### Chapter 1: The Evaluation

The air in the boardroom was thick with tension.

Three candidates, each with their own story and ambitions, awaited their fate in an environment that promised to be both a challenge and an opportunity.

The table was set with small plates of food, but the real sustenance was the uncertainty served in generous portions.

“Thank you, thank you,” murmured an elderly man as he shuffled past them, his voice trembling in the silence.

“Get out of here, this isn’t a place for vagrants.

” His gaze flickered toward the group of candidates but didn’t linger.

Instead, he continued on, mumbling to himself about decrees and lost money.

Carlos Santa Cruz sat up a little straighter, adjusting his tie.

He was dressed sharply, every detail of his appearance meticulously curated.

His confident demeanor radiated an air of entitlement, the kind that came from years of privilege and a prestigious education.

He glanced at his fellow candidates, his eyes narrowing slightly when they landed on Gustavo Sánchez, the head of the cleaning department.

“Do you really think they’ll take you seriously?” Carlos whispered to Eugenio Falcón, who sat beside him, a young man with an impressive resume and a penchant for leadership.

“I mean, come on.

You’re a cleaner.

”

Eugenio chuckled, his confidence unwavering.

“Let them underestimate me.

It’s their loss.

” He leaned back, crossing his arms, his eyes sparkling with ambition.

“I’ve got what it takes.

Just wait and see.

”

Meanwhile, Gustavo, quiet and introspective, sat with his hands clasped in his lap.

The memories of his past weighed heavily on him, but today was a new beginning.

He had fought hard to be here, to prove that he was more than just his background.

The whispers of doubt from Carlos and Eugenio didn’t faze him; he had learned to rise above the noise.

As the minutes ticked by, the door swung open, and the recruiter entered, a professional smile plastered on his face.

“Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you for being here today.

You three have been called for the position of manager.

” He gestured toward each of them, his gaze lingering on Carlos and Eugenio before settling on Gustavo.

“Carlos Santa Cruz, Eugenio Falcón, and Gustavo Sánchez.

I appreciate your punctuality.

”

The recruiter’s words hung in the air, and for a moment, silence enveloped the room.

Carlos’s chest puffed out a little more, while Eugenio nodded, his confidence unwavering.

Gustavo felt a mix of anxiety and determination; this was his chance to show who he really was.

“I’ll be stepping out for a moment,” the recruiter continued.

“The evaluation will take a bit longer, so I’ll leave you to get to know each other.

On behalf of the company, we’ve prepared a small meal for you to enjoy.

” He motioned toward the spread on the table.

“Great, I’m on a diet, but I’ll break it today,” Carlos said with a smirk, his eyes scanning the food as if it were a trophy.

Eugenio leaned in closer, a conspiratorial glint in his eye.

“Do you think they’ll accept you as a cleaner?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“I don’t think you’ll ever become a manager.

”

Gustavo’s heart sank at the comment, but he held his ground.

“I believe in hard work and honesty,” he replied, his voice steady.

“That’s what matters.

”

“Right,” Carlos scoffed.

“Keep telling yourself that.

”

As they exchanged barbs, a woman entered the room, her clothes tattered and her eyes searching.

She hesitated at the threshold, clearly unsure of her place.

The three candidates paused, their conversations fading into the background.

“Poor thing,” Eugenio whispered, watching her with a mix of pity and disdain.

“She’s looking for something to eat.

”

Gustavo’s heart ached at the sight.

Without thinking, he stood up and approached her, offering half of the sandwich he had taken from the table.

“Here, you can have this,” he said gently.

“Thank you, young man,” the woman replied, her voice filled with gratitude.

She accepted the food with trembling hands, and for a moment, the tension in the room shifted.

Carlos rolled his eyes.

“Now it turns out you’re Mother Teresa of Calcutta,” he muttered, shaking his head.

Gustavo ignored the jab, focusing instead on the woman.

“Everyone deserves kindness,” he said quietly, returning to his seat.

The recruiter returned, a clipboard in hand.

“Let’s begin with a short questionnaire,” he announced, his tone serious.

“There’s only one question: Do you consider yourself a good person? Anyone who answers incorrectly will be disqualified.

”

Carlos was the first to respond.

“I consider myself an excellent person.

I have a doctorate, have studied at the best schools in this country, and I’ve never been to jail.

I’m a protective friend and a good person.

”

Eugenio chimed in next, “I have very good values.

My parents raised me well, and I go to Mass every Sunday.

I’ve traveled a lot, and I know how to manage people.

”

Gustavo took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their expectations.

“I don’t consider myself a good person,” he admitted, his voice steady but quiet.

“I didn’t grow up with luxuries.

I come from a humble family that taught me values, but I strayed from the path.

I’ve rehabilitated myself, and I’m here to improve every day.

”

The recruiter nodded thoughtfully, taking notes.

“Thank you, Gustavo.

It’s important to be honest.

” He glanced at Carlos and Eugenio, who exchanged glances, their confidence faltering slightly.

“Now, I’ll explain your evaluation as candidates for the management position,” the recruiter continued.

“It began the moment you arrived here.

I wanted to see your honesty and your values, but only one of you showed sincerity, and that was Mr.

Gustavo Sánchez.

”

Carlos and Eugenio shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their bravado slipping.

“You didn’t realize that the young man Carlos, who greeted you in the waiting room, is an employee here.

He was treated poorly, and the only one who showed kindness was Gustavo.

”

The atmosphere in the room changed, the air thick with unspoken tension.

“You acted arrogantly and dishonestly,” the recruiter said, his tone firm.

“You two are automatically dismissed from my company.

”

Gustavo’s heart raced as he processed the words.

“This belongs to you,” the recruiter said, handing him the position he had longed for.

“Thank you very much, sir,” Gustavo replied, a mixture of disbelief and gratitude washing over him.

As Carlos and Eugenio left the room, their expressions a blend of shock and anger, Gustavo felt a sense of calm.

He had faced his past, embraced his truth, and emerged victorious.

“Welcome to your new role, Gustavo,” the recruiter said, a smile breaking through the tension.

“I believe you’ll do great things here.

”

And as the door closed behind the departing candidates, Gustavo knew that this was just the beginning of a journey filled with challenges, growth, and the chance to prove that character mattered more than status.