* * *
Current time: 3:50 PM.
“Assistant Manager Gil, isn’t your interview about to start?”
He had been trying to ignore it, but Assistant Manager Kim just had to bring it up.
“Haa…”
A sigh escaped.
He really didn’t want to go.
Desperately.
He wanted to just skip it, not show up, and be disqualified.
“Why are you so nervous? I heard the atmosphere isn’t that rigid. Apparently, the new director is surprisingly witty and easy to talk to. So don’t worry and just go.”
Kim, who hadn’t even had his interview yet, was already passing along secondhand accounts to encourage him.
Unwanted advice.
“Hurry up. You can’t be late for something this important! While you’re at it, try to get some good intel.”
Not knowing what Wookyung was really thinking, Assistant Manager Kim kept pushing him.
It seemed like he wouldn’t be able to just sit there and stall any longer.
With reluctance, he finally stood up.
“Assistant Manager Gil, you got this! Good luck!”
Manager Shin, who had been frowning at his monitor, suddenly clenched his fist and cheered him on.
Seeing his innocent expression somehow made Wookyung even more irritated.
‘I really should’ve avoided getting involved with these protagonists…’
He had spent five years enduring hardships just to bring them together as a couple.
If he had known this was how he’d be repaid, he would have minded his own business and planned his escape.
His past self had been such a fool.
“Assistant Manager Gil! You’ll do great! Not that you need luck.”
“Assistant Manager Gil! You got this! Go crush it!”
…What are they even saying?
Wookyung looked around the office in disbelief.
What exactly did they think he was going to do?
Everyone was being weirdly serious about this.
And yet, as usual, Associate Choi was giving him that look—like he had something to say but wouldn’t.
Same as yesterday.
‘Whatever.’
If Associate Choi wasn’t going to talk, then that was that.
Wookyung gave a half-hearted nod and left the office.
He pressed the elevator button and checked his phone.
3:53 PM.
Damn it.
He had stalled as much as he could, but only three minutes had passed.
If only he could just be late enough to get disqualified.
Maybe he should just skip it and go somewhere else.
‘That would mean automatic rejection, right?’
That actually sounded tempting.
They wouldn’t even remember who he was anyway, so if he just hid out somewhere and came back later…
The elevator doors opened.
He decided to get in and pretend he was heading up, then get off after a floor or two.
“Assistant Manager Gil Wookyung.”
Hearing his name, he glanced up.
“…Ah.”
Why the hell are you here?
The very person who should’ve been preparing for the interviews was standing inside the elevator.
“Heading up now? Perfect timing. Let’s go together.”
The man spoke as if nothing was out of the ordinary, completely unfazed by Wookyung’s stunned expression.
But Wookyung, whose escape had just failed, now had a face like he had swallowed something bitter.
‘Why is he here?!’
Having run into the one person he desperately wanted to avoid, Wookyung had no choice but to follow him, staring down at the floor like he was being dragged to his doom.
The polished dress shoes ahead of him sparkled obnoxiously, making him even more annoyed.
Even though Wookyung had no interest in luxury brands, it was obvious that they were expensive.
‘If you have money for shoes like that, why not buy a car instead?’
Why did this guy even take the subway?
Then again, come to think of it, he hadn’t run into him since that day.
Normally, you run into the same people on your commute, but he hadn’t seen Director Choi at all.
Maybe he started taking a different train car, or changed his schedule…
“Take a seat here.”
Lost in thought, he was pulled back by the voice above his head.
Looking up, he hesitated.
This wasn’t the designated meeting room.
“Are we having the interview here?”
“Yes. Want something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Juice?”
“Uh… Just water is fine… But wasn’t the meeting supposed to be in the conference room?”
Did he misread it?
No, he had checked earlier, and nothing said the location had changed.
So why was he in the Director Min’s office instead?
“Ah, right. Then just a moment.”
That was it?
No explanation?
The man just walked off to the water dispenser, leaving Wookyung staring at the back of his head in frustration.
‘Can you please explain what the hell is going on?!’
“Here.”
“…Thanks.”
‘What choice did I have? If the interviewer chose this place, the interviewee just had to follow.’
Still, Wooking wasn’t thrilled about it, so he stared at him openly.
“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Choi Saheon.”
‘You know how people say I lack social awareness? Yeah? That’s right.’
How did this guy even come up with such random things to say?
And what was with the sudden self-introduction?
Hadn’t he already done that before?
And why was he looking at Wookyung like that?
As if he was expecting him to introduce himself again?
“…Assistant Manager Gil Wookyung.”
“Yes.”
“That’s correct, right?”
“…And?”
Ah, damn. That was rude.
Wookyung had snapped back without meaning to.
He pressed his lips together and stole a glance at Director Choi.
Luckily, the director didn’t seem offended.
If anything—what the hell?
Why was he smiling?
What was so funny?
“Oh, no need to be so tense. Technically, this is an interview, but I wanted it to be more of a casual conversation.”
“Ah… yes…”
Casual, his ass.
This was even more awkward.
If they were in a conference room, at least it would feel like a proper interview, but this?
This felt like a one-on-one disciplinary meeting with his boss.
“I’ve heard great things about you, Assistant Manager Wookyung.”
‘Wait, when we had they gotten close enough for him to drop my last name?’
Wookyung gave him a bewildered look, but the director must’ve taken it as a sign to continue.
“You were the top recruit in your batch, and I heard from Manager Shin Jaehyun that you’re extremely competent.”
No, but why would his manager say that?
This was exactly the kind of unwanted attention Wookyung didn’t need.
“Looking at the work you’ve handled so far, I believe you’d be able to take the lead on our upcoming project.”
“…Huh? Me? Wait, isn’t this an interview?”
Why did this feel like a work meeting?
Could someone please tell him he was just imagining things?
“That’s right.”
‘Don’t agree so easily! And why the hell was he still smiling?’
Wookyung was confused as hell right now, but Director Choi was just sitting there enjoying himself.
Now that he looked closer, the director’s lips had been curved into a faint smile this whole time.
“So, let me ask you—if you were to join this project, how much of your abilities do you think you could contribute?”
“None.”
“…Pardon?”
“I can’t do it.”
Director Choi tilted his head slightly, as if he didn’t understand.
Did Wookyung not make himself clear?
“I don’t have the skills to meet your expectations.”
“You’re quite humble.”
“It’s called being objective.”
‘So please, don’t pick me. I mean it.’
He hadn’t even been aiming to make it this far—he had somehow just gotten dragged along.
That’s why he needed to make this clear.
‘It’s not like you actually want to work with me either!’
They were practically fated to be at odds.
The way they had met on that subway alone should’ve been a sign.
So it was best to stop here and go their separate ways.
“It’s good to assess yourself objectively, but there’s no need to be overly modest.”
‘I’m telling you, it’s not modesty! Can’t you just take my words at face value?’
“One more question—do you have any colleagues you’d like to work with?”
Why did he keep talking like it was a given that Wookyung would be on this project?
“No.”
Maintaining strict boundaries was the only way to survive this absurd situation, so he answered firmly.
“But surely, among the projects you’ve led, there must be a team member you got along with? Like someone from marketing or design—”
“Not at all. I actually work best alone.”
No matter how he looked at it, it was obvious the director was trying to slot him into a team.
To shut this down completely, Wookyung had to be firm.
Director Choi crossed his legs.
Even that small action carried an air of controlled composure—like a scene straight out of a movie or drama.
‘Come to think of it… wasn’t he an Alpha?’
Why would someone like him even be here?
If it was the U.S. branch, HK Group’s most sought-after location, wouldn’t he have better opportunities?
But never mind that—Wookyung didn’t care why he was here.
All he wanted was to not get involved.
“That so? Then that’s even better.”
“…What?”
How exactly was that a good thing?
And why was his smile getting even wider?
Could he at least explain what was going on inside that head of his?
Either unaware or deliberately ignoring Wookyung’s wary expression, Director Choi spoke again, his tone oddly gentle.
“That just means you’ll have to adjust to working with me.”
…Yeah, he wasn’t letting him go. Damn it.
* * *
I’m hooked 🤩
Interest is now picked. MC is funny and prickly.