King's Corp

Chapter 1

"Then prove it to me. Prove yourself worthy."

-

The boy furrows his eyebrows, "h-how so, Sir?"

The raven-haired man leans back against his leather chair. "Introduce an idea to me, something that is new and innovative."

The boy widens his eyes. "R-right now, s-sir?"

The man nods.

Jungkook bites his lip anxiously, "u-uh... s-sir- I-I... I!" This is ridiculous! How is he supposed to introduce a whole new idea on the spot without any planning at all? Jungkook bows his head down, silently telling the man that he is incapable of accomplishing the task.

The older man analyzes the boy for a bit, his cold eyes glancing over his cowered form. Then he looks back up at him and scoffs, causing the smaller boy to tense in his spot.

"You can barely speak without stuttering but you think you can manage being my secretary?" He sneers. "That's quite laughable, Mr Jeon."

Jungkook widens his eyes. "N-no, I can s-speak properly- it's just- I," he looks down, feeling sweat accumulate between his brows as his nerves increase. The other man stares at him with an amused smile before he gets up and slowly walks towards him.

"It's just what, Mr Jeon?" He asks as he circles the boy like a predator cornering its prey. "It's just your nerves, right? The job interview jitters? You're stuttering because you're under pressure?"

The brunette boy nods meekly, not knowing what else to say.

"Well imagine this," the man starts, staring down at the boy.

"A client asks you to give them a rundown on an unannounced product." He walks towards the boy and Jungkook takes a step back, gulping down the lump in his throat. "You haven't prepared any material, have no data, no information, nothing."

He takes another step closer and Jungkook feels his hands start to tremble anxiously.
"You're out in the open, under the scrutiny of many eyes, all of them awaiting your response. You feel your nerves hit tenfold, the pressure making your throat tighten up..."

He takes one last step towards the boy and Jungkook feels his back hit the desk behind him. The boy wants to shrivel up and let the ground consume him but all he can do is lower his gaze from that penetrating stare and anxiously wait for him to speak.
"So what will you do then? Will you blame it on your nerves? Will you stand there and crumble under their obnoxious laughter? The man husks, his head tilted in a questioning manner that doesn't fail to make Jungkook intimidated. Jungkook gulps, not knowing what to say.

"You may have the qualifications..." he continues. "But you can't survive in the business world if you don't know how to deal with people. If you can't adapt, if you can't improvise, you'll be nothing but a laughing stock." Mr Kim says as he takes a small step back, finally letting the boy breathe.

"People like you and me, we're rabbits in a lion's den."

At this, Jungkook looks up, slightly bewildered. He can see why he would be a rabbit but Mr Kim, the king himself? How is he a rabbit?

"But the difference between me and you is that you squeak, making it obvious that you're just a mere rabbit. But me? I learnt to roar. I learnt to improvise. I convinced everyone that, I too, am a lion. So that's why, Mr Jeon, you will never be suited for a job like this. Not even with these marvellous college degrees of yours. You're simply just too weak."

Jungkook deflates. He's worked years and years to even get the qualifications for a job like this. But now, because of his pathetic social skills, he's being denied. No...no. He can't be denied. He won't be denied. He's so close to achieving his dream job, he can't give up now. Jungkook clenches his fist at this newfound determination before looking up. "But sir, y-you said it yourself."