Crystal & Pearl [On Hiatus]

Chapter 3 - Offer

Chapter 3 - Offer

"Park Jimin, you can do this. Fighting!" Jimin encouraged himself, taking a deep breath.

As he stood before the building, he noticed it was a coworking space, with nearly ten company nameplates displayed at the entrance. Crystal Tech Solutions was one of them. Upon entering the lift and reaching the ninth floor, he was impressed by the office. It was the only company occupying that level, while several others shared the floors below.

Approaching the front desk with the card Jeff had given him, Jimin was greeted by the receptionist, who flashed a professionally trained smile. "How can I assist you, sir?" she asked. Jimin informed her that he had an appointment with Jeff and handed her the card. She directed him to wait in the designated area while she passed the information along.

Ten minutes later, Jimin was called into a meeting room aptly named "The Oasis." As he walked past the main entrance, he couldn't help but marvel at the actual workspace—it looked as impressive as it did in movies.

"Yaah... Jiminah, if you land a job here, even as a contractor, you'll be one lucky bastard," he mused joyfully.

At the end of the hallway, he reached "The Oasis" and gently knocked twice on the door, waiting for a response.

"COME IN," a voice called out.

Jimin had no idea what awaited him on the other side. Little did he know, his colorful dreams might soon shatter.

He entered the room with a friendly smile and an air of confidence. However, it took him a moment to recognize the person sitting across the table—someone he hadn't seen in years. When realization hit, he froze for a second but quickly regained his composure. "Good morning, I'm Jimin," he said politely.

The other man seemed taken aback, clearly surprised by Jimin's calm demeanor. "Wow, Jimin. You truly are a work of art. Are you seriously expecting me to believe you don't remember me?" Nevertheless, he decided to play along—it was an interesting twist.

"Good morning. I'm Min Yoon Gi. Please, take a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

Jimin sat down and handed over a small file containing his resume and certificates. Yoongi scanned the file for a moment before asking, "I see you graduated with a degree in commerce. Can you tell me why you chose sales as a career?"

"I didn't have enough time to complete the internship I started due to unforeseen personal circumstances. I had to choose a paid job to support myself, and it turned out I have a knack for it. I've been awarded the title of Best Salesperson at Dior five times," Jimin explained.

"Hmm," Yoongi replied, sighing slightly.

"If you don't mind, could you clarify what type of job I'm being considered for? Jeff didn't provide any details about the role," Jimin inquired.

Yoongi closed the file and placed it on the table, looking Jimin straight in the eye. "Since you asked, I want to be transparent with you. I'm not impressed by your sales experience, but rather by your work at Luminescence."

Jimin was visibly shocked. Did anyone know about his dual life? What was this man implying? Had he seen him there? Jimin always went to great lengths to conceal his identity with makeup and masks—had it not worked?

Yoongi continued, "You possess remarkable skills. How about you use those talents for me?"

Jimin stared at Yoongi in disbelief, still processing the shock. He knew that taking a part-time job at the Luminescence club would eventually have consequences, but he hadn't anticipated this.

Losing patience, Yoongi pressed, "How about being my boy toy for a while?"

Jimin's breath caught in his throat. Tears welled in his eyes, ready to spill. Yoongi noticed and felt a sense of triumph.

"It seems you're considering this. Can we discuss compensation details, Park Jimin?"

Jimin silently picked up the file from the table and attempted to rise from his chair. Yoongi rushed to say something to keep him seated.

"Don't make hasty decisions, Jimin. You haven't even heard about the package yet. Your debts will be cleared in a flash, and your mother can receive proper treatment instead of relying on pills at home. You'll be able to care for her during the day and spend the nights with me. Think clearly, Jimin."

Taking a deep breath, Jimin replied, "Does your boss know what you're doing here?"

Yoongi chuckled. "Oh, boy. I am the boss. Did you think I was just an employee? I'm far too talented for that."

Jimin remained silent, drained of energy and hope.

"Still playing hard to get? Jimin, let's be real. You're a stripper at Luminescence. You don't have a knack for sales; you just use your flirting skills to make those sales. Your stripping skills, however, are no joke. What kind of offer do you think a stripper would receive? Be realistic."

Jimin was visibly hurt now. Yoongi felt victorious as he continued, "If you think a long-term contract isn't for you, you can settle for a one-night stand. Your debts will be cleared, and you'll receive ten million won. What do you say?"

Jimin rose from his chair, his voice firm. "Consider your offer declined."