Adeline drew them closer, scanning through his portfolio with quiet focus.
She smiled faintly and gave a small nod. "Mmhmm. Mr. Dixon, your portfolio looks… rather ordinary. So, let's get to the part that's actually useful for our company, shall we?"
"Yes," the man replied curtly.
"You mentioned having experience in L.A. According to this page, you interned at Mechta Garage—a major company in the city. Why did you decide to leave?"
Brian's expression stayed calm. "My mother had health issues," he said quietly. "I had to take time off to care for her. And… there were others who seemed more qualified than I was back then. So, I gave up my position."
He didn't sound very sure of his answer. Adeline looked up at him, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Uh-huh. That's the whole reason, then?" she asked, letting out a soft sigh.
"Not entirely," he admitted. "But one thing's for sure—I've got more time now than I did back then."
When he smiled, she could see something behind it—a quiet ache, like his words were holding back a storm.
"Alright," Adeline said, leaning back a little. "Let's skip the past. Tell me—what would you say are your strengths?"
"I'm calm, careful, and… I work well with others," he said, swallowing between words.
"And your weaknesses?" She pressed on.
"My weaknesses…" He hesitated, then gave a faint laugh. "Decision-making, probably. I make bad calls sometimes. That's actually one reason I left Mechta. I also get startled easily—balloons popping, that kind of thing, haha… But I do have some hands-on experience building MC-class vehicles."
"So, you're sensitive to loud noise, huh~" Adeline said, trying to piece his story together.
She noticed the veins at his neck tense slightly. The man's gaze drifted to the wall behind her—to two paintings: one of a black cathedral, the other of a family.
"I guess… I'd like to build a new life," he said finally. "I've come a long way from home. From the people I love. I just want to make the future a little more stable…"
He forced a smile that made her chest tighten—it looked like someone had pulled the corners of his mouth into place against his will.
"…Yeah," he finished softly.
"What would you say is your greatest burden?" She asked next.
"My greatest burden?" he repeated. "Hm… I'd say it's myself."
A single tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. Brian turned toward the window, smiling faintly. "Wow, the view up here's really something," he said—then glanced back, catching the glint of moisture on her chin.
"Uh—your sweat's dripping on the paper," he pointed out gently.
"Oh dear, I guess the AC isn't working properly," she said quickly, brushing her gloved fingers across her chin before the droplet hit the documents.