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Chapter 27
THE REST OF THE DAY GOES BY IN A SLOW BLUR.Every passing second, minute, and hour seem to slug on by as I wait for some breaking news to expose Minjee and me. I called Sophia as soon as I could to tell her what happened, and she said she’d do her best to stop the story from being announced.
“But I can’t guarantee that I can block them,” Sophia warned me. “The biggest problem is that we don’t know who this guy was or who he’s working for. The best we can hope for is that he won’t go public with the picture he took. A lot of times these people ask for compensation first.”
But as it turns out, we don’t have to worry about the news breaking after all. One hour before we’re supposed to be on set, I get an email from the studio.
PRODUCTION OF “FATED DESTINY” TO BE SUSPENDED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, says the subject line.
I break into a cold sweat as I open the email. Thankfully, it doesn’t say much, but it says enough, explaining how “due tounforeseen circumstances,” Mr. Kim has decided to temporarily suspend production of our show. It also says that both Minjee and I should “report to Mr. Kim ASAP” with our managers.
Bryan’s the first to text both of us.
BRYAN YOON:OKAY, WTF is going on? Did something happen after you two left?
PARK MINJEE:Long story. Will explain later.
ME:Sorry, Bryan. Heading over to talk to Mr. Kim now. We’ll tell you everything as soon as we figure out what’s going on.
PARK MINJEE:Same. See you there.
Sophia, Minjee, and Minjee’s manager—Mr. Baek, I think his name is—are all waiting for me when I get to the company building in Sangam-dong. Everyone’s faces are grim, and Sophia puts a hand on my shoulder as we enter the building.
“Okay, kiddo, deep breaths,” she says. “It could be worse.”
Mr. Baek lets out a sharp laugh and takes off his sunglasses.
“We can only hope that Mr. Kim is feeling generous,” he says.
Sophia and Mr. Baek go back and forth a little bit, but I tune them out to focus on Minjee, who’s keeping her eyes on the floor as we walk to the elevator.
When the doors close and we’re on our way up, I take Minjee’s hand and squeeze it. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she says back, completely stone-faced. “Sorry for all of this.”
“It’s okay,” I say. Even though I have no idea how thingsare going to play out, I’m certain about one thing: I don’t blame Minjee for any of this. “You were just caught up in the moment. It happens. We’re in this together, okay?”
“Okay.” Minjee’s bottom lip trembles, and she bites it before squeezing my hand back. “Thanks.”
When we enter Mr. Kim’s office, he angrily stares us down from his massive dark mahogany desk. Photos of Minjee and me on various dates are spread out on his desk, with the last one being the one of Minjee kissing me from earlier today.
“You had themfollowed?” Sophia asks in horror. She’s the first of us to put it together, and the only one who can manage to express her horror out loud. If she’s surprised about seeing Minjee and me together in those photos, she doesn’t show it. Sophia keeps her attention laser-focused on Mr. Kim.
“Of course,” Mr. Kim says, matter of fact. “I hired a private investigator to follow Bryan and the two girls. Teenagers can be a lot of trouble. The last thing I wanted was a scandal to break out during the show. My actors are expected to uphold the reputation of my company, after all. It was just supposed to be a routine surveillance, but then one of my men foundthis.”
He points at the last photo.
“Do you know how fortunate you two are that it wasmyprivate investigator that took the photo of you two like this and not some paparazzi?” he asks Minjee and me, seething. “If this story got out, all hell would break loose. This isn’tAmerica,” he adds, glaring pointedly at me. “I hope you realize this.”
Sophia steps in front of me, gently but firmly pushing me behind her.
“I can assure you that my client is very much aware of the norms of Korean society. There is a reason why Hana’s not out publicly.”
Mr. Baek joins in. “My client is aware of them as well, despite her rashness.”
Minjee gives Mr. Kim a full bow. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Kim,” she says. “Please, it was me who was foolish, not Hana. If you’re going to be angry, please be mad at me.”
“I am displeased with both of you.” Mr. Kim leans back in his leather armchair. “Not only does your relationship jeopardize the reputation of my company, but it goes against the values of myself as well as many respectable members of our community. I have every right to terminate your contracts and remove you from the show.”
