to explain to you that I’m not going to take your place in a music agency,» I breathed out and we didn’t say anything for a while to each other, «Dad, I know that you have plans for me, but… I don’t want this at all,» I breathed conciliatoryly, «I told you that I was collecting documents for admission to an American university. And yes, I know that neither you nor my mother will give me one won to pay for a foreign university, especially one in which I will study directing, so I intend to get a scholarship.»
«The problem is not that the university you have chosen will be located outside our country, although this will cause us certain concerns for you. It is all about which direction you have chosen,» my father explained his dissatisfaction with the direction I had chosen in life.
«What’s Wrong with Film Directing?» I asked irritably, «I want to shoot action movies. I want to show real action!»
«That’s commendable, but…» He took a slow, deep breath and shook his head indignantly.
«Please, dad, just tell me what you want to say,» I pleaded, leaning slightly towards the side where my father was sitting.
«Well, you’re right. I won’t wait any longer. I’m offering you a deal. You are a stubborn girl with us. And you always get your way. And I believe that everything can work out for you without our help. But still I will offer you something,» Father looked into my eyes and, with genuine love in his eyes, smiled. Can a person love another person like that with paternal love that has no boundaries, while knowing that this child is not your own? «It will take you at least a year to put together your scholarship documents and build your portfolio, assuming you do everything on your own. And for this year, I want to make a deal with you.»
«What deal?» I asked warily.
«Our agency’s lead artist is Min Sung Joon. You know that we’ve been working with him for nine years,» he felt the need to clarify, to which I nodded my head indifferently, «he doesn’t intend to renew his contract next year. And this is a big blow for our agency. Moreover, Sung Joon refuses to remain with our agency as a producer, mentor, or any other position.»
«Does your most profitable artist want to retire at the height of his fame?» squinting suspiciously, I asked, «maybe he decided to change the agency?» I made a very logical guess.
«I doubt it, although I thought about it,» the father sighed heavily for the umpteenth time.
«Maybe he’s just tired,» I said thoughtfully, reflecting on the unenviable life of an idol. Love of admirers and hatred of envious people; big money and lack of freedom of action; beauty created by cosmetics, plastics and fashionable clothes; and loneliness… all this is destined for those who embarked on this thorny path.
«Min Hee, I want you to be his assistant this year and try to convince him to stay with us. Ideally as an artist, but I agree if he stays at least as a producer,» his father announced after a short pause.
«What makes you think that I’m capable of this? That is, why do you think that I can convince him? As far as I know from your staff, none of his assistants lasted two weeks. It’s terrible to imagine how many people have changed among his work environment,» I chuckled, vaguely imagining how I would work with someone like Sung Joon.
«You are not an ordinary person. I am sure that you will succeed if you set a goal for yourself,» the father continued to insist on his own.
«Why do I need such a goal?» I chuckled, narrowing my eyes suspiciously at my father, as I suspected that he had already thought everything through.
«If you fulfill my request, I will pay for your education at any university you wish. I will provide housing, and everything that will be necessary to gain knowledge and skills. In other words, I will provide you with a peaceful existence anywhere in the world for the entire period training,» the father enumerated in a seductive tone the benefits of working with him.
«Hmm…» I chuckled thoughtfully, appreciating the offer, which was hard to refuse, «perhaps I will agree, but on one condition,» I slightly leaned forward and gave my father a sly look, «for the duration of our agreement, I will live separately, and in doing so, you will cease to follow my every action.»
«I’ll take down surveillance on the condition that you answer my calls,» he replied after some thought, «for some reason, in a country that has provided millions of people with telephones, I can’t get through to my own daughter.
«Great! Agreed?» I held out my hand to him. And at the moment when he was already ready to seal our agreement with a handshake, the father returned his hand to his knee and slyly grinned.
«About separate accommodation. Here’s what I propose. If you last a month as an assistant, I’ll give you separate accommodation. Is this offer suitable?» he asked while his eyes glowed with smugness.
«It suits me!» After a short pause, I slapped him on the newly outstretched palm, feeling my parents’ trap slam shut.
CHAPTER 2
«Al, are you sure you can handle this weirdo?» my best friend’s tense voice came over the phone, «I’ve read a few articles about him on fan sites and I’m scared for you. He likes to sleep. He hates to be disturbed over nothing and easily breaks off any relationship. In general, despite the fact that his fans try their best to idealize him, he does not come across as a good, kind guy. Although his former assistants did not say a single bad word about him.»
«Alex. You don’t need to worry. I’m not a sweet Valentine’s gift for him either. I have motivation. Father always knows what needs to be done to make me obey. He thinks he outsmarted me, but I won’t be indebted either in front of him,» I voiced my thoughts to him regarding what was happening in my life right now.
«Well, good luck!» he said through a laugh. Obviously, he was amused by the situation I was in, «But I hope this does not affect your appearance at my exhibition?»
«I will definitely be. Tell me when you decide on the time and place.»
«I’ll send you an invitation. Don’t get lost and know that you can count on me. If you need help, contact me,» Alex said goodbye and hung up.
I looked longingly at my phone and realized that I miss my friend, whom I have known for over twenty years. His parents live in America, that’s where we met when my mother stayed with them after she moved from Russia. Since then, we have kept in touch with him every day. And once a year he came to visit me. In the past ten years, I have never crossed the border of Korea because of my workload, first at school and then at the university.
I felt proud walking through the building of my father’s music agency. It took him fifteen years to climb this Olympus. And now it was important for him to stay on it.
I used my pass and went up to the thirtieth floor of the building, which was wholly owned by MW Corporation, and greeted Eun Ji, one of my father’s secretaries. A young woman with short dark hair in a navy blue pantsuit.
«Min Hee,» she turned to me and rose to her feet with a smile, «you haven’t been here for a long time. I hope you didn’t do something that would make him worry?» she asked, looking at me point-blank.
«Min Hee,» she turned to me and rose
