The interviewers no longer dismissed Skylar after what had just happened. Initially, they thought she was merely showing off, but after witnessing her skill firsthand, they couldn’t resist approaching the two antiques she had just finished restoring.
Whether it was the fragments of the pocket watch or the repaired sections of the old painting, her craftsmanship was exceptional. These interviewers had been with Alexander for years, and they had always believed they were among the best in the industry. That was, until they saw Skylar’s work. Now, they couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they might have doubted it was even possible.
As the other two candidates finished their tasks, Alexander entered the room. Skylar heard the door open and turned to face him.
She had seen his interviews on television before, and he looked exactly the same in person—vibrant and energetic despite being 70 years old.
“Let me take a look,” Alexander said as he approached the restored pieces.
He examined them one by one, eventually stopping in front of Skylar’s work. Skylar held her breath, feeling a little nervous under his scrutiny. She knew Alexander had high standards and wasn’t sure if her work would meet his expectations.
As Alexander inspected the pieces, his eyes began to brighten with excitement. For years, he hadn’t found anyone who could meet his expectations. But now, he had finally found someone!
Caleb had always been a wild child, but it seemed he had brought Alexander a talented granddaughter-in-law. If Caleb wasn’t interested in taking over the business, perhaps Skylar could!
“Are you Skylar Sullivan?” Alexander asked, looking up at her.
Skylar nodded. “Yes, Mr. Gardner Senior.”
“You’re hired. You can start tomorrow,” Alexander said, trying to keep his excitement in check. Though he was thrilled, as a respected academic figure, he had to maintain his composure.
Skylar, on the other hand, was overjoyed. “Thank you!” She could hardly believe it—she had made it onto Alexander’s team!
But one of the candidates stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. “I don’t buy it. How could she do a better job than both of us? Mr. Gardner Senior, I heard you never hire people through connections, but she clearly got in through some back door.”
He couldn’t understand how someone like Skylar—seemingly a nobody—could outperform them. They were well-known in the industry, and losing out to someone who got in through connections felt like the greatest insult. Losing to someone with talent would have been one thing, but they were unconvinced that they had been beaten by someone like Skylar.
Alexander didn’t get angry at the outburst. Instead, he motioned for them to come closer. “Take a look at her restoration work,” he said calmly.
One of the interviewers spoke up, explaining, “In the previous round, she was the only one to successfully identify all the fakes.”
The two candidates hesitantly inspected Skylar’s restoration work. As they did, their faces flushed with embarrassment. It was clear—she was better than they were. Were all youngsters nowadays this skillful?
They had spent over a decade honing their craft, only for this young woman to outperform them. It was a humbling experience.
Alexander watched Skylar closely, noting how, from the moment she was questioned to the moment her talent was proven, she had remained calm and composed. Her demeanor reminded him of someone he used to know.
Ten minutes later, Alexander returned to the break room, a broad smile on his face. He beamed with approval and praised Caleb.
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