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The tension in the room was palpable, a thick silence that stretched between them like a fragile thread. Iseul's breath caught in her chest as she met Sunghoon's gaze, her heart racing with emotions she hadn't expected to feel.

His expression was a strange mixture of surprise and disbelief, and for a moment, neither of them seemed able to break the stillness.

The others, sensing the growing discomfort, exchanged puzzled glances, trying to piece together the puzzle they had just stumbled upon. It was clear this wasn't just a coincidence. But what was it?

Rena, who had been watching the exchange closely, seemed to finally snap out of her own confusion. Her brow furrowed, and she turned to Sunghoon, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Oh, do you two know each other?"

For a brief, almost imperceptible moment, Iseul saw Sunghoon's composure falter—just a flicker of hesitation, before it was masked by a carefully crafted smile.

It was the same smile he always wore, the one that could command any room, the one that shielded him from emotions. But it didn't reach his eyes. His eyes... they were focused on her, still locked with hers.

"No, not really," he said, his tone smooth, but there was an edge to it. "I just saw her name tag."

Iseul's stomach twisted at the lie, her mind screaming in frustration. Saw her name tag? Her jaw tightened, but she refused to let him see the way his words dug under her skin.

The others in the room, still unsure of what was going on, exchanged more confused looks, sensing the disconnect between them. But it didn't matter.

Sunghoon studied Iseul with a calculated gaze, sensing her unease, the way she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt—her only attempt at hiding her discomfort.

"Miss, you were leaving, right?" His voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge of amusement, like a predator enjoying the sight of its prey squirming.

Iseul's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't expected him to bait her so openly, and yet here he was, watching her with a look that made her feel exposed.

What do I do now? Her mind raced as she fidgeted even more, her fingers instinctively tugging at the fabric of her shirt, desperate to regain some semblance of control.

Before she could muster a response, Rena, ever the observant one, piped up, her voice laced with realization. "Ohhh, I get it now. When you heard the CEO was joining, you were excited, right?"

Iseul's heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to give Sunghoon the satisfaction of knowing how much his presence affected her, but the lie she had to spin felt heavier than ever.

She let out a nervous laugh, doing her best to play along, to mask the anxiety building in her chest. "Yeah, haha, I'm a big fan."

Her voice wavered slightly, but she quickly plastered on a smile, hoping it was convincing enough.

Rena's smile remained warm, but there was something calculating in her eyes as she added, "But we're starting now. Don't you want to give yourself a chance?"

Sunghoon, unfazed, subtly shook his head, his lips curling just enough to hint at a smirk. His message was clear without words—don't play this game.

But that was exactly what Iseul was going to do. Her chest tightened, but she refused to back down. This was her moment. With a quick breath, she straightened her posture, the nerves turning into something sharper, more determined.

"Yeah, I want to give myself a chance," she said, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her stomach. She wasn't sure if she was convincing anyone, least of all herself, but she knew one thing: she wasn't going to let this chance slip away. Not after all the risks she had already taken.

Iseul walked back to her seat, her movements fluid, her eyes never leaving Sunghoon, who hadn't made a sound, but the tension between them was palpable.

The room fell into a tense silence as the interview began, with each applicant's CV being read aloud. The quiet rustling of papers and the occasional murmur from Rena as she nodded or commented on someone's qualifications filled the space.

One by one, the resumes seemed standard, a blend of internships and achievements that didn't seem out of place for a corporate position. But then they reached Sungchan's file. Sana glanced at the paper, her brows furrowing slightly as she scanned the contents.

"Sungchan, you have lots of experience abroad," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of disbelief. "This doesn't look like the file of an intern."

Sungchan, who had been sitting back in his chair, legs casually crossed, flashed a grin that was both confident and slightly mischievous. "I got caught," he said with a shrug. "Good luck, guys. I'm leaving."

He stood up smoothly, his chair scraping softly against the floor as he made to leave. The other applicants exchanged confused glances, unsure whether he was joking or serious. But before he could take a step toward the door, the room went still.

Rena's glare, sharp and unyielding, snapped toward him, and without a word, he slowly sank back down into his seat, his smile faltering just slightly under her watchful eyes.

"Sit down, Sungchan," Rena ordered, her voice cool, a mix of authority and the silent promise of consequences.

Sungchan, momentarily cowed, did just that. He leaned back in his chair again, this time without his usual relaxed demeanor, but the smirk never fully left his face.

Rena cleared her throat, her gaze lingering on Sungchan before turning back to the group.

"Let's continue," she said, her tone no longer as light as before. She glanced back at the CVs, and the interview carried on, but the room had undeniably changed. Everyone could feel it. And Iseul? She was more determined than ever to prove she belonged here.

Sana's eyes skimmed over the paper before speaking, her voice filled with surprise. "And you too, Iseul," she said, glancing at the resume. "You have a lot of work experience."

Iseul sat up straighter, a feeling of unease creeping up her spine. Sunghoon, who had been leaning back in his chair with his usual air of confidence, began flipping through the pages of her file. His eyes lingered on her credentials, and he spoke in that smooth, almost mocking tone of his.

"Amazing. That's so amazing, Miss Iseul. It says here you worked as a fashion agent and a professional image consultant." His emphasis on the words felt pointed, like he knew exactly what she was trying to hide.

Iseul gulped, her throat suddenly dry. She hadn't expected him to bring this up, especially not here, of all places. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but her eyes flickered nervously.

Sunghoon's gaze sharpened as he continued, his voice almost taunting. "Can you explain more? What did you do specifically?"

She felt a wave of heat rush to her cheeks. There was no way around this now—he was looking at her, and everyone in the room was waiting for her answer.

Iseul shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the memories of those days flashing before her eyes. She remembered standing on street corners, her makeshift market in full swing, hawking clothes to anyone who would listen. The chaos of it all came flooding back, the desperation mixed with a rush of adrenaline.

She wasn't going to reveal the truth—not to them, she had to get the job.

"I had very important clients," she began, her voice steady despite the tension simmering just beneath her skin. "And I helped them fix their entire look. I mean, no matter how much we deny it, fashion makes a statement to the world. And as a fashion agent, I helped them recover their image and send the right message to the world."

She could see the approving nods from the others in the room—Rena's eyes softened, and the head of marketing, Sana, looked impressed. It was working. For now, she had convinced them.

But Sunghoon... he wasn't so easily swayed.

He sat back in his chair, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, his gaze never leaving hers. His silence was more unnerving than any question he could have asked.

Iseul's breath caught for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest as she locked eyes with Sunghoon.

His voice cut through the room like a knife as he added, "Oh, and it says here that you also worked in marketing—specifically, with products. Can you explain that to us, Miss Iseul?"

Her jaw tightened slightly, but she held her composure. Her mind flashed back to her time on the streets, selling tteokbokki and trying to make ends meet with every little bit she could, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

That wasn't a story she could tell here. Instead, she focused on crafting a story that would align with what they wanted to hear.

"I understand the market very well," she began, her voice smooth as she projected confidence. "I've worked with various brands, helping them shape their identity and figure out exactly what their clients want. It's about understanding the customer base and creating an emotional connection with the product—making it feel personal and relevant to them. I specialize in understanding the subtleties of consumer behavior and knowing what will resonate most with specific audiences."

Sana, who had been quietly observing, smiled slightly as she looked at Iseul's resume. "I see. You've changed jobs quite a few times in a very short period," she noted, her tone light but curious. "May we know why?"

Iseul's heart skipped a beat as the room went quiet. The question hung in the air, and she felt the weight of it more than she'd expected. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before responding.

"I believe that change is a part of growth," she said, choosing her words carefully. "Each job I've had has taught me something new, whether it's about business or about myself. Sometimes, it's not about staying in one place; it's about expanding your horizons and finding where you can truly excel."

She gave a small, confident smile, hoping her answer sounded convincing.

But Sunghoon wasn't done. His gaze hardened as he looked directly at her, his words cutting sharper this time. "So, loyalty isn't important to you, then?" he asked, his voice dripping with a hint of something darker. "Do you just leave people behind when they no longer serve you?"

Before she could react, the others in the room seemed taken aback by his bluntness. Some shifted uncomfortably in their seats, exchanging puzzled looks. Even Rena's expression faltered, her brow furrowing in confusion at the harshness of his words.

His gaze was still unwavering, almost daring her to back down, but she stood firm. She refused to let him see her falter, not now, not when he was testing every part of her.

"I believe loyalty demands both sides. It's not fair to pour all the responsibility onto someone else without giving them the credit they deserve for their hard work."

Sunghoon's eyes narrowed slightly, they were both insulting each other indirectly. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could utter a word, Rena interrupted, her sharp voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Iseul," Rena said, her tone cool and composed, "I'm going to ask you a question. Your educational level is lower than everyone else's here. Why should we hire you?"

"It's true that I didn't attend the top universities, nor did I manage prestigious jobs," she began, each word carefully chosen, "but I've worked in three jobs at the same time. I've been working since I came of age, and through that, I've learned more than what any textbook could offer."

She paused for a beat, her eyes shifting slightly, as if recalling the long hours and exhausting moments that had shaped her. "I met people—different people, from different walks of life. And I didn't just work with them. I learned their language, their culture, how they think and act. That's why I can help bring those people to your app. I know what they need, what drives them. I understand them in a way that not everyone can."

Sunghoon's lips parted slightly, and before he could stop himself, his mouth curled up at the corners—just a subtle twitch, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

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