Contracts, Pt. 9
Title: Contracts
Summary: Chanmi was happy with her life, until her boss threw a wrench in it: Lee SungMin. JungShin came along for the ride.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not true.
Pairings: SungMin/Chanmi, JungShin/Chanmi, L/Soomi, various other minor pairings
Rating: PG-13
"You wanted to see me?" SungMin asked, poking his head in Hoya's office.
Hoya beckoned him in, and he went, sinking down in the chain in front of Hoya's desk. As far as the manager could see, he hadn't changed much since starting to date Chanmi. Well, but then he hadn't exactly expected anything, either. "Yes," he said when SungMin had settled in the chair. "I had a thought."
SungMin rolled his eyes, and Hoya glared at him. This guitarist tired him out....
"About Chanmi?"
Ah, maybe not as dumb as he acts. "Yes. You'll see her at the photo shoot next week."
SungMin straightened. "She'll be there?"
"As I understand it, HeeChul-sshi will be there, and she goes where he does. I want you to talk to her. Invite her to the gala."
SungMin frowned. "Isn't she already going?"
"Yes," Hoya said.
SungMin nodded. "You want to show she's more than someone on my arm."
Not as dumb as he acted. Sometimes. "Exactly."
SungMin shrugged. "Okay, I can do that." He stood up, bowed, and started to leave, then turned back. "Is she really worth all this?"
He really was as dumb as he acted. "Check the paper," Hoya said wearily. "If you're not in it for something negative about a girl, she's worth it."
SungMin's lips twisted wryly. "Oh. Right." He bowed again and left, closing the door behind him.
"That's your problem," Hoya murmured, and went back to the computer. "You don't think outside of yourself."
Chanmi had attended many photo shoots in her work with HeeChul, and this seemed no different. At least, not at first. Boa came out on her own - oddly, the first, but weren't girls supposed to take longer than boys? - and posed in front of the camera. A while later the three men came out, sitting in the chairs set up for them. One of the makeup women followed, her attention on SungMin.
She wasn't watching her supposed boyfriend. She couldn't keep her eyes off the bassist. He looked around, alert, a slight smile on his face.
"Yah. Pay attention," HeeChul said, and Chanmi snapped to attention before JungShin found her. "I want those sleeves wider at the bottom."
Chanmi nodded and made the note on her clipboard just as the photographer straightened. "You're done, noona. Thank you." Boa bowed and left the area, going to the wardrobe area. "MinHyuk-sshi? Are you ready?"
The makeup woman had moved to MinHyuk, but at the photographer's words, straightened. MinHyuk bounced to his feet and strode over, and the woman turned her attention to JungShin. Privately, Chanmi thought he looked perfect.
The thought brought color to her cheeks, and she looked back at HeeChul, mind firmly on what he said instead of the two men sitting across the warehouse from her. So buried in her work, she jumped and spun (but didn't drop anything) when someone touched her shoulder. Seeing SungMin robbed her of her voice in surprise, but only for a moment. "Um. Hi."
HeeChul turned to look at her, then smiled and took the clipboard from her hands. He walked away from them. Chanmi could just watch him go in surprise.
"Does he do that a lot?" SungMin asked, pulling her attention back to him.
"No, not really," Chanmi said. "But then, I've never had a boyfriend at a shoot like this before."
SungMin smiled at her, and she smiled back, purely by reflex. "There's a gala next week, on Thursday. Will you go with me?"
Chanmi blinked, stunned. She'd just gotten her balance, and he took it again. "I... sure. I'd like that." She could have bitten her tongue for letting that last out. She didn't want to.
"SungMin-sshi?" the photographer called.
"Here," SungMin called back, gave Chanmi a quick hug, and was gone. She stiffened, but much too late.
"Bye," she murmured. Then she gave herself a stiff shake and went to join HeeChul again. Taking her clipboard back, she glanced back once at JungShin, then resolved not to look over there again. She didn't know how she managed it, but she did, focused so totally on what HeeChul muttered that she didn't notice Aces had gone until HeeChul smiled. "Well, that went well," he said, and turned to leave the warehouse. Chanmi followed without looking around again.
Back at her desk, she pulled up the calendar to add the gala to it. He hadn't given her many details, but she could just call L and find them out....
"What?"
It was already in her calendar. She reached for the phone to call L, and it rang. "Chul Designs, Kim HeeChul's office. Chanmi speaking. How may I help you?"
"Chanmi-puin, it's L."
Chanmi said nothing for a moment. "I was just going to call you."
"About the gala."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry. It was Hoya's idea to have him ask you."
Aaaah. "In front of all those people. To make it look real."
"Yes."
Chanmi rolled her eyes. "Thanks for calling and telling me." She wasn't mad at him, no... it was everyone else.
"You're welcome."
She hung up and slumped back in her chair. "I have got to get a new job."
"... And there's the gala next Friday night, black tie, starting at 21:00," Chanmi said, and set her blackberry down on her knee.
She sat in HeeChul's office, reviewing his schedule for the next week. As usual, he sat behind his desk, leaning back and looking over his calendar even as she covered it. At this news, though, he sat forward. "Are you going?"
Chanmi bit back her first response; she really didn't want him butting in on this. "Yes." And she didn't want him to know how angry this made her, because it wouldn't help.
"Will you need a dress?"
She looked at him for a moment. "They seem to have plenty," she said. Not to mention she liked Bekah and her down-to-earth attitude.
"Why didn't you tell me you needed a dress?"
How did he know? Oh, well, that was stupid. He was in the fashion business, after all. "I didn't think of it," she said, completely honestly. She hadn't wanted (still didn't want) anything to do with him, as much as she could manage it.
He nodded and his attention went somewhere else for a moment, and Chanmi didn't want to know where that was. "I can supply you with any clothes you might need."
No. "I'm not the best model for your clothes," she said, putting her blackberry in her purse.
HeeChul dismissed her with a wave. "You're fine. How is the dating going?"
Chanmi clenched her teeth against the spike of anger that filled her. She shrugged to give herself time to get back under control. "He hasn't tried to make a pass at me or anything. I guess... fine."
HeeChul's attention came back to her. "You guess?"
"I've never had to evaluate or wanted to evaluate how my dating went," Chanmi said, sounding more defensive than she really wanted to. She took a deep breath to calm down a bit. "I haven't slapped him or threatened him with anything, and he's kept his hands to himself, so, yeah. Fine, I guess."
HeeChul snickered quietly. "Good. Let me know if there is a problem. Thank you."
Dismissed, Chanmi stood and bowed. Halfway to the door, she paused. "Kim-sshi? How did you come to pick me for this contract?"
He looked up at her in surprise. "They asked for you," he said.
"Oh. Thank you." She bowed again and left, teeth clenched. Thankfully, having this review meant she was free to go. She packed up - every day she took more home, looking forward to the day she could give her notice - let him know she was leaving, and took the stairs to get out of there faster.
Instead of going home, though, she went straight to the coffee shop where Soomi worked, bought an iced coffee, and found a place outside. Within moments, Soomi showed up with her own cup and sat down next to her. "What happened?"
Chanmi related the conversation she'd had with her boss. "I almost kicked him. Or threw my blackberry at him...."
"Or both," Soomi added.
"Or quit," Chanmi went on. "Seriously. 'Let me know if there's a problem,' he says." She fisted her hand. "This whole situation is a problem!"
Soomi patted her shoulder. "I know. Any luck on the job front?"
Chanmi slumped in her chair, and took a sip of her coffee. "No. But I did just start. I have about ten resumes out there."
"You'll be okay," Soomi said, and leaned back, lifting her face to the sun.
A shadow fell across her, and she straightened. Chanmi blinked at the man standing there, flowers in his hand. "Ah... Soomi-yah? Can I talk to you?"
Chanmi took a deep steadying breath, and picked up her drink to give her something to hold onto. Bad timing on JaeBeom's part; she wanted someone to take apart, and she didn't know anyone who would protest her killing him.
"You can talk to me right here," Soomi said coldly.
"Alone?" he added. "Please?"
Chanmi set her drink down and leaned forward. "Give her one good reason."
JaeBeom gave her the most piteous, fake penitent look, and she had to grab for her drink again to hide the sudden fit of giggles because it just looked so... fake. "I'd just like to apologize to her," he said.
Chanmi looked at Soomi in surprise, and Soomi looked back at her, looking just as surprised. Soomi sighed and stood up, leaving her drink with Chanmi. "Five minutes," she said.
JaeBeom smiled (ew, greasy) and offered her his arm; Soomi ignored it but followed him out of sight. Chanmi shook her head. Hopefully Soomi wouldn't be a complete idiot and would send him packing.
"Chanmi-puin?"
Chanmi looked up and nearly spit out the sip she'd just taken. She managed to swallow it in time. Of all people, she did not expect to see L here. He stood near the table, a drink in hand.
"Hi. What are you doing here?" It came out without thought, and she put her hand over her eyes. Had she really just said that? Crap.... "Okay, that was a stupid question," she said, and dropped her hand back to the table. "I'm sorry. It's just... my roommate works here, and I didn't expect you - any of you - to show up here."
L smiled. "It's one of my favorite places," he said. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Chanmi gestured to the table. "Not at all. Please."
He sat down in a chair fairly close to hers, and sipped his drink. then he leaned closer to her. "How are you holding up?" he asked softly.
"I'm doing okay," Chanmi said, the answer automatic.
Soomi plopped down in her chair again, set the flowers down, and grabbed her drink. She gulped it down. "I would really like to run him over...." She stopped when she realized someone had joined them.
"With a bus? or would it take a train?" Chanmi asked.
"Either," Soomi said, regaining her equilibrium, "as long as he didn't survive."
Chanmi nodded. "Soomi, this is L. L-sshi, this is my unni, Soomi."
L bowed, smiling. "It is good to meet you."
"I'm glad to meet you, too," Soomi said, and sighed. "I wish I could stay, but my break is over." She nodded at the flowers. "Dispose of those?"
"Of course," Chanmi said. "Fire, if I can manage it."
Soomi smiled. "I'll see you tonight." She picked up her drink. "That... ugh. How did I start dating him again?"
"That's not important," Chanmi said, smiling up at her. "You know it now, and you won't make that mistake again."
Soomi bowed to L and went back inside. L watched her go, then turned to Chanmi. "Her boyfriend?"
"Ex, thankfully. Slimy. The kind of person to flaunt that he's not dating her - his choice - in her face."
"A winner," L said wryly, and took a drink of his iced coffee.
"She deserves better," Chanmi said.
L set his cup down. "Are you really doing okay?" he asked.
Chanmi blinked, startled, then nodded. "Yes. I'll be fine."
"Which means you aren't, now."
"Now, I'm frustrated, angry, and betrayed. But please don't tell anyone that. It has nothing to do with who you're working for." She knew she'd said too much, and so got to her feet. "It was good to see you. Are you going to be at the gala?"
"Yes," L said, and he looked confused.
"Good. I will take as many friendly faces as I can. Good bye." She bowed and strode off before he could respond, thoroughly disgusted with herself.
Summary: Chanmi was happy with her life, until her boss threw a wrench in it: Lee SungMin. JungShin came along for the ride.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not true.
Pairings: SungMin/Chanmi, JungShin/Chanmi, L/Soomi, various other minor pairings
Rating: PG-13
"You wanted to see me?" SungMin asked, poking his head in Hoya's office.
Hoya beckoned him in, and he went, sinking down in the chain in front of Hoya's desk. As far as the manager could see, he hadn't changed much since starting to date Chanmi. Well, but then he hadn't exactly expected anything, either. "Yes," he said when SungMin had settled in the chair. "I had a thought."
SungMin rolled his eyes, and Hoya glared at him. This guitarist tired him out....
"About Chanmi?"
Ah, maybe not as dumb as he acts. "Yes. You'll see her at the photo shoot next week."
SungMin straightened. "She'll be there?"
"As I understand it, HeeChul-sshi will be there, and she goes where he does. I want you to talk to her. Invite her to the gala."
SungMin frowned. "Isn't she already going?"
"Yes," Hoya said.
SungMin nodded. "You want to show she's more than someone on my arm."
Not as dumb as he acted. Sometimes. "Exactly."
SungMin shrugged. "Okay, I can do that." He stood up, bowed, and started to leave, then turned back. "Is she really worth all this?"
He really was as dumb as he acted. "Check the paper," Hoya said wearily. "If you're not in it for something negative about a girl, she's worth it."
SungMin's lips twisted wryly. "Oh. Right." He bowed again and left, closing the door behind him.
"That's your problem," Hoya murmured, and went back to the computer. "You don't think outside of yourself."
Chanmi had attended many photo shoots in her work with HeeChul, and this seemed no different. At least, not at first. Boa came out on her own - oddly, the first, but weren't girls supposed to take longer than boys? - and posed in front of the camera. A while later the three men came out, sitting in the chairs set up for them. One of the makeup women followed, her attention on SungMin.
She wasn't watching her supposed boyfriend. She couldn't keep her eyes off the bassist. He looked around, alert, a slight smile on his face.
"Yah. Pay attention," HeeChul said, and Chanmi snapped to attention before JungShin found her. "I want those sleeves wider at the bottom."
Chanmi nodded and made the note on her clipboard just as the photographer straightened. "You're done, noona. Thank you." Boa bowed and left the area, going to the wardrobe area. "MinHyuk-sshi? Are you ready?"
The makeup woman had moved to MinHyuk, but at the photographer's words, straightened. MinHyuk bounced to his feet and strode over, and the woman turned her attention to JungShin. Privately, Chanmi thought he looked perfect.
The thought brought color to her cheeks, and she looked back at HeeChul, mind firmly on what he said instead of the two men sitting across the warehouse from her. So buried in her work, she jumped and spun (but didn't drop anything) when someone touched her shoulder. Seeing SungMin robbed her of her voice in surprise, but only for a moment. "Um. Hi."
HeeChul turned to look at her, then smiled and took the clipboard from her hands. He walked away from them. Chanmi could just watch him go in surprise.
"Does he do that a lot?" SungMin asked, pulling her attention back to him.
"No, not really," Chanmi said. "But then, I've never had a boyfriend at a shoot like this before."
SungMin smiled at her, and she smiled back, purely by reflex. "There's a gala next week, on Thursday. Will you go with me?"
Chanmi blinked, stunned. She'd just gotten her balance, and he took it again. "I... sure. I'd like that." She could have bitten her tongue for letting that last out. She didn't want to.
"SungMin-sshi?" the photographer called.
"Here," SungMin called back, gave Chanmi a quick hug, and was gone. She stiffened, but much too late.
"Bye," she murmured. Then she gave herself a stiff shake and went to join HeeChul again. Taking her clipboard back, she glanced back once at JungShin, then resolved not to look over there again. She didn't know how she managed it, but she did, focused so totally on what HeeChul muttered that she didn't notice Aces had gone until HeeChul smiled. "Well, that went well," he said, and turned to leave the warehouse. Chanmi followed without looking around again.
Back at her desk, she pulled up the calendar to add the gala to it. He hadn't given her many details, but she could just call L and find them out....
"What?"
It was already in her calendar. She reached for the phone to call L, and it rang. "Chul Designs, Kim HeeChul's office. Chanmi speaking. How may I help you?"
"Chanmi-puin, it's L."
Chanmi said nothing for a moment. "I was just going to call you."
"About the gala."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry. It was Hoya's idea to have him ask you."
Aaaah. "In front of all those people. To make it look real."
"Yes."
Chanmi rolled her eyes. "Thanks for calling and telling me." She wasn't mad at him, no... it was everyone else.
"You're welcome."
She hung up and slumped back in her chair. "I have got to get a new job."
"... And there's the gala next Friday night, black tie, starting at 21:00," Chanmi said, and set her blackberry down on her knee.
She sat in HeeChul's office, reviewing his schedule for the next week. As usual, he sat behind his desk, leaning back and looking over his calendar even as she covered it. At this news, though, he sat forward. "Are you going?"
Chanmi bit back her first response; she really didn't want him butting in on this. "Yes." And she didn't want him to know how angry this made her, because it wouldn't help.
"Will you need a dress?"
She looked at him for a moment. "They seem to have plenty," she said. Not to mention she liked Bekah and her down-to-earth attitude.
"Why didn't you tell me you needed a dress?"
How did he know? Oh, well, that was stupid. He was in the fashion business, after all. "I didn't think of it," she said, completely honestly. She hadn't wanted (still didn't want) anything to do with him, as much as she could manage it.
He nodded and his attention went somewhere else for a moment, and Chanmi didn't want to know where that was. "I can supply you with any clothes you might need."
No. "I'm not the best model for your clothes," she said, putting her blackberry in her purse.
HeeChul dismissed her with a wave. "You're fine. How is the dating going?"
Chanmi clenched her teeth against the spike of anger that filled her. She shrugged to give herself time to get back under control. "He hasn't tried to make a pass at me or anything. I guess... fine."
HeeChul's attention came back to her. "You guess?"
"I've never had to evaluate or wanted to evaluate how my dating went," Chanmi said, sounding more defensive than she really wanted to. She took a deep breath to calm down a bit. "I haven't slapped him or threatened him with anything, and he's kept his hands to himself, so, yeah. Fine, I guess."
HeeChul snickered quietly. "Good. Let me know if there is a problem. Thank you."
Dismissed, Chanmi stood and bowed. Halfway to the door, she paused. "Kim-sshi? How did you come to pick me for this contract?"
He looked up at her in surprise. "They asked for you," he said.
"Oh. Thank you." She bowed again and left, teeth clenched. Thankfully, having this review meant she was free to go. She packed up - every day she took more home, looking forward to the day she could give her notice - let him know she was leaving, and took the stairs to get out of there faster.
Instead of going home, though, she went straight to the coffee shop where Soomi worked, bought an iced coffee, and found a place outside. Within moments, Soomi showed up with her own cup and sat down next to her. "What happened?"
Chanmi related the conversation she'd had with her boss. "I almost kicked him. Or threw my blackberry at him...."
"Or both," Soomi added.
"Or quit," Chanmi went on. "Seriously. 'Let me know if there's a problem,' he says." She fisted her hand. "This whole situation is a problem!"
Soomi patted her shoulder. "I know. Any luck on the job front?"
Chanmi slumped in her chair, and took a sip of her coffee. "No. But I did just start. I have about ten resumes out there."
"You'll be okay," Soomi said, and leaned back, lifting her face to the sun.
A shadow fell across her, and she straightened. Chanmi blinked at the man standing there, flowers in his hand. "Ah... Soomi-yah? Can I talk to you?"
Chanmi took a deep steadying breath, and picked up her drink to give her something to hold onto. Bad timing on JaeBeom's part; she wanted someone to take apart, and she didn't know anyone who would protest her killing him.
"You can talk to me right here," Soomi said coldly.
"Alone?" he added. "Please?"
Chanmi set her drink down and leaned forward. "Give her one good reason."
JaeBeom gave her the most piteous, fake penitent look, and she had to grab for her drink again to hide the sudden fit of giggles because it just looked so... fake. "I'd just like to apologize to her," he said.
Chanmi looked at Soomi in surprise, and Soomi looked back at her, looking just as surprised. Soomi sighed and stood up, leaving her drink with Chanmi. "Five minutes," she said.
JaeBeom smiled (ew, greasy) and offered her his arm; Soomi ignored it but followed him out of sight. Chanmi shook her head. Hopefully Soomi wouldn't be a complete idiot and would send him packing.
"Chanmi-puin?"
Chanmi looked up and nearly spit out the sip she'd just taken. She managed to swallow it in time. Of all people, she did not expect to see L here. He stood near the table, a drink in hand.
"Hi. What are you doing here?" It came out without thought, and she put her hand over her eyes. Had she really just said that? Crap.... "Okay, that was a stupid question," she said, and dropped her hand back to the table. "I'm sorry. It's just... my roommate works here, and I didn't expect you - any of you - to show up here."
L smiled. "It's one of my favorite places," he said. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Chanmi gestured to the table. "Not at all. Please."
He sat down in a chair fairly close to hers, and sipped his drink. then he leaned closer to her. "How are you holding up?" he asked softly.
"I'm doing okay," Chanmi said, the answer automatic.
Soomi plopped down in her chair again, set the flowers down, and grabbed her drink. She gulped it down. "I would really like to run him over...." She stopped when she realized someone had joined them.
"With a bus? or would it take a train?" Chanmi asked.
"Either," Soomi said, regaining her equilibrium, "as long as he didn't survive."
Chanmi nodded. "Soomi, this is L. L-sshi, this is my unni, Soomi."
L bowed, smiling. "It is good to meet you."
"I'm glad to meet you, too," Soomi said, and sighed. "I wish I could stay, but my break is over." She nodded at the flowers. "Dispose of those?"
"Of course," Chanmi said. "Fire, if I can manage it."
Soomi smiled. "I'll see you tonight." She picked up her drink. "That... ugh. How did I start dating him again?"
"That's not important," Chanmi said, smiling up at her. "You know it now, and you won't make that mistake again."
Soomi bowed to L and went back inside. L watched her go, then turned to Chanmi. "Her boyfriend?"
"Ex, thankfully. Slimy. The kind of person to flaunt that he's not dating her - his choice - in her face."
"A winner," L said wryly, and took a drink of his iced coffee.
"She deserves better," Chanmi said.
L set his cup down. "Are you really doing okay?" he asked.
Chanmi blinked, startled, then nodded. "Yes. I'll be fine."
"Which means you aren't, now."
"Now, I'm frustrated, angry, and betrayed. But please don't tell anyone that. It has nothing to do with who you're working for." She knew she'd said too much, and so got to her feet. "It was good to see you. Are you going to be at the gala?"
"Yes," L said, and he looked confused.
"Good. I will take as many friendly faces as I can. Good bye." She bowed and strode off before he could respond, thoroughly disgusted with herself.