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Chapter 2
“Uh?”
At Sarah’s question, Mirae flinched in surprise and asked back.
As she fastened her seatbelt, Sarah spoke casually.
“What did CEO Park say?”
“How did you know it was the CEO?”
“Who else answers your calls like that? So, what’s the deal?”
“Huh? W-what do you mean?”
Mirae hurriedly shoved her phone into her bag as she spoke.
Sarah’s voice took on a tinge of irritation at Mirae’s repeated evasions.
“I’m talking about what I said this morning. Kim Seyun.”
“Oh, right. Kim Seyun. I totally forgot to ask about that. Sorry.”
Mirae gave an awkward laugh to smooth things over.
She neatly placed the salad and sparkling water she had bought on a tray and handed it to Sarah, resting it on her lap. Then she quickly shifted the topic.
“How was your interview today?”
“What do you think? Same as always.”
Sarah tore open the plastic-wrapped fork with a blunt tone.
“Then you must’ve done great. You’re always good at everything.”
Halfway through pouring the dressing, Sarah looked up at Mirae’s face.
“What is it? Spill it.”
“Hm? What?”
“Whenever you butter me up like that, it means you want to say something. Come on, what is it? Need to borrow money? Your landlord’s raising the deposit again?”
“Hey! I’m your manager. Can’t I even compliment my actress once in a while?”
Mirae flared her nostrils in protest. Sarah just shrugged an “whatever, forget it” and wordlessly popped a forkful of salad into her mouth.
The drama’s pre-meeting was in the middle of Gangnam.
Crossing the bridge, the Han River came into view outside the window.
Sarah stared absentmindedly at the sparkling water under the sunlight.
‘When was the last time I went to the Han River?’
Since debuting at seventeen, she could count on one hand the times she’d had personal time. While others went to school in their uniforms, she was memorizing scripts on set—she hardly remembered ever having fun.
“Sarah.”
“Yeah.”
She answered absentmindedly, her eyes still fixed on the riverside. It was midwinter, so there weren’t many people around.
‘Maybe once this project ends, I’ll go with Eunyeong unni.’
“Do you know RW Group?”
“Yeah.”
Sarah answered lazily, still gazing out the window.
“How?”
“Why wouldn’t I? They built the apartment I live in.”
RW Group was a huge conglomerate famous for construction, trading, fashion, resorts, and energy. Even someone as indifferent to the world as Sarah knew them.
“What about Altek Energy?”
“Never heard of it.”
“Yoon Seung-tae?”
“Don’t know. Why are you quizzing me on current events? Is this in the drama?”
After carefully watching Sarah’s face several times, Mirae realized she really had no clue. Then, cautiously, she asked,
“Who did you meet at the party last night?”
“How could I possibly remember all of them?”
The party last night was a massive New Year’s event hosted by a film investment firm. Not only top celebrities but also many corporate figures had attended. She’d shaken hands and exchanged greetings with dozens.
“Actually, someone from there contacted us—they want to meet you.”
“Who?”
“Yoon Seung-tae. Altek Energy.”
She instantly guessed what a dinner invitation from him really meant. Her appetite vanished. She shoved the salad back toward Mirae.
“Not going.”
“Sarah, it’s just one dinner. He’s a fan.”
“No way. Why would I go? If I get unlucky and someone snaps a photo, it’ll blow up into a scandal I can’t deny. Am I crazy?”
“Of course we’ll be careful about that. Don’t worry.”
“I said no! You think this is my first time around these old men? They’ll call me granddaughter this, granddaughter that, then paw at my hands and waist.”
Just thinking about it made her skin crawl.
Sarah had been lucky: since her debut, she had risen so quickly to the top that she hadn’t been forced to endure much of that filth. But she’d often heard stories from others. She herself had once caused a scene when a company chairman got handsy at a dinner.
“He’s not old! Look, look.”
Mirae hastily pulled out her phone and showed a picture. It looked like a screenshot from an economics article.
The shot caught the side profile of a man with sharp features and broad shoulders.
“This guy. Yoon Seung-tae. Thirty-three. Grandson of the RW chairman. Currently executive director at Altek Energy. Handsome, right?”
“Hm.”
Sarah’s sharp, cutting tone softened a little.
At least he wasn’t some wrinkled old man near death. And his face… annoyingly, it was right up her alley. Her irritation melted far faster than she liked.
“Got more pictures?”
As if expecting that, Mirae showed her several more articles. They were a few years old, so he looked a bit younger, but the good looks were undeniable. Handsome enough to be a celebrity himself.
“So? He’s totally your type. Just think of it as having dinner with a hot fan. He’s even planned the whole meal with your favorite courses.”
“Well…”
Noticing Sarah’s softened expression, Mirae pressed harder.
It’s no big deal, just dinner, no pressure, plus he’s your type anyway—she chattered away until the car pulled to a stop.
“We’re here.”
“Sarah. You’ll go, right? Please? Tomorrow night.”
At her manager’s desperate pleading, a clever idea suddenly popped into her head. Sarah stepped out of the van with a sly smile.
“Rockstar.”
“What?”
“Bring me Rockstar. Then I’ll go.”
“Hey, but that contract’s already—Seoh Sarah! Sarah!”
The next day, she got a call from her agency’s CEO, asking her to come in. With no other schedule, she headed over in the late afternoon.
They say enemies meet on a narrow bridge. Walking down the hallway, she bumped into Kim Seyun.
They weren’t on friendly terms, so Sarah tried to just walk past, but Seyun blocked her path, fuming.
“Don’t you think you’re being too much?”
She lifted her chin and started aggressively. Sarah, expressionless, said,
“Hello, sunbaenim.”
“…What?”
“You forgot your morning greeting, so I did it for you. Hello, sunbaenim.”
“…Hello, sunbaenim.”
“Good. Now, what exactly am I being ‘too much’ about?”
“Rockstar! I was looking forward so much to working on Writer Sung’s drama. You can’t just snatch away something I already signed for. That’s against professional ethics.”
Sarah’s face remained unchanged, but inside she cheered.
So CEO Park really had brought Rockstar for her—that’s why she’d been called in today.
“Seyun, you didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Writer Sung only casts lead roles from actors who’ve won awards. You’ve been nominated a few times, sure, but that’s not the same as winning.”
Sarah smiled sweetly. Seyun’s face flushed red.
“That was mine! I went to all the meetings and even signed the contract—how can this make any sense?”
“I’m sorry, Seyun. But I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other great opportunities for you besides Rockstar.”
Sarah grinned, deliberately riling her up. Seyun’s face shifted between red and pale.
Just then, the CEO’s office door opened, and a tall man stepped out.
“What’s all this noise?”
“CEO, how can you do this? Is Sarah the only actress in this agency?”
“Kim Seyun. I told you I was sorry. You think getting Director Yoo’s script was easy?”
Sarah thought there would be more of a fight, but Seyun just glared at both of them before storming off.
“Well? Come in.”
Leaning against the office doorframe, the man crooked a finger at her. Sarah followed him inside.
The spacious office, walled with glass, was filled with trophies. On the big desk gleamed a nameplate:
Park Hyun, CEO of Resa Entertainment.
“You’re going to be the death of me. I’m getting old here.”
CEO Park dropped onto the sofa, looking like he desperately needed a cigarette. Sarah sat diagonally across from him, crossed her legs, and went straight to the point.
“Who’s backing Kim Seyun?”
