After speaking, the man extended his hand toward Veronica with confident ease. "Hello, I'm Lester Martin. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Veronica accepted his handshake with a firm grip. "I know who you are," she replied coolly, glancing down at his resume that she held in her other hand.

She met his gaze directly. "So, should I be interviewing you, or are you interviewing me?"

A smile spread across Lester's face, revealing perfect teeth. "I'm comfortable with either arrangement."

His resume highlighted his algorithmic expertise, and Veronica wasted no time diving into technical questions. She methodically assessed his proficiency in data cleaning techniques, his approach to feature engineering, and his strategies for parameter optimization. Throughout their exchange, she presented him with several hypothetical scenarios, carefully evaluating his problem-solving abilities when confronted with novel challenges.

Their conversation flowed naturally as they delved deeper into technical topics. Before either realized it, a significant amount of time had passed.

Veronica had to admit—Lester's skills were impressive, particularly for someone who had recently pivoted into artificial intelligence. According to his resume, he'd been working in the AI field for just over twelve months, yet his knowledge depth rivaled that of veterans with years of experience.

If he continued on this trajectory, his potential seemed limitless.

Closing his file, Veronica decided to ask something more personal. "Your resume indicates you've been living in Bella since you were young. What prompted your decision to return home for your professional pursuits?"

When she had earlier questioned whether he was interviewing her or vice versa, the reality was that throughout their conversation, they had been simultaneously evaluating each other.

Lester had witnessed her exceptional coding abilities firsthand when she effortlessly modified his algorithm earlier. Now, after their in-depth discussion, he recognized that her comprehensive skill set was nothing short of extraordinary.

In response to her question, Lester answered with refreshing directness. "I came back because of Echo, your programming language, and especially because of the groundbreaking Vespera project."

His eyes brightened as he continued, "DataPulse's latest Vespera initiative revealed possibilities I hadn't considered before. It demonstrated how dynamic the AI landscape is here compared to Bella, where AI development has essentially plateaued."

Having provided his answer, he immediately pivoted. "Now that you've finished your questions, shouldn't I have a turn?"

Before Veronica could respond, Lester stood up, closing the distance between them with confident strides. Looking directly into her eyes, he asked, "Are you currently seeing anyone? What qualities do you look for in a partner? Would I meet your criteria?"

Veronica froze momentarily, acutely aware of the other interviewers still present in the room.

Upon hearing his bold questions, several colleagues stifled their laughter behind hastily raised hands.

Maintaining her professional composure, Veronica replied evenly, "No comment." She gathered her materials and added, "Your interview is concluded. You may see yourself out."

As she stood to leave, Lester appeared to interpret her response as acceptance of his candidacy. Following closely behind her, he declared, "I can start immediately. I don't even require compensation."

Veronica ignored his remarks completely, walking purposefully toward the exit.

Later that afternoon, Dario returned and approached Veronica's desk. "Did today's interviews yield any promising candidates?"

"Two showed particular potential," she replied, handing him the relevant resumes.

Dario briefly scanned the first before pausing at Lester's. His eyebrows raised in recognition. "It's him."

Veronica looked up with curiosity. "You're familiar with him?"

"Indeed," Dario nodded. "He's the Martin family's prized heir. From what I understand, he was excelling in finance until roughly two years ago when, inexplicably, he decided to change career paths entirely."

"His family was reportedly furious," he continued. "After all, they have an extensive business empire awaiting his leadership."

Dario lowered his voice slightly. "I also heard recently that he essentially fled from home. His family has been conducting an extensive search for him. I never expected he would secretly return to the country."