<OST: Orbit - Hwasa>
Jennie slammed the table and got to her feet, glaring at CEO Yang across the table. "Sajang-nim! How could you-"
"What?" CEO Yang glanced up at Jennie like he hadn't done anything wrong. "He's going to be working with us, am I not allowed to do a background check on him? Jennie Kim, you should know how much the reputation of our work partners can affect our own reputation... This is the barest minimum I have to do for the company, Jennie. Now, sit down."
Jennie clenched her fists under the table, out of CEO Yang's sight. "Still, you shouldn't-"
Yoongi grabbed Jennie's hand, glanced up at her and shook his head. As Jennie slowly took her seat, Yoongi finally let go of her hand and looked at CEO Yang directly in the eyes.
"You're right, I went to jail for a few years," Yoongi said, clearly trying to keep his cool regarding this situation that was so close to his heart. "But I am out now... and am working hard to start my life afresh-"
"But that's not the main point I'm trying to drive at now, Min PD-nim." CEO Yang sighed. "Indeed, your project shows a lot of potential. Indeed, the powerpoint you just showed me is impressive. But what good is that if working with you will damage our company's reputation...? Do you think it's appropriate at all that you're even asking someone like Jennie Kim to be your female lead...?"
"He didn't ask me-" Jennie snarled through gritted teeth, as she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into the flesh of her palms. "I was the one who wanted to act in this project of his - because he's worth it."
"Worth it?" CEO Yang scoffed as he leaned back in his seat. "Worth it in what way, Jennie-Kim...? Do you even know what you're in for? You've only been in the industry for five years. Meanwhile, I've founded this company for more than twenty... and have been in the entertainment industry for coming to thirty. Who do you think knows better?"
Jennie's eyes welled up with angry tears, but she couldn't answer that question.
"Min PD-nim," CEO Yang continued as he turned to Yoongi. "I have just one piece of advice for you - if it's your first work after being on hiatus for so long... you should keep it simple. Look for actors and actresses who are of your level - stop aiming for the sky. I'm sure those no-name actors and actresses from those no-name companies would all be clamouring to take up your offer. But it isn't the case with our company - we get plenty of casting calls for Jennie Kim on a daily basis. She doesn't need a work like yours to potentially ruin her reputation... as well as the company's."
"What are you even saying?" Jennie couldn't takw it anymore, and jumped to her feet once more, staring daggers at her own boss. "Do you even know who was the one who stood by my side when my reputation was plummeting because of the mess you got me into? If you never made me sign that stupid fake relationship contract with Jeon Jungkook, I'd never be called a 'slut' or 'whore' for interacting normally with my costars, my friends or any other man who comes near me-"
"Jennie Kim-" CEO Yang glanced at Yoongi uneasily. "What fake contract are you even talking about-"
"He knows," Jennie said without even glancing at Yoongi. "He knows, and he understands. You only see me as a money-making machine, but this guy over here - he sees me for my talent, my potential, my personality... and for me-"
"You're really bringing personal matters into this right now, aren't you?" CEO Yang clapped his hands slowly and flashed Jennie a cynical smile. "Very good, Jennie Kim. Since when did you learn how to snap back at me like this?"
"Ever since I realised that I should stop letting you lead me by my nose and step all over me-" Jennie rose to her feet, glaring directly at CEO Yang. "It's my life, I can do whatever I want with it."
"Not when you know it'll affect the company-"
"Fire me then!" Jennie challenged. "Fire me, then we'll no longer have this issue of me damaging the company's so-called reputation-"
"You know I won't fire you-"
Jennie inhaled sharply. "Exactly, because I'm one of this company's main sources of income. You know what? The more I think about it... the more sure I am. Other actors and actresses get to choose whatever dramas or shows they feel like going on, while I never had that right. From today on, I'm going to take back that right from you. Min PD-nim's drama... I'm doing it, for sure."
"You're going to regret this."
"I'm not," Jennie said, sounding extremely sure of herself. "I'm not going to regret this, sajang-nim. I'm honestly done holding my opinions in out of courtesy towards you because quite frankly, sajang-nim - you're one of the worst people I have ever met. Earlier on, you asked Min PD-nim if he went to jail. Yes, he did... and I know why. But you know what? Regardless of what he did... at the very least, I'll have more respect towards him than I'll ever have towards you. Goodbye, Yang sajang. Min PD-nin, let's go."
Extremely mad, Jennie grabbed a stunned Yoongi by his hand and dragged him out of the office.
-•-•-
"Oh...?" Jungkook raised his eyebrows as Jennie and Yoongi stormed past him. "Ya, I thought you were here to convince Yang sajang about your drama? You finished with him so fast...?"
"It's impossible to talk to him."
Standing right outside CEO Yang's office, Jungkook watched as Jennie and Yoongi disappeared down the hallway. With a little frown, he knocked on the door and entered.
"Sajang-nim."
CEO Yang looked up from the table with an unbothered look on his face. "Oh... JK, it's you. What are you here for?"
Jungkook gestured towards the door, pretending to have no clue about what was going on. "Just now, Jennie-ssi just stormed out and..."
"Ah... that," CEO Yang let out a small scoff. "Don't worry about it, it's all settled."
Of course, it was so like CEO Yang to sweep everything under the carpet as long as it didn't concern his or his company's own well-being.
"Um..." Jungkook pursed his lips as he took a seat in front of CEO Yang. "I don't think so though...?"
"I said it's settled-" CEO Yang said more firmly this time, looking up at Jungkook as he uncrossed his legs. "If I said it's settled it is. So if that's what you're here for... you can leave. Don't you have album preparations to do? I already told you that we're aiming for a November comeback - how many songs do you have so far?"
"I already have five so I only need one more, and that will be the title track-" Jungkook clucked his tongue agitatedly. "But Yang sajang-nim, what did you say to Jennie to make her look so mad when she walked out of your office earlier?"
"Look, I'm busy-" CEO Yang began ignoring Jungkook as he packed his desk. "If you want, you can jolly well ask her yourself. In the meantime, also ask her to stay away from that Min PD-nim, or whatever his name is - he's gonna ruin her reputation one day."
"Oh, no, he isn't-" Jungkook swallowed hard. "But sajang-nim... you are."
CEO Yang froze, and looked up at Jungkook slowly. "Excuse me?"
"I have no idea if Jennie-ssi told you this, but I sure am-" Jungkook got to his feet and looked down at CEO Yang. "You know what, Yang sajang-nim? You're the worst boss I have ever had."
CEO Yang stared blankly at Jungkook. "Excuse me, Jeon Jungkook-ssi? I literally scheduled your comeback in a few months time and you're calling me a bad boss to my face...?"
"You see? That's your problem, sajang-nim-" Jungkook was not holding back at all this time. "You think you're all that great when in actual fact... you aren't. What's the reason for my comeback...? Money. What's the reason for sending me to a certain programme...? Money. What's the reason Jennie-ssi and I had to be in this fake contract for a year against our wishes...? Money. To us... we're no longer humans. Our opinions, our feelings, our thoughts... all that mean nothing to you - as long as you're making money through us."
"What do you mean?" CEO Yang scoffed. "Of course I care about you two - if I didn't, why do you think I chose the two of you to be the fake couple? I could have chosen so many others... but I chose you."
"Oh, really?" Jungkook let out a quiet snort. "You care about us? Then why do our opinions about certain issues related to us never matter to you? Why do we have no social media freedom? Why does everything we want to do have to go through your approval?"
"Well... isn't that what a boss is for?"
"A boss is meant to be a guide, a good leader, someone whom we trusted with our entire future-" Jungkook huffed. "But you tricked us in here, just like every other company, promising us that we'll have freedom here - unlike every other company. I have been complying to you for too long... I'm sick and tired."
"Oh, so you're rebelling now?" CEO Yang scoffed. "Is that what you're saying now, JK-ssi? Think wisely - that entire career of yours... it was sculpted by me. I was the one who single-handedly got you all the popularity you had today - be it the fake dating scandal, or crafting the concept you now have, to your stage name... Everything you have was made possible by me... are you really going against me now?"
"See? Till the very end, you only see me as a tool-" Jungkook scoffed. "If I were in your position, I wouldn't think the same. This artist... standing before me, wrote every single piece of music he put out for the past few years. His debut was only made possible with his own skills... he barely got even a decent budget for his debut music video... and yet, you still dare to take the claim for that? Just because of a stupid dating scandal...?"
"It's true though, isn't it?" CEO Yang shrugged nonchalantly. "So what if you self-produce? You were flopping before the dating scandal, let's be honest. If not for me, you would have continued flopping for the rest of your career, or even for the rest of your life. Jeon Jungkook, I practically am your life saviour."
Jungkook shook his head in utter disgust. "That's it. I've made up my mind."
"You've made up your mind?" CEO Yang laughed mockingly. "Made up your mind about what? Leaving the company...? Jeon Jungkook-ssi, you're not gonna last long the moment you leave. It's like... getting one of your wings cut off."
"No, it's you whose getting your wings cut off-" Jungkook smirked. "And it's not just one of your wings, but both - because if I asked, I'm sure Jennie would love to do the same."
The smug smile on CEO Yang's face faded at once.
"You know-" Jungkook leaned against CEO Yang's desk, looking him closely in the face. "If Jennie and I leave the company at the same time, you're done for, Yang sajang-nim. We're two of your biggest money-making engines... if we're gone, your stocks will fall. Not only that - I'm actually contemplating telling the whole world about your deeds."
"W-What deeds?"
"What deeds...?" Jungkook chuckled and winked at his own boss. "You know what deeds I'm talking about. Hm... I wonder what people will think when they find out Jennie Kim and I have a fake relationship... and that the whole plan was crafted by you and that Jennie and I were forced into it against our wishes."
"N-No one will believe you-" CEO Yang stammered, whilst still trying to maintain a straight face. "No one will believe your words. T-There's no evidence! This happened almost a year ago, so there's no way you can persuade anyone about the fact that I coerced you into doing so-"
"Well-" Jungkook grinned as he pulled a small recording device out of his pocket and waved it in CEO Yang's face. "I have the evidence in hand now, so where do we go from here...?"
CEO Yang's face went pale as he tried to snatch the recording device from Jungkook's hands, but Jungkook was one step ahead. He took a swift step backwards and slipped the device back into his pocket with a knowing smile.
"You- You can't do that!" CEO Yang yelled, his face now red in anger. "The contract says you can't do that! The fine of breaching the contract is 200 million won... where are you going to get that money, huh?"
"Good point-" Jungkook shrugged as he flashed CEO Yang a nonchalant grin. "But I'll guess I'll just have to figure that out when the day comes."
"You crazy bastard..."
"You make my head swell, Yang sajang-nim."
"You- You-" CEO Yang seethed with anger, his fists balled by his sides. "Do you know that this is blackmail?"
"Oh, is that so?" Jungkook acted shocked for a few seconds. "Funny how you resort to all kinds of things but blackmail is where you draw the line. By the way, this is not blackmail, Yang sajang-nim. I'm just giving you an offer."
"What offer...?"
Jungkook grinned. "An offer to be nice. Not to pretend to be nice, like you always have - but to actually treat us like humans. Return us our freedom, respect us like human beings... and in turn, we'll learn how yo respect you too. Of course, this doesn't apply to just Jennie-ssi and I, but to the rest of your artists and trainees too. It isn't hard, is it? Or is it hard for someone like you, who has long forgotten how to be a decent human...?"
"You rude bast-"
"Let's start with not swearing, alright?" Jungkook winked in CEO Yang's direction as he backed towards the door, waving the recording device in his hands gleefully. "Think my offer through wisely, Yang sajang-nim. I hope to hear from you soon... or Jennie Kim and I will be leaving the company and we'll make sure that things will not be easy for you at all. Of course, monetary-wise, it won't be easy for us either... but the bigger the problem, the bigger price we have to pay to rectify it, am I right? Have a good afternoon, sajang-nim. I'll send you the draft of my last song when I'm done."
Jungkook left the room, grinning from ear to ear, feeling the best he had ever felt in a long time.