11
Jason sank into the plush office chair, sipping from his coffee before returning the cup to the conference table. The LA skyline shimmered outside the window, a reminder that he’d rather be anywhere but in that meeting. He understood his father’s typical power-play, taking all his meetings at his desk. The only view he wanted his underlings to enjoy was his face. But Naomi was too smart to rely on those games, even if her desk was big enough to accommodate a four-person meeting. The fact that Jason was one of those people kind of sucked. It was his third morning meeting at Brightstar in as many days, and he was already tired of it. He’d hired Naomi precisely for that reason–to deal with the corporate politics so he could be with Tae Hyun on his tour. And Naomi had her own game in mind, choosing her new conference table over her desk to make it seem less formal when she met with David again.
But another day waking up alone had made Jason cranky. That and the fact that he’d stayed up so late just to call Tae Hyun before his show. Between his sleepless nights and the early morning meetings, he was worried about getting dark circles under his eyes.
So Jason tried to approach the meeting like a role–show up, deliver his lines, and play the part of the clueless billionaire. Maybe it wasn’t so different from his next film project, a legal drama where he was supposed to play the aid to a prominent Senator who became embroiled in a government conspiracy. Maybe spending time in a boardroom would make him even better suited for the part.
Not that Jason seriously thought there would ever be another real role. He hadn’t yet fully admitted it to himself, but the more he pushed taking his next acting job down the line, the less likely it was that he’d ever take it. He’d fought hard to establish himself as a legitimate actor, not just some rich kid whose daddy bought his way into the movie business. Now, he had enough money to buy his way into any role. Who’d even take him seriously as an actor anymore?
Jason quietly sighed, the sound heavy with a weariness he hadn’t even admitted to Tae Hyun. But the time was coming when he’d soon have to.
“I’ve gotta say, this view is much better than your old office.”
Jason turned to Seong Woo, sitting to his right. “This isn’t my office.”
Seong Woo chuckled. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“It would be distracting if I wasn’t already elbow-deep in this shit,” Naomi remarked from her desk behind them. “Honestly, I’m starting to think Gerald had such a big office so he could keep a bed in here.”
Jason snorted. “You assume my father ever slept.” He swiveled his chair to face Naomi. “Could you at least come sit with us? I’m already feeling weird enough about this without you staring at the back of my head.”
“Seriously, Jason?” Naomi bitterly laughed. “After all the shit you’ve been through in the last year, this meeting makes you nervous? ”
“I didn’t say nervous.” Jason knew his sharp tone was too defensive. “I said weird. And I don’t get the point of all this scheming. If you don’t like him, why don’t you just fire him?”
Naomi shook her head, a hint of frustration in her frown. “It’s not that simple. For one, it’s not a matter of liking him. David was your father’s right-hand man. He’s powerful. He’s directly involved in or in control of too many important projects. Firing him without getting him to let go of that power first could seriously damage the company.”
Jason frowned, understanding even without completely understanding. “But isn’t letting him stay risking even more damage?”
“I hear you,” Seong Woo offered. “But Naomi’s right. Your father’s corporate structure was very top-heavy.”
Jason smirked. “That’s what he–”
“Don’t,” Naomi sharply cut in.
Jason dramatically rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“So,” Seong Woo continued, “even though Naomi sits at the top, people like David still have a lot of power.”
“Maybe,” Jason tentatively agreed, still not convinced. “But my father would’ve just fired him.”
“Your father would’ve ruined him,” Naomi added, dark and foreboding, “and then he would’ve run him out of town. But I’m not him.”
Jason chuckled. “None of us are.” He huffed. “Alright. Run the plan by me one more time so I don’t fuck it up.”
Seong Woo nodded. “It’s simple,” he began, explaining the plan they’d previously discussed. He’d claim to be in town as his father’s representative for the Imperative Group to discuss a possible partnership with Brightstar. It made sense, given Jason’s existing relationship with Seong Woo. David would have no reason to suspect anything was fishy. “And we’ll use the opportunity to reel in David’s cooperation,” he continued. “But there won’t ever be a real partnership, so it’s really a red herring.”
Jason grinned. “Now I want sushi.”
Seong Woo chuckled. “Sorry, that was a lot of seafood metaphors. But you get it, right?”
Jason reluctantly nodded. “I do. It just seems needlessly risky. What if he catches on?”
“It is risky,” Seong Woo agreed. “But the risks are calculated, and the need is real.”
“And there’s nothing to catch,” Naomi added. “We’ll have a genuine conversation about partnering on a project.”
Jason nodded, not satisfied but knowing it was the best he’d get from them. “Fine. Let me get into character.” He shared a wry grin. “I’ll be playing the son of a wildly successful business mogul with no idea what’s going on.”
Naomi laughed. “It’s the role you were born for.”
“Ms. Bell?” Justice’s voice echoed over the intercom. “Mr. Soh is here.”
Naomi’s smile tightened, cold steel replacing the previous warmth. “Send him in, please.” She turned to Jason and Seong Woo, shifting into full professional mode. “Alright. It’s showtime.”
The door opened, and David Soh entered, his usual unbothered confidence masking whatever apprehension simmered beneath the surface. Jason was impressed despite himself. David had received a thorough thrashing from Naomi just the day before, yet there he stood, seemingly unfazed. That carefully cultivated composure had to come from his years working under Gerald Park’s thumb. His gaze swept the room, settling on Seong Woo with a hint of recognition.
“Mr. Cho,” David said, extending a hand. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we were at grad school together.” There was a subtle desperation behind the question, David fishing for validation from this powerful player.
Seong Woo offered a chilly handshake. “I think our paths may have crossed,” he replied, his tone deliberately dismissive. He wasn’t just discarding his usual friendliness. He was reminding David of their hierarchy–a power move Jason couldn’t help but admire. He felt much more confident in their scheme to win David’s trust and cooperation.
The shift in the room’s dynamic was obvious. Naomi seized the moment, crisp and focused. “David, thank you for joining us. As you know, we’ve been conducting a comprehensive audit of existing contracts–” She paused, letting the implication hang in the air.
“Yes, Naomi,” David smoothly replied. “You should’ve received my report yesterday afternoon.”
“I did.” Naomi gestured toward Seong Woo. “But we’re here for a different reason today. Seong Woo has a proposal for us.”
“Thanks, Naomi.” Seong Woo mirrored her informal tone, emphasizing his alliance with her and further isolating David. He leaned forward, resting his forearms lightly on the polished wood conference table, projecting an air of confidence that Jason knew was backed by both wealth and experience. “As you may be aware, I’m representing the Imperative Group. We’re a diverse holding company with interests in various sectors through East and Southeast Asia.”
Seong Woo paused, his gaze subtly gauging David’s reaction. David sat a bit straighter, his interest stirred by the mention of Seong Woo’s powerful family conglomerate. “We’re always exploring new partnerships,” he continued, “especially those that allow us to expand our global reach. As Brightstar has established a strong foothold in North America and other key markets, we believe there’s significant potential for mutually beneficial collaboration.” He smiled. “I realize this might sound vague, but it’s purposely so. Before getting down to specifics, I’d like to get your perspective, David. What do you see as Brightstar’s most promising areas for growth?”
Seong Woo’s approach was undeniably clever. It wasn’t just the potential deal. It was about subtly flattering David, luring him into a false sense of importance. They wanted him to feel like a valued consultant–that his opinion was crucial to the success of this partnership. It was a calculated risk–appealing to David’s ego to gain his trust and, ultimately, his cooperation.
David, initially cautious, visibly relaxed under the warmth of Seong Woo’s attention. “Well, since you asked–” he began, a note of self-importance creeping into his voice. He launched into a detailed analysis of Brightstar’s recent expansion efforts, highlighting potential synergies with the Imperative Group’s existing holdings. Jason could see the wheels turning in David’s head, the gears of his ambition starting to spin.
David spoke with growing confidence as he continued, his initial hesitation forgotten. Jason watched everything unfold with both unease and grudging admiration. David might not be the most likable guy, but he knew his shit. Seong Woo listened attentively, occasionally nodding and interjecting with strategically placed questions that kept David engaged and eager to share his expertise.
“It should be clear,” David smugly summed up, “that a partnership between Brightstar and the Imperative Group would be highly beneficial for both companies.”
Seong Woo thoughtfully nodded. “So it would seem.” He turned to Naomi, a subtle shift in his demeanor. “I’m glad you brought him into this meeting. I have much to bring back to my father. Of course, as part of our due diligence, we’ll want to see agreements from any similar partnerships you’ve entered.”
David’s facade briefly slipped, but he quickly recovered his poise. “Naturally. I can have my team prepare a report–”
Jason’s phone loudly buzzed, cutting off David’s flow. He frowned, silencing it without removing it from his pocket. “Sorry.”
David curtly nodded. “No problem. As I was saying, my team–”
Jason’s phone buzzed again. He groaned, pulling it from his pocket. An unfamiliar number flashed across the screen. Anyone with his private number was already saved in his contacts. Unease shivered through him as he excused himself from the table. “I should probably take this.” He didn’t wait for a reply, heading directly for the doors. “Hello?”
“Jason? It’s Danny Crash.”
Jason dramatically groaned. The last person he’d expected to hear from was the gossip blogger who’d hounded him through the most notorious years of his social life. “What the fuck, Danny? How the hell did you get this number?”
“Oh, you know,” Danny replied, oozing faux-familiarity. “Good reporters have their ways.”
“I’m fucking serious, Danny.” Jason’s voice was ice, not bothering to hide his anger. “How did you get this fucking number? ”
“Oh.” Danny nervously chuckled. “Sophie Gibson gave it to me after one too many whiskey sours at Cathedral. I held onto it just in case.”
Of course, it was goddamn Sophie Gibson. She never could keep her fucking mouth shut. “This better be good, Danny, because if it’s not, I’ll–”
“It’s about Tae Hyun.”
“Tae Hyun?” Jason’s mind screeched to a halt, the gears grinding as he struggled to keep up. “What about him?”
“Look, I’m calling as a friend,” Danny said, suddenly defensive. “This story’s already breaking. It’ll be all over the blogs within the hour.”
“Just tell me, Danny. Now.”
Danny huffed. “Oh my god, Jason. You’re such a fucking drama queen. Alright, here’s the deal. K-star Daily just dropped a bombshell story. Tae Hyun and his new J-pop boy toy were spotted palling around Harajuku, with photos and everything.”
Jason’s stomach clenched as the rapidly rising tension in his temples made them ache. “Yeah, I know. He told me about that.”
“Okay, but did he mention the part where they’re apparently having an affair?”
“What?!” Jason’s shout echoed through the corridor, making Justice visibly jump at his nearby desk. Jason ignored him. “There’s no way Tae Hyun would–”
“Of course, it’s not true.” Danny dramatically huffed. “It’s never true. Until it is. But they’ll slap a rumored or alleged label on it, and their asses are covered. I’m sorry. I figured you’d want to hear it from a friendly voice first.”
“You and I are not friends,” Jason growled .
“Damn, Jason. I said friendly, not friends. But I’ll bet all the cash in your pocket they didn’t call to get a statement from anyone, so maybe tip off your PR team and hope they can get ahead of it.”
Jason blew out a long breath, desperately trying and failing to find some calm. “Okay. Thanks, Danny. If there’s anything–” He swallowed hard. He wasn’t really about to promise this asshole anything.
“Just remember me,” Danny smugly interrupted, “when those wedding invites roll out.”
“Maybe.” Jason forced a bitter chuckle. “But don’t hold your breath.”
Jason disconnected before Danny could say anything else. A ball of fury twisted in his gut. His mind refused to accept what he’d just heard. The story had to be bullshit. There was no way Tae Hyun would cheat on him. But who had leaked it? And why? It couldn’t have been Kbr, not after he’d effectively neutered them. But what about Ren? Did he have enemies? He’d certainly lived through his own coming-out shitstorm. The possibilities swirled in his head. He wanted to punch something, to vent the rage boiling beneath the surface.
“Everything alright, Jason?”
Jason whirled around to find David standing in the open conference room doorway, his expression carefully blank. A chill shot through him. How much had David heard?
“You seem distracted,” David continued, dripping with false concern. A smug, satisfied glimmer danced in David’s eyes before he quickly masked it. But Jason was too keyed up to miss it. David had heard everything.
Jason clenched his jaw, muscles twitching under his skin. He hardly needed that eavesdropping asshole to know what was happening. He wanted to call out David’s thinly veiled power play. He wanted to hit him. But he had to play it cool. He couldn’t risk a confrontation, not with everything Naomi and Seong Woo had done hanging in the balance. With a supreme effort, he forced his expression into something resembling calm. “Nah, just an unexpected call,” he smoothly replied. “Nothing important.”
David raised a highly skeptical eyebrow. “Nothing bad, I hope,” he probed, his tone deceptively casual.
Jason forced his smile a little wider, refusing to take David’s obvious bait. “Nothing at all. Tell Naomi and Seong Woo to finish up without me.”
Jason turned without another word and started for the elevator. His mind raced as he walked away, David’s gaze burning into the back of his neck. Let the asshole think what he wanted. He was Naomi’s problem to deal with. Jason had his own shit to handle. He furiously slapped the elevator call button as he dialed Seong Hyeon. His Security Chief picked up on the second ring.
“Sir?”
“Get the car ready,” Jason announced as the elevator doors slid open. “It’s time to go.”
“Yes, sir.” If Seong Hyeon was concerned about Jason’s sudden change of plans, he hid it well enough.
“And get the plane ready,” Jason continued, a plan finally materializing in his head. “We’re headed to Tokyo.”