"THE CULPRIT is Kang Junil, the head of the Marketing Team."
Park Seoham heard what CEO Kim Yisook said, but his eyes didn't leave the sleeping Joo Woori.
She's been asleep for more than an hour now.
After Joo Woori fainted, Park Seoham brought her to the hospital using his own car, even though there was a standby ambulance in the area earlier.
He reserved a VIP Room in the hospital for privacy.
And here we are now.
CEO Kim Yisook only followed them after making sure that the incident wouldn't get leaked to the public.
Ah, the CEO also took care of the culprit before showing up there.
"Cho Inho caught Team Leader Kang trying to grab Im Jiyoon's phone after you ran after Joo Woori-ssi," CEO Kim Yisook explained. "After interrogating Kang Junil, we found out that he planned to move to a new actor agency after he heard that we were planning to fire him for his incompetence. His goal was to mess with you and Artist Jeans before leaving our company as a little revenge, and to impress his new bosses."
That got Park Seoham's attention.
I owe Artists Jeans my success as an actor, after all.
"How did Artist Jeans get involved in this?"
"You know how Artist Jeans' biggest webcomics yet— the one called 'Solo Celestial Reader'— is about to get a live-action adaptation?"
"Yes," Park Seoham said while nodding. "It's already a highly-anticipated movie since the webcomics is really popular."
"There's a rumor that Artist Jeans wants you to play the main character."
"What? I thought the production company was going to hold an audition for that."
"Yes, but the audition is for the deuteragonist," the CEO explained. "Apparently, the main character has already been confirmed. Funny because we haven't received an official proposal yet, but the industry is already acting as if you already got the role."
"Let me guess, Noonim," Park Seoham said, sighing while shaking his head. "The executives from the other company are pissed because Artists Jeans wants me to star in their new masterpiece again. That's why they want both me and Artist Jeans to suffer at the same time."
"Correct," CEO Kim Yisook confirmed while nodding. "Kang Junil, that bastard, chose to mimic the scenes in Artist Jeans' previous work to make them look bad to the public. He was probably hoping that it would affect the production of the movie negatively. You know how investors are quick to pull out of projects they think are going to fail, right?"
"If he used that creativity in promoting the other artists in our company, then maybe Noonim wouldn't have thought about firing him."
"Right? I should have fired him right away instead of hesitating."
"At least the problem got resolved before it blew up."
"It's thanks to Artist Jeans. Maybe she realized that this would have affected his career, too," CEO Kim Yisook said, and then she looked at the sleeping Joo Woori. "We should also thank Joo Woori-ssi. She put her life at risk to catch the culprit."
Park Seoham just frowned.
He didn't like how Joo Woori was praised for doing something reckless and stupid.
"She's your ex-girlfriend, isn't she?"
"Noonim, don't you need to return to the office to take care of other important stuff? You have to make sure Kang Junsil and his cohorts will get punished for this."
"Fine, I'm leaving," CEO Kim Yisook said while getting up from her seat. "By the way, Im Jiyoon handed her resignation letter earlier. So, we'll have to make Cho Inho work as your manager until we find a new one."
"I already have a new manager."
"You do?"
"Joo Woori," Park Seoham said bluntly. "She already pretended to be my manager, so why not make it real?"
"Do you think Joo Woori would want to be your manager?" CEO Kim Yisook asked, sighing. "Especially considering your past?"
"Her opinion doesn't matter," Park Seoham said. "Joo Woori has to be punished."
***
HOW COME she still looks the same even after eleven years?
Park Seoham couldn't help but stare at Joo Woori, who was still sleeping without a care in the world.
The doctors said she fainted due to exhaustion, but…
How can someone who's supposed to be exhausted still look pretty?
Wait.
Park Seoham frowned when he realized he was obsessing over Joo Woori's face.
Which was ridiculous.
I'm surrounded by gorgeous women every day, so I shouldn't be acting like this is the first time I'm seeing a beautiful woman.
Haaah.
Park Seoham's inner monologue with himself was interrupted when Joo Woori slowly opened her eyes.
"You're finally awake."
He didn't mean for his voice to sound as cold as it did.
Hence, Joo Woori looked intimidated.
But he reminded himself that he shouldn't feel guilty.
This is how our dynamic is supposed to be from now on—
"Seoham-ssi, don't worry. I'll disappear from your life—"
"You don't get to decide that, Joo Woori," Park Seoham said sternly, shooting Joo Woori a cold look before she could even finish what she wanted to say. "My manager just quit, so take responsibility."
Joo Woori looked at Park Seoham in disbelief.
"My boss told me that you helped me because you wanted to make it up to me."
"Oh."
"Did you really think helping me catch the culprit who wanted to ruin my mental health was enough to pay off your debts?" Park Seoham asked, scoffing. "Joo Woori, you have to work for me for the rest of your life if you really want to make it up to me."
"Are you telling me to be your manager forever?" Joo Woori asked, obviously displeased by the idea. "That sounds like a proposal, Park Seoham-ssi."
Excuse me?
***
Please ADD