Outside the office I tapped the pen on my lip, I glanced through the questions again. I knew what they were looking for; firm, pliable, but intelligent individuals. People they could mould into something purposeful.
I'd tried three times to get recruited, each time they'd rejected my application offering only vague excuses. I knew the look, a pitying glance even before they said anything.
I looked at the questions; all perfect answers, but mostly lies. I bit my lip, at the top of the page a space: your name. The computers would pick up my name as soon as they entered it, I needed a new one. I scribbled Jacob Wilks in the empty box and leaned back in the chair sighing, this would be my last chance. I had a plan B, but it wasn't something I wanted to pursue.
A desk jockey passed between us collecting the papers, he paused briefly to look at my questionnaire then back at me with a sceptical eye before leaving.
A buzzer echoed around the room. "Jameson, room three." My eyes flicked between the two waiting and then one stood up. A heavy set individual, with cropped black hair, he straightened his shirt and went through the door. I knew he was just the type they were looking for; I felt a tightness in my chest: envy, he was one of the lucky ones.
Lost in my thoughts, I never heard the remaining person called. When I looked up I was alone. My watch said 17:10, I knew I'd be the one last in.
**Buzz.**
I looked nervously at the desk jockey, and he nodded towards room three. Numbly I got to my feet, and stopped at the door wiping the sweat from my palms. I adjusted the bulge in my jacket pocket and with a deep breath I turned the handle.