The words Wales spat out were a gamble.
“Hire me at VINCIS.”
He hadn’t intended to make this proposal from the start. This wasn’t the best option, but the second best.
“I’ll be quite helpful.”
Perhaps because of that, Hyunseung’s face, sitting across from him, was stained with bewilderment.
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he looked perplexed.
“What reason do I have to trust you enough to hire you?”
Hyunseung’s sharp eyes suddenly turned toward Wales.
“You’re the person who threatened me by bringing up my sister’s safety.”
“Exactly. Since I’m going to threaten you anyway, I’m demanding something a bit more profitable than just money.”
At those words, Hyunseung muttered, “Profitable?” as if asking what he meant.
He had an expression that suggested he couldn’t understand at all, but Wales didn’t want to explain.
Because it would be a very long story.
.
.
“Senior, you were the one who told me to chase after them first.”
Had there ever been a time in his life when he had clung to someone so desperately?
“You can’t do this to me. I worked really hard, I only did my best…”
However, the man who used to coax him with words as sweet as they were greedy was long gone.
“You agreed to this, too.”
His tongue, now transformed into a sharp spear, pierced the most painful spot.
“This isn’t a bad proposal for you either, is it? Think positively, if only for your sick mother…”
The words that followed were unheard. Roughly, he was saying he would give him some severance pay or consolation money and told him to try starting a business.
It was nothing but hollow comfort. All he knew how to do was be a reporter.
What on earth was he supposed to do?
Wasn’t he just telling him to leave this industry and live quietly?
“Doesn’t someone have to play the villain depending on the situation for this society to run peacefully?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
But I just accepted it silently.
“Goodbye.”
It was a decision already made by the higher-ups anyway, and I would be the only one getting hurt if I fought back.
I wasn’t so foolish that I didn’t even know that much.
Even if it was unfair, what else could I do?
Just like that, I was kicked out of the company to which I had dedicated my entire youth.
Without receiving honor or even a proper apology.
It was simply because I wrote one article.
It just so happened the problem was that the protagonist of that article was the lover of someone very powerful who was fed by the state.
And even that…
It was an assignment ordered by the boss who had requested his resignation.
Right.
I was the fool for following his lead to the death when he said he’d make me editor-in-chief immediately if I did well this time.
Without a single piece of protective gear to shield me.
I thought everything would work out if I just charged in with spite and grit.
Yes, because the public needed to know the truth.
That the singer the public loved…
Was actually the lover of a married congressman.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she was using the fact that he was a congressman to threaten his legal wife and extort money.
However, at some point, the truth changed.
I became a person who, blinded by the greed for promotion, had independently released a false report.
BNC Media’s motto was…
‘Always the Truth.’
But that was far too naive a thought.
“Son, Mom always believes in you.”
My mother, lying in a hospital bed with an incurable disease, lived with these words. Perhaps it was a worry born of her concern that her son wouldn’t stray onto the wrong path.
Every time she said that, I could do nothing but smile silently.
And then I would answer internally.
‘Don’t believe in me.’
I was betrayed by the company I had been so loyal to and by the boss I had respected, so what could I possibly believe in?
Isn’t this just how the world is?
Isn’t it the one with power who holds the winning hand?
“I’m giving you a chance before I release this information to the world.”
From that point on, I decided to grasp power.
A reporter’s principles.
A reporter’s convictions.
A reporter’s determination.
Would such things matter?
I was in a position where I had to worry about how to survive tomorrow.
If my mother didn’t receive treatment for even one day, it would be a dangerous situation; I wasn’t in a position to be picky.
Yes.
Someone has to play the villain depending on the situation.
“Think carefully and choose the side you won’t regret.”
I stood above people with the information I had accumulated over time.
“I’ll give you a generous amount, so please delete it.”
They feared the information I possessed, and not only did they try their best not to offend me, but they also thrust astronomical piles of cash at me.
As that happened…
Colleagues I had known from my previous company heard the news and contacted me, begging me to leak just one piece of information, and record labels commissioned me to take down rival companies.
With just one piece of information, someone cried and someone laughed.
During that time.
I happened to find out that singer Sarah Stewart and world-renowned composer Mateo were father and daughter.
— Don’t act all high and mighty just because you’re a paparazzi selling people’s private lives.
Sarah Stewart had delivered a sharp rebuke to me.
“Hmm, a paparazzi selling private lives…”
It was true, so it stung. However, I was fine because I had heard such words so many times my ears were practically worn out.
Everyone might grovel in front of me…
But in the end, behind my back, they’d probably curse me as a shameless human being.
But…
If it doesn’t make you money anyway, you’d try to shut my mouth even if it meant selling someone else out.
— Or, if you leak just one piece of information about HS, I’ll pretend I don’t know anything about you and Mateo.
In the end, everyone just becomes a villain depending on the situation.
Would it be any different?
Humans are born with an inherently evil nature.
That’s why this world is such a mess.
— Information about HS? Sure, I’ll tell you just one thing.
Sarah Stewart, you too, in the end…
— It’s that HS isn’t trash like you.
“I must have misheard, right?”
— The fact that Mateo and I are father and daughter, you can go and spread it to the media right now.
This can’t be happening.
— But don’t touch HS.
There’s no way.
“Are you serious?”
— Yeah.
“This has become boring.”
I was confused.
— You find this fun? This situation where you’re trading using someone’s minimum guaranteed privacy, do you find it fun?
It felt as if the tower I had painstakingly built had collapsed in an instant.
No.
Perhaps it was a tower that had been built wrong from the very beginning.
I denied it.
I tried hard to deny that feeling of my very existence being negated.
From that day, I immersed myself in finding out everything about HS.
Not trash like me?
Do you think that person would be any different? In the end, he’ll be the same.
Look.
He filed the lawsuit regarding the Baddy incident under his sister’s name, didn’t he? He probably wants to back out if things get disadvantageous for him.
He calculated all of that.
Even the part where he thinks he can just block it with money.
— I get it, so tell me the amount right n—!
In the end, he’s the same kind of human.
— Don’t even think about threatening my brother with something like this. I’d actually be totally grateful if my face gets known anyway!
Why is everyone acting like this over this guy? Is this person more important to them than their own well-being?
This guy who can’t even hide his expression if you bring up his parents.
This guy who looks like he’d attack right away if you mention his sister.
Just what is he?
If it’s like this, I’m the only one who becomes the bad guy.
I…
I didn’t want to live like this either.
As a reporter, I wanted to reveal the bare faces of humans wearing human masks, to tell the proper truth.
At a proper workplace…
I wanted to act like a proper reporter and be a proper son to my mother.
But.
No one in this industry would accept me.
I…
Didn’t want to be the villain from the start either.
.
.
“I’m just tired of playing the villain role now.”
Wales, waking from his thoughts, answered briefly. Over his face, a bitter smile flickered for a moment.
“Then, can’t you just stop taking on the villain role?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m making this demand now.”
“If I hire you, what on earth would I use you for?”
Wales let out a groan at Hyunseung’s blunt counter-question for a moment.
“Since you even knew my name, I thought you knew everything about me…”
“I came knowing at least that you’re a paparazzi who makes a living by selling other people’s private lives.”
Wales let out a dry cough at the sharp remark.
Ah.
Piercing a person’s most painful spot as if it were nothing… He’s just like Sarah Stewart. You can really tell they’re a couple.
“If so, you’re wrong.”
Soon, Wales, with a deliberately composed face, spread both hands wide and laid out some plausible words.
“If it’s information I hold, it could shake the very ecosystem of the current American entertainment industry.”
“I’m not a thug like you, and I don’t have a need to survive by threatening people with their private lives.”
Of course, Hyunseung dismissed it immediately as if it were out of the question.
Wales let out another dry cough.
“Cough! Cough!”
It was because he hadn’t expected to be cut off so decisively.
If it’s like this, it makes me a bit stubborn…
“It’s not like that. I’m saying I’ll lend you the power to make sure no one can touch VINCIS, or you.”
Wales said, interlacing his fingers with a fairly solemn face.
Right, if I’ve said this much, his interest should be piqued a bit.
Sure enough, Hyunseung’s eyes, which met his in mid-air, sparkled.
“I get a decent job, and you get power…”
Just as Wales was about to add more words to seal the deal.
Vrrrring!
Hyunseung’s phone, which was placed on the table, vibrated.
[Alcoholic: I’m planning to visit with the legal team tomorrow, is that time okay for you?]
A very faint smile appeared on the corners of Hyunseung’s mouth after checking the text from Austin.
No.
It was an extremely relaxed smile, as if he had seized victory.
“But you see.”
Hyunseung opened his mouth again as he put down his phone.
“I believe that power doesn’t come from information, but is built through skill.”
“Wait a moment. Skill is skill, but isn’t it an undeniable fact that information is also a part of power?”
“That’s also true, but I’m not in a position where I need information enough to hold hands with someone who tried to threaten me…”
However, the phone vibrated loudly once more.
Vrrrring!
Hyunseung picked up the phone and asked for understanding.
“One moment.”
Wales’s expression as he looked at Hyunseung instantly lost its composure and appeared anxious.
He fidgeted like a puppy worried its owner might leave him behind.
[Mom Kim: I heard Jamal was hospitalized after being a victim of a hit-and-run while coming back from a performance. Do you want to go see him together?]
After checking the text, Hyunseung’s brow narrowed sharply.
“Something urgent has come up, so I’m leaving.”
He got up and grabbed his coat immediately, but paused for a second.
“I’m taking this.”
He snatched the film that was sitting on the table.
For some reason…
He had a strong premonition that he would definitely need this.
“Hey, hey! Wait a moment!”
Wales hurriedly called out to stop him.
Tinkle.
With the clear sound of a bell, Hyunseung had already left the bar.
“I’ll be waiting for your call!”
Wales shouted at the top of his lungs toward Hyunseung’s back.
It was…
The second moment in his life when he had clung to someone so desperately.
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