Page 81 of When Worlds Collide
Ouch. I think she just accused me of having main character syndrome.
She had a point, though. I mean, who the hell was I to ask for a job in a place like this? I hadn’t earned the right to be here.
But then I thought of Jihoon. And music, and the way I don’t think I could respect myself if I didn’t try to do this. For us, and for me.
“Director, if I may; I don’t expect ENT to mollycoddle me through this quarter-life crisis I seem to have found myself in the middle of.” This time I was certain I saw her lips twitch.
“Since coming to Korea, my sole focus in finding employment has been for two reasons: firstly, because it is not my intention to be beholden to my boyfriend. It is not in my nature to be idle, or dependent. Secondly, and to be frank, I need to work in order to stay in the country. So, you can imagine I am motivated.
“I can figure out my own career path on my own. I don’t need to be mentored through it. I don’t expect an important role – I don’t even expect any role. But, if you happen to have an opening, I can assure you, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone as capable as me. If I don’t know something, I’ll find out. If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll figure it out, or find someone who does, and learn. I just want to find somewhere within a stone’s throw to music creation. Everything else, I can figure out as I go.”
Director Kang had listened patiently through my little speech, nodding slightly as I finished.
“Your Korean?” she said, the sudden switch in track off-balancing me.
“I’m sorry?”
“Your grasp of the Korean language?” She then said something in Korean that had me looking at her blankly. She sighed, a small, delicate exhale that was as expressive as any words she could have used.
“I see. You understand this is a Korean company, with Korean assets, Korean interests, Korean clients, and Korean workers? In Korea?”
I had to physically restrain myself from squirming.
“I do understand, and I have already enrolled in Korean lessons with a local instructor.”
She made a ‘hmm’ sound, her eyes tightening ever-so-slightly.
“Well, Miss Thompson, I think that’s all we need to discuss today.”
My heart began to sink, until-
“You understand that any offer extended to you will be attached to a probation period to last no less than six months. I trust this period will be sufficient for you to bring your language skills up to a reasonable level, or at least show significant improvement. Does this sound agreeable?”
I could only nod, having suddenly lost the ability to speak any language at all.
Director Kang nodded, as if this settled the matter.
“Good. In which case, you can expect to hear from us after the festive period.” She stood, rising to her full height, and I scrambled to follow. She was petite, probably no taller than five feet, and even though that made me five inches taller, she still managed to dwarf me. The ramrod way she held herself as though she were the tallest person in the room was so much more than physical intimidation.
She held out her hand to me.
“It was… interesting to meet you, Miss Thompson.”
Faintly, I clasped her hand. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Director.”
“I trust you can find the door?”
I blinked. Then, I realised she had made a joke, judging by the wry twist to her lips.
“I always was an over-achiever.” I chanced a joke back, and was immediately rewarded when a surprised laugh burst from the Director, who immediately waved it away, like she didn’t know where it had come from. I watched, mesmerised, as she forced a neutral expression back onto her face.
“Very well. Goodbye, Miss Thompson.”
“Director.” I shot her a small, but appreciative smile, and turned for the door, letting myself out, and closing it behind me.
I leaned back against the tall, heavy door for a moment, exhaling heavily, drawing the attention of the nearby secretary. She looked at me for a second, and I thought she was going to ask me to move, but instead, she held up a tentative, questioning thumbs up. Shakily, I returned the gesture, and her smile widened.
Chapter 25
