Top Management
Top Management - Chapter 133

TM Chapter 133

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

鈥淧roducer Park, please get me two copies of the contract.鈥?/p>

Director Park said as he threw the paper shreds in his hands away.

Producer Park Sookyung, who had been observing the situation, widened his eyes.

鈥淭he contract?鈥?/p>

鈥淵eah, Mr. Nam Joyoon is going to sign a new contract.鈥?/p>

I snorted. Hearing his nonsense was funny.

Stretching his bowed back, Director Park laughed like I did. Then he tapped my arm.

鈥淵ou did well in ripping this up. I was thinking about increasing his pay and signing a new contract anyways. Producer Park, what are you doing? I told you to print the contract.鈥?/p>

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to.鈥?/p>

I said with a smile.

CEO Kim Pansuk, who stood up to jump into the conversation, lost his chance and closed his mouth. Then, faltering, Producer Park Sookyung鈥檚 gaze alternated between me and Director Park.

鈥淲hy would you print a contract without reason? You鈥檙e just wasting ink.鈥?/p>

鈥淐hief Jung Sunwoo. Are you acting like this to gain something? If a director bowed this much, you should at least give him some face. Do you not think of the future? Are you going to keep this unpleasant mood when we鈥檙e filming?鈥?/p>

鈥淚 think you are misunderstanding something.鈥?/p>

鈥淢isunderstanding?鈥?/p>

鈥淚 believe I properly conveyed my thoughts. We have no plans on continuing with this movie. We aren鈥檛 trying to gain anything from you either.鈥?/p>

Director Park鈥檚 aura became fierce. He acted like he would give us his kidney just moments ago, but now he looked like he wanted to rip my kidney out and chew on it raw. He approached me with this threatening aura. Nam Joyoon silently took a step forward.

鈥淒i-director, Ace keeps calling us.鈥?/p>

The assistant director cut in.

鈥淭his is the fifth time. They are texting me to answer the phone, what should I do?鈥?/p>

鈥淚 told you not to answer!鈥?/p>

Director Park shouted before glaring at me.

鈥淐hief Jung, you鈥檙e unexpectedly the type to hold long grudges.鈥?/p>

鈥淚t seems that way.鈥?/p>

鈥淚f your grudges last this long, then your life will become tiresome. As a chief, you should be concentrating on managing your contacts, yet what do you hope to gain from acting like this to a director like me? I told you rumors spread quickly in this industry. You should look to the future. Are you not planning on working in this industry for a long time?鈥?/p>

Why were there so many people worrying about my future these days?

鈥淚 can鈥檛 take it anymore, you bastard! Are you threatening someone in front of me?!鈥?/p>

CEO Kim Pansuk cut in, huffing and puffing. His already large body coupled with the scowl on his face gave off a murderous feeling. However, Director Park didn鈥檛 even look at CEO Kim Pansuk as he mocked,

鈥淚鈥檓 not threatening him, just warning, no, giving him advice. As he works in this industry, he鈥檒l be faced with worse situations than this, but what is he going to do if he breaks off relationships every time he鈥檚 faced with situations like this?!鈥?/p>

I turned my gaze from the two arguing men and looked to my side.

Nam Joyoon鈥檚 face became murkier since Director Park mentioned spreading rumors about me. Table throwing once was enough. Even if there weren鈥檛 any cameras, there were too many watching eyes here.

鈥淟ike you said, it鈥檒l be best if not to make enemies if I鈥檓 not confident in handling it.鈥?/p>

When he heard me, Director Park turned to me with a bright face.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 it! There鈥檚 no need to hate ea-!鈥?/p>

鈥淏ut I plan on handling it this time no matter what.鈥?/p>

鈥溾€?What did you say?鈥?/p>

鈥淒o you think I would act like this without even that much determination?鈥?/p>

I wondered for a long time.

Should I endure it or not? Should I go all the way or not?

Was this situation one I could handle or not?

Only after wondering and pondering on it did I finally act.

And鈥?Well, I didn鈥檛 think I would regret this decision.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e being reckless! You craz-!鈥?/p>

It seemed he now understood that he was wasting his time trying to change my mind, Director Park鈥檚 face turned red. His oppressing aura crumbled, and anxiety took its place.

Just then, the nervous assistant director cut in,

鈥淒irector! I think you really have to pick up the phone this time. It seems like something happened.鈥?/p>

鈥淗ey, do you not understand me? I told you not to pic-!鈥?/p>

A phone abruptly began to ring.

This time, it was mine. Just as I was taking out my phone, another phone began to ring.

鈥淭his is the CEO鈥檚 phone鈥?Huh?鈥?/p>

鈥淲hat鈥檚 this?鈥?/p>

The Pan Production employees mumbled with dazed faces. The phones of other employees began to vibrate and ring. The regular phone on the desk even began to ring. It was almost like a choir.

鈥淚 know from experience, but this is one of two things.鈥?/p>

I said to Director Park, whose eyes were shifting rapidly.

鈥淚t鈥檚 either incredibly good news or incredibly bad news.鈥?/p>

I looked at my phone screen. It stopped ringing. Instead, a message icon lit up on the screen.

I checked the message and smiled.

鈥淚t seems to be good news for me.鈥?/p>

Director Park hastily took out his phone.

Soon, his face distorted with confusion.

***

{鈥楳idas鈥檚 Hand鈥檚 new movie was noise marketing to promote a movie?}

{SBE Films鈥?confusion, Jung Sunwoo and Lee Songha鈥檚 next project is Director Choi Sungwon鈥檚 new movie}

{Just what is going on? Two movies claiming to be 鈥楯ung Sunwoo鈥檚 next project鈥? which one is right?}

{Ten-million Director Choi Sungwon鈥檚 new project! Incredible cast! 30 billion won blockbuster鈥

鈥淕ood, that鈥檚 it.鈥?/p>

The project producer was satisfied with the articles popping up one after another.

鈥淢s. Minjeong, keep sending out press releases! Gogo!鈥?/p>

鈥淚鈥檓 sending it to all the entertainment reporters I know! They usually take a few days to read press releases like this, but they are checking it instantly. It鈥檚 heating up!鈥?/p>

The PR coordinator replied as she rapidly typed on her keyboard.

鈥淲hat about real-time search rankings? It probably made it up there, right?鈥?/p>

鈥淲ith this momentum, it should be up there soon? The situation is hilarious, and it鈥檚 not even a comedy! Haa, how is the marketing team at Ace going to handle this? They probably feel like they鈥檝e been struck by lightning.鈥?/p>

She giggled before suddenly asking,

鈥淚f we really want to drive a wedge into this, we need Chief Jung Sunwoo to do an interview. Not one where you just add a comment to a press release but an interview with reporters! He鈥檒l do it, right?鈥?/p>

鈥淛ust wait a bit! Chief Jung told me he鈥檒l contact me as soon as he handles some urgent matters!鈥?/p>

The project producer said while tossing his phone up in the air.

The PR coordinator subtly asked,

鈥淏ut鈥?Apparently, Chief Jung ended things with the other movie on bad terms.鈥?/p>

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know the details. It seems that way.鈥?/p>

鈥淭his situation is one where someone first spread the rumor, articles published, then Ace rushed over in excitement at their luck. Thinking about it now, it鈥檚 like their people dug their own graves? So I鈥檓 just hypothesizing but鈥︹€?/p>

鈥淲hat is it that your intro is so long?鈥?/p>

鈥淭hose graves, what if Chief Jung set them up? Were there any rumors about it?鈥?/p>

The project producer shook his head.

鈥淣o? I mean you must have looked into the source of the rumor yourself.鈥?/p>

鈥淚 did.鈥?/p>

鈥淎nd?鈥?/p>

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know. If things got this big, usually you鈥檇 expect rumors about the source amongst reporters, but it鈥檚 completely quiet. I asked the reporter Chief Jung Sunwoo is apparently close to, but it鈥檚 not her either.鈥?/p>

The PR coordinator licked her lips like she was going to die from curiosity.

The project producer scratched below his ear.

鈥淲ell鈥?I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 the case, but if Chief Jung Sunwoo had a hand in this, let me know.鈥?/p>

鈥淲hy?鈥?/p>

鈥淚f you look at it, there are a lot of people who have the ability to do something like that, but people who actually go through with it are rare. Also, if someone like that becomes successful, nine times out of ten鈥︹€?/p>

鈥淲hat the heck? Why is it so loud out here? Did a war break out?鈥?/p>

The mumbling project producer turned around. Director Choi Sungwon was walking out of the waiting room.

鈥淥h, director. Are you done thinking?鈥?/p>

鈥淢ostly.鈥?/p>

鈥淭hen let鈥檚 talk.鈥?/p>

鈥淎bout what?鈥?/p>

The project producer came up close and poked the director鈥檚 side.

鈥淲hile I was outside, what did Chief Jung Sunwoo, that unknown actor, and you do? What did you do that you were thinking so hard?鈥?/p>

Director Choi Sungwon didn鈥檛 reply and simply rubbed his beard.

***

鈥淵eah, Reporter Kim. Don鈥檛 publish the article now. I鈥檒l call you back later.鈥?/p>

鈥淭he situation is a bit complicated. I鈥檒l call you back once it鈥檚 settled.鈥?/p>

The Pan Production employees were having a hard time as they clung to their phones. CEO Kim Pansuk and the assistant director were also in similar situations. The only ones who weren鈥檛 on the phone were Nam Joyoon, Director Park, and me.

Director Park tapped his phone furiously with his stubby fingers.

His face turned red, then blue, and was now black.

I could tell what he was seeing.

鈥淎re you..!鈥?/p>

Mumbling, Director Park suddenly turned his gaze.

His hand then clamped on Nam Joyoon鈥檚 shoulder. Nam Joyoon frowned.

鈥淢r. Nam Joyoon! Are you going to throw it all away?鈥?/p>

Did he change his target because he couldn鈥檛 get through to me?

鈥淎re you just going to sit still? You need to persuade Mr. Jung Sunwoo! Having spent 10 years as an unknown actor on the bottom rung, you should know better than anyone else how big of an opportunity this is! Are you just going to kick away this golden opportunity? Isn鈥檛 it a shame?鈥?/p>

鈥淚t is a shame.鈥?/p>

Nam Joyoon replied.

鈥淭hat the scenario met a bad maker.鈥?/p>

At his calm words, Director Park鈥檚 expression crumbled into nothingness.

Nam Joyoon approached me.

鈥淪ince the contract is settled, let鈥檚 go. No need to listen to these harsh words any longer.鈥?/p>

As he said this, he secretly pushed my back as if urging me to leave.

However, we were stopped before we could take two steps.

鈥淣o, where the hell do you think you鈥檙e going?! Though I don鈥檛 know what kind of things Chief Jung Sunwoo told you, you are an unknown rookie in the world of commercial films!鈥?/p>

Director Park shouted frustratedly.

The whites in his eyes reddened in agitation as his eyes rolled nonstop.

鈥淐hief Jung, you shouldn鈥檛 act like this if you really care about Mr. Joyoon! What are you banking on? For W&U to help you? Give up on trying to use Lee Songha as leverage! Mark my words, W&U will never help Mr. Joyoon regarding this matter!鈥?/p>

鈥溾€?I have no plans on asking W&U for help.鈥?/p>

鈥淭hen you know that I, my movie, is the best you can get for Mr. Joyoon! Is he going to go back to independent films and help move luggage around? Or is there someone who can offer the same conditions as me? Is there?鈥?/p>

鈥淵es.鈥?/p>

鈥淚s the- What?鈥?/p>

His ear-piercing shouts halted as his lips simply flapped.

The Pan Production employees who were busy on the phone and even the nervous assistant director stared at me with faces asking me what I meant. I looked down at my vibrating phone again. It was SBE鈥檚 film project producer.

鈥淚f it鈥檚 Director Choi Sungwon鈥檚 new 34-billion-won budget project, the conditions are incredible.鈥?/p>

With a strange expression on his face, Director Park stuttered,

鈥淭h-that鈥檚 Lee Songha鈥檚 film-!鈥?/p>

鈥淒irector Choi Sungwon gave us this opportunity. To obtain an opportunity to appear on Director Choi鈥檚 project is a dream for most actors. I think words like 鈥榞olden opportunity鈥?are more suited for things like this.鈥?/p>

Director Park鈥檚 face became even stranger.

Just then, the assistant director paled as he grabbed Director Park鈥檚 arm.

鈥淒irector! Ace said that if you don鈥檛 answer the phone, they might actually take their hands off our proj-!鈥?/p>

***

For a moment, Director Park鈥檚 eyes moved furiously as he thought through the situation.

The situation was accelerating to the worst possible. However, it wasn鈥檛 like there was impossible to turn it around since Jung Sunwoo himself hadn鈥檛 yet done an interview.

If he could get Nam Joyoon to sign his contract again, the events of today would simply be something in the passing.

The media, which was in an uproar, and even Ace would quiet down.

As long as he persuaded them somehow.

Somehow.

If persuasion, reason, and threats didn鈥檛 work, there was only one option left. Though he wanted to avoid it, it was his only option. Director Park bit the inside of his lip. His face crumbled.

鈥淪hould the assistant director and I kneel and beg? Huh? Would that be enough?鈥?/p>

鈥淒irector?鈥?/p>

The assistant director鈥檚 eyes widened.

Director Park licked his dry lips and said in a slightly heartbreaking voice.

鈥淚f you two leave, I don鈥檛 know what will happen to the film. There are so many people tied to this project. If there鈥檚 an investment problem because of you two, then what are we to do about all of them? What about the extras who live paycheck to paycheck? Mr. Joyoon, you should be aware of the situation on set, right?鈥?/p>

Director Park looked like he was about to kneel as he clung to us.

鈥淚f you want, the assistant director and I will really kneel so please think of the others and continue working on the film. No, could you please continue working with us?鈥?/p>

He begged as he looked in front of him.

Although he wasn鈥檛 fazed by threats or shouts, Nam Joyoon鈥檚 eyes now trembled. Director Park inwardly became relieved. Like he expected, Nam Joyoon鈥檚 heart was wavering.

Maybe it was different in movies, but someone kneeling in real life was rare. Since he added the film staff into the mix, it would be stranger if his heart didn鈥檛 waver.

While it hurt his pride, it was worth it.

Thinking about this, Director Park looked to his side and was shaken.

Jung Sunwoo was staring directly at him.

鈥淎h, director, now that I think about it, I have something I want to ask you.鈥?/p>

鈥淎s鈥?Ask me anything!鈥?/p>

鈥淎bout what you said just now. How W&U will never help Mr. Joyoon.鈥?/p>

He asked in a strangely soft voice.

鈥淲hat do you know for you to guarantee that?鈥?/p>