred working alone when there were important projects. I felt like I could organize things better that way.”
“That makes sense.” He nodded understandingly. “Which of all your projects are you most proud of?”
The interviewee's eyes brightened slightly. It was obvious that he liked that question.
“There was one during my final semester.” He leaned slightly forward. “We were given information about a fictional company that had been dealing with inventory problems for several years. The goal was to identify the causes and propose a solution using statistical tools.” He took a breath before continuing. “Most of my classmates focused solely on the financial statements. I decided to combine that data with historical sales records and the seasonality of certain products.”
Both men listened attentively.
“I discovered that the company was purchasing too much inventory right before periods when sales had historically declined. Then I built a predictive model to estimate demand for the following months and proposed a new purchasing schedule.”
“...And did it work?”
“In the simulation, yes. Excess inventory decreased by around thirty percent without affecting the availability of the best-selling products.” The brunette whistled softly.
“Not bad for a university project.” Noa nodded approvingly, still remaining quiet. Alexis lowered his gaze somewhat embarrassedly.
“It took me several weeks to finish it...”
“But it was worth it.”
“Yes.” The man with glasses crossed his arms.
“And which part of accounting do you enjoy the most?”
“Hmm... Analysis.”
“Not financial statements?”
“Those too... but financial statements only show what happened.” He looked up. “What I really like is discovering why it happened.” His fingers began moving unconsciously across the table. “When I find an anomaly in a financial statement, I like to follow it until I discover its origin. Sometimes it turns out to be a simple recording error, and other times you find a pattern that no one had noticed.”
“That explains why you ended up studying Statistics.”
“Precisely. Résumé.” Noa interrupted, and the magenta-haired man reacted immediately. He carefully opened the folder and slid one of the copies across the table.
Noa began reading it, and suddenly the silence returned. His eyes moved across each line with surprising speed.
“Why did you choose Statistics as your specialization?” He asked, placing the sheet on the table.
“Because I felt that accounting answered what had happened, but it didn't always explain why. Statistics allowed me to look for relationships between data that, at first glance, seemed to have no connection. Besides... I like working with probabilities.”
“Why?”
“Because they never promise certainty, they only show you the most likely path. And I think that's very similar to making decisions within a company.”
The white-haired man nodded once.
“Your predictive model. What was its accuracy percentage?”
“Ninety-four point three percent during validation.”
Kenyuu raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Whoa! Ninety-four!?”
“Yes.” He smiled somewhat shyly. “Although it was only a simulation based on historical data. In a real-world environment, it would probably have been a little lower.”
Noa seemed to appreciate the clarification.
“Good.” He looked at the résumé again. “Here, you mention several programs. Which ones are you actually proficient in?”
“Advanced Excel is probably the program I feel most comfortable with.”
“Continue.”
“I’m also proficient in Power BI for data visualization and SQL for querying and managing databases. I sometimes use Python for statistical analysis and simple process automation.”
“And which ones did you only use during university?”
“SQL. I learned it for some advanced statistics courses, but I recognize that I would need to practice it again before using it in a professional environment.”
“You didn't exaggerate your abilities.”
“If I'm going to work with someone, I prefer them to know exactly what I can do and what I still need to learn.”
“Suppose you conduct a financial analysis... The results completely contradict your superior's opinion. What would you do?”
Alexis remained silent for a few seconds. It was, without a doubt, the most difficult question.
“First, I would review my work one more time. If I found a mistake, I would correct it. If I didn't find any...” He breathed slowly. “I would present my results along with all the evidence supporting them, not to prove that my superior is wrong, but to understand why our conclusions are different. If, after reviewing all the information, I still believed my analysis was correct, I would defend my position with data, not opinions. Because data can be wrong, but opinions can be wrong too. And the only way to know which one is... is to verify it.”
The answer seemed to please Noa.
“Do you need it?” He raised the sheet.
“Oh, no. You can keep it if you need it.”
“Good.” He handed the sheet to the brunette, and the two exchanged a look that Alexis couldn't quite interpret.
And Kenyuu smiled again.
“Thank you for coming today, Alexis.” The interview had gone much better than he expected. Noa clasped his hands together on the desk.
“We need to discuss things internally. There are several positions available. One of them is for an executive secretary within one of our divisions. I can't promise you the position; we don't make decisions during interviews.”
“I understand.”
“You'll receive an email tonight. If we consider your profile suitable, we'll arrange a second interview. If not...” He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
The magenta-haired man stood up, took hold of his folder again, and gave a small bow.
“Thank you very much for meeting with me. I'll be waiting for it.”
Noel gave a slight nod.
“Have a safe trip home.”
Without adding anything else, he turned his attention back to the tablet resting on the desk, signaling that the meeting was over.
“I'll walk you out.” Yukimiya said.
Noa simply nodded, and the two left the office.
The door closed softly behind them. The hallway was still as lively as before; several people walked around with evident urgency, others discussed something in front of a screen filled with graphs, and in the distance, someone once again uttered the same name Alexis had been hearing all afternoon.
“Has Kaiser left the meeting yet?”
“Not yet...”
Ness looked away slightly for a moment. He still didn't know who he was.
He continued walking alongside Yukimiya. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. But it was the brunette who broke the silence.
“You know? I think you did pretty well.”
The other man smiled somewhat shyly.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I've been working here for a few years... I've seen quite a few candidates come and go. Some come in trying to impress everyone, others embellish their answers too much... You didn't do either of those things.”
“I just answered honestly...”
“Precisely.” He said with a smile. “Noa appreciates that a lot. He can't stand it when someone tries to sell themselves as if they're perfect.”
“Then I did the right thing by admitting what I still don't know.”
“Very much so.” They reached the main lobby. The rain was still gently beating against the enormous windows. Kenyuu stopped before the other man could cross the automatic doors. “Besides...” He waited for him to look back at him. “It's not common for Noa to spend that much time personally interviewing someone who just walked in without an appointment.”
“Really?” His eyes widened slightly, and the other man shook his head.
“Believe me. If he had thought you weren't worth his time, the conversation would've been over in five minutes.”
Those words made Ness stand completely still.
He hadn't seen it that way. Throughout the entire interview, he had been so focused on answering correctly that he hadn't even noticed how much time had passed.
“I can't promise you anything. The decision never depends on just one person, but...” He gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “I have a feeling you'll be checking your email tonight with a smile.”
Alexis felt something warm slowly settle in his chest.
It wasn't euphoria, nor absolute confidence.
It was hope in its purest form. A feeling he hadn't experienced in weeks. He held the folder a little tighter against his chest.
“Thank you. Not just for walking me here, but for giving me the opportunity to come in.”
“Thank me when you're my coworker.”
The other man couldn't help but laugh.
“I will.”
“And try to get some rest. I imagine you've had enough interviews for one day.”
“I suppose so...” The automatic doors opened, and the cool afternoon air immediately entered the lobby. Before leaving, he turned his head one last time.
“See you later, Yukimiya.”
“See you later, Alexis. And... good luck.”
The magenta-haired man left the building. The rain was still falling with the same tranquility with which it had begun that morning.
However, for the first time all day, the sky no longer seemed quite so gray.
As he walked along the sidewalk toward the bus station, one thought kept repeating itself in his mind.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
That unfamiliar company he had entered out of simple curiosity would end up becoming the place where he would begin the rest of his life.
When the bus stopped in front of his building, the sky was already beginning to darken, slowly taking on shades of orange.
The rain had stopped just a few minutes ago, leaving the pavement covered in small puddles that reflected the lights from the apartments.
Alexis got off the bus and began walking along the wet sidewalk.
The building where he lived was old. Not particularly run-down, but it didn't stand out among the others in the neighborhood either. The paint on the entrance had lost some of its color years ago, and the elevator had been out of service for several weeks, forcing all the residents to use the stairs.
“...Of course.” He muttered to himself with a small, tired smile and began climbing the stairs; first floor, second, third. Each step seemed to weigh a little more than the last.
By the time he reached the fourth floor, where his apartment was, his legs already felt slightly heavy. When he finally reached his apartment door, he let out a long sigh before searching for his keys.
He put the key into the lock, turned it slightly, and was greeted by the familiar click of the door opening.
Silence greeted him as soon as he crossed the threshold. It wasn't a large apartment. It barely had a small kitchen integrated into the dining area, a sofa beside a low coffee table, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
There weren't many pieces of furniture, nor many decorations. Just a few plants on the windowsill, a bookshelf filled with books on accounting, statistics, and mathematics, and a box full of old magic tricks that he had never had the heart to throw away.
He closed the door gently and left his keys on the counter. The black folder was carefully placed on the dining table. He took off his shoes, loosened his tie, and then let out a long sigh.
What a long day. He had left before eight in the morning, and now it was almost seven in the evening. After going to KSC, the rest of his interviews at other companies had been pointless.
He remained silent, the only thing making any real noise being his breathing. Until his stomach protested softly. He frowned and walked over to the refrigerator, opening it.
There was a bottle of water, half a lemon, some butter, and a bottle of ketchup that was almost empty.
“I don't even have a slice of bread for that butter...” He complained before slowly closing it.
He opened one of the kitchen cabinets. For a few seconds, he found nothing but empty packages and a couple of cans. Then, hidden at the back of the shelf, he spotted a cup of instant noodles.
His shoulders seemed to relax.
“I still had you...” He smiled with completely disproportionate relief.
He placed the package on the counter as if he had just found a small treasure. Before making dinner, he decided to turn on the computer. Maybe an email had already arrived.
He pressed the power button and waited. After a few seconds, the screen slowly illuminated the room. He double-clicked the browser and frowned.
Nothing loaded at all. He tried again, but still got no response. He looked at the small connection icon.
No internet.
He blinked and looked at the router again. All the lights were off. He immediately took out his phone and turned on his mobile data, then opened the internet company's app.
“Service suspended due to non-payment.”
The magenta-haired man slowly closed his eyes.
“...Right.”
The bill was due that morning. He had been so focused on traveling across half the city that he had simply forgotten.
He opened his banking app and looked at his balance. The number was so small that he almost felt embarrassed looking at it.
If he paid the bill...
He would have to survive the next few days with barely enough.
He began doing calculations almost automatically, mentally noting down the money for transportation, what he still had to pay for rent, electricity, food.
He subtracted, subtracted again, and changed a few figures. He tried to find another combination, but there wasn't one.
He slowly rested his forehead against the table.
If he paid for the internet... He would have to tighten the rest of the week's budget even further. Maybe replace a couple of lunches with noodles or avoid eating too much. Maybe walk more to save on transportation.
His gaze returned to the turned-off computer. He needed the internet, not just to keep sending out résumés. Also because Kaiser Strategic Consulting had promised to respond.
He sighed.
“...I need that email.”
Without thinking about it too much, he confirmed the payment. Within a few seconds, the router's lights began turning on one by one, and Ness smiled with almost ridiculous relief.
“Thank you...”
Just as he was about to boil water to prepare the noodles...
Knock, knock.
Who could it be? He wasn't expecting anyone.
He got up, walked to the door, and opened it carefully. On the other side stood a woman, a neighbor from the apartment next door.
A woman with completely white hair and a floral apron that she wore even outside her own home, smiling with her usual warmth.
“Good evening, dear.”
Ness returned the smile politely.
“Good evening, ma'am.”
The woman held up a small paper bag.
“I made too many cookies this afternoon... If I keep them all, I'll end up eating them by myself. So I need a volunteer.”
Alexis's eyes widened slightly.
“Oh... that's really not necessary.”
“Of course it is.” She practically placed the bag into his hands. “You're too thin. Young people these days work too much and eat too little. Besides...” She looked him up and down for a second. “You look like you haven't had dinner yet.”
Alexis felt a small shiver run down his spine. Was it really that obvious? He laughed somewhat awkwardly.
“Well... I was just about to make something.”
“Uh-huh.” The woman replied with a smile that made it quite clear she hadn't believed a word of it. “Then you'll have dessert.”
“Thank you very much... Really.”
“You don't have to thank me, my dear.” The woman gave him one last smile before returning to her apartment.
Ness closed the door and looked at the bag. The scent of butter and vanilla immediately escaped from it. They were still warm.
He couldn't help but smile. The apartment was still quiet, and it was still small. But, for some reason, he no longer felt quite so alone.
He left the cookies on the table, filled his kettle with water, and turned it on to prepare some tea and the small cup of noodles. Maybe it wasn't the best dinner in the world, but at least it wouldn't be such a sad one.
While he waited for the water to boil, the computer finished connecting to the internet. A small sound broke the silence of the apartment.
Ping.
Alexis automatically turned his head toward the screen. A new email had arrived. His heart began pounding. He placed the cup he had taken from a cabinet on the table and practically ran toward his computer.
He took a deep breath, and the sender appeared before his eyes.
Kaiser Strategic Consulting.
His breathing stopped, and the cursor hovered over the message, not yet daring to open it.
He didn't click. Not yet.
He simply remained there, staring at the subject line while his heart pounded so hard he could hear it in the silence of the apartment.
Subject: Interview Result – Kaiser Strategic Consulting.
Without waiting any longer, he clicked. The email took barely a moment to open, and he began reading it.
«Mr. Alexis Ness,
We sincerely appreciate the time you dedicated to participating in our selection process during today's session.
After reviewing your interview and evaluating your professional profile, we are pleased to inform you that we have decided to offer you the position of Executive Secretary, with a start date subject to the signing of the corresponding contract.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 8:30 AM at the Kaiser Strategic Consulting offices, where one of our employees will meet you to conduct the corresponding orientation, provide the necessary documentation, and introduce you to your initial duties.
We ask that you bring a valid form of identification and remain available for the entire day, as the duration of the process may vary according to the company's operational needs. Should any inconvenience arise that prevents you from attending, please reply to this same email as soon as possible.
We welcome you to Kaiser Strategic Consulting and hope this will be the first stage of a successful professional career with us. We look forward to having you as part of the Kaiser Strategic Consulting team.
Sincerely,
Human Resources Department
Kaiser Strategic Consulting»
Alexis didn't react. His eyes remained fixed on the screen. He blinked once, and his pupils returned to the beginning of the email.
He read the first line again, then the second, and then the entire letter once more.
He frowned slightly and opened the sender details to make sure it really had come from the company.
Yes.
It was official.
He returned to the message and read it for the third time.
“...” The silence of the apartment lasted barely another second.
“...Huh?”
That was all he managed to say. His brain seemed incapable of processing it.
He had been waiting for weeks. He had sent dozens of résumés. He had received rejection after rejection.
And now...
Had they hired him?
No additional interview, no weeks of waiting. Just...
Yes?
A small laugh escaped his lips, followed by another. Without realizing it, he ended up covering his face with both hands.
“This can't be...” He murmured through his fingers and looked at the screen again.
It still said exactly the same thing. They had accepted him.
A smile slowly began to form on his face. At first, it was small, then a little bigger. Until he ended up laughing completely alone in the middle of the apartment.
Still smiling, he read the email again.
Executive Secretary.
He repeated the position quietly. It sounded strange. It sounded... important.
And, above all...
It sounded real.
His phone vibrated. It was the bank's message confirming the internet payment. Ness simply let out a laugh.
“Worth it...” He murmured.
He returned to the kitchen. The water had already boiled. He prepared the instant noodles with a sense of calm he hadn't felt in weeks.
While he waited the few minutes indicated on the package, he opened the paper bag the woman had given him. The scent of butter immediately filled the kitchen. He took one of the cookies and took a small bite.
“So good...” He smiled again without even realizing it.
That night, he had a bowl of instant noodles, four homemade cookies, and a cup of tea for dinner.
It probably wasn't the most balanced meal in the world, but he couldn't remember the last time such a simple meal had tasted so good.
Before going to bed, he opened the email once more. Just to make sure it was still there, and he smiled like a child.
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of a new chapter. He still hadn't met his future coworkers. He had no idea who this Kaiser person was, whose name he had heard repeated so many times throughout the afternoon.
That night, he could barely fall asleep because of how excited he was. He remembered those days when he was a little boy who fantasized about magic, and he felt the happiness from those days bloom once again.
He had no idea that his life was about to change completely. The only thing he knew was that, after two long months of uncertainty...
He finally had a job.