Negotiation
"Tch, go look in a mirror first. What kinda manager are you with that face?"
If it had been Song Jinho, maybe, but Hong definitely had that subtle chaebol aura. Innately boss-like, you could say.
"Perfect. Means directors and PDs won't mess with me, right?"
"That's exactly the problem. With 'alpha' written all over your forehead, why would a manager need to pull rank?"
"A rank-pulling manager... sounds good to me? But even if I do pull rank, there's no beta to bully anyway. This time, I really wanna try being a proper manager. Back when I was Song Jinho, I just got a taste before that bastard Hyungpil dragged me off and ruined my life with his dirty work. This second chance? I wanna do it right."
"Your face says you're serious. But a rookie manager at a startup agency? They won't even glance your way. If you can handle that, go for it."
"It can't be worse than starving to death, right?"
With looks that could feed him and a family background like this, it was more than enough. The talent that'd make it in the industry would come sniffing around on their own, and once he broke them with sex, they'd all be his. Plus, money rolling in—what was not to succeed with? This time, he was truly confident.
He headed to the parking lot to clock out and found Hwang Sanggu waiting. Song Jinho's memories triggered a flinch of trauma, but he kept a calm face and spoke.
"What is it?"
"The division head wants to see you. I'll drive."
Even talking to the CEO, he added the honorific. A refusal to acknowledge him as above division head level.
He handed over the keys and slid into the back seat. Staring at the back of the guy's head in the driver's seat brought back memories of getting jumped in that very parking lot. More than fear, rage boiled at the sheer pointlessness of it. Was there no way to pay it back in full?
"Weren't you a pro fighter, Director Hwang?"
"You know it. I was hot shit back in the day. Kahaha."
The guy launched into an unasked-for tale of his glory days. Chatty as hell, surprisingly. He half-listened, but by the end, one thing was clear: the bastard's fighting skills were legit.
"If the CEO here tried me, you wouldn't last thirty seconds. Kehhehe."
The subtle condescension was a bonus.
They arrived at Park Hyungpil's villa in Yangpyeong, a place Song Jinho had visited a few times. It was where he'd often call in reps from other agencies or producers for sex parties.
The burly guard at the entrance bowed ninety degrees to Hwang Sanggu.
"Where's the division head?"
"Busy with work."
Someone else was probably getting pounded while taking a beating. First time he'd heard, he'd actually thought it was company business.
"I'll hold your phone while you meet the division head."
He took the phone, then ran an electromagnetic detector over his body. Body search followed, hunting for bugs or recorders. What these assholes really wanted was in his inventory—they'd never guess.
Waiting in the living room, Park Hyungpil came down from the second floor in a disheveled shirt. The guard heading up meant his partner had passed out mid-fuck. Filthy bastard all around.
"Drink?"
"Pass. We're both uncomfortable—let's make this quick."
"Stubborn prick. Why'd you wanna see me?"
"Don't touch me anymore. You know I'm more trouble than I'm worth."
His eyebrow twitched faintly. He knew what "trouble" meant.
"I don't give a shit how much slush fund you've stacked. I bit on Chief Variation's pitch at first, but thinking it over, tangling with you gains me nothing. I value my neck too."
"...How do I believe that?"
"I'll hand over all my evidence. And I'm quitting the company. I just wanted to make movies, but looks like you thought otherwise. Tell him I'm not scheming—you know how to sell it."
He didn't buy it, but the bastard had no better options right now. Unlike him, Hong wasn't someone you could bury easily.
"Don't believe me? Watch starting tomorrow. You'll know if I'm full of shit."
"......"
No denial—he'd watch. Objective for coming here achieved.
"By the way, you were tight with Manager Song?"
Grace must've reported faithfully. Now for the important part.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Wondered if you knew anything. He skimmed company cash and bolted, but he was a solid guy under me for years. If we find him before the cops, maybe lighten his sentence in exchange for a chat."
You fucking dog—put some spit on those lies at least.
"Your face looks weird. Say something I can't?"
"First time realizing you look out for your underlings like that. Why not when he was around?"
"Fuck off—how would you know if I treated him right? Whatever. Any contact from Manager Song?"
"Not yet, but maybe. He seemed to like me."
Like hell—he's hearing every word right now, you prick.
"If he reaches out, sweet-talk him. He'd listen to a friend."
"Dunno if he will, but I'll talk."
Done talking? Park Hyungpil downed his glass.
"Grace reported right, huh."
"Why through her? Just tell me direct."
"When have you ever listened? At least through her, we get this meeting."
"So Grace is something to you?"
"And if she is?"
His dismissive laugh soured his mood too.
"Ha, fuck. With all the girls by my side, you say that shit? Kept her around 'cause her tightness was fun. Why, you interested?"
"And if I am?"
"Kek, play nice and I might not hold out. That pussy's pretty snug. Good fuck."
Grace called you "that person," but to you, she's just a quality fuckhole. Dumb bastard.
"Brought her from the States thinking I'd build her up, but I'm bored now. You know me—I tire quick."
The recorder in his inventory was "faithfully" capturing it all. Wonder what face Grace would make hearing this.
"Nothing else? I'm out."
"That data you gave Song? Useless. Already tracked it all and tied it to the embezzlement. Don't try stupid shit."
Figured. Never planned to use it anyway.
"I'm CEO on paper—ain't risking the company on a dogfight. Like you said, I'll stay quiet, so don't come at me."
As he left, he unleashed Asmodeus's coiled-up pets on him. Feel a decade older today, asshole.
"As. About Director Hwang under Hyungpil."
"Wanna pay back the beating he gave me, but he's an ex-fighter—won't be easy straight-up. Got any good ideas?"
"You got a way?"
Asmodeus pulled out thin, see-through gloves—like surgical ones from a hospital.
"What's this?"
A hell of a name.
"Why the shitty name? Wear these and go rape someone?"
"Oh, that's some wild-ass function... Wait!"
"So I gotta put these on while I'm horny as fuck to fight?"
"Fuck, seriously? Fight Hwang while wearing these? What kinda lust am I supposed to feel for that prick? You nuts?"
"Storage?"
Whoa, now that's a slick feature. Fuck Soyoung or Grace all sloppy, then scrap with Hwang. Only the demon of lust would cook up gear this horny.
Slick? Retract that.
"What bullshit? Why fight if you're giving the target pleasure?"
Sex already taxes the heart like a 100m sprint. Multiplied dozens-fold? Heart attack city. "Death-by-ecstasy" gets called a man's happiest end, but it's really like a dozen needles stabbing your heart in agony.
For a beast like Hwang with superior stamina, his body might hold, but the pain? Unbearable.
"How strong we talking? Enough for a pro fighter?"
That much? More than enough—overkill.
"Cutesy how much?"
Cute aside, a guy barking orders at his goons with "yong" or "nyang" tacked on? Comedy gold. Perfect setup for maximum humiliation.