Top Management - Chapter 195

Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (1)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

I felt like cold water had been poured on my head .

Did CEO Baek Hansung know that I received an investment proposal in China?

“… Team leader, how did you know?”

I for one wasn’t the type to chat about that .

“Lee Lyang . ”

The Team 3 Leader added,

“That guy seems to be really interested in you . I guessed when we went for drinks . ”

He was a representative of a Chinese agency company . I recalled his neat and urban face . His voice in which he proposed I leave W&U and go independent with Chinese investments .

I curtly replied,

“That happened a year ago . ”

“I know . ”

“I refused his proposal then . ”

“I heard that too . ”

Thinking back, I didn’t regret my decision . I didn’t plan on leaving W&U any time soon, and the foresight I had seen at the time made me uncomfortable .

Whenever I met Lee Lyang on business trips to China, he would bring the proposal up in the passing, but talks never progressed . He even stopped mentioning it recently . This was something I had tossed in the corner of my mind until recently .

The Team 3 Leader rubbed his chin .

“CEO has never brought up any talks about investments, has he?”

“Never . ”

“Then that’s fine . I was going to advise you to save yourself if the CEO happened to know about it . I was worried that sparks would fly to you because the Team 2 Leader created this wreck after accepting Chinese investments . If the CEO doesn’t know, then that’s that . ”

If CEO Baek Hansung doesn’t know…

Can I say for certain that he doesn’t?

“But if you’ve noticed, then the CEO might also…”

“No, Lee Lyang brought it up only because he was with me . He won’t say a word in front of the CEO . If the CEO knew that such talks were ongoing beneath the surface, he would immediately change the agency we work with . ”

The Team 3 Leader waved his hand . Kim Hyunjo, who was listening with a serious expression, joined in,

“Wouldn’t it be better to tell the CEO that something like this happened and that he refused? It just makes me feel uneasy . ”

“I don’t know about that . There’s no need to bother the CEO about something that’s already in the past . Especially at a time like this . ”

“Ah, it really isn’t a good time . ”

Kim Hyunjo scratched his head as he looked up at the ceiling . My phone on the table began to ring . I flinched when I saw the caller . The Team 3 Leader and Kim Hyunjo flinched in shock at the same time .

It was CEO Baek Hansung . What kind of timing was this?

“… Hello?”

-I heard that you’ve arrived .

He spoke slowly . It was difficult to gauge his mood .

“Yes, I arrived not too long ago . ”

-Shall we meet?

“Right now?”

-Hmm, I do have something I want to ask .

What would it be? That he would want to ask?

Was it about the Team 2 Leader? I probably had a lot to do with him suddenly deciding to go independent .

Don’t tell me it’s about the Chinese investment matter?

That bothered me too because of what the Team 3 Leader said .

Even as I opened the door to the CEO’s office, my mind was a tangled mess trying to figure out what the CEO’s motives were .

“You’re here?”

CEO Baek Hansung was standing alone in front of a wall . The wall was full of profile pictures of celebrities at W&U . CEO Baek Hansung’s finger lightly brushed past them . Neptune, Lee Songha, Nam Joyoon, Pretty Girls, and even the actors the Team 2 Leader was in charge of managing .

“What are you doing? Sit . You must be exhausted after coming back from your business trip to China . ”

My shoulders reflexively stiffened when he mentioned China .

When I sat at an empty seat, CEO Baek Hansung came over . After experiencing some unexpected misfortune during the weekend and with the Team 2 Leader causing a ruckus, I had expected him to be different from normal .

Although I couldn’t imagine CEO Baek Hansung’s red face spouting curses as he jumped up and down, I at least thought his mood would be fiercer . He was the same as normal . What was he thinking behind his calm face?

“There was a project titled ‘Telepathy’ amongst the scenarios, right?”

“Pardon?”

“Amongst the projects brought to Lee Songha . The one with Director Cha Jaeho and Heo Kakyung as the lead . Don’t you remember?”

“… I do . ”

I did .

I churned my mind, going through my memories to keep up with this sudden topic .

“It was a project we rejected because female lead’s role didn’t suit Lee Songha . ”

I remember that I had discussed it with CEO Baek Hansung and the director before making a final decision to reject it .

CEO Baek Hansung was smiling when I gave him a puzzled look .

“Is there a project you are thinking about for Lee Songha’s next project?”

“There are a few decent ones, but we are looking through them with an open mind . ”

“Hmm, I actually owe Director Cha Jaeho a favor from a long time ago . ”

The conversation was taking an unexpected direction .

“I met Director Cha because he said he wanted to have a meal, but it seems like he’s really interested in Lee Songha . He even said that they were willing to adjust a significant portion of the female lead’s character if she agrees to do it . ”

My mind jolted awake . The matters regarding the Team 2 Leader and Chinese investments were completely swept from my mind .

Was he saying he wanted us to go with that project for Lee Songha?

I quickly recalled the scenario and female lead . The scenario was fine . It was a well-structured action thriller . I had considered this project for a good while because Heo Kakyung, famous for his box-office appeal, had already signed on it . However, this wasn’t a project where the female lead shined .

The female lead was simply someone with a pretty face and body who was the male lead’s love interest . Even if it was a box-office success, all the attention would be focused on Heo Kakyung . How much would that character change through adjustments? It left a bitter taste in my mouth .

“If you don’t have any projects you are seriously considering, why not listen to them once more?”

“And if the talks do not go well…”

“Then don’t do it . ”

I immediately raised my head . CEO Baek Hansung calmly said,

“A favor is a favor, but if there’s a better project, then, of course, we should do that . ”

*

“It feels like we’re at the wrong party . ”

Im Seoyoung looked around with an awkward expression .

“It is the wrong party . Since it’s the closing ceremony at a short film festival . ”

“I feel like a lot of people are looking at us . Like, ‘why are they here?’”

“Guess they are fascinated . ”

Since this was a film event, most attendees were directors and production-related professions as well as actors . It was obvious that a girl group would stand out .

They were also dressed up since it has been a while since they last posed in front of a photo wall . The short film festival’s photo wall was plain compared to the red carpets of international film festivals . Throwing Neptune into the mix, they stood out like flamingos in a dance of cranes .

“There are cameras everywhere . ”

LJ suddenly wedged herself between Lee Songha and me . Being pushed aside, Lee Songha frowned . LJ lightly shrugged .

“You had a scandal, so we need to be careful of any two-shots of you two . ”

“Yeah, keep apart from each other . In the wrong hands, a two-shot could become a love shot!”

Im Seoyoung joined in to support LJ . Lee Songha was pushed back two more steps . Her clear face was now starting to cloud over . Lee Taehee, who was swaggering behind us like she was taking a walk, comforted Lee Songha by patting her shoulders .

“Oh! Park Hweseung! Right, right? Oppa, right?”

Im Seoyoung stomped her feet when she saw the actor in front of the photo wall . I unwittingly laughed because it had been a while since I saw her act like this .

“Yeah, it is . ”

“Oh, our eyes met! He’s coming over . What do I do?”

She fussed all on her own before becoming serious as she looked at her fellow members .

“We can’t make a fuss just because we’re in front of a movie actor . Let’s pass by while greeting him in a natural way . So that it’s not embarrassing!”

“Hey, you’re the only one causing a fuss . Is this your first time seeing a movie actor?”

Im Seoyoung shook her head at LJ’s rebuke . Park Hweseung was like the celebrity of celebrities . He was an actor who barely made any appearances on TV and entertainment shows and was wholly focused on his acting career . It was difficult to see him outside of a film festival like this .

To be honest, my desire to ask for an autograph surged up my throat .

Park Hweseung walked up to us . His unkempt beard and unrefined appearance gave us the aura of a talented actor .

“Hello!”

We didn’t have time to cause a fuss because we were next in front of the photo wall . We had a simple handshake before going our separate ways when I heard Park Hweseung talk with his manager from behind .

“Wow, I got to shake hands with a girl group . Aren’t you jealous?”

“I’m soo jealous . Sell me your palm . ”

That moment, Im Seoyoung’s eyes popped with stars . She urgently shook my clothes .

“Oppa, oppa, did you hear that?”

“Yeah . ”

“I guess we’re popular with movie actors?”

“Probably popular amongst middle-aged men . ”

I chuckled as I sent the girls off in front of the cameras . The photo wall was instantly overwhelmed with camera flashes . Their reactions were not much different from Park Hweseung . People gathered around to see the girls as they were changing their poses according to the reporters’ requests .

“Aren’t you Team Leader Jung Sunwoo?”

A middle-aged man came over in a friendly manner . His face looked familiar, but who was he? I looked through my memories and barely managed to remember . He was a production employee I had met at some ceremony . He glanced at the photo wall before asking,

“All of Neptune came?”

“Since Songha is here as a presenter, they asked Neptune to perform . ”

“Ah, I came over to find any good rookie directors…”

The employee glanced behind him . The people who had been following him like ducklings had been staring at me for a while . Having gathered their gazes once more, the production employee grabbed my shoulder .

“Now, say hello . You all know him, right? He’s Team Leader Jung Sunwoo of W&U . ”

Their eyes glistened . The employee introduced them .

“They are the director and actors who submitted their project to a competition . ”

No wonder . Their appearances were excessively neat for them to be production company employees . I shook their hands with a smiling face . I took special care in observing the director . While he was a rookie director who hasn’t debuted yet, he could be next year’s rising star .

Once the girls got out of the photo wall, we were introduced to and introduced ourselves endlessly . There were directors and actors, who were the main show tonight, as well as production and distribution company employees . There were even famous directors here to judge .

“Everyone’s so good-looking . Particularly Ms . Im Seoyoung, you have a face meant for acting . ”

There were even directors selling snake oil .

“Me? My face?”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a singer, but your vocalization and expressions are good . You should act!”

“Me? There’s no way . ”

Soon, having watched the scene that branded Im Seoyoung as an iconic figure for terrible acting, the director asked,

“Ms . Lee Taehee, are you not interested in acting?”

 While Neptune was laughing and chatting, I mixed in with the directors and production companies .

“I heard Director Jang Joonmo and Mr . Hweseung will be attending the afterparty . How about you, Team Leader Jung?”

“Ah, of course, we will . ”

Since all important discussions would happen there .

“I heard Ms . Son Chaeyoung will be doing a drama? She should do a movie . I have a decent project . ”

“Mr . Seo Jijoon seems quiet these days . ”

“I heard rumors that you were gathered a ton of scenarios and proposals . Did you find any decent projects?”

I always felt this, but rumors traveled quickly in this industry . It seemed like those who asked me about Seo Jijoon and Son Chaeyoung already knew about the incident with the Team 2 Leader . Their eyes stuck to me even more than before .

“What is the rumor about Ms . Lee Songha joining Telepath?”

“Telepathy? Director Chae’s project? She’s joining that?”

“Really?”

I forced my frowning brows straight . Rumors traveled fast, but gossip was even faster .

“It hasn’t been decided . We are still examining it . ”

“Really? The investment distribution company was thinking that it was already decided . ”

“I guess there was some miscommunication . ”

Or they purposely leaked that information . I guess I should set the meeting earlier . I’ll listen to them, but if it isn’t good, I needed to properly refuse this time . CEO Baek Hansung also said to find something better .

A better project .

I had now looked through most projects . I was now in the process of re-reading projects in case I missed something . It was now time to decide on a project, but I still couldn’t make a decision .

Was I expecting something too special? Did I have no choice but to pick one from my final choices?

The ceremony began while I was still lost in my thoughts . Having finished their performance in front of the movie screen, the girls sat next to me . Winning projects were introduced, and unfamiliar directors and actors were mentioned .

I was still lost in my thoughts as I clapped mechanically .

Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon were a given, but Seo Jijoon and Im Joowon needed new projects now . I wanted to get them something good . Since they readily sided with me, I wanted to get them good projects no matter what .

Just as I thought this .

Static filled my vision .

And my heart began to beat noisily .