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A heavy atmosphere hung over the press conference venue arranged somewhere in Seoul. News of Haejoo holding a press conference drew reporters from various media outlets. At the main entrance, security thoroughly checked the identity of all entrants under Jinhan’s instructions.
“Only one hour left.”
Jinhan pushing Choi Inho into a corner yesterday was a form of venting. He was in such a state that he even thought it wouldn’t matter if Choi Inho died. He, who hated violence more than anyone, felt as if the minimal philosophy that sustained his life had collapsed recently.
“Do I just have to give up?”
He knew what to do in his head, but his heart wouldn’t follow, escalating matters to this point. Real Fact wasn’t a prestigious media outlet. It was a nuisance in the entertainment industry, having gained notoriety through paparazzi coverage. To be honest, with Yoonji, he had somewhat let go. But Haejoo’s case was different. The sense of alienation he gave her had reached a point where it was difficult to intervene.
“How did it come to this?”
He felt an extreme sense of self-loathing. Jinhan, who had nothing to envy in the world, had never felt so shabby until recently. At this point, he couldn’t even make a proper judgment about anything. If only Haejoo would cooperate well with today’s press conference...
“Chief Secretary Han Jintae?”
Just then, Han Jintae called him. Having received help from him yesterday, he quickly pressed the call button.
“What’s the matter?”
“The Chairman would like to see you briefly, Director.”
“Now?”
The press conference venue was a 10-minute drive from GN Entertainment’s building. It was quick by car, so he stood up from his chair.
“He’d like to see you briefly at the office.”
“Please tell Father that I don’t have much time.”
“Understood.”
“Come to my office.”
There was enough time until the press conference. Jinhan, assuming Chairman Yoo would also be arriving around this time, left the waiting room.
“General Affairs Manager, I’ll be going to the office.”
“Yes, Director.”
He deliberately walked to clear his head. His phone showed a message from Hyunseong that he had departed with Haejoo 30 minutes ago.
________________________________________
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The team leader of the artist management department came out after confirming Jinhan had left. Leaving the gathering reporters behind, he rushed to a sedan parked across the street. As he bowed his head in tension, the closed car window opened. Han Jintae was in the passenger seat.
“Chief, the Director has left.”
Han Jintae got out of the passenger seat. He courteously opened the back door, and Chairman Yoo frowned.
“Has Lee Haejoo arrived?”
“Not yet.”
The artist management team leader answered nervously. Only then did Chairman Yoo get out of the car and put his hands behind his back.
“Lead the way.”
The artist management team leader guided Chairman Yoo to the back entrance of the conference building. He tried his best to avoid being seen by people.
“You can wait here.”
“Please tell Team Leader Oh of the Public Relations Team to come.”
“Yes, Chief.”
At Han Jintae’s command, the artist management team leader hurriedly ran off. After finally escaping Chairman Yoo’s shadow, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“If the Director finds out about this, there’ll be chaos.”
Recently, he had inadvertently acted as Chairman Yoo’s spy. He wanted to quit the company so badly, but he couldn’t refuse. He saw Team Leader Oh, who was busy preparing for the press conference. He approached him and abruptly pulled his arm.
“Come with me somewhere.”
“I’m busy right now.”
“It’ll only be a moment. Don’t be too surprised.”
He pulled Team Leader Oh and knocked on the room where Chairman Yoo was. With Han Jintae’s permission to enter, the artist management team leader forced Team Leader Oh inside.
“What’s going on?! Ugh, ugh!”
Team Leader Oh, who almost stumbled, frowned, then paused. He looked at Chairman Yoo sitting in front of him, felt momentarily stunned, then became incredibly tense.
“This is Chairman Yoo Jinho.”
“Ah, hello! I’m Oh Joohan, team leader of the Public Relations Team.”
At the doorway stood two men he had thought were security guards from the outsourced security company. Team Leader Oh wondered why Chairman Yoo, Jinhan’s father, was here.
“Team Leader Oh, you’re in charge of this Lee Haejoo matter?”
“That’s right.”
“Why do you think Jinhan was played by a trivial media outlet?”
“What?”
“I’m asking because his actions aren’t like him these days.”
Chairman Yoo was probing into his son’s private affairs. For Team Leader Oh, it was awkward to explain the subtle parts where Jinhan’s personal feelings were entangled.
“I believe the initial response was insufficient. I wasn’t here at the time.”
“So, I’m curious about the reason for that.”
“---!”
“It seems Lee Haejoo isn’t following Jinhan well.”
Haejoo had become a real couple with Dojun, whom she was supposed to divorce after one year. For Jinhan, who had been devoted to her out of affection, there was no greater humiliation than this. The important thing was Haejoo’s feelings. Jinhan had tried to win her over, leading to this situation, making it difficult to clean up. He was honestly scared of how to explain these series of circumstances.
“It’s true that their opinions didn’t align.”
“Jinhan likes that girl, doesn’t he?”
Chairman Yoo had already largely grasped Jinhan’s situation. Any clumsy attempt to gloss over it would lead to trouble.
“He didn’t say it directly, but it seemed that way.”
“How have you decided to handle today’s press conference?”
Team Leader Oh had no choice but to relay what had happened yesterday between Jinhan and Haejoo. A suffocating tension filled the small room. Team Leader Oh stammered as he difficultly finished speaking.
“Lee Haejoo said that?”
“---Yes.”
“Because she’s fallen for a guy who just plays with money?”
“It seems difficult to easily cut ties, as they’ve been legally married for three years now.”
“She succeeded with Jinhan’s help, and she can’t even do that much?”
Team Leader Oh, finding it awkward to answer, just equivocated.
“That, I’m not sure myself...”
“You may leave now.”
Team Leader Oh bowed and exited through the opened door. Chairman Yoo watched him intently and lamented.
“Jinhan has finally fallen for a woman.”
“Indeed.”
Just then, Jinhan called Han Jintae’s phone. He calmly pressed the talk button and dissembled.
“Director, I’ll be there soon, please wait a moment.”
After hanging up, Chairman Yoo narrowed his wrinkled eyes. Then, he sighed, wagging his chin.
“Has Lee Haejoo not arrived yet?”
“She has just arrived, sir. I’ll go now.”
The bodyguard who was guarding the door relayed the news that had just come over his radio. At Chairman Yoo’s nod, he disguised himself and blended into the crowd.
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Upon seeing the van carrying Haejoo, the bodyguards pointed their batons towards the back of the building. Dojun’s car followed slowly behind the turning van. Just then, the security guard guiding them blocked their way.
“Reporters, please confirm your identity at the main entrance first.”
Secretary Song rolled down the window.
“This is actress Lee Haejoo’s husband.”
“You cannot enter if you have not been granted prior permission to enter.”
“Just now, I told you...”
As Secretary Song bristled and tried to argue, Dojun lightly tapped his shoulder. Secretary Song fell silent at the gesture not to argue.
“Let’s just pull the car away without making a fuss.”
“Yes, CEO.”
The van had already disappeared from sight. As soon as they turned the car around, the security guard urged them to leave. The situation at the main entrance indeed seemed strict. Seeing reporters going through a rigorous procedure to enter, Secretary Song asked.
“What should we do?”
“Just tell Hyunseong.”
Just as Dojun was about to send a message to Hyunseong, Haejoo stepped out of the van. The security guard, seeing Hyunseong taking out a wheelchair, asked.
“What’s the wheelchair for?”
“Haejoo Noona isn’t feeling well. By the way, where did the car that was following us go?”
Hyunseong looked around, puzzled that Dojun’s car was nowhere in sight.
“You cannot enter without a permit.”
“He’s Haejoo Noona’s family.”
“It’s the Director’s instruction, so we can’t help it.”
Hyunseong became annoyed at the inflexible and frustrating handling of affairs. It seemed he would have to drop off Haejoo and come back out.
“Noona, please go in first. Where’s the waiting room?”
“Follow me.”
Following the security guard’s guidance, they passed through the hallway and arrived in front of the waiting room. Just then, Jinhan’s call came to Hyunseong’s phone.
“It’s the Director calling.”
“I’ll push the wheelchair for her.”
Haejoo met Hyunseong’s eyes and sat upright. As soon as Hyunseong moved away to answer the call, the security guard took Haejoo to the waiting room. Then, with a click, the door locked.
“---!”
In the waiting room, Chairman Yoo, whom she had only seen on TV, sat with an overbearing demeanor. Beside him, Han Jintae wore a stiff expression.
“Are you Lee Haejoo?”
“---Yes.”
“You know who I am, I presume. And what’s with the wheelchair? Is it for show?”
The rude gaze dissected Haejoo. Trapped in a place without Hyunseong, Haejoo clenched her fists.
“I’m not feeling well. I was in the hospital yesterday too.”
“Show proper respect and greet the Chairman first.”
Han Jintae commanded in a chilling voice. Seeing his gesture to stand, a chill ran down Haejoo’s spine. She reluctantly rose from the wheelchair. Her condition hadn’t fully recovered, so she had to be careful.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Lee Haejoo.”
As soon as Haejoo stood up, the bodyguard moved the wheelchair far away. Even in that small action, their cruelty was revealed. Just then, Hyunseong knocked on the waiting room door. One of the bodyguards went out.
“Haejoo Noona... Hey!”
Hyunseong’s voice, held by the bodyguard, faded away. The door closed again, and Haejoo was alone. Chairman Yoo’s displeased gaze meticulously scrutinized her. His treating her like an object gave Haejoo a sense of humiliation.
“I despise ungrateful people.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Jinhan put a lot of effort into you, didn’t he?”
“I plan to repay that as an actress.”
“Even after disrupting the company like this?”
Haejoo couldn’t respond further. The mere gaze held considerable intimidation.
“I heard you refused all of Jinhan’s proposals?”
“There was merely a clash of opinions between us.”
“The fact that the word ‘clash of opinions’ is coming out means Jinhan has been quite lenient with you, it seems.”
“You’re going too far with your words.”
Haejoo couldn’t endure it forever. When she spoke up, Chairman Yoo let out an unpleasant laugh. After a brief moment, the old fox’s eyes glared fiercely at Haejoo.
“Your future will be determined by how you conduct yourself at the press conference.”
“My future?”
“I heard Jinhan has a request for you?”
“---!”
“Be diligent in fulfilling it. Otherwise, you’ll have a tough time ahead.”
This was beyond a threat; it was a curse. The head of a large corporation uttered bizarre remarks to her, a mere actress. It was a petty act beyond meanness.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Becoming an A-list actor or a D-list actor depends on your choice.”
“---!”
“If you become a D-list actor and want to make up for all these losses, you might have to sell your body.”
“How could you say such a thing...”
“If you don’t want to drag your so-called husband into the gutter, then deal with this wisely.”
“Haa.”
“I look forward to the press conference.”
Haejoo’s body trembled violently. As her vision blurred, Chairman Yoo rebuked her and left the waiting room. Her balance finally faltered, and Hyunseong rushed in. Startled, he pulled the discarded wheelchair over and sat Haejoo down.
“Noona!”
“Damn it!”
“The person who just left was Chairman Yoo, what did he say?”
Haejoo’s eyes, filled with rage, grew warm. Hyunseong, handing her a handkerchief, then pulled out a bottle of water from his bag.
“Drink some water.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Only about 10 minutes remained until the press conference. Haejoo, having sternly composed her emotions, looked around outside the waiting room.
“Where’s Dojun?”
“It seems they blocked him at the entrance. I’ll go get him while the security is lax.”
Just then, Jinhan arrived, panting. He stood in front of Haejoo, who was in the wheelchair, breathing heavily.
“What’s with the wheelchair? Are you hurt?”
He seemed unaware that Chairman Yoo had visited. Haejoo glared at his hand, which held his phone, and coldly retorted.
“Yes, I’m hurt. It’s not for show, I’m truly in pain.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“Because I have to do the press conference.”
“Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll trust you, Haejoo.”
He wished he had known earlier that Jinhan was such a sly and foolish person. The most idiotic thing was his continued belief that Haejoo would do as he pleased. Chairman Yoo’s malicious remarks had set Haejoo’s nerves on fire. Haejoo inwardly scoffed at Jinhan, the third son whom Chairman Yoo cherished so much.
‘Get lost!’
As the appointed time approached, the outside grew noisy. Dojun sent a message to Haejoo’s phone, saying he’d see her soon. Finally, the clock hands pointed to 10 AM. Haejoo, pushed by Hyunseong in the wheelchair, headed for the conference hall.
As she appeared, camera flashes went off in rapid succession. With everyone watching, Haejoo finally brought the microphone closer. In her heart, she reaffirmed her firm resolve. She would never tell a lie.
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