2nd Chance

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Interview

"Hi, I am here for the interview," the young woman said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. She glanced around the reception area, attempting to focus her thoughts. This was her chance, and she wanted everything to go perfectly.

"Interview? For what?" The receptionist asked, lifting her gaze from her computer screen. Her eyes flickered to the woman's outfit—a simple, unassuming look, perhaps not what she had expected.

"I have an interview at 10. Here's the email confirmation," she replied, with the email confirmation. The receptionist, after a glance at the screen, nodded slowly, her skepticism melting away.

"This way, please," the receptionist said, rising from her desk and leading her down a polished corridor. The soft hum of office chatter filled the air as they walked. The woman took a deep breath, straightening her posture and silently reminding herself of her qualifications, her preparation, and why she was there.

"Good morning, sir. You're here?" one of them said, surprised to see the CEO, Kim Ji Uk, entering the room. He was impeccably dressed, a sight that puzzled everyone in the room. The CEO rarely attended interviews or other such events.

"I'm here for the interview," CEO Kim Ji Uk announced, taking a seat.

"Understood, sir," Mr. Lee, the long-serving HR manager, responded.

"Next candidate, please," Mr. Lee called out, signalling for the next person to enter.

"You may go in," The receptionist who had escorted her earlier gave a quick, encouraging nod, signalling that it was time.

As she entered the interview room, she was greeted by a panel of four interviewers seated at a long table. Their expressions varied—some indifferent, others curious. 

"Good morning," the young woman began, stepping into the room, her eyes scanning the table before she continued, "Hi, good morning. My name is..." she began, but her introduction was cut short as CEO Kim Ji Uk drifted into a flashback.

In a distant memory, Kim Ji Uk was an intern at Stark Corp. "When you meet her, you'll know who she is," Tony Stark, the brilliant and enigmatic CEO of Stark Corp, had told him one afternoon, sipping coffee in his sunlit office.

"Tony, you're always so cryptic. Who is this person you keep mentioning?" Kim had asked, intrigued by the constant but mysterious reference.

"She's not someone you can describe easily. You have to meet her to understand," Tony had replied with a smirk, dodging the question as he often did.

"You talk about her like she's a legend. Why so secretive? No picture, no name, just stories," Kim had pressed further, eager to know more.

Tony had just chuckled, shaking his head. "You'll see when the time comes."

"Mr. Kim... Mr. Kim," Mr. Lee's voice brought him back to the present. "Do you have any questions for the candidates?" Mr. Lee asked politely, clearly uneasy under the CEO's unusually intense silence.

Kim Ji Uk blinked and refocused on the young woman standing before them. He studied her for a moment longer before asking, "What are your expectations for this job?"

The room held its breath. The panellists shifted slightly in their seats, perhaps anticipating the usual response something about the opportunity to work for such a prestigious company, the chance to advance a career, or perhaps the lure of an impressive salary.

But the young woman's answer was unexpected. "Nothing," she said quietly but firmly, her eyes meeting Kim's without hesitation.

"Nothing?" Kim repeated, intrigued. "Why do you say that?"

"If I have expectations and they aren't met, will I still be able to give my best?" she replied thoughtfully. "I prefer to enter a role with an open mind, to learn and adapt, rather than to come in with preconceived notions or expectations that could limit my perspective."

A ripple of surprise spread across the panellists. It wasn't the answer they had expected, and it had caught Kim Ji Uk's attention. He nodded slightly as if considering her words.

The room fell into a brief but heavy silence, one that seemed to stretch on longer than anyone was comfortable with. Finally, Mr. Lee broke the quiet. "Thank you for your thoughtful response," he said, his tone signalling that the interview was nearing its conclusion. "We will contact you if you are hired."

As the young woman left the room, the panellists exchanged glances, clearly impressed but unsure of the CEO's thoughts. Kim Ji Uk remained silent, his mind still processing what had just transpired.