The Trap
These days, I’ll admit, my commute felt a little enjoyable. Everything I touched seemed to go right, and that momentum was earning me recognition from my coworkers too. Who wouldn’t enjoy office life under those conditions?
That said, it was a different matter entirely to be so devoted to the company that I’d run into my boss, the company’s representative no less, standing in front of my building long after work had ended and the night was deep.
A shiver ran through me.
"R-Representative?"
From the darkness, Baek Representative stepped forward and asked me in her usual languid voice, "Did you just get back after the To.Any mini concert?"
"Y-yes, that’s right. But what brings you here...?"
Instead of answering, Representative Baek Ji-won looked briefly at the studio villa where I lived, then tossed out a light remark.
"Manager Kwon."
"Yes?"
"It takes thirty minutes by car from here to the company. Isn’t the commute inconvenient?"
"...It is a little, yes?"
"Then why insist on living here?"
Why live here, she asked. What was there to it? Did an office worker with no house in the outskirts really need some grand reason? It was just money.
Of course, right now I was still living here even though I had money.
I was too busy with work to bother moving, and if I ever did move, I wanted to buy an apartment outright rather than rent again.
But I couldn’t exactly lay out all those private details for her, so I stayed quiet. Baek Representative let out a small laugh.
"I was thinking about what I should do for you, but this will do."
"?"
"Why don’t we move somewhere else first? It’s cold out, and standing around like this isn’t very pleasant, is it?"
I came to my senses a beat late and answered, "Uh... Representative, I haven’t tidied up my place..."
"Hm? I wasn’t planning to go inside."
"?"
"A nearby cafe is fine. What, did you want to show me your place?"
Baek Representative said it with a sly look on her face.
The shame hit a moment later, and I could feel my ears burning as I hurriedly replied, "I’ll take you to a nearby cafe, Representative."
Ah.
I was already tired.
***
I rode with Baek Representative to a nearby cafe. Luckily, the small cafe I often visited was still open. I ordered a warm green tea latte, and Baek Representative ordered herbal tea.
Maybe because it was late at night, or maybe because of Baek Representative’s striking appearance, I could feel the staff stealing glances at her as she sat across from me.
But Baek Representative seemed unconcerned. She sipped her tea with complete ease and said to me, "Sorry for dropping by so suddenly at this hour."
She apologized with a calm smile.
"I should have contacted you first, but I made the decision rather impulsively, so things got a little hectic. You must be tired."
"Not at all, Representative."
"No? Your eyes are practically dripping with exhaustion, Manager Kwon."
"..."
"Or are you tired because you had to see me?"
It was a joke. But because the person telling it was Baek Representative, it didn’t feel like one.
Why had Baek Representative come all the way to my apartment in person?
While I was thinking it over, the reason came to me. Right, today was the day Seok-du hyung met Director Park Yu-hyeon.
"You came because of Team Leader Ma."
Baek Representative nodded.
"Yes, that’s right."
"..."
"Team Leader Ma kept insisting it wasn’t Manager Kwon’s doing to the very end. He’d have to act a little less badly for that to work. Anyone could tell, this was..."
Baek Representative tilted her head slightly.
"It was a scheme you set up, wasn’t it?"
I didn’t bother denying it.
If Baek Representative had come all the way here herself, then even if I denied it, she’d already be sure.
There was no point in making excuses after getting caught red-handed. It would only irritate her. So I went straight in with the core of it.
"A source saying Baekhak has a helper on SAG’s side."
Baek Representative’s brow twitched.
"It was information I heard by chance, so I can’t say how reliable it is."
"Where did you hear it?"
"From the headhunting firm that made me the job offer."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You got an offer too, Manager Kwon?"
"I didn’t sit down for a formal meeting."
Baek Representative began tapping the table.
It was the kind of gesture that said she was mildly annoyed.
After drumming her fingers there for a while, she suddenly asked me, "Were you tempted?"
At that question, I tilted my head.
"Pardon, Representative?"
"When you got the offer, were you tempted, Manager Kwon?"
"..."
I thought about it for a moment. Had I been tempted?
The answer came quickly.
"No, I wasn’t."
"Why not? From what Team Leader Ma said, they were dangling a pretty good offer. Someone at your level should have gotten an even better one."
The terms were good, of course. They’d offered a salary increase and a team leader position. But it wasn’t especially attractive to me.
The reason was simple.
"It was a condition Baekhak could easily have matched."
Baek Ji-won’s eyes widened a little.
"...A condition Baekhak could easily have matched?"
"Yes. That’s why I wasn’t tempted. From the start, it wasn’t a headhunting offer that came through a proper channel."
The corner of her mouth slowly lifted as she looked at me.
A smile far denser than usual settled on her lips.
So Baek Representative can smile like that too.
Then she leaned her body toward me.
"You really do have a talent for bewitching people."
Baek Representative’s expression, which had been irritated a moment ago, brightened.
"And even knowing that, I feel my heart sway just a little. Manager Kwon, you’d better be careful with your mouth. Making people’s hearts move so carelessly is something you should think twice about."
Her sweet voice sent a strangely cold tension creeping up my spine.
"I’m sorry, Representative."
"I’m not scolding you. Mm, right. It was praise. Praise."
"..."
"Now, it’s late, so let’s get this work talk over with and head home. Tell me what you think."
Baek Representative straightened back into her original posture.
"Do you think there’s a leak planted in our company by SAG?"
At her question, I slowly nodded.
"I think it’s highly likely."
"Why?"
"Because several Baekhak managers were approached with job offers around the same time recently."
"Without an inside collaborator, that’d be hard?"
"Yes, that’s how I see it."
Baek Representative swept her bangs back.
"Who do you think the culprit is?"
I fell into thought for a moment.
I do have someone in mind, but it’s only a suspicion.
There was no solid proof. It would be reckless to point a finger at someone without it.
"For now, I think it’s likely someone at the assistant manager or team leader level."
"That makes sense. For a job this big, it would have to be someone around assistant manager or team leader level."
With a faint laugh, Baek Representative continued, "Not just any road manager, but an assistant manager or team leader working with a competitor, huh..."
Her voice trailed off, and then she turned to me slowly.
"It looks like you really stood out, Manager Kwon."
At that, my eyes went wide.
"What, Representative?"
"Someone at the assistant manager or team leader level would be fiercely loyal to the company. If they weren’t, they never would have reached that position. But if their heart suddenly changed, the reason is obvious, isn’t it?"
Baek Representative pointed a finger at me.
"They must have felt their own position was threatened."
"..."
"Your recent results must have come as quite a shock to the assistant managers and team leaders. Enough to make them feel their seats were on the line."
At Baek Representative’s words, my eyes flew open.
Watching me, she let out a series of amused little chuckles and took a graceful sip of her tea.
"I’ve set a trap."
Her voice lowered.
"It’s a trap to catch the rat, but getting it to step in will probably take longer than expected. So tell me, Manager Kwon."
Baek Ji-won tilted her head.
"Can you draw attention?"
"Attention, as in..."
"I’m not asking for anything grand."
Her lazy voice made me focus without meaning to.
"Just stir things up a little in the management department, the way you usually do."
At Baek Representative’s explanation, interest sparked in my eyes.
Stir things up in the management department?
What did she mean by that?
It was hard to guess what Baek Representative was thinking.
And that only made me more curious.
How exactly was Baek Ji-won planning to catch the rat hiding inside the company?
As my curiosity deepened, an idea came to me.
"Representative."
"Yes, go on."
"When you say stir things up, do you mean I just need to attract attention?"
Baek Representative nodded slowly.
"Yes, that’s right. Whether it’s eyes or attention, make the managers remember your presence, Manager Kwon."
With her answer, a plan began taking shape in my head.
If I were alone, it’d be hard to get Baekhak’s managers to notice me. But if it were the actors I managed?
If attracting people’s attention was their job, this would be easy for them.
The corners of my mouth rose.
"I’ll give it a try, Representative."
At my answer, Baek Ji-won murmured in a very light voice, almost under her breath, "This is why I like Manager Kwon."
***
After my meeting with Baek Ji-won, I ended up getting an unexpected vacation.
"Take two days off, then come back to work."
"...Two days, Representative?"
"Yes. You did me a favor, and you even listened to your representative complain late into the night like this, didn’t you?"
Baek Ji-won said that as she looked at me through the open door of the car, held for her by her chauffeur.
"Rest well and come back after two days, Manager Kwon. Then I’ll see you at the company."
And just like that, Baek Representative came like a storm and vanished again.
Left alone, I sank into thought.
"...She’s giving me two full days off?"
Hmm.
Representative, couldn’t you just come and find me every night?
A vacation that doesn’t get docked from my regular days off is seriously incredible...
Grinning to myself, I went home and threw myself onto the bed.
Then I spent the next two days resting exactly as Baek Representative had told me to.
I caught up on the dramas I’d been putting off, ordered delivery, and enjoyed the free vacation at a leisurely pace.
When those two days were over and I returned to work, I didn’t go to the management office. Instead, I waited for someone in the main lobby.
Just then, the PR team leader arrived for work, spotted me, and came over with a wave.
"Oh, Manager Kwon!"
"Team Leader of Public Relations, you’re in already?"
"Yep, yep! But why are you here instead of the office? Waiting for someone?"
At her question, I nodded.
"I’m meeting someone."
"Ah, I see."
The PR team leader, slurping at a large iced Americano, tapped my shoulder and said, "By the way, Manager Kwon. I heard Director Na Jun-hu came all the way to the company to meet you?"
"How did you hear about that?"
"What doesn’t our PR team know about the company?"
Fair enough. A PR team leader who had her nose in entertainment gossip would hardly miss anything happening inside the company.
She went on with a sly expression. "You’ve really become a big shot, haven’t you? For Director Na Jun-hu to come running over himself to meet Manager Kwon."
"Big shot is a little much. If someone hears that, they’ll think I’m full of myself."
"Hah... modesty! But..."
She trailed off, tilting her head.
"Who are you waiting for? It isn’t Director Na Jun-hu, is it?"
At her question, I looked up and gestured with my chin.
"There he is."
"Who... oh?"
The PR team leader’s eyes widened.
"The person you’re meeting is... that man?"
She was completely thrown.
But she wasn’t the only one.
"............Whoa."
"Damn, it’s a Hallyu star."
"I-Is that really Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
Every female employee heading in for work turned to look, eyes wide.
With a faint smile, I greeted the man approaching with his usual impassive expression.
"Actor Kwon Hyeon-bin, you made it?"
Kwon Hyeon-bin answered slowly, "It’s been a while, Manager Kwon."
After returning his greeting, I glanced sideways.
...
Baekhak headquarters was buzzing at the arrival of a Hallyu star.
***
As I led Kwon Hyeon-bin toward the meeting room in the management office, I glanced around casually.
What a scene. This place is in an uproar.
Did our office always have this many women in it?
Beyond the meeting room window, not only Baekhak’s managers but employees from other departments had gathered too, stealing glances this way.
Shaking my head, I lowered the blinds. Just then, Kwon Hyeon-bin called my name in his deep, distinctive voice.
"Manager Kwon."
"Yes, Kwon Hyeon-bin."
"I heard you wanted to speak with me. What is it?"
At the question, I thought for a moment before answering.
"I wanted to make some schedule adjustments."
"Schedule, as in..."
"Yes. It’s regarding your next project, Kwon Hyeon-bin. You’re still in treatment, so filming is difficult, but we need to start choosing a script soon."
"!"
A subtle change passed through Kwon Hyeon-bin’s otherwise indifferent gaze.
"Wasn’t my next project already decided to be The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor?"
"That’s true, but a good project offer came in for you."
There was a slight tremor in my voice.
Well, now that I thought about it, it made sense. I had to be shaking a little.
"You know writer Lee Na-yoon, right? It’s a script written by that writer, and an offer came in for you to take the role."
I was recommending a show I knew would crater in the ratings to my own actor.
Meanwhile, Kwon Hyeon-bin accepted the script I handed him and his gaze deepened.
Ah, this is a little dangerous.
Honestly, I didn’t want to show him the script for Backstreet Police, but I couldn’t avoid it.
In any case, Backstreet Police is a project Director Park Yu-hyeon is handling personally.
I couldn’t simply ignore a project handled by Director Park Yu-hyeon. Besides, it was a script by one of the industry’s top writers, with a production budget of 40 billion won. Whatever the project’s eventual performance, as Kwon Hyeon-bin’s manager I at least had the duty to show him the script.
If he takes the role, Kwon Hyeon-bin’s market value could rise by at least 300 million won, maybe as much as 400 million.
That was why my head hurt a little. I knew the future, so I knew Backstreet Police would be a ratings disaster, but on the surface it looked extremely compelling.
I need to make Kwon Hyeon-bin turn it down somehow...
How was I supposed to get him to reject a drama that looked like such a massive opportunity?
Just then, Kwon Hyeon-bin set the Backstreet Police script down and said, "The script is very good, as you’d expect from writer Lee Na-yoon."
At that, I asked carefully, "How does it compare to The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor?"
"In terms of sheer entertainment, Backstreet Police has the edge."
...Damn. So it really was good?
At that moment, Kwon Hyeon-bin spoke again.
"The fact that you suddenly handed me the script means this is a project the company is pushing, doesn’t it?"
At that, I answered honestly, "Yes, that’s right. The company is actively pursuing this one."
"Do you personally prefer The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor?"
At Kwon Hyeon-bin’s question, I thought for a moment. There was no point in adding polish or lying here.
"Honestly, yes."
"Is there a reason?"
"Not especially, but something about Backstreet Police just doesn’t feel right to me."
Kwon Hyeon-bin tilted his head.
"Isn’t the scale of this project too large to judge by feeling?"
"It is. On the surface, it definitely doesn’t look like something that would fail. So then..."
I explained a little more specifically.
"Actor Kwon Hyeon-bin, don’t you think there are too many cooks on Backstreet Police?"
"Too many cooks?"
"Writer Lee Na-yoon has a strong pride, and the executive producer of this drama has a huge ego too. You know this well, don’t you? When a drama’s producer and writer start fighting, even a hit series can end up going off the rails?"
"..."
"And this drama is being adapted after buying overseas rights, but the original didn’t perform all that well. Even if the rewritten script looks convincing, there are traps all over the place."
Kwon Hyeon-bin stroked his chin. Watching him, I thought to myself, This isn’t convincing him, is it?
It made sense. Turning down a 40-billion-won drama lead like this would be absurd.
Just as I was about to try persuading him again, Kwon Hyeon-bin answered slowly, "Let’s go with The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor."
That startled me.
"What? No, why all of a sudden?"
"A 40-billion-won drama would attract a huge amount of attention in every respect, wouldn’t it?"
"Yes. It’s the hottest script on the market right now."
Kwon Hyeon-bin gently brushed back the bangs that fell near his brow.
"At another time, maybe I wouldn’t care. But right now, that kind of attention feels a little burdensome."
"If it feels burdensome..."
"I’m not sure I can handle a project of this size in my current state."
"!"
With those words, the corner of Kwon Hyeon-bin’s mouth curved faintly upward.
"And someone told me not to focus only on work and the script, but to take care of myself."
"..."
"If I take on a project this large, I’m sure I’d push myself too hard, and right now I don’t want that. More bluntly, I want to focus on acting and nothing else."
Kwon Hyeon-bin lifted his head and looked at me.
"For those reasons, I’m personally more drawn to The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor, Manager Kwon."
"..."
For a moment I was speechless, and only belatedly came back to myself under his gaze, thinking, Kwon Hyeon-bin, you’ve changed a lot.
How should I put it?
The man who used to know nothing but projects and work now felt almost human.
The change was unfamiliar, but refreshing too.
And while he’s at it, he’s helping me dispose of a bomb. Two birds with one stone, I suppose.
Smiling quietly, I nodded.
"If the actor has made that decision, the manager should support it."
My own voice came out absurdly light when I said it.
"The schedule talk is done, so shall we get something to eat?"
"Let’s do that."
"Ah, but there’s someone else who needs to come too."
Kwon Hyeon-bin tilted his head.
"Someone else is coming too? What do you mean?"
No sooner had he finished asking than the meeting room door flew open. The Romance Prince himself, Seo Tae-jun, with his broad, sharp features and strikingly handsome face.
He looked at me with a slightly irritated expression.
"Our Manager Kwon, who finally called after months, where are you... huh?"
Seo Tae-jun’s gaze moved from me to Kwon Hyeon-bin. In return, Kwon Hyeon-bin’s gaze moved to Seo Tae-jun.
After a moment of silently looking at each other, the two men turned their eyes back to me at the same time.
Seo Tae-jun asked me in a sour voice, "...Why is actor Kwon Hyeon-bin here, Manager Kwon?"
"Because he’s one of my actors?"
"...Actor Kwon Hyeon-bin was under Manager Kwon too?"
No sooner had Seo Tae-jun finished asking than the door opened again.
"Manager!"
Busan International Film Festival Best New Actress winner Choi Go-eun was there.
"Manager! If you’d just called me once... huh?"
Spotting Seo Tae-jun and Kwon Hyeon-bin, Choi Go-eun’s eyes went wide with surprise. Watching the scene, I got to my feet.
"Everyone’s here now."
"?"
"All right, shall we go eat?"
At my words, the three actors looked at me with puzzled expressions. I, on the other hand, turned my head and looked out of the meeting room.
"...What kind of combination is this?"
Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin.
Romance Prince Seo Tae-jun.
And Choi Go-eun, the breakout star whom Director Na Jun-hu had sent a love call to.
The unusual combination was not something you saw every day, and both Baekhak Management’s staff and the employees who had come to gawk at Kwon Hyeon-bin were staring in shock.
Looking at them, I let the corners of my mouth rise.
Fine.
If I was going to draw attention, I might as well draw it properly.
Turning back to the three actors, I said, "Today’s cafeteria menu has tofu udon, and it’s really something special. So let’s all eat together in the company cafeteria today."
Just as Baek Representative had asked, I was going to pull the attention of the entire company.
Using the actors under Manager Kwon’s banner.