It was supposed to be a calm day. Even though he had that stupid photoshoot, he had two whole days off from filming. He had woken up feeling full of energy. He'd practiced, eaten breakfast, and gotten ready for work. The streets weren't crowded, and he'd reached headquarters on time.
When Sang-Jun didn't pick up the phone, he thought it was a good idea to drop by the office. It had been a couple of weeks since he'd seen everyone. And so, upstairs he went.
He'd run into that girl and had so courteously kept her company until Chloe's return. But no! She had to ruin everything by being an intern. An intern. On his team.
That meant only one thing.
Chloe has betrayed me.
He was now standing in front of Chloe in her office, arms crossed, demanding an explanation.
"Sit down, Ye-Jun" Chloe told him.
"It's not time to sit down. It's time you tell me what you were thinking" Ye-Jun replied.
"Please calm down and act professionally", Chloe demanded.
"I am acting professionally! That's why I'm accusing you of not fulfilling your obligations. What did we agree, Chloe? The team would be small. Only people we trust, no outsiders. Do you even remember?" he asked, deeply upset. It had been six years since their endeavor began, and ground rules had been set. She couldn't just do whatever she wanted.
"I remember very well. And you know I always take your best interest into account. Not mine, not the company's. Yours" Chloe replied.
"Bringing a complete stranger onboard? How is that in my best interest? Do you want me to remind you of the risks?" Ye-Jun said, troubled. He began pacing back and forth, gesticulating wildly.
"Exactly. She is a complete stranger who will be on the other side of the planet in a few months. She has no concern about you, or the industry, or anything. She's just an intern here to help us out" she replied.
"Well, she can do that in another department. Why does she have to come here?" he asked again.
Chloe kept silent.
Oh no, Chloe... You've done something worse than just hiring an intern.
He stared at her, but she avoided his gaze.
"Chloe, send her to another team" Ye-Jun insisted.
"I can't" Chloe said.
"Why?" Ye-Jun wanted to know.
"I've already committed to helping and guiding her with her thesis" Chloe explained.
"There are other managers as good as you. She can go to that Choi guy who manages the Glitter Shine girls" Ye-Jun suggested, nodding emphatically. He was certain it was a brilliant idea.
"Not possible" Chloe said.
"I'll talk to him, I'll explain—" he began.
"They can't support her subject. Only I can" she interrupted him.
"Why?" Ye-Jun demanded.
"Because her subject is you" Chloe finally said.
His brain collapsed for few seconds. "Me? Her subject is me? Are you crazy?" he cried out. He'd known something was wrong. He gazed at her, furious. Not only would this girl be there, but she would be writing about him. Chloe was being reckless. She was risking everything.
"It's not you, you. It's your brand" Chloe explained.
"I don't care! My brand and I are the same to me, and we share the same risks and fears. Why on earth did she pick me?" he kept yelling trying to make a sense out of it.
"I don't even know if or why she selected you. Listen, let me explain so you understand. A month ago, my professor, Professor Jo, called and asked if I would take one of his students as an intern. He explained the thesis topic and asked me to meet her. I went to the interview, and Noelle... well, she's brilliant. She has great potential, and we are always looking for people like her. He was my professor, and he's highly respected in the business community. I had an excellent candidate. I couldn't say no," Chloe said.
"Yes, you could" he stated.
"Ye-Jun, people like me have obligations. We need to do favors. When my professor calls, I have to respond" she explained.
"No, you just wanted to show off your work and your achievements," he accused.
"Ye-Jun! How dare you?" Chloe lost her usual calm composure for a moment. "You know I'm risking things too! I wouldn't have done this if there was any real danger. And I don't brag about what we've achieved. When did I ever give you that impression?".
Had he crossed a line? He would never admit it.
"It doesn't matter. She can change the subject. She can pick someone else" he insisted.
"I can't back out now. I've already sent her materials, and she's organized her research. I will not disappoint either Professor Jo or Noelle" she replied.
"This thesis will never happen. I will not give my permission" Ye-Jun said.
"Who said I need your permission?" Chloe attacked, her voice sharp. "Don't you remember that the company owns the brand?".
The words hit their mark. He knew that according to their contract, all of his rights belonged to the company, and Chloe was the one who made the final decisions. Of course, over the years, she had always discussed everything with him—roles, collaborations, commercials. But legally, she could sign anything on his behalf. He felt the power imbalance viscerally and lowered his head, inhaling deeply.
"Sorry, Ye-Jun. I didn't mean it that way" Chloe said. Her voice was calm again, but far from apologetic.
"No, you said it right. The brand is your creation. I am just a... product". He looked at his watch. "Look at the time! We don't want to keep my girlfriend waiting," he added, a fake smile plastered on his face.
"Ye-Jun, we haven't finished here" Chloe said.
"Yes, we have. Products don't speak. Bye!" Ye-Jun said, storming out of the office.
He was furious. He was confused. His mind was a bundle of chaotic thoughts. When he exited Chloe's office, they all looked at him, but his eyes remained locked on the floor. He had to pass by that girl. Why wasn't there another way out? He wished he could teleport somewhere—anywhere—to escape.
Ye-Jun only managed to grunt, "Let's go" to Sang-Jun. If he had to form one more sentence, he was sure he would scream.
He stepped into the hallway and waited. Sang-Jun knew him well enough not to speak when he was in this state.
The elevator brought them to the underground parking lot, and they headed to his car. He tossed the keys to Sang-Jun and got into the passenger's seat. Ye-Jun opened the glove compartment, pulled out a pack of gum, and shoved a piece into his mouth. Sang-Jun began to drive, the silence thick and heavy between them. Ye-Jun crossed his arms and leaned his head against the window.
He chewed the gum as if it were his worst enemy. An enemy that still had no face, but whose threat was imminent.
Chloe, why did you put me in this situation? Why are you so reckless after all we've been through? Everything we're hiding could surface at any moment if we're not careful...
Everyone would find out his secrets. They would chew him up and spit him out onto the pavement. And everything he had built would crumble like a line of dominoes. He spat the gum out and immediately took another.
He realized he was more scared than angry. Fear always made him irrational. He needed to get a grip and find a solution, fast. Attacking everyone wouldn't work. He already regretted accusing Chloe of showing off. He knew how much she had sacrificed for him. But he couldn't apologize. That would look like offering forgiveness, like giving permission to do as she liked. He had to make it clear that he would oppose her at every opportunity. He spat the second piece of gum out and took a third.
He sat upright as a new realization hit him: there must be more than one traitor. He turned and glared at Sang-Jun.
You little rat...
"Why are you driving my car?" Ye-Jun asked.
"You gave me the keys, remember?" Sang-Jun replied, his voice flat.
And then he remembered—he'd gotten in the passenger seat, too angry to drive. "Yes, I do. But you should have said no". After a small pause, Ye-Jun asked: "Did you know?".
Sang-Jun remained silent. Ye-Jun noticed his knuckles tighten, the skin turning a shade whiter from the extra pressure on the steering wheel. "Know about what?" he asked.
"That the tooth fairy doesn't exist! Are you serious?" Ye-Jun's nostrils flared angrily.
"You must be referring to the intern" Sang-Jun concluded calmly.
"I knew you were the smart one from the day I met you! That is exactly what I'm referring to" Ye-Jun said, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Nope" Sang-Jun replied.
Ye-Jun felt a violent urge to punch his best friend right in his pretty face.
"Why didn't it cross your mind to tell me?" Ye-Jun asked after taking a deep breath.
"Would anything have changed?" Sang-Jun asked back.
"Didn't you consider that I might—just might—get angry?" Ye-Jun pressed.
"You'd get angry even if we painted the walls yellow. You are not the easiest person to handle, you know" Sang-Jun replied.
"Me? Are you serious? I am the most easy-going person you have ever met! Am I not professional? Do I cause any problems at work? Doesn't everyone like working with me? And for the record, I would get mad because I hate yellow!" he said, refusing to accept such preposterous comments. He was so awesome; everyone was glad to be around him.
"I won't object. You are exemplary at work. But everything else, man, you are a mess!" Sang-Jun said, laughing.
He felt a vein bulge on his forehead. He took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then exhaled slowly. "Today I realized what kind of friends I have. Both of you think this is trivial. What if she was sent here to spy on us and expose everything? It wouldn't just mean going out of business. Do you remember what that would mean, for me and for Chloe?" Ye-Jun asked.
"Spy? You're watching too much drama, dude! She's just a student. That professor probably opened his contact list, stumbled upon Chloe's name, thought she was a good fit, and sent the request. Don't think so highly of yourself" Sang-Jun said.
"I don't know if she's the spy, or the professor, but it's not a coincidence. She came here on purpose," Ye-Jun insisted.
"Yes, she came on purpose to be an intern. Are you listening to yourself?" Sang-Jun asked.
"Let's assume what you say is true, and she is innocent. What if she finds out something and decides to tell?" Ye-Jun wanted to know.
"Tell? Why would she tell?"
"For money, what else? She'll soon realize she can sell information to the press for good money," Ye-Jun reminded him.
"But she has signed all the necessary papers. She would be in serious trouble," Sang-Jun stated seriously.
"How will you be able to trouble her? As Chloe said, she'll be on the other side of the planet in a couple of months," Ye-Jun highlighted.
Sang-Jun remained silent. Ye-Jun felt victorious. They hadn't considered that they wouldn't be able to touch her. He wasn't being absurd. There was a real risk. And it was up to him to make it right.
"Don't worry, my friend. I will take care of everything," Ye-Jun continued before Sang-Jun had a chance to say anything.
"What do you mean?" Sang-Jun asked, a note of anxiety in his voice.
"You don't need to know," Ye-Jun said, a plan already beginning to form in his mind.
I will make everything right. Just wait and see, my friend.