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 to unforeseen 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 things are 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 them followed ?” 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 found this .”
He points at the last photo.
“Do you know how fortunate you two are that it was my private 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’t America ,” 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.”
“Well, you’re doing that no matter what, aren’t you?” I blurt out, unable to keep quiet any longer. “We read the final script. You killed both of our characters off.”
“Hana,” hisses Sophia. “Please.”
Mr. Kim raises his eyebrows and interlaces his fingers in front of him on his desk.
“Ah yes, Hana-ssi,” Mr. Kim says, his voice dangerously low. “Having you on the show was definitely a calculated risk on my part. I wasn’t sure about having an American on board, but Director Cha assured me you were the best fit for the role.”
I make a mental note to bring Director Cha a gift if we ever resume shooting. He’s so tough-love with us on set that it’s hard to remember that underneath the grumbling and mean-mugging, he’s a nice guy.
Mr. Kim looks out at all of us. “In any case, I have a proposition. The show is almost over, after all, so it’s probably best we continue.”
Minjee and I share a look. Could he really be letting us go on with the show?
“But,” Mr. Kim says sharply, pointing at first Minjee and then me.
“ This cannot continue. End your relationship at once or I will permanently cease production of the show. I cannot have you two gallivanting around in an immoral fashion. Yes, halting the show without properly completing it would be a major inconvenience on the company, but it is a smaller price to pay compared to the drastic consequences of the public finding out about you two.”
I’m about to protest when Sophia steps in front of me again.
“Understood,” she says. “I will discuss things with my client and let you know of our decision. I’m assuming you will require Hana and Minjee to sign some sort of legal document agreeing to cease their relations?”
Mr. Kim harrumphs. “Of course. It’s not like you can trust kids these days.”
“My client and I will let you know as well,” Mr. Baek says after a pointed look from Sophia. “Have a good day, sir.”
Sophia practically steers the three of us out of Mr. Kim’s office and into a nearby conference room.
“Okay,” she says after shutting the door behind us. “So at least he’s giving us an ultimatum.”
“At least?” I hiss. “He’s a crusty old homophobe! How is anything he said a good thing?”
Mr. Baek scoffs. “Please control your client, Miss Sophia. She should recognize a generous proposition when she sees one.”
Sophia fixes Mr. Baek with a steely glare, making him shrink back like a turtle in its shell.
“Never tell me how to handle my clients,” she says. “And may I remind you that it’s the rash behavior of your client that got us in this mess in the first place?”
They look like they’re about to bicker again, so I spread out my hands in a gesture of peace. “Look, guys. I know I’m American and whatever, but Mr. Kim really can’t do this to us, right? He can’t just stop a show when we’re so close to being finished?”
Mr. Baek scoffs. “You don’t get it, do you? He owns a huge chunk of the company, so he can do whatever he wants. And it’s not uncommon for entertainment company heads to shut down a relationship. You forget that in the music industry, companies ban their talent from dating, period.”
I look down at my feet, remembering what Bryan said about his K-pop contract forbidding him from actually dating anyone.
“So that’s it, then?” I ask. “We can’t do anything?”
Minjee speaks up then, after remaining quiet this entire time. “Hana, I appreciate how much you care about us. And believe me, I care too. But I can’t help but think of the cast and crew members who will be affected if the show randomly gets canceled like this. So maybe it’s best if we break up.”
Pain shoots through my chest. I understand what Minjee is saying, but I still can’t stop the hurt.
This can’t be how our relationship ends , I think. We just started dating!
I slowly shake my head.
“No,” I say. “I mean, okay, I agree. We shouldn’t let the show get canceled, especially when so many people depend on it. But I’m not letting him win so easily. There’s got to be some way!”
No one says anything for a few beats, and Sophia’s phone chirps.
“It’s Mr. Kim,” she says. “He said he’s giving us forty-eight hours. If, at the end of forty-eight hours, you and Minjee don’t sign the legal document agreeing to break up, he’s going to officially cease the production of Fated Destiny .”