𝒞𝐻𝐸𝒞𝒦𝑀𝒜𝒯𝐸 || 𝐻𝒴𝒰𝒩𝐿𝐼𝒳 || 𝒪𝐹𝐹𝐼𝒞𝐸 𝑅𝒪𝑀𝒜𝒩𝒞𝐸

Chapter 1: Checkmate

Felix was nervous, his hands trembling and lips were quivering. He graduated from university 2 months ago, he's been waiting for his exception letter ever since. He was in a taxi, getting to the investment company, better known as Shinyan Investment Bank. Felix mastered many subjects in his school years, but his best was commercial finance and money dealing. He took an extra course in Psychology, which is good to convince people.

Felix passed the last few stages of getting into the interview. He's read all of Shinyan's best and worst portfolios along with the online profiles of everyone. Felix finally reached the tall building of Shinyan Corporation. He took a deep breath, fixed his tie, and took a step into the building. It was huge, for sure. He was escorted by a cute gentleman, who introduced himself as Seungmin.

"Hi! I'm Kim Seungmin. You must be one of the new members, I see you're in the final challenge, good luck because my boss is tough," he led Felix into a room with a few chairs in front of a small projector screening the name of Shinyan Investment Banking Company.

The blonde took his seat next to a woman who was pretty confident, she was looking down at her portfolio, Felix had been given one too, but he wasn't bothered about looking at it since he'd read his portfolio enough times that he's memorized it by heart. The woman with her hair tied into a ponytail and professional business attire in vintage green noticed that Felix was nervous as she looked at the man who was drumming his fingers nervously on the portfolio neatly kept on his lap.

"Hey, are you nervous? Don't be! You're gonna do great, I'm sure of it!" she whispered to him. "Mmm, thank you," Felix smiled at her. "Oh, I'm Jiang Jun, by the way," she introduced herself. "Oh, nice name, I'm Lee Felix," the blonde said, beaming at her. 

"Jiang Jun, Lee Felix, Choi Bomin and Charolette Flores, you've been called to the board of directors for your final test, please proceed with me to the room," Seungmin called the four finalists. The four quietly followed Seungmin up the stairs and into the room.

Felix saw 7 chairs in the room all arranged before an extended glazed table, one was vacant. Seungmin cleared his throat, making the four look up at him as he closed the glass door and stood against the wall. "All four of you have been chosen and selected for the final test, which, after this, you'll be in 2-month momentary testing to see how you do in the company, in those two months, we'll decide whether you're capable of the company or not," a strict yet sound woman's voice spoke from the fourth chair and it spun around to show a short-haired woman with a nerve. She was stunning but she had a look that Felix disliked, despite looking gorgeous.

There were four other chairs opposing the long table for the finalists to sit, and Felix sat in the fourth one. "I am Shin Ryujin, your Vice-councillor and one of the heads of the company. I expect the best from all four of you. Now, you've passed every step of the interview, but what will you be in the company? you have 30 seconds to speak," said Ryujin, ominously.

The first finalist who stood up was Jiang Jun, "I, Jiang Jun, think that it is fairly important to pay attention to all of the aspects of investment banking. As one who is highly ambitious, I choose to be Mo-tse of Shinyan Investment Banking," Jiang Jun was stopped by Ryujin.

"Mo-tse?! And how do you expect us to accept an inexperienced know-it-all wannabe into a high-class investment bank?"   She glared at her.                                                                                        "Well, I think we should let the two-month testing decide and not first impressions," Jiang Jun nodded respectfully and sat down as the 30-second timer had gone off and it was the second one's, then the third and finally, Felix's turn. The blonde was mesmerized by the other three's speech and it was finally his turn.

"Investment banking is like a chessboard. There are two kingdoms, We should think before making a move and make sure that the other opponent doesn't win, but in chess, we also have to make sacrifices every now and then, it's like a loss to a win. And all of this is fairly strategic management as both the game of obedience and this field of investment banking, are equally adequate," Felix's speech had ended when he looked down but was flustered when he heard an applause rise from the board of directors and the other three finalists.

"Do not be blinded by simple metaphors and a high selection of words, let's see how you do in the company, Mr Lee," Ryujin stopped the applause, she looked very uninterested and pissed. Felix nodded and the four were to stand up and bow.

"You've all done okay, but be careful the CEO is gonna be way more strict than me," Shin Ryujin says, glaring at all four of them and they were told off.

"How do I look, hmm?" Ryujin asked Hyunjin as she was showing off her new apparel for the Gala tonight in the mirror. Hyunjin was wearing a new dark navy blue suit with a golden brooch in the shape of a raven, Ryunjin turned her face towards Hyunjin and said, "Hah, another suit?" she chuckled as she flicked the dust off the shoulder.

"You look revolting," Hyunjin said sarcastically, Ryujin dramatically clutched her chest and scoffed. "Who are you tryna impress, Mister Perfect?" Ryujin smirked at the uninterested Hyunjin. "Not trying to impress anyone, Miss Perfect. I'm just too rich for you, aren't I?" He chuckled. "Ah! So narcissistic!" Ryujin laughed.

"Oh, and we've got some newcomers to the company, and can you believe how pathetic they all are with their blinding speeches and something they call confidence?" Ryujin said mockingly as she handed the four portfolios to Hyunjin, he sipped his tea while looking at the portfolios, but one of them caught the brunette's eye.

Lee Felix, his name was. Hyunjin was lost in the name and then he looked at the photo in the corner of the file. Ryujin peeked over Hyunjin's shoulder and then scoffed.                                   "Ugh, this one pissed me off the most, Mr Lee thinks he'll get in the company using a chess metaphor," she snorted.

"Checkmate." 

Hyunjin chuckled evilly as he looked at the name Lee Felix.

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