Chaebol Heiress's Hidden Agenda
Suhyeon hung up the phone, slightly flustered.
'If they've already clocked out, we can just meet tomorrow. Why insist on coming all the way here in person?'
Suhyeon dialed another number.
"Hello, security office."
"Thank you for your hard work. This is Suhyeon from BBG."
After notifying security at BJ that a guest looking for him would arrive, Suhyeon headed to the second-floor conference room.
While waiting for the guest, he pulled out his phone and checked the fan cafe dedicated to him.
'Way more posts than I expected. Even photos from the recent drama shoot where I signed autographs for fans are organized and uploaded... I should check in here more often when I have time.'
As he dove into the posts on his fan cafe for the first time, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Suhyeon? It's Kim Seonghui. I've just arrived at YK—where are you?"
"Ah, I'm in the second-floor conference room. If you enter through the main gate..."
"Forget that—come down to the parking lot. Let's grab dinner at a restaurant I know and talk there."
"Dining with me might draw a lot of stares and make you uncomfortable. Our company cafeteria is known as the best among the top three agencies. If that's okay..."
"Don't worry about that—just come down quick. I'll be waiting." Click.
Suhyeon stared blankly at his phone, the call abruptly ended.
'She's doing whatever she wants. Seems like she has a direct connection to the BJ chaebol family. Sigh. As a powerless entertainer, I have no choice but to go along.'
Letting out a short sigh, Suhyeon left the conference room and headed to the parking lot.
There, he spotted the waiting car—a sleek black vehicle gleaming like velvet, with a leaping beast emblem on the hood.
'A Jaguar...? No idea the model, but it looks insanely expensive. Just who is this woman?'
Suhyeon opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, exchanging brief greetings.
Kim Seonghui, dressed in a light beige autumn trench coat, skillfully drove toward the restaurant she knew well.
The Jaguar pulled into the underground third-floor parking lot of a stately building and stopped near the elevator.
"There's a direct elevator from here to the restaurant—no one will spot us. Hop out."
"Got it."
Despite her decent height of around 170 cm for a woman, Kim Seonghui strode ahead confidently in black stiletto heels, clicking against the floor. Suhyeon followed her to the elevator.
The elevator had only five buttons. As the doors opened upon arrival, two uniformed male and female staff bowed politely in greeting.
'Definitely a spot for the upper class...'
Entering the restaurant, a female server at the entrance spoke up.
"Ma'am, shall I take your coat?"
Kim Seonghui handed over her trench coat. At that moment, Suhyeon was startled by her outfit.
She wore a black mermaid dress with see-through sleeves and lower thighs that revealed her limbs translucently, tiny beads sparkling endlessly under the lights.
'Would a regular office worker wear something this flashy on a normal day? Is she... mentally unstable or something?'
Seated, they ordered food and drinks casually. Suhyeon spoke first.
"The staff here don't react to me at all."
"They're trained for that. Celebrities come here to eat in peace—staff shouldn't make guests uncomfortable."
"I see."
As Suhyeon finished and took a sip of water, Kim Seonghui smiled brightly.
"But... I'm a bit worried you might think I'm some crazy bitch."
Caught off guard, Suhyeon composed himself.
"What? No way. Why would I?"
"I had a reception and small party this afternoon with guests from Hollywood. I was the handler and interpreter, so I came straight here in this outfit—don't misunderstand."
"Ah, got it. You look stunning. Suits you."
"Oh, thank you. So you like flashy outfits? I'll keep that in mind when picking clothes from now on."
'Keep what in mind exactly?'
Hiding his unease, Suhyeon asked, "About the revised script this time..."
"Jumping straight to that? That's not what you're most curious about right now, is it?"
Uncharacteristically losing control of the conversation, Suhyeon sighed inwardly.
'Haa. I need to buy a book on dealing with women in this world and study up. Can't get used to this.'
"Fine. You seem to like brutal honesty, Kim Seonghui."
"We're both young. We could end up close friends... or more. Better to be straightforward, right?"
"Close friends... Then let's sort out how we address each other. What do you want me to call you?"
"Let's drop formalities. Suhyeon-ah, Seonghui-ya. Sounds good?"
"Age this year?"
"Same as you. Graduated college last year, first year at work."
"Alright, casual it is from now on. So, Seonghui-ya, what do you do exactly?"
"What do I look like I do?"
"From the meeting that day and today... you don't seem like a regular employee. What's your relation to President Jeong Mi-yeong?"
"Guess."
"You're no ordinary staffer. I figured you might be President Jeong's granddaughter. Too young for daughter. But Kim doesn't match the Jeon family name. Close relative maybe?"
"Spot on. President Jeong Mi-yeong is my maternal grandmother—my mom is her second daughter."
"That explains it."
"My dad's president of some department store chain, unrelated to BJ. I've loved movies since I was little, so I asked Grandma to let me work there. More questions?"
"Your role as on-site staff for this film—is that Grandma's doing too?"
"No, I volunteered. Who wouldn't want in on a blockbuster if they love movies?"
"I see."
"More curiosities? If not, my turn to ask."
"Go ahead."
"What I'm most curious about right now: Are you impotent by any chance?"
"Impotent? What?"
"Eunuch."
"...No, I mean, I'm perfectly normal."
"Then why? You know chaebols can background-check an entertainer in a snap. Rumor has it you used to hit on any girl back then... but after the motorcycle accident, no dates or hookups at all. I wondered if the crash left you... you know."
"I'm healthy. Just grew up, that's all."
"Hmm. Really?"
At Seonghui's skeptical tone, Suhyeon replied firmly.
"No issues here. Next question."
"None left. Tall, handsome, great artist, genius-smart. And healthy down there too, no girlfriend currently. That's plenty."
"Can we talk movie now?"
"Sure."
Finally shifting to the main topic, Suhyeon breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"First, major changes in the revised script. Why switch the protagonist's job from con artist to government agent? Isn't the gap too big?"
"Grandma's call. Says a con man protagonist makes sequels tough. Thinks it needs a cool job like 007 or Mission Impossible for franchise potential."
"Sequels... Forcing script changes could tank this one—no sequel then."
"Grandma insists it won't flop."
"Who knows? Originally, there was a childhood flashback; now it's just a few lines. Why?"
"Focus. Grandma wants audiences glued only to you. No need for kid actors or distractions."
"Feels burdensome."
"She said your charm is more than enough."
"Her expectations are sky-high. If it's her will, no changing it."
"Yep."
"Last: Japan as an overseas location wasn't in the original. Her idea?"
"No, mine. You said sword fighting's your specialty that day, so I pushed for a Japan shoot for those scenes. Grandma approved."
"Got it."
"More?"
"No big ones. Plenty of details, though."
"My question: Rumor says you speak way more languages than people think. For script lines, should we switch your English dialogue to native tongues where you can? How fluent?"
"...How'd you know?"
"Didn't know Abnormal Meeting is under BJ's cable channel? Found out right after your recording."
- Excuse me, your orders are ready.
Suhyeon and Kim Seonghui discussed the script extensively over dinner, then he rode back home in her car.
As he thanked her and moved to get out, she spoke.
"Suhyeon-ah. You know Grandma hopes we hit it off, but I won't pressure you with that."
"Good mindset. We're young anyway—friends is plenty. No need to tie ourselves to marriage talk."
"That's why I have one request..."
"What?"
"I won't burden you, but if you find a girl you like, tell me right away. So I can adjust accordingly."
"OK. No big deal."
"See you next time."
"Drive safe."
Watching her car leave, Suhyeon barely suppressed the anger bubbling up all evening.
'Same one-way thinking from the powerful, past or present. To avoid being dragged around against my will, I need power fast. For now, endure. Chaebol, huh... Let's see about that.'
The next morning, Suhyeon headed early to the drama set in Suwon.