Akinetopsia

2 : Resignation

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10:16 am.

Ethan is slowly growing annoyed with the screening for his assistant. It's been 16 minutes and no one still passed his expectations.

He is only asking one question, and there's only a single answer from the choices, yes and no.

It's so simple, yet no one can answer it correctly.

Why? Because they are all not aware of him.

Athena is waiting outside the interviewing room, she is near on the roll maybe after two to three more applicants and it will be her name next.

"Next."

She became much even more nervous. It was quicker than she expected. Usually it would take 10 to 15 minutes for a single person but it would only take 30 to 60 seconds here. she breathed out heavily a countless times to ease her nervousness.

'what exactly are they doing?'

She thought to herself. the last applicant that came inside walked towards her friends near Jiyoung.

"Oh God! He's so freakin Handsome!!"

"So it's real? That the Chairman here is still young?"

"Yes!! And he's so hot!! Goood! That eyes! his eyes look so mezmerizing!"

"Are you accepted?"

"I don't know, But they said they will call me if i passed."

"Haha! dream on! I'll be the one to take the position!"

"You dumb? I'll be the one to take the position! I will flirt with him and we will lead this company to success together!!"

Girls on fancy clothes, They look like nobles. Rich brats. Why are they applying here? Athena looked at herself, 

Average.

76/100

While her competitors were almost 99 and 100, She classify herself as 76. She doesn't use any fancy clothes, her hair tied on a small bun looks messy but pretty at the same time. She's an average woman trying to live her average life. She was only forced by the Human Resources Management Director to participate here. She do not need to expect something since she's already a regular employee at the Human resources management. Still, She wants to try it. The salary is 20 times bigger than she had as an employee of the HR Dept. 

"Next."

Another applicant went outside as one walked inside the room. She's now next after this turn.

"The chairman is indeed handsome.... But isn't the question so weird?"

The applicant that just exited chatted to the other girl that was waiting for her outside. Both of them were now finish.

"yeah, Kinda. I wonder what's the answer.. he doesn't seriously look like one tho. right?"

"I think we said the right answer... maybe he's looking at the explanation.."

"yes.. I also thought so!"

"Well, I am a Harvard graduate so my explanation is much more precise than anyone of you here.. I'll take the position for sure."

She looked at the confident woman and sighed. She can never win here. just basing on the educational background, there's no fight in the first place.

"next!"

The last applicant before Athena was faster than usual. It only took her 1 minute at least to exit the room.

Athena exhaled and walked towards the entrance.

"Good luck."

The woman who keeps saying next cheered her up. Athena forced a smile to her.

she walked towards the room, gulping her saliva down.

Inside, There are 10 people. Even tho there is a crowd inside, her eyes were only fixated on one.

A guy, Almost the same age as her as she thought, was sitting on the center of the table. he's staring straightly on the front and not even looking at her. he seems to be so serious. His gaze is intimidating. His whole presence is intimidating. That's what her first impression of him.

He looked at her eyes the moment she stood in the center, straightly parallel to Ethan's position.

She gulped.

"H-Hello everyone.... I am Athena Saavedra... pleased to meet you all."

She bowed politely. Ethan stared at her eyes for a few seconds before speaking up. She gulped again, finding him much more intimidating.

"I will give you a single question. You can ask me one too and I'll answer straightforwardly. But you should answer my question and explain it properly. do you understand?"

"yes..."

"Am i blind or not?"

She was caught off-guards. unable to think of anything, she answered silence.

Athena looked at Ethan's eyes as if she's asking if it's already the real question. Ethan answered him with a nod. She sighed, thinking about an answer.

Athena started at her surroundings, seeing a cane near him.

'Diversion? Maybe it's only to distract me and make me feel like he's really blind..."

"I bet you are blind sir."

Ethan, who was puzzle-pated, looked at her with his eyebrows arched.

"And why?"

"can i ask a question first, sir?"

Athena slightly wiped her forehead and gulped once more.

there's only one question she can ask right now.

"do as you please."

Ethan answered her. She gulped again before answering.

"Can you recall how many times did i gulped?"

Everyone in the room was taken aback with Athena's question.

gasps and whispers started to envelope the whole room. some were guessing it while some is just looking at her ridiculously.

Athena is quite the petite woman. you can clearly see on her throat how she gulp so it's impossible that you can't notice it.

"I bet the chairman is a very very observant guy, so even this small details shouldn't pass from him right?"

Athena smiled at Sunghoon mischievously. Ethan just stared at her eyes, His face shows no emotions at all.

After a second of silence and staring into each other, Ethan stood up on his seat, then walked towards Athena.

He looked down the moment he reached her position. His cold eyes are pinned on her's.  He's much more taller than her so he need to look down just to stare at her eyes.

"So what's your conclusion?"

He whispered at her. She gulped again.

"I therefore conclude that the chairman is either partially blind or just unobservant."

She stared back at him. They are testing each other.

Ethan leaned down towards her face. Athena, who wasn't expecting that to happen flinched slyly.

"Let's go."

Ethan whispered on her ears and took her wrist, dragging her towards the exit door. before they can even leave, Athena stopped him from dragging him any further.

"W-Wait!! I am qualified?"

She asked, puzzle-pated with Ethan's decision.

Ethan raised one of his eyebrows.

"You don't want to?"

He asked back straightforwardly.

"I-I do... Thank you very much Chairman."

She bowed. Ethan rolled his eyes and looked at the crowd inside the screening room.

His eyes went directly to his parents who is looking at him with a satisfied smile.

"Leave me alone now. Alright?"

He said sharply and dragged Athena outside.

"S-Sir? Where are we going?"

They arrived on the elevator, everyone inside suddenly exited the elevator leaving him and Athena alone.

The elevator door closes, Ethan immediately pushed her on the wall, pinning her with his armso on the side of her head.

"Resign as soon as possible."

Ethan said without even looking at her.

This time, Athena was the one that raised her eyebrows.

"I would not waste my time there if only i knew i would resign immediately."

Athena rolled her eyes, Pissing Ethan off.

"Are you talking back at me?"

He said leaning towards her and glared on her eyes.

"Why not, Chairman?"

She talked back again. He doesn't know where she can take the courage to disrespect him.

Ethan bit his lips out of annoyance. Athena just stared at his lips, afraid of moving at all. He breathed out breathed heavily as she looked away, feeling a bit of awkwardness with the sudden pressure on the air.  

he then smirked at her.

Ethan's body was pressed unto her, She is leaning on the elevator wall while Ethan is blocking her way. Their faces just a few inch close. 

"How much do you need?"

He whispered on her ear softly as if he's seducing her.

"What do you think am I? A hostess?"

Athena retorted, slightly annoyed with what Ethan said. It sounds like she's a gold digging hostess that was desperate to earn money. She felt slightly offended towards her boss.

"Tell me the price."

Ethan insist, pissing her off even more.

"If you are planning to make me resign by doing this, you won't succeed."

She replied with conviction. he chuckle, finding her ridiculous.

*ting!

The elevator door suddenly opened. Ethan sighed heavily.

"Stubborn."

He said and walked away.

"Chairman wait-!!"

She yelled following him towards his office.

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