Chapter 13 High School Classmate

• The beautiful receptionist was about to speak when the woman in a suit came strutting out of her office haughtily with her brother in tow.
• "Please give me a moment, Izzy. This man is here to interview for the job as well. Let me get his details first since Miss Pearson has specified that we need to hire the best candidate," Molly Clark said with a smile.
• "Why should I need to wait, Molly? Don't tell me you plan on hiring a guy like him. Aren't you worried that Miss Pearson might faint from the stench he's giving off?"
• "Sorry about this, but the role of Miss Pearson's personal driver has already been filled. You don't fit the requirements, since as the president's driver, you'll be following her around on business. In other words, the role requires someone who can represent the company, and your appearance will only degrade the company's image."
• Izzy Lynch didn't even bother to look at Thomas. She decided on Molly's behalf right away.
• Molly couldn't help but study Thomas.
• Izzy had a point. Not only was Thomas wearing cheap clothing, but his face was covered in stubble, and after sniffing the air with a slight frown, Izzy did detect an unsavory smell. His physical state didn't fit the bill for the role of the president's driver.
• But it didn't seem polite to be rejecting him just based on that, right? What if he was just in a rush and didn't have time to clean up a bit?
• "Izzy, we should still follow the company's policies. Since he's here, we can't reject him without even giving him a proper interview, right?"
• Molly didn't like Izzy's nepotism, especially since Izzy made the decision for her as soon as she came in without even discussing it first. It was a little too domineering.
• Plus, Molly had a good impression of all those who joined the military, and Thomas won brownie points with her for that. She instinctively chose to help him.
• "Hmph! Don't think you can use the company's policies to scare me off, Molly. We're the ones who make the policies, and you need to learn to be a little more flexible. It's no wonder that you're still just a receptionist after so many years at the company. Meanwhile, I was… Thomas Clifford!"
• Izzy exclaimed with a start halfway through her sentence.
• Both Molly and Patrick—Izzy's brother—were taken aback. So after spending all that time putting the guy down, he turned out to be someone that Izzy was acquainted with?
• "Izzy Lynch!"
• Thomas glanced at the woman in surprise. He didn't expect to run into one of his high school classmates here.
• Back then, Izzy was the class representative for the student body's culture and entertainment committee.
• "Izzy… Do you guys know each other?" Molly stood up and asked curiously.
• "Of course! Why wouldn't I know him? He was the class genius back in high school. Thomas Clifford, the top student of his year at Irieson First High School! He was even Irieson's top scorer for the SATs!"
• Just like Thomas, Izzy was surprised to run into him here. Didn't he join the army right after high school?
• But it's been seven or eight years. I guess it makes sense that he would've been discharged from the army by now.
• "Huh?"
• Molly was stunned by Izzy's words. Irieson First High School was one of the top schools in not just the state, but the entire country. It would take a genius to be consistently the top student at Irieson First High. Being Irieson's top scorer meant that he could've gone to any of the Ivy League colleges, or even any other college of his dreams! Why did he join the army if he had such a bright future in front of him?
• "Oh, I remember now! Is he the genius who scored full marks in both reading and writing?" At the time, Molly was in her sophomore year of high school.
• "That's him!" Memories of Izzy's school days eight years ago began to flash through her mind. Back then, Thomas was the star in school. All of the teachers and school administrators treated him like their most precious student, and he was also the knight in shining armor to many of the school's teenage girls. Izzy ranked among them too. How could anyone not be attracted to that lanky, talented teenager?
• In fact, Izzy had considered confessing to Thomas, but before she did, she found out that he had a girlfriend.
• "I didn't expect that you'd have left the army, Thomas!" Izzy did feel like it was a pity that he joined the army. If he hadn't, who knew what kind of future he had in store for him?
• It's all thanks to his own stupidity for giving up on all the college opportunities offered to him and insisting on joining the army instead! Look what it led to! Now that he's out of the army, he still has to look for a job, doesn't he? And he's even interviewing to be a driver! What would our other classmates think if they found out? Irieson's most promising student is trying to get a job as a driver! How inconceivable!
• Back then, everyone assumed that Thomas would have the brightest future out of all of them, but from the looks of it now, hah!
• "It's been a while," Thomas greeted courteously.
• "Yeah. It has been a long time!" Izzy nodded before passing the form she was holding to Molly and instructing her, "Take my brother to get his uniform and take care of his employment paperwork."
• "Huh? Izzy, what…"
• Molly was in a difficult position. Isn't this person your old classmate? Why are you still rejecting him just like that? Isn't this a bit much?
• Before Molly could finish her sentence, Izzy snapped, "What's wrong? You got a problem with that? Although my brother graduated from a no-name college, at least he has a bachelor's degree. Thomas didn't even go to college. Who do you think the position should go to?"
• Izzy was genuinely angered now. What's with all the fuss over such a tiny matter? Haven't I shown you enough respect by coming over myself? How dare you question me? I'm a manager here! Piss me off and you won't have a job here much longer!
• "I…"
• Molly threw Thomas a sympathetic glance. In all honesty, when she heard about who Thomas was, it brought back memories of her schooling days too. All of Irieson were in an uproar over the news of Irieson's top SAT scorer choosing to join the army instead of going to college.
• As one of the high schoolers in Irieson, it was only natural that she heard about it too.
• "I do apologize, Thomas, but even though we're high school classmates, you're still just a high school graduate, while my younger brother graduated from college. You're not suited for this role. Hey, why don't I give Wallace Shrew a call for you? He's the general manager for one of the top hotels in town. I'm sure he can help you get a job!"
• Izzy grabbed Thomas' form and jotted down a set of numbers.
• Meanwhile, Thomas was getting riled up. What did I ever do to you? Not only are you scorning me for not being a college graduate, but you're even asking me to ask my rival for help? What's the meaning of all this?
• Back then, Felice was the most beautiful girl in all of Irieson First High. Wallace and Thomas both wanted to date her, and in the end, Thomas succeeded. This meant that he and Wallace were rivals in love, and they had a grudge between them ever since then. Is she trying to get me to make a fool out of myself by asking him for help now?
• "Good luck, Thomas! I've done whatever I can to help you!"
• Izzy took a good long look at Thomas as she thought to herself, Why on earth was I attracted to you back then? Only a moron would run off to join the army for no good reason when he had so many other choices!