I find your comments to be a concern. “Secret meeting”?
You are judging another student and assuming that you would have been a better candidate-so what? If he had wanted you, he would have asked you.
For most jobs, you will need to be interviewed. If they don’t like you, they will pass on you. No one is asking you to be something that you are not. Just be aware that just “doing the work and getting paid” isn’t going to be very satisfying for your future work assignments. CS people work in teams. Meetings are held in teams. If you are just doing the work, your future assigned work will be along those lines and promotions will be extremely limited.
My daughter was a double major in CS and EE. She is moving quickly up the ranks at her job, and has been targeted by the management because they have seen how well she works with others (when new employees come onboard, she’s known as a good trainer). She knows how to organize and placate staff. She has less experience than some of the other staff, but she’s a quick study and everyone LIKES her. Upper management often ask her to talk to employees. She’s not a BS’er and will definitely NOT brown-nose. This is what her employer sought and she continues to do well.
MORAL: Learn to be sincere and play nice.
Just curious if you are an international student some internships are paid by the government for US citizens.
Oh and for future reference: the word “apart” means “to separate”.
(We were able to dissect and take apart the car engine)