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Chapter 06
“I’d like to talk for a moment—where should we go?”
“This way. The meeting room is empty.”
When Bom pointed toward the meeting room, Ilju laughed softly and hurried ahead.
As he crossed the office, everyone’s heads turned in unison.
Some people were filming videos, barely looking at their screens as they tried to take him in with their own eyes.
“Everywhere Geon walks is a runway—it’s like a scene from a drama.”
“I got my money’s worth just by joining this company.”
“My blood sugar’s spiking. Ah, I’m dizzy….”
“I’ll call an ambulance.”
“Nooo, I need to keep looking at that face.”
Geon glanced around, then shot a look at Bom walking behind him.
As if to say, See that reaction?
He was ridiculously proud.
“I made eye contact with Geon!”
“Eek! He looked this way!”
Yes, yes. We know—you’re famous and popular.
“Why did you come?” Bom whispered so only Geon ahead of her could hear.
“I was moved by what you said yesterday—about taking responsibility.”
That doesn’t look like the face of someone who was moved.
Did he have a meeting with the CEO of Able after kicking her out?
When the meeting room door opened, a soft, fragrant scent poured out.
It was the freshly sprayed top note of Ilju’s favorite perfume.
The table where Ilju had been snacking while listening to his grand tale of “invading Able Entertainment” was spotless.
So that’s why he rushed ahead.
“Actor Geon, what would you like to drink? We can prepare anything you want.”
Boram from PR came in and asked.
Employees who weren’t blatantly pressed against the glass still peeked over desks to watch.
Usually, one staff member is assigned to assist a guest—but today, many looked bitter.
Lost at rock-paper-scissors, huh.
“I already had something. Thank you.”
“Actor Geon thanked meeee… haaah.”
“Please step outside while we talk.”
Bom gently pushed Boram—who was wobbling on weak legs—out of the room.
She pulled down the blinds as well. Even then, gorilla-like shouts could still be heard.
The three of them sat down.
Bom and Ilju exchanged looks, silently signaling each other.
Why did he come?
No idea. He said yesterday we didn’t really get to talk.
Still, good job. Nice one, Lee Bom. Thanks to you, I got to meet Geon.
That kind of wordless conversation.
Geon was the enemy, yet Ilju was nothing but pleased.
“The method I wanted to suggest yesterday—”
“Able Entertainment has already decided how this will go.”
Just like yesterday, when Able’s CEO—Mr. Gominam—had done the same, refusing to hear Bom’s plan. Like father, like son.
Ilju’s expression hardened.
“Without Bom’s consent? So what—you’re saying Bom just has to follow whatever Actor Geon says?”
“No. Once you hear it, you’ll never refuse.”
Is there really such a method?
Confidence showed on Geon’s face.
Then his eyes met Bom’s.
“It’s a way where Lee Bom doesn’t have to sacrifice herself—and doesn’t have to become the bad guy.”
She’d already been cursed out plenty before; she’d told herself that one more time wouldn’t matter, that it wouldn’t even register.
I’m fine.
My mental strength is solid.
This is nothing.
And yet… maybe when a handsome man says it, the words somehow feel more convincing.
As she pressed a hand to her chest, emotion surged up and Bom’s nose stung.
A way not to be hated.
If that were really possible, it would be wonderful.
Geon looked at her and said,
“It’s good for me, too.”
There was a certain sensuality in his eyes.
Not sure if it’s appropriate to say this about a man, but—he was seductive.
“And good for you.”
As he slowly enunciated the words, his lips parted and closed, moving obscenely sexy.
Her heart went wild.
He was bewitching her.
As if she’d agree to anything he said.
Feeling dazed, Bom stared at his lips as they moved.
“Lee Bom. Call?”
“C-Call!”
“What do you mean, ‘call,’ Lee Bom! You haven’t even heard the details!”
Ilju’s siren-like shout snapped Bom out of it, and she jolted in surprise.
Without realizing it, she wiped at the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
Thankfully, nothing had dripped.
Leaning back in his chair, Geon looked supremely confident.
His smile was quite—no, extremely—impressive.
“Then let’s talk about the future—mine and Lee Bom’s.”
* * *
A seven-story building in Seongsu-dong. After word spread, reporters began gathering one by one near the building that housed Management 123.
The building sat down a side alley off the main road and had only one entrance.
Reporters leaning against nearby buildings or alley walls exchanged brief nods when they recognized familiar faces.
A young reporter asked the person next to him,
“Geon went in, right?”
“Tsk. At least say hello if you recognize someone.”
“Come on, we saw each other yesterday. He hasn’t come out yet, has he?”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
The young reporter scanned the alley.
Waiting was boring, so people gathered in twos and threes, probing each other for information.
What excites the public the most?
The fall of a top star who had been soaring high.
Geon had risen steadily without controversy—no scandals, no women—likely thanks to group-level management.
He was so clean it was almost boring.
And then—bam. A scandal with a former girlfriend.
Rumors spread that Daehyun Group had applied pressure, that editors had been sweetly “handled.”
The young reporter remembered another rumor.
“Is she really just from an ordinary family? Someone I know tailed her and got warned off by a private bodyguard. Said it was scary as hell.”
“Oh, that. I looked into it too—nothing special about her family. Probably Geon arranged it. If she were really from a powerful family, would they let her work as a manager?”
“Yeah, I guess not.”
“Back in the Pink Pop days, the agency spread assault and school violence rumors to make sure she’d never set foot in the industry again. The fact she couldn’t fight back says it all.”
“Really?”
You might think an agency wouldn’t destroy an idol they spent money raising—but for people with money, pride matters more.
The young reporter lost interest and looked back at the building.
He’d heard the woman involved in the scandal had visited Able Entertainment.
Word spread fast that her side might make a move.
They were staking out the place when Geon’s van arrived and he went inside.
Other reporters caught the scent and joined in.
The tense wait felt like something was about to break.
“There he is—Geon!”
Geon came out of the building, not even hiding his face.
And he wasn’t alone.
A woman in an oversized hoodie like a man’s clothes, hood pulled low. Geon had his arm around her shoulders, holding her close.
It’s her!
Until now, Able Entertainment had denied the scandal.
But Geon had gone in alone—and came out holding a woman.
A scoop.
“Mr. Geon! Are you dating her?”
“Is this a confirmed relationship?”
“Careful! Don’t crowd him!”
His manager shielded Geon from the reporters.
“What happened that night at the bar? You came out in the morning!”
“Is it true you used Daehyun Group to shut down Pink Pop?”
“Are you admitting to the relationship?”
“How long have you been together? Since your trainee days? Please answer, Ms. Lee Bom!”
The questions weren’t meant to get answers—they were bait to draw Geon’s gaze and snag another photo.
Geon pulled the hooded woman closer, protecting her from being exposed.
This wasn’t just shielding a regular staff member.
There was something subtle, heart-fluttering in the way he held her.
Geon stopped and looked at the reporters with a smile.
“Anyone want to ask if we have a kid?”
“Do you two have a child?” a young reporter shot back, knowing it was a joke.
Geon laughed and gave the prepared answer.
“Unfortunately, no.”
The reporters laughed too, filming every second.
“You’ve all worked so hard—you should at least get one good story.”
He’d enlisted right after quitting as a trainee, then studied abroad before debuting as an actor.
Despite not having a long acting career, he was seasoned with reporters—calm and confident.
Reporters could make someone rude or a genius just by capturing a blank stare, manipulating the public with a single line or photo.
In front of people like that, Geon showed no fear and no excessive caution.
He was controlling the situation.
“I apologize to my fans for causing such a disturbance over my personal matters.”
Sensing a scoop, the reporters fell silent so nothing else would be recorded.
Geon looked down at the person in his arms.
Even the reporters held their breath.
His lowered gaze, the shadow cast by long lashes, the emotion in his eyes—it felt like a close-up filling the entire screen, his smiling eyes dominating the frame.
“The person I’m dating is having a hard time, so I can’t hide it anymore.”
“Mr. Geon—does that mean—!”
“Yes. I am dating this person.”
