By the time Luke reached the Big Treats Superstore, he had already lost a lot of time—and after sprinting the whole way, he was drenched in sweat.
"Whoa… look at all these people," he muttered, staring at the enormous crowd gathered outside the entrance. There had to be hundreds of them. Apparently he wasn't the only one who'd heard about the job opening. Big Treats was incredibly popular, and everyone knew it was a great place to work. The moment that employee quit, the news spread like wildfire—family calling family, friends texting friends. Of course, Luke hadn't considered any of that because of what had been happening to him recently.
"Damn it," he gritted out.
He was exhausted from the run, his clothes soaked, completely defeating the point of dressing up for the application. And even if his outfit had been perfect, how was he supposed to stand out among this crowd?
Unaware that he was already standing out, he stood there effortlessly striking—tall, impossibly handsome, the kind of man who looked as though he'd walked straight out of a fairytale. From The moment he appeared, the atmosphere shifted.
The ladies noticed him first. Their conversations faltered, their eyes sparkling as they tried—and failed—not to stare. Captivated was an understatement.
The guys weren't any better. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is he an undercover inspector?"
"No, no… he looks more like some high-ranking manager."
Everyone had a theory, but one thing was certain:
He did not even need to try—he already dominated the entire gathering.
There must be at least two hundred people here… he thought.
Across the street, he caught sight of Delights Superstore—his former workplace. It was the first time he'd seen it since being fired. His chest tightened, and he quickly averted his eyes.
"No more need for the past," he whispered.
After several minutes of waiting, a man stepped out holding a microphone. He instructed everyone to take a seat in the rows of chairs that had been set up. Each seat had a number on a slip of paper, and every applicant was told to hold onto theirs. Numbers would be called in their order from small to big for interviews.
True to its name, Big Treats was massive, with a sprawling parking lot big enough to hold a huge amount of cars. Even larger was its front area connected to a hallway, where Luke and the other applicants sat in tense silence, waiting for their numbers to be called.
The numbers were given out at random. No order, no pattern—just blind luck. Until you picked a seat, you had no idea what fate you were drawing.
Luke flipped his number over.
189.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
At this rate, fossilization seemed more likely than getting called. He slumped back in his chair with a sigh so heavy it could've dented the floor.
Around him, reactions varied.
Numbers 1 to 50? Those people were practically glowing.
Numbers 70 and above? Despair. Pure, unfiltered despair.
Luke knew the truth that lingered in everyone's mind: By the time they get to me, they'll probably already have found their perfect candidate. The thought gnawed at him, and frustration simmered beneath his skin.
A few applicants stood up and left, too impatient—or too scared—to wait for their inevitable rejection. Luke almost followed. Almost.
But he clenched his jaw. No. I've come this far. I'm not walking away now.
The doors opened.
"Number 1."
The first applicant went in.
Less than a minute later, he walked out, face pale, shoulders sagging—rejected without hesitation.
A nervous ripple swept through the waiting room.
Everyone had heard rumors about Big Treats' infamous selection process, but seeing the truth unfold in reality? That was something else entirely.
Big Treats wasn't just any superstore. It was the superstore—the kind locals called The Everything Superstore because it carried… Well, everything.
"Number 2."
In. Out.
This one came out crying.
"How can I be second in line and still get rejected immediately?!" he wailed, thrashing dramatically before security escorted him out like a glitching NPC.
Murmurs filled the room. People clenched their fists, whispered prayers, and tried to steady their breathing. The atmosphere felt like the final round of a death game, not a job interview.
And Luke?
He sat perfectly still.
Waiting. Watching.
Counting the seconds until his number—189—would echoed through the hallway.
Soon after they got to the sixth person, a sharp honk echoed from the gate, causing the officials to halt all operations immediately.
Security officers snapped to attention, suddenly more alert than usual, rushing toward the entrance to escort whoever had arrived.
It was obvious someone important had come—but who could it be?
Luke sat there, simply observing the sudden burst of activity.
As the car rolled through the gates, a wave of officials—security personnel and employees alike—poured out of the building to receive this mystery guest.
The very expensive car stopped, and as the door opened, Luke stretched his neck, trying to get a better look. From where he sat, he couldn't make out the person's face, but he could clearly tell it was a woman.
Maybe the owner of Big Treats Superstore? he wondered.
A loud murmur swept through the crowd of job applicants. Whispers rose like a tide, everyone buzzing with curiosity.
Most of them were looking pale and sad, it seemed they knew who was coming and it was not a good news.
Everyone except Luke, who had absolutely no idea what was going on.
He glanced around, searching for someone who looked friendly enough to ask.
"Excuse me, miss…" he said, addressing a woman standing nearby. She wore a black skirt suit, flat shoes, and glasses that reflected her emerald-green eyes. Her face was the kind that could light up the night sky. She was dressed to impress.
"Sorry to bother you—I'm Luke. Do you know what the commotion is about? And why have they stopped the applications?" he asked politely.
She froze—the hottest guy here had just talked to her.
She'd been one of the many girls who noticed Luke the moment he arrived.
I have to be calm.
I have to be calm.
She repeated it over and over in her head.
"H-hello, my name is Alicia. Nice to meet you…" she managed.
Then her expression dimmed.
"Well, the person who just arrived is none other than the owner of Big Treats Superstore Madam Helen," she said, her voice tinged with a glum note.