He Kept His Promise
My hair stood on end.
The brain that had been soaked through with fatigue jolted awake by force, and alarm bells went off inside my head, blaring in frantic succession.
While I’d had my eyes closed for that brief moment, Baek Representative came to the office?
A chill ran down my spine. No matter how much favor I’d been receiving from Baek Representative lately, it was only natural that I’d be rattled at the thought of her catching me sleeping in the office like some ordinary employee.
While I was still lying there, sound asleep without a care in the world, Baek Representative rose from her seat.
“Team Leader Kwon.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and answered.
“...Yes, Representative.”
“Let’s go eat.”
“?”
“I promised you before. That I’d have a meal with you once.”
I opened my eyes again.
My face must have been a question mark, because Baek Representative’s lips were curving with an unexpected, teasing smile.
“Get ready to leave work and wait for me in the first-floor lobby.”
...What on earth was this situation?
***
I rolled my eyes around in place. A garden so luxurious it made my jaw drop spread out before me. There had really been a Korean restaurant like this in Gangnam? I prided myself on having been to just about every upscale place while running around for business, and yet this was my first time seeing one like this.
There was a sense of class in the placement of the ornaments and furniture. If they had put this much effort into the interior, then how much did one meal here cost?
I couldn’t even imagine. No matter how I thought about it, it had to be expensive. But for the people speaking with Baek Representative right now, it was probably just a good meal.
“Netflix has been making rather aggressive moves lately. What does everyone think?”
“The conditions are good, but if you’re going in as a supporting role, it’s a little disappointing compared to the big three terrestrial networks.”
“If you land a lead role, though, then in terms of conditions and scale, Netflix is top-tier.”
I looked around again. There were men in suits gathered around Baek Representative, discussing this and that.
No, could I really just call them “suit men”?
Over there on the right was the CEO of TQ Entertainment. Across from him on the left was the head of the drama division at MBN. Over there on the right was the CEO of Sky Entertainment, and directly across from me was the division head of CFN Distribution.
And besides them, every major heavyweight in the industry was gathered here.
The conversation drifted from one topic to another without any real direction, and it didn’t seem like this had been arranged around any particular purpose. It looked more like an intimate social gathering.
Which made it even harder to understand.
What is this?
Why had Baek Representative called me to a private gathering like this?
I couldn’t figure out her intention. If I wanted to think poorly of it, maybe she had called me here just to humiliate me like a scarecrow propped in a field. But knowing Baek Representative’s personality, that was absolutely not it.
As I kept glancing around and gauging the room, the CEO of Sky Entertainment cautiously addressed Baek Representative.
“Come to think of it, Baek Representative.”
Everyone’s attention shifted toward Baek Representative, who had been quietly sipping her tea.
“I’ve been hearing nothing but good news from you lately.”
The CEO of TQ Entertainment, who was seated across from her, chimed in.
“Ah, right. The one starring Lee Ha-eun was Black Bride, wasn’t it? I heard it was a complete smash.”
Baek Representative set down the teacup she was holding and replied, “The numbers weren’t bad.”
At her answer, the people gathered around immediately broke into playful chatter as though they had been waiting for it.
“Ho ho... You call 300,000 on the first day not bad? At this pace, it’s looking like a straight shot to ten million.”
“Seriously, how did you even find a movie like that? Do you have some secret to picking hits?”
“Honestly, if it weren’t for Baek Representative, who would ever have expected that film to explode like this?”
At the flood of questions from around the table, a faint smile appeared on Baek Representative’s lips.
“Black Bride wasn’t a film I picked.”
With that, she turned her head and looked steadily at me.
The eyes of everyone in the room naturally followed hers and landed on me.
“........”
Three seconds.
An actual three seconds of silence passed.
Only then did I come to my senses and get to my feet.
“I’m Kwon Chan, acting team leader for Team 6 at Baekhak.”
I introduced myself as calmly as I could. Then, just as I was about to bow my head, Baek Representative lightly touched my hand.
“Team Leader Kwon, sit.”
At her one sentence, I could feel the people gathered here showing renewed interest.
...Meanwhile, I was dying of embarrassment.
But how could I refuse the words of the person who had brought me to this table?
As I obediently sat down, Baek Representative explained in her composed tone, “The introduction is a little late.”
The gazes of the industry heavyweights seated around the table poured onto me.
“This is the manager from Baekhak who chose Black Bride. I wanted to introduce him to you because he’s a capable manager.”
***
VIP Room B at the Korean restaurant “B” in Gangnam.
With Kwon Chan and Baek Representative having left first, the drinking session continued in this private gathering, reunited for the first time in a month.
“Isn’t this the first time Baek Representative has brought someone along?”
“Right. It’s been a while since Director Park Yu-hyeon showed his face too.”
“Is that kid Director Park Yu-hyeon’s successor?”
“Isn’t it still too early for Director Park Yu-hyeon to retire?”
“True, that’s fair. So why bring a manager to a gathering like this...”
The CEO of TQ raised his glass and said, “I don’t know what the reason is, but one thing seems clear.”
At his words, the industry heavyweights around the table slowly nodded.
“Doesn’t it look like the great Baek Representative is quite fond of that manager, Kwon Chan?”
***
Once the tension eased, drowsiness came flooding back in waves.
I still couldn’t quite believe where I’d just been. But thanks to Baek Representative staring at me so blankly and directly, there was no way I could mistake it for a dream.
Why did Baek Representative bring me to a place like that?
I didn’t know. But one thing was clear: she seemed to be in a very good mood right now.
A deep smile was hanging at the corners of Baek Representative’s lips, one I’d never usually see.
I wanted to know what had put her in such a good mood. Just then, the sedan we were riding in came to a stop.
Before I knew it, we had arrived at my shabby one-room apartment.
Baek Representative slowly turned her head and looked at me. Her light-brown eyes seemed unusually warm tonight.
Maybe that was why her voice, when she finally spoke, felt warm too.
“How was it today?”
How was it today?
...Honestly, taking me to a place like that while I was half-asleep had been brutal.
But I couldn’t exactly say that outright.
So I gave a suitably vague answer.
“It was a little... surprising.”
“Well, I did drag you there out of nowhere.”
“I mean, that too. And I don’t get many chances to see people like that all in one place.”
Baek Representative nodded.
“Keep the business cards you received today safe. When Team Leader Kwon needs them, those cards will help you.”
Her words made my eyes widen.
So that was why she’d taken me there today?
I could hardly believe it, but after hearing her out, it seemed like that really was the case.
“You’ve made your face known to them now, so next time it’ll be easier to sit down together.”
In this business, connections mattered more than anything. And Baek Representative had just introduced those connections to me personally.
And not just any connections, either. These were people who maintained close ties with Baek Representative.
As my expression turned strange, she went on explaining.
“You can’t survive in this line of work by simply doing your job well. A fox with plenty of tricks lasts longer and thinner than a fierce tiger.”
A fox lasting longer and thinner than a tiger...
Hearing her say that, her nickname came naturally to mind.
The nine-tailed fox.
Baek Ji-won, the “Fox of Baekhak,” so called because she could strip people of their wits.
“I’ve told you in advance, so go ahead and get close to those people. If you can play golf, it’ll probably be easier.”
My expression turned slightly confused. Thanks to her explanation, I understood the situation, but...
I still didn’t know why she was suddenly handing me a gift like this.
Maybe she saw that on my face, because Baek Representative, who had been watching me closely, let out a soft laugh.
“It’s a gift for keeping my promise.”
“?”
“You almost kept your ten-million-viewer promise, didn’t you, Team Leader Kwon?”
“!”
Ah.
Without meaning to, I let out a low breath.
“Now you get it?”
“Yes, Representative.”
Feeling a delayed rush of satisfaction and dopamine, I bowed my head.
“Thank you.”
Baek Representative nodded slowly and continued the conversation.
“You’re going to work tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. It’s not the weekend, so I have to go in.”
“You look very tired. How about taking a day off tomorrow?”
My eyes widened a little.
“Are you saying...”
“I’ll give you a free vacation.”
“...”
“One that won’t get taken out of your annual leave.”
At the sweet offer she suddenly held out, my pupils started trembling all over the place.
Meanwhile, a faint smile lingered at the corners of Baek Representative’s lips.
“You need to take care of yourself. We’re still a long way from ten million.”
This time, my heart began swaying this way and that like a reed in the wind.
...Yeah.
The momentum was great, but we had only just reached half of ten million. To reach the finish line, there was still a long road ahead, just as Baek Representative said.
When I considered how much distance was still left to cover, taking a breather here didn’t seem so bad.
Besides, most of the schedules and meetings were already in place now, so there wasn’t much need for me to step in personally.
And yet, maybe because of my greed, I wanted to handle even the smallest detail with my own hands.
So honestly, crazy as it might sound... I didn’t want to rest right now.
Even if I ended up collapsing from exhaustion later, I wanted to work now without any regrets. At that moment, my mouth moved on its own.
“Representative.”
“Yeah, Team Leader Kwon.”
“If possible, about that vacation you gave me today... would it be all right if I saved it and used it all at once after I finish handling Black Bride?”
Baek Representative’s eyes widened slightly. Watching that change in her expression, I deliberately put force into my voice.
“I think I can still hold out for now.”
“...”
“So I’d like to take the vacation you gave me today after I’m done handling Black Bride.”
Baek Representative’s expression turned hard to read as she looked at me.
“You’re saying you want to work?”
I answered with a faint smile instead, just like Baek Representative.
As she stared at me, she burst out laughing with obvious delight.
“I told you to act like a fox, and you turned into one right away.”
With that, she gave a ready nod.
“Do whatever you want, Team Leader Kwon.”
“Thank you, Representative.”
“Oh, and are you thinking of moving, Team Leader Kwon?”
“Pardon?”
“I think I mentioned it before, but there’s a shared officetel near the company that’s come empty.”
A question mark floated up on my face.
Meanwhile, in her usual calm voice, Baek Representative made me an offer.
“I’ll let you have it, so unless there’s a special reason not to, how about moving? This one-room place eats up a lot of your commute time, doesn’t it?”
***
The next day, when I came in to headquarters, Kim, Baek Representative’s secretary, told me the location of a mixed-use officetel near Gangnam.
It was a 2,400-square-foot unit, and it was only a five-minute walk from the company.
...If I moved there, I didn’t know about anything else, but the commute would definitely become much more pleasant.
Should I seriously move...
Honestly, there was no reason not to. Except for the fact that it was a place provided by the company.
Then Im Hyun-sung, sitting across from me, asked with a sulky expression, “Are you thinking about a woman?”
“?”
“Your face had that exact expression. Is it someone you’re seeing?”
At the question from my ten-year friend, I stared at him in disbelief and shot back, “I’m thinking about Representative Baek, you idiot.”
Im Hyun-sung flinched.
“As far as I know, Representative Baek is a woman...”
“Stop right there, seriously.”
After some back-and-forth and a bit of cursing between us, we naturally changed the subject.
“Black Bride is doing well.”
“I told you. I said it’d be a hit.”
“Sure, sure? I didn’t know it would blow up this much, but honestly, for a movie like Black Bride, wasn’t it obvious that it would do well?”
Im Hyun-sung declared, “With Lee Ha-eun as the lead?”
Well, he wasn’t exactly wrong. Anyone could have predicted that Black Bride would succeed.
The lead actress was Lee Ha-eun, after all.
Then Hyun-sung handed me several sheets of paper.
“But how did you know about these?”
I took the documents he handed over. They were the report cards for the independent films I’d told him about.
“The lead actors were flops, and it’s not like those productions had massive budgets either.”
I slowly lifted my head. The face of my ten-year friend sitting across from me had become utterly serious, unlike a moment ago.
“How did you know and predict the box office results of films like these, man?”
At Hyun-sung’s question, I answered with easy confidence.
“I’ve got my ways.”
Im Hyun-sung blinked in exasperation.
“What are you, some kind of fortune-teller?”
“Ah, Taebong Wanggeon is a fun drama.”
“Quit changing the subject and tell me the truth. Even if you had insider information, how the hell could you possibly nail this?”
Hyun-sung’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you really hiding, Kwon Chan?”
At his question, a faint smile touched my lips.
“What does it matter?”
“What?”
“Whatever I’m hiding, hasn’t it already been proven? That the information I’ve got is solid. So isn’t that the part we should be focusing on?”
My body leaned forward.
“If we’d invested in those films you just mentioned... how much do you think we’d have made, Hyun-sung?”
At that one line, my ten-year friend’s eyes went wide.
***
Black Bride finally surpassed five million cumulative viewers.
Of course, that wasn’t my concern.
What I wanted now was the ten-million title.
Having surpassed five million, we now had to draw in a similar number again from here on out.
Word of mouth had now spread enough. What remained was a publicity strategy that could draw in as many viewers as possible.
So, following my promise at the five-million mark, I headed to the Yongsan Megabox branch with the Black Bride cast.
Starting here today, we would travel across the country and hold stage greetings everywhere.
Once this schedule began, actors, managers, and staff alike would all be dragged to the brink.
No matter how comfortably you traveled, crisscrossing the entire country was no easy matter.
And yet the expressions on the cast members and staff didn’t look all that bad.
“I’ve been sleeping really well these days.”
“You too, writer-nim? I’ve been sleeping like a log as soon as I stretch out both legs.”
“I’m not even angry these days. My hair’s falling out less, too.”
“Just looking at the audience numbers, it’s enough to cure insomnia that didn’t even exist in the first place. Maybe it could cure hair loss too, haha...”
Yeah, that was true.
Just looking at the audience numbers for Black Bride now, it really was enough to cure insomnia that hadn’t even existed.
So even while preparing for the fan sign and the stage greetings, laughter never really left the air.
As I watched the scene at my leisure, I felt my smartphone vibrating in my pocket and reached in.
“Yes, Hyeongu.”
-Team Leader! Lee Ha-eun has finished makeup and is heading to the theater now!
“Got it. Send me another text once she arrives.”
After hanging up, I stood up from my seat. If even Lee Ha-eun had arrived, today’s schedule would be no problem.
In that pleasant flow, just as I was walking out to meet her, an unfamiliar yet familiar voice called to me.
“Team Leader Kwon.”
Startled, I turned my head and saw a man standing there in a Hawaii shirt, holding popcorn.
He was a man who gave off a feeling both similar and different from Baek Representative, and someone whose position was judged in much the same way as hers: Park Su-chan, the CEO of SAG.
While I was still staring in surprise, Park Su-chan grinned broadly and said, “Haha, what a coincidence running into you here!”
A coincidence?
My expression turned strange at the sight of Park Su-chan casually spouting such an obvious lie.