Jehoon's voice came faster than Mi Rae's thoughts could catch up. "Hyung! What the hell are you doing?"
He was already out of the car, his brows drawn tight, his steps quick and defensive like he was ready to swing if Raven took one more breath wrong.
But Raven didn't move. He stood still, his hand loosening only slightly from Mi Rae's arm, his eyes locked on her like he couldn't decide whether to scold her or crush her.
Mi Rae tried to blink back the tears gathering in her eyes, but they clung stubbornly, shimmering in the dim light of the parking lot.
Something in Raven's chest twisted. The irritation that always came with her presence settled like a heavy fog.
"You stay out of this," he muttered darkly, his voice low enough to rumble.
Jehoon scoffed, stepping closer until he was between them, his hand closing protectively around Mi Rae's wrist.
"Stay out of this?" Jehoon repeated, his tone rising. "Do you think the world will always bend at your will? Mi Rae-ssi is my manager. If you've got a problem, you bring it to me."
At that moment, Mi Rae snapped out of her thoughts. This was her job now, she had to protect it, and herself. She couldn't keep breaking down whenever things got hard. It was difficult, yes, but she'd promised herself this long before agreeing to the chairman's request.
And Raven was one of the challenges she'd already foreseen, one she'd quietly prepared herself to face.
"Jehoon-ssi," she called, steadying her voice as a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding escaped her lips. "Please, I'd like to speak with Mr. Park for a moment."
Jehoon hesitated. His eyes flicked between her and Raven, uncertainty clear in the set of his shoulders. But when he caught the insistence in Mi Rae's gaze, he exhaled, gave Raven a warning glare, and climbed into the bus, slamming the door behind him.
"Mr. Park," she continued, keeping her voice even though her pulse trembled in her neck, "I understand that seeing me here must be unpleasant. But I'm not here to dig into your life or anyone's secrets. I'm just doing my job."
Raven's jaw flexed, his eyes narrowing in that way that stripped away all the charm he showed on camera. "Your job," he repeated slowly, almost like he was testing the word. "Funny. You always show up where you shouldn't, don't you?"
Mi Rae clasped her hands in front of her. "I didn't choose being a manager to bother you. I'm not trying to start anything. But if we'll be in the same space from time to time, I'd rather we kept things… professional."
He tilted his head, amusement flickering briefly before fading back into something unreadable. "Professional," he echoed flatly. "You think you can manage that with me?"
Her throat tightened, but she met his eyes. "I have to," she said softly. "I don't have a choice."
For a moment, neither of them moved. Raven's stare lingered, cutting but strangely uncertain, like he was weighing whether to keep fighting or to walk away. The faintest twitch of irritation passed through him before he stepped back.
"Fine," he muttered. "Do your job. Just stay out of my way."
And with that, he turned sharply and walked off, his expression unreadable, his presence leaving a kind of cold in the air that made Mi Rae's chest ache.
Only when he disappeared around the corner did she finally let herself breathe properly. Her knees felt weak, but she straightened them.
This was exactly what she'd promised herself, no breaking down, no tears. She had to survive this, one confrontation at a time.
After Raven left, Mi Rae took a deep breath and entered the car. The first thing on Jehoon's schedule was a photoshoot for a perfume brand.
Fortunately, Jehoon didn't ask any questions. He seemed to already know Raven well enough to understand that he was unpredictable… brilliant on screen, impossible off it. But something still nagged him. Did this mean Mi Rae actually knew Raven that well? To know that behind those charming smiles and practiced grins, the man was a complete storm inside? That he is impulsive, sharp-tongued, and difficult?
When they got to Liva Studios, Mi Rae tried to shake it off. It was her first day handling a major star and she refused to let Raven Park's temper define her mood.
The staff greeted them warmly. Some of the photographers bowed slightly when they saw Jehoon. "Good morning, Jehoon-ssi!"
Mi Rae immediately switched into work mode, introducing herself, thanking the crew for their effort, and even handing out bottled drinks she'd brought earlier. "Please treat Jehoon-ssi well today," she said with a polite smile, bowing slightly.
Her gesture drew small smiles from the crew even though some remained wary. Although Jehoon's scandal was clarified, there are still some people who still treat him like he's at fault.
Jehoon chuckled quietly, not knowing how to feel about Mi Rae handing out the bottled drinks. "You'll do well, Mi Rae-ssi. Don't mind Raven-hyung. He's just… wired differently."
Mi Rae smiled awkwardly. "I'll try not to."
An hour later, Jehoon reappeared in his outfit, a silver-grey suit and his hair styled neatly. The studio seemed to brighten instantly. Cameras clicked, lights flashed, and everyone began murmuring about how striking he looked.
Mi Rae found herself smiling unconsciously as she watched him pose with the perfume. He looked like he belonged in that space, looking so confident, magnetic, professional. For a moment, she forgot all about Raven and the chaos of earlier. Everyone was treating her kindly; there were no whispers, no rude orders, none of the stories she'd heard about senior staff bullying new managers. It felt… peaceful.
While she was watching, a voice came from behind.
"Miss Lim, right?"
She turned and saw a tall man with neatly combed hair and glasses. He had a warm, easy smile that didn't feel forced. "My name is Kim Tae Hoon, but everyone calls me Chief Kim."
Mi Rae's eyes widened slightly. Chief Kim. She recognized him instantly, the legendary manager who'd once handled half the country's A-list actors before co-founding Solaris Entertainment, one of the top agencies before Vega emerged. Nobody really knew what happened between him and his former company, but years ago he'd quietly joined Vega when it was just starting out.
Mi Rae bowed quickly. "Ah, Chief Kim. It's an honor to meet you."
"The honor's mine," he said kindly, motioning for her to walk with him to the side. "You've caused quite a little stir, you know. Being chosen as Jehoon's manager isn't something that happens to newcomers often."
"I… I'm aware," Mi Rae said softly, trying to read his tone.
Chief Kim studied her carefully. "Tell me, Mi Rae-ssi. You know Raven Park, don't you?"
Her breath caught. "A little," she admitted cautiously.
He nodded, hands behind his back. "The chairman told me not to worry. That you weren't the type to talk too much."
"I'm not," she said quietly.
He smiled faintly. "Good. Because in this business, silence is sometimes worth more than talent."
For a moment, he simply observed her face, maybe wondering what Raven had meant when he once called her "the girl with no balls." But standing before him now, Chief Kim began to sense that maybe it wasn't fear. Maybe it was restraint.
When he learnt that Han Jehoon's new manager was the woman who found out about Raven's secret, he had been furious, scared and had contacted the chairman immediately. But after a serious talk with Chairman Han, he calmed down and decided to see Mi Rae himself.
"You're different," he finally said. "Naïve, maybe. But you look like someone who'll last longer than people expect."
Mi Rae wasn't sure if that was praise or concern. "Thank you, Chief Kim."
Before she could say more, his phone buzzed. He looked at the screen, frowned slightly, and answered.
"Yes? …Ah, right. I'm nearby. Give me five minutes." He hung up, then turned to Mi Rae with a polite smile.
"Mi Rae-ssi, could you do me a small favor?"
"Of course," she replied immediately.
"I was supposed to drop off a contract file for the creative team, it's not far, just across the compound." He handed her a slim folder. "It's for the next set, near Studio B. I have to meet someone nearby, but I'll join you later."
"Sure," Mi Rae said, taking it.
She followed his directions through the maze of studios, the cool air filled with faint echoes of music and clicking cameras. Turning the corner, she saw a tall man standing beside a black car, head bent as if checking his phone
Her steps slowed and her chest tightened.
It was Raven Park.
Before she could even think of hiding, Raven lifted his head, his eyes locking right on her like he'd been expecting her all along.
Mi Rae froze mid-step. Of all the people she could've run into, why him again? The world was far too small or maybe the universe just enjoyed playing tricks on her.
Raven's lips curved into a scoff. "You have a habit of showing up where you're not wanted, don't you?"
Mi Rae straightened her posture, her heart hammering against her ribs. She wanted to defend herself, to remind him she was just following orders, but her voice betrayed her. Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly and said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Park."
The formality in her tone hit harder than she intended. Something flickered in Raven's expression… irritation, maybe, or pride pricking where it shouldn't.
She started to walk past him.
But his hand shot out, catching her wrist before she could. "Don't tell me," he said, his voice low, a teasing smirk playing on his face, "you keep showing up because you've developed feelings for me."
Mi Rae's breath hitched and her eyes widened."W-what? That's ridiculous."
He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with amusement. "That must be it, right? You're pretending it's work, but deep down you just can't help yourself."
Mi Rae swallowed hard, forcing herself to pull her hand free even as her fingers trembled. "You're mistaken, Mr. Park."
"Am I?" Raven leaned closer, close enough that she could smell the faint trace of his cologne. "Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm not," she said quickly, looking away. "There's… you are… wrong about everything!"
Raven's smirk deepened, satisfied at her stumble. "You're stuttering. Not very convincing for someone who claims to be 'professional.'"
He released her hand then, as if the very touch bored him now. "Here's a tip," he murmured, brushing past her. "If you're going to stand in my way, at least learn how to hide what you're feeling."