Harry Castillo sat behind the glass wall of the recruitment office, an idle god watching mortals plead their case. One by one, applicants filed in. Polished resumes. Impressive credentials. Years of experience neatly summarized into confident smiles.

They all wanted the same thing. To be part of his company. His vision. His empire.

The answers came predictably. Words like innovation, loyalty, excellence, growth. Every response aligned perfectly with what the company stood for, almost too perfectly. As if rehearsed. As if memorized from the same invisible script.

He should have been satisfied. Any executive would be. But Harry felt nothing beyond a dull, creeping boredom.

Highly skilled. Seasoned. Replaceable.

By late morning, the last interview wrapped up. His employees glanced at the door, then at each other. No more names on the list.

“Next applicant?” One of the HR managers called out, half out of habit.

Silence.

Harry sighed, sharp and exasperated, pushing his chair back. To go for a lunch? To breathe some air, perhaps? Either way, he stood and left the room, closing the door behind him.

That was when he saw someone.

A figure lingering down the hall, who turned away too quickly, pretending to have no business there. Harry’s eyes dropped to the tag pinned to their chest.

Applicant.

“Hey,” he called out, voice calm but commanding. “You over there.”

Harry took a step closer. “Are you an applicant?”