Contracts, Pt. 15
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
The elevator bell rang, and Chanmi looked up, smiling as SungMin, Hoya, and L stepped off the elevator. "Welcome," she said. "One moment." She called HeeChul to let him know they were there. She gathered her blackberry, a folder, and her laptop, and led the way to the conference room. She set them down on the table and gestured to a side board. "Drinks are there. Please sit down, HeeChul-sshi will be in soon."
She sat down, smiling at L as he sat down across from her, and opened her laptop. L plugged his in and had it up and running by the time HeeChul arrived. Hoya stood up when he walked in.
"It is good to see you again," HeeChul said.
"It is good to be here," Hoya responded, and they sat down. Chanmi hadn't noticed Siwon until he sat down next to her, and the configuration of the table reminded her of their first meeting. SungMin even still looked bored. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"We're pleased with how this is going, and would like to extend the contract," Hoya said.
Chanmi stiffened, her heart pounding. She knew this was coming, but it didn't keep her stomach from tying itself in knots.
"I'm pleased as well," HeeChul said. "I agree."
That was it. Chanmi closed her laptop. "There might be a problem," she said.
They all looked at her. "A problem?" HeeChul asked. "What kind of problem?"
Chanmi pulled an envelope out of the folder she'd brought along, and handed it to HeeChul. "I won't be working here in two weeks."
Silence filled the room. None of them had looked away, and Chanmi had to fight not to fidget. Even SungMin had stopped looking so bored. "Won't be working here?" HeeChul repeated.
"No." She'd hoped her stomach would stop twisting, but no luck. "It's all explained in there," she added. "You'll have to figure out any extensions without me."
HeeChul stood up. "Heo-puin, may I speak to you? If you'll excuse us," he added to Hoya.
"Of course," Hoya said, sounding as surprised as HeeChul.
Chanmi stood up, bowed, and followed HeeChul into a smaller conference room down the hall. He ushered her in, then followed and closed the door behind him. "You didn't think that should happen in private?" he asked.
"I wanted to see what happened when this extension came up. Circumstances required it happen before the contract was signed again, and I didn't want to make you go through negotiations in vain."
He softened a little. "How can I change your mind?"
"You can't," she said evenly. "I'm sorry."
HeeChul started. "Why not?"
"I have a job set up already."
He regarded her in silence for a long time. "How long have you been waiting to hand this to me?"
"I wrote it two weeks ago," Chanmi said. "But six months, give or take a couple of weeks."
HeeChul stared at her, then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "There is nothing I can do to change your mind."
"Nothing," she said, wishing her stomach would stop churning.
He watched her a while longer, then nodded. "Very well," he said, and opened the door, ushering her out. Chanmi walked into the larger conference room to find L, Hoya, and SungMin in conference. Siwon stood in the corner farthest from them, looking out the window, a water in hand, studiously ignoring them. They looked up as soon as she came in, and they all sat down again.
HeeChul spread his hands out on the table. "It seems I no longer have anything to offer you."
"We may have an idea to help all of us," Hoya said. "If Chanmi-sshi is amenable to the idea."
Chanmi looked up. "I'm willing to listen," she said.
Hoya nodded. "Because the original contract is with Chul Designs, we intend to extend that part of it. In return, Chanmi-sshi says nothing of the previous contract and says nothing negative about SungMin. He will say nothing negative about her when asked - because people will ask why you broke up."
"It will be believable if you claim that the pressure from fans and everything was too much for you," SungMin added, his eyes on Chanmi. "Your reaction the first time you all met informally, and that you left early from almost every event will play into that."
Chanmi smiled, surprised but not showing it. "I can agree to that," she said.
Hoya relaxed, and Chanmi wondered if he had a masseuse at his office or somewhere. He looked like his shoulders hurt. "Thank you," he said. "In return, Aces will continue to model for Chul Designs for the next six months. We'll reevaluate then."
HeeChul stood and bowed. "Thank you," he said.
Chanmi turned back to her computer, ready to work out any details. HeeChul sat back down, looking much more relaxed as well.
JungShin didn't want to think about why SungMin wasn't there, throwing around ideas with the rest of them. It was likely to make him sick. Which was probably why Boa had insisted they brainstorm. The door opened and they all looked up to see SungMin shrugging off his jacket.
"That was fast," Boa said, sounding as surprised as JungShin felt.
"Yeah, well." SungMin shrugged. "She officially broke up with me." He tugged his tie loose, and then took it off.
"She what?!" MinHyuk demanded. "They never break up with you!"
JungShin couldn't move, mind frozen. Not so frozen that he didn't see Boa's glance in his direction.
"What does that mean?" Boa asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like," SungMin said. He went to pick up his guitar, and Boa moved it out of his reach.
"You are horrible. Details. Now."
SungMin stared at her, uncomprehending. "Why?"
"She's my friend, you know," Boa said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I want to know what happened."
SungMin sighed and sat down on the floor. "She resigned from Chul Designs," he said. "So we couldn't renew the contract as it stood."
"So... how does that work?" MinHyuk asked.
"So did you renew it?" Boa asked.
"Yeah. She says nothing bad about me, I say nothing bad about her, and we model for Chul Designs another half a year."
"And we don't see her again," Boa said, sounding sad, and it broke JungShin's paralysis. He glanced at her, worried. So that wasn't just a line?
He looked back at SungMin to see the guitarist looking at him, and he lifted an eyebrow. "No," SungMin said. "Not in any official capacity."
"Okay," Boa said, and handed him his guitar.
JungShin was confused. Any official capacity? He hid it as he always did, head bent over his bass, playing something random.
"Soomi-unni?" Chanmi called, and Soomi set her book down. Something sounded off; she sounded a bit... Soomi didn't know what. Getting up, she went to find her roommate.
"You're home early," she said, and then Chanmi turned around, two glasses of wine in her hand. "And hitting the wine." She took the glass Chanmi handed her. "What happened?"
"Celebrate with me," Chanmi said, her smile a touch too bright. "I turned in my resignation letter, with everyone in the room."
Soomi, about to take a drink, stared at her and lowered her glass, very glad she hadn't actually taken that drink. "With everyone?" she repeated.
"Yep," Chanmi said, and gulped her wine.
Oh, no. Not again.
"And I'm still under contract," Chanmi went on, "but it's more a no disclosure contract than anything. We've officially broken up."
Soomi set her glass down, and took Chanmi's. "You don't seem to be really celebrating," she said. "What's up?"
"It's just...." Chanmi's voice trembled, and she cleared her throat. "I really like Boa, you know? And I don't have a real reason any more to talk to her. Or for her to talk to me."
"That's not the only reason," Soomi said, concerned. Nothing about JungShin? or had she just given up? Soomi didn't believe that.
"No, but it's enough for now," Chanmi said. Her smile seemed forced as she reached around Soomi to pick up her glass. "Pretend it's a celebration with me? Please?"
She went into the front room before Soomi could answer, and Soomi sighed, picking up her own glass. Music - not Aces, no... that was Cocoa Otoko, appropriately loud - blasted out of the stereo. Not too loud; they knew exactly how loud was too loud for the neighbors, but loud enough.
"The problem is," Soomi murmured, walking to join her friend, "is that you don't know if you'll ever see JungShin again." She sighed, plastered a smile on her face, and went to join Chanmi.
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
The elevator bell rang, and Chanmi looked up, smiling as SungMin, Hoya, and L stepped off the elevator. "Welcome," she said. "One moment." She called HeeChul to let him know they were there. She gathered her blackberry, a folder, and her laptop, and led the way to the conference room. She set them down on the table and gestured to a side board. "Drinks are there. Please sit down, HeeChul-sshi will be in soon."
She sat down, smiling at L as he sat down across from her, and opened her laptop. L plugged his in and had it up and running by the time HeeChul arrived. Hoya stood up when he walked in.
"It is good to see you again," HeeChul said.
"It is good to be here," Hoya responded, and they sat down. Chanmi hadn't noticed Siwon until he sat down next to her, and the configuration of the table reminded her of their first meeting. SungMin even still looked bored. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"We're pleased with how this is going, and would like to extend the contract," Hoya said.
Chanmi stiffened, her heart pounding. She knew this was coming, but it didn't keep her stomach from tying itself in knots.
"I'm pleased as well," HeeChul said. "I agree."
That was it. Chanmi closed her laptop. "There might be a problem," she said.
They all looked at her. "A problem?" HeeChul asked. "What kind of problem?"
Chanmi pulled an envelope out of the folder she'd brought along, and handed it to HeeChul. "I won't be working here in two weeks."
Silence filled the room. None of them had looked away, and Chanmi had to fight not to fidget. Even SungMin had stopped looking so bored. "Won't be working here?" HeeChul repeated.
"No." She'd hoped her stomach would stop twisting, but no luck. "It's all explained in there," she added. "You'll have to figure out any extensions without me."
HeeChul stood up. "Heo-puin, may I speak to you? If you'll excuse us," he added to Hoya.
"Of course," Hoya said, sounding as surprised as HeeChul.
Chanmi stood up, bowed, and followed HeeChul into a smaller conference room down the hall. He ushered her in, then followed and closed the door behind him. "You didn't think that should happen in private?" he asked.
"I wanted to see what happened when this extension came up. Circumstances required it happen before the contract was signed again, and I didn't want to make you go through negotiations in vain."
He softened a little. "How can I change your mind?"
"You can't," she said evenly. "I'm sorry."
HeeChul started. "Why not?"
"I have a job set up already."
He regarded her in silence for a long time. "How long have you been waiting to hand this to me?"
"I wrote it two weeks ago," Chanmi said. "But six months, give or take a couple of weeks."
HeeChul stared at her, then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "There is nothing I can do to change your mind."
"Nothing," she said, wishing her stomach would stop churning.
He watched her a while longer, then nodded. "Very well," he said, and opened the door, ushering her out. Chanmi walked into the larger conference room to find L, Hoya, and SungMin in conference. Siwon stood in the corner farthest from them, looking out the window, a water in hand, studiously ignoring them. They looked up as soon as she came in, and they all sat down again.
HeeChul spread his hands out on the table. "It seems I no longer have anything to offer you."
"We may have an idea to help all of us," Hoya said. "If Chanmi-sshi is amenable to the idea."
Chanmi looked up. "I'm willing to listen," she said.
Hoya nodded. "Because the original contract is with Chul Designs, we intend to extend that part of it. In return, Chanmi-sshi says nothing of the previous contract and says nothing negative about SungMin. He will say nothing negative about her when asked - because people will ask why you broke up."
"It will be believable if you claim that the pressure from fans and everything was too much for you," SungMin added, his eyes on Chanmi. "Your reaction the first time you all met informally, and that you left early from almost every event will play into that."
Chanmi smiled, surprised but not showing it. "I can agree to that," she said.
Hoya relaxed, and Chanmi wondered if he had a masseuse at his office or somewhere. He looked like his shoulders hurt. "Thank you," he said. "In return, Aces will continue to model for Chul Designs for the next six months. We'll reevaluate then."
HeeChul stood and bowed. "Thank you," he said.
Chanmi turned back to her computer, ready to work out any details. HeeChul sat back down, looking much more relaxed as well.
JungShin didn't want to think about why SungMin wasn't there, throwing around ideas with the rest of them. It was likely to make him sick. Which was probably why Boa had insisted they brainstorm. The door opened and they all looked up to see SungMin shrugging off his jacket.
"That was fast," Boa said, sounding as surprised as JungShin felt.
"Yeah, well." SungMin shrugged. "She officially broke up with me." He tugged his tie loose, and then took it off.
"She what?!" MinHyuk demanded. "They never break up with you!"
JungShin couldn't move, mind frozen. Not so frozen that he didn't see Boa's glance in his direction.
"What does that mean?" Boa asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like," SungMin said. He went to pick up his guitar, and Boa moved it out of his reach.
"You are horrible. Details. Now."
SungMin stared at her, uncomprehending. "Why?"
"She's my friend, you know," Boa said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I want to know what happened."
SungMin sighed and sat down on the floor. "She resigned from Chul Designs," he said. "So we couldn't renew the contract as it stood."
"So... how does that work?" MinHyuk asked.
"So did you renew it?" Boa asked.
"Yeah. She says nothing bad about me, I say nothing bad about her, and we model for Chul Designs another half a year."
"And we don't see her again," Boa said, sounding sad, and it broke JungShin's paralysis. He glanced at her, worried. So that wasn't just a line?
He looked back at SungMin to see the guitarist looking at him, and he lifted an eyebrow. "No," SungMin said. "Not in any official capacity."
"Okay," Boa said, and handed him his guitar.
JungShin was confused. Any official capacity? He hid it as he always did, head bent over his bass, playing something random.
"Soomi-unni?" Chanmi called, and Soomi set her book down. Something sounded off; she sounded a bit... Soomi didn't know what. Getting up, she went to find her roommate.
"You're home early," she said, and then Chanmi turned around, two glasses of wine in her hand. "And hitting the wine." She took the glass Chanmi handed her. "What happened?"
"Celebrate with me," Chanmi said, her smile a touch too bright. "I turned in my resignation letter, with everyone in the room."
Soomi, about to take a drink, stared at her and lowered her glass, very glad she hadn't actually taken that drink. "With everyone?" she repeated.
"Yep," Chanmi said, and gulped her wine.
Oh, no. Not again.
"And I'm still under contract," Chanmi went on, "but it's more a no disclosure contract than anything. We've officially broken up."
Soomi set her glass down, and took Chanmi's. "You don't seem to be really celebrating," she said. "What's up?"
"It's just...." Chanmi's voice trembled, and she cleared her throat. "I really like Boa, you know? And I don't have a real reason any more to talk to her. Or for her to talk to me."
"That's not the only reason," Soomi said, concerned. Nothing about JungShin? or had she just given up? Soomi didn't believe that.
"No, but it's enough for now," Chanmi said. Her smile seemed forced as she reached around Soomi to pick up her glass. "Pretend it's a celebration with me? Please?"
She went into the front room before Soomi could answer, and Soomi sighed, picking up her own glass. Music - not Aces, no... that was Cocoa Otoko, appropriately loud - blasted out of the stereo. Not too loud; they knew exactly how loud was too loud for the neighbors, but loud enough.
"The problem is," Soomi murmured, walking to join her friend, "is that you don't know if you'll ever see JungShin again." She sighed, plastered a smile on her face, and went to join Chanmi.