Executive Director Park sprang up the moment the alarm rang.
In truth, he had spent the night almost with his eyes open.
He had always lived by a fixed routine, and then suddenly found himself in a new environment, so he couldn’t fall asleep.
The one saving grace was….
The children whose transfer issue still hadn’t been sorted out were with his mother back in Korea.
If he still hadn’t established a daily routine and also had to look after the kids, it would probably have been a battlefield from the morning.
Soon, he hurriedly finished getting ready to go out and stood in front of the mirror.
Then he chose a tie that would match a deep navy suit and fastened it neatly.
Doing this somehow reminded him of his first day going to work.
Back then, he didn’t even have a proper suit, or even a single decent outfit, so he had put on the neatest clothes he had.
Even then, he still had to endure a senior’s sharp scolding about why he was dressed so sloppily.
Now, from a high-end luxury suit to his watch to even his tie pin, there was almost nothing that wasn’t designer, so you could say he had made it.
But Executive Director Park didn’t want to be satisfied with just this and settle.
Clench.
He curled his hand into a tight fist and stared at himself in the mirror. In Korea, you could live a stable life just by following a set routine, and because of that, it was true he had been a bit complacent at times.
He knew well that he couldn’t live with that kind of complacency anymore.
A new country and a new workplace.
And the new CEO he would serve had trusted him and recruited him with bold terms.
So he couldn’t keep working only as much as before.
Like a beast baring its teeth to survive, he would make VINCIS grow, more fiercely and more ruthlessly.
Creeeak….
Executive Director Park left the house, hardening that resolve.
Executive Director Park and Director Kim went to the CEO’s office the moment they arrived on their first day.
It was to greet him, and to hear about the first task they would be in charge of.
“Ah…”
Kim Woohyun sighed, rubbing at his chin.
Just a little while ago, he had heard from Hyunseung why he had taken on Daniel’s project.
Retirement, and a final work.
In front of those two words, it wasn’t easy to add an opinion.
“So that’s why we decided to make a documentary….”
From the seat at the head of the table, Hyunseung continued in a voice that had sunk low.
“And at the same time as the song release, we’re planning to hold a single concert.”
Executive Director Park thought that look was unfamiliar and yet suited him quite well.
“The performance will be prepared by Daniel’s agency, right…?”
Maybe because of that, Executive Director Park ended his sentence in polite speech without even realizing it.
“Executive Director Park?”
Hyunseung looked at him like he was strange for a moment.
“Why are you suddenly talking politely like that? Did you eat something wrong this morning?”
He scolded him while rubbing his forearm, like he had goosebumps.
“Now that you’ve become the CEO, using polite speech inside the company feels like it would look a little more proper….”
“I don’t like it because it feels awkward. Except for official settings, just do what you always did.”
Executive Director Park tried to add something, but Hyunseung cut him off and refused firmly.
“Fine, you punk.”
In the end, Executive Director Park leaned back with a small laugh, like he couldn’t stop him.
Somehow….
With him as the CEO, it felt like forming a strictly vertical relationship would be impossible.
Kim Woohyun was letting out a small laugh at the two of them when.
“Ah, and…”
As if something occurred to him, Hyunseung added, tossing a few pages of documents onto the table.
“Originally, it’s right for the artist’s agency to handle the concert, but we’ll prepare it ourselves.”
At that, Kim Woohyun and Executive Director Park both straightened up as if they’d bounced.
“Huh? Is there really a need to do that? It’s not like Daniel’s agency doesn’t have money.”
“Right, preparing a concert isn’t something that costs just a little.”
They tried to dissuade him, adding their words, but….
“If they prepare it, I don’t think I’ll be satisfied.”
Hyunseung shook his head decisively. It was a gesture that said he had already decided and wouldn’t bend.
“Seriously…”
If they didn’t know his stubbornness, they might have tried to stop him again.
“Since it’s with my money anyway, you don’t have any complaints, right?”
The two of them nodded loosely, like they had no such intention.
Because they knew down to the bone that once Hyunseung decided to do something, it was pointless to stop him.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, a knock sounded from beyond the CEO’s office door.
“Who is it?”
Executive Director Park and Kim Woohyun shifted their gaze to the door with curious faces, and Hyunseung, as if he had known someone would come, naturally said to come in.
“Aren’t we working today?”
Daniel asked as he shoved open the CEO’s office door with force and walked in.
“Greet them first.”
Hyunseung introduced Executive Director Park and Kim Woohyun to Daniel.
“You know this guy too, right? Our label’s pride, Villain daddy, Executive Director Park Taemuk, and over here is just Director Kim Woohyun.”
“Hey, why am I ‘just Director Kim Woohyun’?”
“Yeah, give Woohyun a nickname too, like ‘Happiness’ or something.”
“I’ll pass on that.”
Daniel looked them over and let out a small exclamation, “Oh,” and then.
“Do you two like alcohol?”
He walked right up and spoke with a strangely excited face.
“Since the party members have gathered like this, how about today, instead of working, we throw a big party?”
Hyunseung shook his head like he didn’t like that.
“How about you just go warm up your voice in the studio?”
“You told me to come to the CEO’s office. And I just got here.”
As if he regretted calling him at all, not even a full minute after Daniel arrived, he issued a dismissal.
“If you want even a sip of beer, that seems like the better option.”
Daniel puckered his lips, not matching his sharp features at all.
“Fine, I’m going, I’m going.”
With those words, he headed back toward the CEO’s office door.
And while Hyunseung wasn’t looking, he raised his middle finger, then slipped out of the CEO’s office like he was running away before he got caught.
“Daniel is more cheerful than I expected.”
“Right. He’s really different from what I imagined.”
Executive Director Park and Kim Woohyun held back their laughter at the sight.
Because Daniel was a legendary musician, legendary enough that people said he had once carved a whole stroke into the music industry.
To the point that even now, as he had entered middle age, people said there still wasn’t a musician who could surpass him.
And yet, that legendary man…
At a single threatening remark from Hyunseung, timidly flicked a middle finger once and then bolted.
This is really…
Should they say Daniel was unexpected, or that Hyunseung was Hyunseung, smoothly coaxing people like he always did.
As a faint amusement settled over the room for a moment.
“Anyway.”
As if something came to mind, Executive Director Park picked up the bundle of documents scattered on the table and asked.
“Which documentary production company is it?”
His face looked like that of a new employee brimming with enthusiasm.
James was on his way to the VINCIS headquarters to retrieve the cameras installed in HS’s studio.
As a cameraman from Studio HIL…
When he was told he would be in charge of the documentary for Daniel’s retirement album, he had burned with zeal, determined to capture scenes that would remain in history with his own hands.
But once the work process had to be filmed with observation cams, that zeal quickly went “brrrr” and cooled off.
Still, it wasn’t like there was no opportunity at all. For one, he could film everything except the work process.
And on days like today, when he came to retrieve the cameras, who knew, maybe he could get additional filming in?
“Yeah, yeah.”
James pressed the accelerator, filled with hope.
‘Today, for sure!’
And before long, he arrived at the VINCIS headquarters.
For a label headquarters, it somehow felt…
The courtyard was landscaped with flowers and trees like a fairly large museum or art hall.
And beside the huge white gate like the door of a temple, there was a cutting-edge security system that looked out of place.
“D-do I ring the bell?”
With a feeling like the security system would activate the moment he pressed it, James carefully pressed the button that looked most like a doorbell and waited for a response.
— Who is it?
Someone asked through the intercom.
“I’m here from HIL Studio to retrieve the cameras.”
When he stated his identity and the purpose of his visit, there was a “Beep” sound, and the gate slowly opened inward.
“Oh.”
James clicked his tongue at how advanced the headquarters was and walked inside slowly.
The lobby had a dignified yet refined atmosphere, like a European royal court in the medieval era.
How should he put it…
It felt like a place where you’d want to sit down slowly and enjoy tea time.
But he didn’t have that kind of leisure.
Because the moment he retrieved the cameras, he had to check whether he could secure additional filming as well.
“But….”
James was looking around the lobby, which had no sign of people, like a cabin abandoned in the woods.
“Where do I go?”
He heard footsteps coming down the upstairs stairs.
Step, step.
The helmet man (*HS) he had seen at the meeting slowly came into view.
“H-hello!”
“Come up.”
As if greetings were unnecessary, HS turned and went back up the stairs.
“Y-yes!”
Not wanting to lose him, James followed right behind.
“Are you still working with Daniel right now?”
He asked, sticking close even from behind.
“Yes. But today will probably be the last recording session, so you can take them.”
HS answered casually as he walked ahead, without seeing James’s face stained with expectation and desire.
By the time they reached the front of the studio…
“If it wouldn’t be an imposition, could I film the two of you working today myself?”
James asked, fidgeting with the end of the camera bag on his shoulder. He desperately hoped permission would be granted.
Stop.
HS stopped walking, then slowly turned his head.
Since he was wearing a helmet, James couldn’t tell what expression he had.
Swallow.
So James had no choice but to swallow dryly and wait anxiously for HS’s answer.
“Why are you asking? That’s why you came in the first place.”
“Huh?”
“That’s why you brought a heavy camera bag, isn’t it?”
HS’s reply flew at him sharp as a dagger.
Even if James couldn’t see his expression, he could tell it wasn’t a pleasant one.
‘Damn.’
Thinking today’s filming was doomed, James opened his mouth.
“Ah, I just thought, maybe…”
“Do as you like.”
“Sorry… what? I can film?”
“Yes. Do that.”
But contrary to expectation, HS gave permission easily.
As if he truly didn’t care, he turned and kept walking.
And afraid HS might change his mind, James hurriedly pulled the camera out of his bag and followed.
Beep-beep-beep.
HS arrived at a door, entered his fingerprint, and the door opened with a crisp sound.
‘Finally…!’
Just as James lifted the camera, swelling with excitement that today, at last, he would capture Daniel’s work process himself.
Booom!
A sudden roar rang out.
“HS! I can’t take it anymore!”
A thoroughly furious Daniel’s face filled the frame.
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