Chapter 26: Reformed?!

Good, she was quick on her feet! Kris Cooper’s expression cleared. Vera Wave secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Well... lo-long time no see... No, I mean... we meet again. HEHE!" "Indeed." Kris Cooper slowly rose, his hands braced on the table. He placed one hand on the resume she had laid down. Leaning across the desk, he towered over Vera with an intimidating height advantage. "Indeed. We certainly seem destined to run into each other, Vera!" "Yes... Yes!" Vera glanced at her resume under his hand and swallowed. "I have other matters, so I will..." As she spoke, she reached out to take back her resume. Before Vera could finish her sentence, Kris Cooper’s large hand closed, her ID card now clasped firmly between his fingers. He lazily sat back in his chair, glancing at the ID card in his hand. The ID card had been issued three years prior. The photo on it showed a Vera who looked even more naive than she did now; her large, innocent eyes held an appeal so heart-wrenching it could stir a person’s pity. Vera looked at the resume in her hands, then at the ID card he was now holding, feeling as though a stampede of mythical beasts was thundering through her mind. It had been hard enough to find a job, and now she’d run into *this* guy! If I had known, I would never have stolen that ID card! Now, this guy definitely thinks I’m trying to dodge a debt. He’s certainly not going to let me off easy... But wait, why on earth was he here anyway? Initial surprise fading, Vera quickly regained her composure. Wasn’t he their star attraction? Why would he be here conducting interviews? "So... Kris Oppa." She put on her most charming smile again. "What... what are you doing here?" "Me?" Kris Cooper looked up from the ID card. "Why can’t I be here?" Isn’t that a redundant question? Vera secretly clenched her teeth, but her smile became even more fawning. "I... I was just concerned about you! Have you... turned over a new leaf?!" Seeing his eyes narrow again, Vera instantly wished she could pull out her own tongue and give it thirty good smacks. "No, I mean, you’ve... changed professions! Yes, changed professions!" Turned over a new leaf?! Kris Cooper’s face darkened again. "Er..." Sensing the atmosphere turn sour, Vera quickly spoke, "Is Manager Wang here? I’m here for an interview with her." "An interview?" "Yes, yes, yes!" "You can talk to me." "You?!" Vera looked him up and down. "Are you the person in charge here?" "Any problem with that?!" "No, no, no!" Vera waved her hands frantically. "Of course not! I was just asking... Wasn’t there a Manager Wang here yesterday?" "No need to look for her. I’ll interview you." Vera looked him up and down again. "You?!" "Any problem?!" Kris Cooper raised an eyebrow. "No, no, of course not, but... do you have the authority to make the decision?" Kris Cooper didn’t reply, just gave her a look that plainly said, "Isn’t that obvious?" If even *he* doesn’t have the authority, then nobody in this company does. Are you kidding me?! Vera felt a sharp sense of injustice. She had worked so hard for this interview, even making two trips, only to find out that *he*—a gigolo!—was going to be her boss. What kind of messed-up world was this?! KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK! "Come in," Kris Cooper called out. Tommy Taylor walked in with a stack of documents. Kris Cooper had come to this room as soon as he got to work, specifically waiting for Vera. Tommy, as his assistant, had no choice but to bring the files downstairs for Kris to sign. Seeing Vera, he realized he had arrived at an inopportune moment and quickly retreated. "You two continue. I’ll come back later."