Pinnacle Hotels & Suites
The sheer magnificence of Pinnacle Hotels & Suites was undeniable. A breathtaking, almost mythical establishment, it stood as a symbol of luxury for the world's wealthiest elites. Everything about it—its futuristic architecture, its dreamlike opulence—felt as if it had been pulled straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. The designer must have had an overactive imagination, and the construction company surely would have made a fortune bringing such a vision to life. Oddly enough, no one knew which company had built it—news of its bankruptcy soon followed its completion. But who cared? The only thing that mattered was that this place existed, standing as a beacon of grandeur and exclusivity.
Jang Haneul stood at the entrance, looking every bit the part of a man ready to take on the world. Today was the day. If all went according to plan, he'd become part of the elite workforce that ran this magnificent hotel. It was his dream—his destiny—to become an accomplished man working in the biggest hotel in the world.
Of course, that was just him gaslighting himself.
Brushing off his nerves, he adjusted his beige suit, smoothed down his purplish hair, and stepped inside.
"Oh wow! He's so hot..."
"Is he a worker here? This place really knows how to hire, huh?"
Jang Haneul, completely oblivious to the murmurs around him, was too busy spiraling internally. The moment he stepped inside, his confidence wavered. Forget being a winner in life—he couldn't even figure out where the receptionist desk was. His mind was a mess, his nerves unraveling. How was he supposed to land this job when he couldn't even navigate the lobby? How will he get his job and make millions in order to marry his beloved princess Diane?
"He actually seems... lost?" A petite young woman mused, tilting her head in curiosity. Her bright blue eyes twinkled with interest as she stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"Let's go talk to him! He's clearly not a worker, so this is our chance to get acquinted with a scrumptious loo—"
Before her raven-haired companion could finish her thought, Jang Haneul marched toward them.
The vixen-like woman nearly bit her tongue in shock, her face instantly heating up. Had he overheard her?!
"I—uh—excuse me, could you direct me to the receptionist?"
Kim Minseo, the petite woman, blinked before quickly snapping out of her daze. "Oh! Yes! The receptionist desk is on the next floor. Just take that elevator over there." She pointed the way in a fluster, rambling nervously. "The interviews have already started, so you should hurry! Honestly, I don't know why they designed the hotel like this—it's just the lobby, after all. Anyway, I'm rambling! Go, go, go!"
Jang Haneul, already bowing in gratitude, rushed toward the elevator.
As soon as he disappeared, Minseo sighed dreamily. "Haa... he's so good-looking. I couldn't even look him in the eye..."
Her companion, Seolhwa, on the other hand, was still mortified. "Minseo-ssi... do you think he heard what I was about to say...?"
Minseo shrugged. "Who knows?" With a mischievous grin, she grabbed her friend and dragged her outside.
Jang Haneul finally found the receptionist desk, with no delay at all he approached the lady at the desk.
"Good morning, miss. I was told this was the receptionist desk. I'm here for an interview..."
The receptionist, a poised professional with a perfect smile, nodded. "Yes, sir. Right this way."
As she led him through the building, Jang Haneul completely zoned out. His mind was racing through possible interview questions, drowning out everything around him. When he finally snapped back to reality, he found himself in yet another lobby—this one smaller but still massive.
And packed.
Nearly fifty people sat in neat rows, all dressed in corporate attire, holding documents and looking just as hopeful—and competitive—as he was.
Reality hit him like a truck. His chances of getting hired today? Close to zero.
His palms grew sweaty, but he clenched his fists. No. He wasn't going to let nerves dictate his fate. He was going to ace this interview, no matter what.
"Jang Haneul-ssi?" The receptionist checked the list of candidates posted on the wall.
"Yes!"
"You're number 39. Number 36 is in the interview room now, so you should be getting ready to be called soon."
Jang Haneul inhaled sharply. The anxiety crept in again. Oh god, was he sweating too much?
The receptionist must have sensed his nerves because she smiled reassuringly. "Fighting! You'll do great."
Before he could thank her, she had already returned to her post.
Determined, Jang Haneul sat down, gripping his documents like a lifeline. "Jang Haneul, you're the winner of life. You're gonna nail this. This is just the first step to success...YE–!"
He almost screamed the last part aloud. Luckily, before he could embarrass himself, his number was called.
Saved by the bell.
A lanky man led Jang Haneul into the interview room—a massive conference hall that felt more like a graveyard. Because, let's be honest, this was where he was about to die.The sight nearly knocked the breath out of him. It was intimidating, vast and eerily silent.
"Ahem!"
His downward spiral into existential crisis was interrupted, and he quickly composed himself.
The interview panel sat before him: a middle-aged woman who looked like she wanted to smack him for wasting time, an older man whose impatient scowl made his already unattractive face even more unpleasant, and a younger, elegant-looking man who seemed the most neutral.
The disapproving looks weren't hard to miss—the kind that could make even the most confident person falter. Jang Haneul felt his stomach churn. He felt uncomfortable.
He already missed his cat, Maristella. Oh that poor little grem–
"Ahem!" The woman cleared her throat again, seems like a habit she had.
Jang Haneul gulped.
This... was going to be rough.
The younger man's expression was unreadable, but Jang Haneul could tell one thing for certain—he was not here to make friends.
Well.
Time to meet his doom.