Across the long conference table sat three people: a middle-aged man, a stern-looking woman, and an elegant man in his thirties.
The woman's sharp gaze could probably cut through steel. Her expression was intense, difficult to describe, but one thing was obvious—she was a very beautiful old lady. The older man, however, was the complete opposite. His face was already unpleasant to look at, and the deep frown he wore only made it even more unsightly. The younger man, the one with glasses, was the only one who regarded Haneul properly. He wasn't particularly handsome, but he wasn't ugly either—just an average-looking man with bad eyesight.
"Take a seat." His deep baritone voice was pleasant to the ears.
Jang Haneul nodded, bowed politely, and sat down. "Good morning. I am Jang Haneul, and I'm pleased to meet you all."
"At least you know how to greet," the stern woman said without preamble. "But do you think you have what it takes to work in this establishment?"
The lanky man who had escorted him in stood silently behind her.
The glasses man picked up Haneul's résumé, scanning it with mild interest. "I see you studied at Harvard University in the US. Impressive." He smiled. "And you've racked up quite a number of degrees. You must have been a smart little runt in college."
Haneul let out an awkward chuckle. "Hahaha… I—I try my best no matter the circumstances."
The older man scoffed. "That's nothing special. The thirty-eight candidates before you were just as impressive. It's the bare minimum for working in this hotel."
Translation: what makes you so different?
The questions began.
"What makes you think you're qualified for this position?"
Haneul straightened in his seat. "I believe my education and experience make me a strong candidate. I've worked in similar high-pressure environments, and I thrive in fast-paced settings where attention to detail is critical."
"Describe a time when you faced a difficult situation at work and how you handled it."
Haneul thought for a moment. "During my internship, a VIP guest's reservation was mistakenly canceled due to a system error. Instead of panicking, I quickly found an alternative suite, arranged a personalized welcome package, and personally apologized on behalf of the hotel. The guest was so pleased with the service recovery that they extended their stay."
The glasses man nodded approvingly. The older man, however, remained unimpressed.
"If a guest rudely demanded something unreasonable, how would you handle it?"
"I'd remain calm and professional. I'd acknowledge their concerns while setting realistic expectations, offering alternative solutions where possible."
The older man clicked his tongue. "You make it sound simple."
Haneul met his gaze evenly. "Hospitality is about adaptability. If the guest is being unreasonable, the goal is to de-escalate while maintaining the hotel's standards."
A flicker of approval crossed the glasses man's face.
The interview dragged on, an exhausting series of rapid-fire questions.
"What's your biggest weakness?"
"I tend to be a perfectionist, but I've learned to balance it with efficiency."
"Why should we choose you over other candidates?"
"I don't just meet expectations—I exceed them. I believe in delivering excellence, not just meeting requirements."
The older man scoffed. Tch.
The sound was loud, deliberate. It made it painfully obvious that the man had no intention of hiring him.
"Well," the old man sneered, "I can see why you graduated with such credentials. You'd be an asset to any organization. Unfortunately, I've come to the conclusion that—"
BANG!
The door slammed open so hard it nearly flew off its hinges.
The sudden intrusion startled everyone, but none more than the older man, who bit his tongue mid-sentence. His face twisted in pain, and he let out a strangled groan.
The stern woman looked appalled.
The glasses man, however, simply stood and bowed.
"Wang Naneun-ssi."
Wang Naneun? Haneul thought. What kind of bizarre name is that?
The woman standing at the doorway was breathtakingly beautiful—so much so that it seemed unreal. Her silver hair was styled in a sleek ponytail, and she wore a casual sundress paired with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. If anything, she looked less like a businesswoman and more like a supermodel who had just returned from a luxurious beach vacation.
She crossed her arms, surveying the room with a playful yet domineering aura.
"Ah, Mr. Park, sorry about that," she said, not sounding sorry in the slightest. "Send me the hospital bill. I'll cover it."
Mr. Park—still clutching his mouth—glared at her in pain.
Na-neun nodded at the glasses man and waved at the older woman, whose expression darkened at the casual gesture.
Meanwhile, Haneul was lost in his own world. Could this be love at first sight? My princess Dia—
"You."
Haneul snapped out of his thoughts. Naeun was now standing directly in front of him, gazing into his eyes.
She was tall—at least 189cm, just like him.
"Um… yes?" he stammered.
"Good." She turned to the glasses man and gave a brief nod.
The glasses man, still as composed as ever, walked over to Mr. Park, who was grumbling and hunched over in pain.
"He's hired."
"What?!" Mr. Park choked out, his voice a garbled mix of pain and disbelief.
The older woman also snapped, "What?!"
Haneul blinked in confusion. Wait, what just happened?
The glasses man remained unfazed, gently guiding Mr. Park toward the door.
Na-neun turned back to the room, her smile widening. "Should I repeat myself for you old folks? I said—Jang Haneul is hired. Tch! It's not like I stuttered."
"Why are you hiring him?! What makes him so special?!!" Mr.Park– coupled with his garbled voice and his feral and angry expression– looked like a demon fresh out of hell. His nose flared and the sheer animosity in his voice and eyes showed plainly how much he detested the Visitor.
Wang Naneun didn't care, she smirked as her eyes roved over his pathetic frame. Her gaze the perfect definition of nonchalance. She didn't care one bit about what he thought. Right now, his opinion was irrelevant.
"Hmm...Mr. Park Hyungmin, it seems you've forgotten who you're talking to.." she chuckled. "I will excuse that behavior of yours– just this once." she turned away from him to face the glasses man who had been supporting Mr. Park. "Hyo seop-ah quickly escort him to the hospital." She didn't spare them a glance any further.
Wang Naneun turned her head lazily, lifting a brow at the older woman. "Oh? Mrs. Kim, Did you have something to say?" She tilted her head, lips curling into a smirk. "I'd be careful if I were you. Your voice almost made me think you were questioning me."
The older woman known as Mrs Kim, who had been sporting an appalled and offended expression due to Wang Naneun's indifference and blatant disregard for professionalism and workplace etiquette, stiffened.
The room's temperature seemed to drop. For a brief second her appalled expression flickered with something else—fear, maybe, or just self preservation.
She quickly schooled her features and nodded."Not at all. He's a fine choice." Of course, he was. She knew that.
But Mr. Park's pettiness had nearly cost Jang Haneul the job. The old man was still sulking over Wang Naneun refusing to appoint his nephew as the new vice manager, he also had a ridiculous inferiority complex over men that were remotely better looking than him. Mrs.Kim didn't care about that– she didn't care what happened so long as her position isn't threatened. She knew when to back down.
Jang Haneul, meanwhile, had frozen up like a deer caught in headlights. watching their interaction, it finally hit him—This wasn't just some eccentric executive.
This person was so obviously the boss, Wang Naneun.
For years, the president of Pinnacle Hotel had remained a mystery, only known by the moniker President M. Some claimed they were a ruthless businessman. Others whispered rumors of a shadowy figure pulling strings from behind the scenes.
And yet, here she was. A baddie in a sundress.
'Who knew President M was this hot?' Jang Haneul thought, dazed.
He was so lost in thought that he almost didn't register the sharp voice calling his name.
"Jang Haneul-ssi?"
"Mrouh??"
Silence.
Jang Haneul slapped a hand over his mouth, horrified. 'What the hell was that sound??' he cried internally.
Across the room, Wang Naneun simply stared at him—then, to his utter mortification, burst into laughter.
Despite the laughter from Wang Naneun, Mrs. Kim was unimpressed. She eyed him in mild irritation.
"You have been hired. You will begin as the vice manager next week Monday." She stated curtly before turning to the lanky man who was also her assistant. "Mr. Cha, inform the receptionist to notify the remaining candidates that the interview process has been concluded. They should be dismissed." She commanded.
"Then.." she bowed stiffly to Wang Naneun. Her expression unreadable, before walking out with her assistant—leaving Jang Haneul alone with Wang Naneun, a huge smile on her face.