He was sitting there behind his desk writing something before his eyes met Minji's. Minji immediately stared on the floor, avoiding contact.

"Aren't you gonna come in?" He asked. His eyes never leaving hers.

Minji stepped inside the room but her stare remained glued on the ground. She slowly looked up and saw him staring at her. He looked more handsome up close--his doe eyes though intimidating right now shines, his chiseled jawline was prominent and his skin was clear as the cloudless sky.

"Errrr...I must've been in the wrong room." She broke her own silence. "I was supposed to meet Sarah Anderson."

His left eyebrow raised and he leaned against the executive chair with his fingers crossed on top of his abdomen. "How do you know you are not speaking with her?"

Minji gulped. "I know because you are married to me." She thought to herself.

She scratched her head. "Uhm...I'm sorry. Of course. Good afternoon, Ms Anderson" she bowed her head.

Jung Kook smirked. "Anderson couldn't make it. She asked me to take over. My name is Jeon Jung Kook and I will be conducting your final interview". She gulped after he finished talking.

His hand pointed to the swivel chair in front of the desk. "Please take a seat."

She did exactly what she was told but she avoided contact forgetting that Kara's pointer specifically mention to do eye contact.

"So tell me something about yourself." His eyes still focused on her. "Apart from the fact that you are allergic to shrimp."

Her face stiffened. He recognized her. She bowed her head. "I'm sorry for what happened that day. I panicked and I didn't know what to do."

"None taking. Good to see you're feeling better." His right hand started playing with the pen.

She cleared her throat. "My name is Lee Minji. I am 26 years old and I was born and raised in the US by my adoptive parents. I graduated from University of Pennsylvania last year with degree in Communication Arts. I used to be a writer for the F-Word, a literary magazine for feminist Quakers. I spent my internship at JW Bookstore as their literary consultant. As a literary consultant, it is my task to read fictional books sent to us and give my ratings and recommendations. All of my reviews are published on their online weekly magazine. I didn't accept the full time job because my Dad asked me to move here in Korea instead..."

"Why did he ask you to move here?" He interrupted.

"My parents are divorced. Dad's health was deteriorating. He asked me to be with him on his final months."

Jung Kook just nodded. "What about your mom?"

"She's still in our house. Healthy as ever." Her voice cracked. Her mom's healthy figure appeared before her. One of the good things about her fake family is that she gets to pretend that her mom is alive waiting for her to go back home.

"What about siblings? You have any?"

"I have two brothers, a sister and a dog...." She started to fidget. Minji's file does not tell much about her family. "Chris and Meg are both graduating in high school before I left. Stewie, my youngest brother is the sweetest toddler who calls me Noona." She was praying that Jung Kook will not get the Family Guy reference.

"dog's name is Brian?" He smilingly asked.

She chuckled. "Of course, He gets it."

"Actually...yes. Many have said that mom looks like Lois so dad played with his kids' names. One time they all dressed as the characters from Family Guy for Halloween. I had to dress like Quagmire." She was making lies after lies.

"So why did you decide to apply here?"

" I have heard about MC Enterprises when one of your representatives visited us for a career fair. It is a stable company with its humble beginnings. I specially liked the idea of centralizing all of the publications within the company instead of hiring ghost writers for a higher rate. Also, I have read a lot of articles, books and magazines published under MC Enterprises and it's really up to its standards."

"What was the latest one that you read under MC Enterprises?"

"Ahhh..glad you asked that." She smiled. "It's the Horrible Truth about Free..." She stopped for a minute. "I think it was written by Park Hyerin. I liked her thought about how providing free public service isn't a good move to moralize citizens and make them think that their tax isn't wasted."

Jung Kook's eyebrow raised. "She received a backlash from that article. Citizens criticized her and called her an enemy of the poor."

"That's so unfortunate because I agree to most of her points. She stated and I may not quote it exactly, that if we are to provide free public services, like hospitals, schools and medicines, the quality of those items are sub-standard because the state will not pay as much. She argued that before we rationalize the free public services, the transparency of how the nation's wealth is spend must be discussed first to show which areas are defunct and used for corruption. She also cited a popular case in the state wherein a corrupt Mayor provided free healthcare services to his constituents only to find out that the vaccines are not FDA approved and that the general hospital is a go to for sick rich people to hunt for potential organ donors."

Jung Kook kept on nodding. "Lastly, what I like most about her article is when she said that we take things for granted when we get them...for free."

That last answer made Jung Kook tightened his grip on the paper. He gazed at her and continued to stare for a few seconds. If looks can kill, she'd be dead by now.

The interview went on in Jung Kook asking about her political ideas, her take on pineapple on pizza, LGBTQ views and other pressing issues to which she was glad to have knowledge for considering that she always reads the news on her phone. However, Jung Kook's accommodating aura seems to have worn off already because Minji noticed that he didn't stare at her and just wrote something on the paper.

"...I would like to discuss the essay that you've written about defending Hitler " he coldly inform. "You argued that Hitler is not a good person because of what he did but you also mentioned that it's not entirely his fault which are quite contradicting." He yawned a little.

Minji looked at him straight even though he refused eye contact. "There is no excuse for the Holocaust." she started. "I have read Anne Frank's Diary and felt what she must've felt. I have read and watched The Boy in Striped Pyjamas and saw how his views were interpreted in innocence. Countless movies, stories and books were made about him and what he did. The world will not forgive him." She paused to wet her lips. "However, Hitler's case, in my view, is a typical case of a person who grew up in a dysfunctional family. Had he had good relationship with his father, he could've been different."

Jungkook held on the pen tighter while writing. "Morality is first taught at home and if parents fail to teach their children or set an example, their children become potential Pandora's box. Hitler wasn't born a monster, but he grew up to be one. His anger was never settled. As Mitch Albom quoted, "Holding anger is poison...we think that by hating someone we are hurting them...but hatred is a curved blade..." Her eyes are almost swelling remembering Jung Kook's feelings about her.

"and the harm we do to others, we also do to ourselves." They both say. Jung Kook finally looked at her for a while as if she was a long lost friend. He played with his pen for quite sometime before he fixed his verdict on the paper.

Without any word, he pulled out a red key ring from the drawer and give it to her. Receiving red is never a good indication. She failed the interview.

"That's all for me."He said and handed the key ring to her. "Give this to the receptionist. You may go."

Minji stood up and offered her hand. She felt no disappointed towards herself and no ill feelings about Jung Kook's decision to fail her.

"Mr. Jeon, thank you so much for the opportunity. It was a pleasure meeting you." She smilingly say. Jung Kook reached for her hand to shake it. It was their first physical contact. Minji felt tiny bolts circulated her when Jung Kook gripped her hand. She wanted it to last a bit more but she couldn't. She bowed her head and left the room. Her smile is still fixed on her face.

"I talked to him, and right now that is all that matters" She told herself.

She gave the key ring to the receptionist and signed her name to log book. She turned around to exit, proud of her accomplishment for the day.

"H-hey, Ms Minji where are you going?" The receptionist.

She looked back and furrowed her brows, "Home." She smiled to the receptionist. "Mr Jeon failed me that is why I receive a red keyring."

The receptionist opened her mouth a little and gave her a confused look. "If you failed, he will tell you upfront. The colors of the key ring signifies the department where he is recommending you. He did not fail you."

That last sentence made Minji's heart almost skip a beat. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"C--can you please sit at the lobby while HR prepares your contract? I'll call them right now." She picked up the phone and started dialing.

She nodded and went to the lobby instead. There are fewer applicants now. She knows that she will go home late today.

"From strangers to colleagues." She smilingly told herself.