"Alright.", you let out a deep sigh while tapping your foot on the floor in a constant pace. "Alright, alright... you can do this. This so nothing new. You've had job interviews before... you nailed it every time. You have a good degree and even better references. There's no one like you out there. So pull yourself together."

You slapped both sides of your face a few times until a pulsating pain and bright spots getting visible of your skin made you stop.

But again, you had to sign.

It felt like the world came crumbling down on you. Your body felt heavy and your hands were shaking. To add to that, you couldn't stop tapping your foot on the floor.

To calm the nerves, you let your gaze wander through the giant tower that was CyberLife's headquarter.

Everything was white. Literally everything. From the curved walls to the spotless, shiny floor, the front counters, the seats of the waiting area, the tables.

Even the clothes of the androids that walked around like human staff was pearl, crystal clear white.

It was pleasing your eye to look at things but at the same time your head was spinning.

"Ugh...", you squeezed your eyes shut and massaged the back of your nose. "My head hurts..."

Steps approached. Someone moved the chair across from you and sat down.

"Sorry, but this seat isn't available.", you said, fighting back a headache.

You looked up. Immediately, a cold shiver crawled down your spine. You bit your lips to suppress a curse.

Right in front of you sat a man, maybe in his late twenties, with longer, dark brown hair that fell into his field of vision. He did have a decent amount of beard growth, but kept it trimmed down to less than a full beard.

A pair of thick, black glasses was sitting on his face.

He looked a lot like the love child of a frat boy and a nerd, quite handsome but extremely awkward. Maybe even a bit intimidating.

With a strangely thin smile, he folded his hands on the table and looked at you for a moment.

You frowned, but didn't interfere. It felt weird to be looked at by him, but he seemed important as someone who wasn't wearing the same uniform as others around.

He was human, it was easy to tell. But he definitely wasn't the average American with his weird, a bit scary behaviour and facial movements.

Suddenly, he offered you a hand.

"Kamski.", he said, not putting much emotions into his words. "I'm the CEO."

With an awkward smile, you shook his hand.

"Good to finally meet you, sir.", you said and offered him your references on a USB stick. "I gathered all the infos that you requested."

Approving, he nodded, took the stick but didn't check it.

"I've heard a lot about you.", he said, without blinking. "Please tell me more."

Unsure, you tilted your head.

"What exactly, if I may ask?"

He shrugged. His gaze wandered through the tower, down where the androids were working at the register and back up again.

"Your work, is it true what people say?", he asked and locked eyes again. "According to the references, you specialised in human AI. As you may know, a former superior of yours specifically recommended you for this job."

You nodded.

"Yes, doctor Spencer did. He was my professor at Uni and former boss on multiple projects before your company poached him as a programmer."

Kamski nodded again. He still didn't blink.

The long, unbroken eye contact gave you the creeps. But you wanted this job more than anything. If looking at him for a solid twenty minutes would get you your own project in this company, you'd do it.

"His opinion is valued quite high amongst the team.", he said and looked up as one of the androids walked past your table.

It seemed like he was watching them, checking if his creations were working the way he intended them to.

You nodded and let out a sigh to ease the stress.

"I can imagine.", you smiled politely. "He was a good mentor. The best for me, if I may say so."

"You may. But that doesn't answer my question."

Confused, you frowned.

"You didn't ask a question, sir."

"I did. I asked about your work. Do you think it deserves all the praise it gets?"

Taking a deep breath in, you curled your lips and thought for a moment. Your heart was beating like crazy inside your chest. It felt like you were sweating waterfalls.

"May I be honest?", you asked carefully.

For a moment, he just stared at you again. Then he nodded.

"I value honesty, even though it's not worth much when it comes from humans. Give it a go. Try to convince me."

His words made you sigh internally.

"Truth be told, I don't think I'm the best programmer you'll ever meet. I'm good, but not a god. Some articles about my work might create that illusion.", you took another deep breath to calm the nerves. "But I know my worth, sir. I'll work as hard as humanly possible and beyond that because this project... I want to be part of this. I- I have to. It's burning under my nails, it makes my blood boil. And I know I can support the team. I'll be able to help. My abilities are good and my references spotless. There is literally no reason not to take me. I'm one of a kind."

You let out a deep sigh. Getting all of this off your chest made you feel lighter.

Kamski tilted his head. His face didn't give away a single emotion. He was just staring.

Unsure, you swallowed hard.

His behaviour made you feel like you had fucked up real bad.

All of a sudden, he got up from his seat.

You rose with him.

"Sir?", you chewed the inside of you cheek.

He nodded.

"I'll talk to you soon.", he said and turned away to leave.

"Fuck...", you sighed as he disappeared out of sight. "Uh, I fucked up..."