That evening, after everyone had gone home and even after the hallway lights were already turned off, Gray remained in his office.
The room was quiet. His desk was covered with the folders of the applicants from earlier. He sat there, flipping through each one again, taking his precious time.
Gray didn't rush. He reread their experience slowly and the notes he wrote beside it. He let their voices echo again in his head—the way they answered, paused, or looked unsure.
By the time he closed the last folder, he had made up his mind.
Not on who would be hired, but who deserved one more chance to show who they really were.
Diana, Joel, Onel, Clarisse, and Lionel.
It was the same names that the three others had in mind.
The next morning, HR sent out the interview invites almost immediately.
[You've been listed for the second round of interviews on Monday next week. Please confirm your availability.]
By lunch, the messages were sent.
