The Candidate I Had To Interview Was My High School Bully—He Tried to Coerce Me, And Now He’s Paying The Price

It was the last person I ever expected to walk into my interview room: my high school bully, the guy who had made my teenage years a nightmare. As he sat across from me, flashing a disarming smile, I felt the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach—only this time, I held the power to decide his fate.

The candidate I had to interview this week was my high school bully. I’d been working in a management role at a tech company for five years, helping to build a new team when the roster of interviewees landed in my inbox. It was a whirlwind, and I barely had time to prepare for the interviews, let alone process the fact that one of them was a name from my past—Brad.

Fifteen years had passed since I’d seen him, yet the memories of my high school tormentor flooded back with such intensity that I could hardly breathe.

Brad had always been the stereotypical jock, a cocky football player who thrived on belittling others to elevate himself. I was the overweight theater kid, more interested in acting than athletics, drowning in the sea of my own insecurities.

Those years had been riddled with ridicule and torment, and Brad had been one of the ringleaders. Seeing his name on the candidate list felt like a cruel twist of fate. Surely, he hadn’t changed.

When the day of the interview arrived, I found myself pacing in my office, nerves bubbling beneath the surface. I knew I had to keep my composure; after all, this was a professional setting. But when Brad walked in, my stomach dropped. He looked different—older, more rugged, but still unmistakably him. At first, he didn’t recognize me, which was a small comfort, but as we sat down, a flicker of recognition crossed his face.

“Wait a minute,” he said, squinting as he leaned forward. “Is that you, Ethan? From high school?”
I feigned a smile, a rush of conflicting emotions swirling within me. “Yeah, it’s me,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “How have you been?”

“Oh, you know, just living the dream.” He chuckled, his bravado shining through. “I can’t believe we’re both here. Small world, right?”

“Yeah, small world,” I echoed, my insides twisting with bitterness. I had never wanted to be in the same room with him again, let alone in a position where I had power over his future.

The interview commenced, and I did my best to remain professional. He answered questions with a mixture of confidence and cockiness, as if he were still the king of the schoolyard. As he recounted his career trajectory, I struggled to ignore the memories of him shoving me into lockers and mocking my aspirations. The office was meant to be a neutral ground, but I could feel the high school cafeteria drama creeping back in.

“Tell me about a challenge you’ve faced in your career,” I prompted, hoping to see a glimpse of vulnerability.

Brad leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Honestly? It’s hard to find people who can keep up with me. I work best in competitive environments. It’s like high school all over again, right?”

I gritted my teeth, biting back the memories of being the target of his relentless jokes. “And how do you handle team dynamics?” I pressed.

He shrugged, flashing a disarming smile. “You’ve got to make sure everyone knows their place. That’s how you win.”

That comment set off alarm bells in my mind. I couldn’t let him get away with this facade. I pressed further, “So, how do you define success in a team setting?”

Brad’s demeanor shifted, and his playful smirk turned into something more sinister. “Look, Ethan, you know how it is. You get the right people in the right spots, and the rest just falls into place. It’s about knowing who’s got your back.” His tone dropped, and I felt the threat hang in the air between us. “You wouldn’t want to risk anything by making the wrong decision here, would you?”

My heart raced. This was no longer just an interview; it was a power play. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. “I’m looking for integrity in a candidate, Brad. That’s what matters here,” I countered, forcing myself to stay composed.

He leaned in closer, his voice low and almost conspiratorial. “You know, I’ve always admired how tenacious you are. But remember, some things never really change. You wouldn’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the corporate ladder, right?”

My stomach churned at his thinly veiled threat, but I refused to back down. “This isn’t high school anymore. I’m not scared of you, Brad. This is about qualifications, not old grudges.”

Brad’s eyes narrowed, but I saw a flicker of uncertainty behind his bravado. He was used to intimidating people, but I wasn’t the scared kid he remembered. The tension hung heavily between us, and I could see the cracks in his facade.

After the interview, I took a moment to breathe. I had confronted my past, but the confrontation left me shaken. I was determined not to let him win. I steeled myself, my resolve hardening. I had power here, and I intended to use it.

The next day, I finalized the interviews and put pen to paper. I wrote a scathing review of Brad’s performance, carefully crafting my words to reflect not just the facts but the emotions he’d stirred in me. I highlighted his lack of real qualifications and exaggerated his shortcomings.

But the most damning piece was the admission that he’d tried to leverage our past relationship to secure a good review. “Attempted to coerce me into favorable treatment due to our acquaintance in high school.”

When I hit “send,” a rush of adrenaline coursed through me. I had taken back my power, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

But the satisfaction didn’t last long. A few days later, as I was leaving the office, I spotted Brad lingering by the entrance. He caught my eye and strode over, his expression darkening. “What did you do?” he hissed, his voice low and threatening. “You think you can just ruin my chances like that? I know people, Ethan. You don’t want to mess with me.”

I held my ground, feeling a mixture of fear and fury rise within me. “You can’t bully me anymore, Brad. You’re not in high school, and I won’t let you intimidate me.”

“Is that so?” He stepped closer, invading my space. “You really think you’re safe in your little corporate world? You have no idea who I know and how quickly things can change.”

I forced myself to stay calm, focusing on the anger bubbling inside me instead of the fear. “You don’t scare me anymore. You might have had your fun back then, but I’m not that kid anymore. You can’t push me around.”

Brad smirked, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “You’ll regret this. I promise you.”

As I turned away, heart racing, I felt a jolt of adrenaline course through me. I hurried to my car, glancing back to see him still watching, a menacing grin on his face. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over.

Later that evening, as I prepared to leave for home, I noticed a dark figure waiting near my car. My heart dropped as I recognized Brad’s silhouette in the shadows, fists clenched at his sides.

“Ethan!” he called out, his voice dripping with malice. “Thought you could get away with it, huh? I’m going to make you regret everything you did. You don’t know who you’re dealing with!”

Panic surged through me, and instinct kicked in. I fumbled for my phone, hands trembling as I dialed 911. “I need help! My high school bully is threatening me outside my workplace!” I whispered urgently to the dispatcher, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Stay on the line, sir. Help is on the way,” the dispatcher replied.

As I kept my eyes on Brad, his expression shifted from rage to surprise. “You think the cops will help you?” he sneered, stepping closer. “You think they can protect you from me?”

I backed away, my pulse pounding in my ears. “You need to leave, Brad. This is not a joke. I won’t hesitate to press charges.”

He lunged forward, but before he could reach me, the distant sound of sirens blared, growing louder. Brad hesitated, glancing toward the sound, and in that moment of distraction, I took the opportunity to move behind my car for safety.

Within moments, police officers arrived, their lights flashing. Brad’s bravado faltered as he realized the gravity of the situation. “You can’t do this, Ethan!” he shouted, but I stood firm, my fear transforming into a fierce sense of empowerment.

The officers approached, assessing the situation. “What’s going on here?” one of them asked.

I pointed at Brad, my voice steady despite the adrenaline. “He’s been threatening me since the interview. I want to press charges.”

Brad’s face turned pale as he realized the implications of his actions. The officers quickly apprehended him, cuffing his hands behind his back. “You have the right to remain silent…” one of them began.

As I watched Brad being led away, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The fear that had consumed me for so long began to dissipate. I had taken control of my life, finally breaking free from the chains of my past.

Later that evening, as I sat on my couch, the weight of the day settled into a strange sense of calm. I had faced my bully, stood my ground, and emerged victorious. Brad might have thought he could intimidate me, but now, he was behind bars, paying the price for his past actions.

I realized that I wasn’t just moving forward; I was thriving.

This story is based on a true story. All the names in the story have been changed.