Chapter 110

Alexander didn't believe Caleb, but since he'd promised to give Skylar a chance and had nothing scheduled that morning, he decided to watch the interview. He'd let Caleb see for himself whether Skylar was up to the task.

He had to admit, Skylar was pretty and the type of girl Caleb would like. However, she didn't seem suited to the field; she lacked an air of reliability.

After the other two candidates submitted their answers, the interviewers reviewed them, purposely examining Skylar's last. In their line of work, seriousness was paramount; there was no room for jokes when dealing with antiques. Since Skylar seemed to treat the interview casually, they reciprocated her attitude.

The other candidates grew tense. Everyone knew Alexander's team had strict standards, and this certainly seemed to be the case. The fake antiques were incredibly convincing; only years of experience could reveal their imperfections.

The interviewers checked the other candidates' answers, appearing unsurprised by the results. Even they hadn't been able to spot all the fakes when they first joined the team; some were so perfectly crafted, they were indistinguishable from the real thing.

Finally, they turned to Skylar's answers. Initially, they didn't think much of them; she had completed the task too quickly. Skylar remained calm, showing no nervousness. In contrast, Caleb, in the monitoring room, was on edge, taking a deep breath.

Alexander glanced at Caleb. "Why are you so tense?"

"I'm not tense," Caleb replied, trying to sound confident. "Skylar's the real deal. If she's not worried, why should I be?"

Alexander grunted. Watching Skylar on the monitor, she did seem genuinely relaxed, although he wasn't sure if it was an act.

When the interviewers checked Skylar's answers, they exchanged stunned glances. She had answered correctly, identifying all the fakes. In their combined years of experience, they'd never seen anyone achieve a perfect score on their first interview. While experienced team members could identify the fakes, this was Skylar's first attempt.

Skylar noticed the interviewers staring. With a polite smile, she asked, "Is there something wrong with my answers?"

"No, not at all," one replied.

The lack of any problem was the problem. Maintaining their composure, one interviewer said, "Follow me to the next stage of the interview."

An interviewer took all the candidates' answers to the monitoring room. Caleb's anxiety rose. What did their reactions mean? What would happen if Skylar had failed? Skylar had been impressive; it was Alexander's ridiculously convincing fakes that made her success remarkable.

"Do you still want to keep watching?" Alexander asked.

"Of course," Caleb said, affecting a tough demeanor. "I want you to see for yourself how skilled Skylar is at restoring antiques. Honestly, your fakes are too good; it would be normal if she missed a few."

Alexander watched Caleb's tough act, speechless. He didn't know what to make of him anymore.