Chapter 166
Seoul, South Korea
NuStarr Talent Management Headquarters
Chairman Hu sat at his desk, scrolling through the pictures of his niece and son from Italy. They looked beautiful and handsome, and at home at the political and star studded event they had attended earlier that night.
Each picture of his smiling niece made him smile, but the pictures of Myo Mi-Sun on the arm of her bodyguard broke his heart. There was no mistaking the adore in her eyes when she looked at Kita; she watched him intently when he talked, smiled when he smiled, and they were always touching.
That wasn’t what Chairman Hu was paying him for!
But what Chairman Hu couldn’t figure out was why Kita had the same type of look in his eyes when he looked at his niece.
When his mobile phone rang, he picked it up then smiled when he saw it was Rain calling.
He eagerly answered. “Good Evening, Sweetheart. I thought you would have been dining with royalty tonight,” Chairman Hu teased.
Rain chuckled. “I was supposed to, be it got complicated so I snuck out. Dae-Ho and the others should have fun though. I take it you saw the pictures?”
“I did. Not all of them, but a few sites have posted pictures from the event,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
Rain sighed. “I need to talk to you about something,” she said. “You might see reports about a rumored engagement.”
Chairman Hu sat up in his seat. “Whose rumored engagement?” he demanded.
“Not Dae-Ho’s,” she said.
“Excuse me?”
“It was a necessary evil,” Rain said in a rush. “In order to protect me from vile men like Gang Moon and Hwang Sang-Hee, I decided that an engagement for the cameras and behind the scenes would be most beneficial to achieve that peace.”
“Uh huh,” he scoffed. “Did your security team put you up to this foolishness?”
Rain groaned. “No. It was my idea, one they agreed to with much reluctance,” she admitted. “The nightmares I have had to deal with when on set from Producers, Directors, co-stars… The moment I had Kita at my side, playing a role that I never knew I needed someone to play for me, they stopped making their comments and pressuring me to do things that I won’t do. Kita terrifies them, and I like that he does.”
Chairman Hu sighed. “Niece, did you fall in love with your bodyguard?” he asked.
Rain chuckled. “Honestly, Uncle? I know not what loving someone in that sense is like or should feel like. I don’t know what it feels like when someone loves another in a romantic way even. I’ve played it countless times in movies and on television, but it was just acting. You have taught me that good fathers and men exist, and Kita has reiterated that it isn’t a lost trait from older generations.”
Chairman Hu wiped his eyes on the back of his hand. “But this type of foolishness will only end in heartache,” he warned. “Your heartache.”
“But it is my heart to risk, Uncle,” she reminded him. “I am no longer a child, and I am not like my mother. Mentally and emotionally I am grounded and sound, and I am completely in control of my actions.”
Oh how Chairman Hu wished that were true.
“I cannot support you in this, Rain,” he warned.
“You will,” she said with a snivel. “Because I am happy, and that’s all you’ve ever wanted for me. Handle the Public Relations nightmare which will follow, and use open responses that are neither confirmation or denial of the engagement rumors. I will let my actions and smile speak for me, and that the public will accept. Okay?”
Chairman Hu shook his head even if his niece couldn’t see it. “I will terminate their contract if needed. They had explicit instruction in regards to your image, and they have disregarded that directive at every turn.”
Rain knew he would react like this.
“They have kept me safe and that is what you pay them for, Uncle,” she argued. “What you don’t pay them for is how they have helped me to become stronger and more grounded, have helped me truly discover myself in only weeks, and… Uncle, I clearly see what I want now. In the present, future, and beyond. I’m not a scared little girl anymore. Stop treating me as if I am one, Chairman Hu, otherwise I will seek representation elsewhere,” she warned.
He chuckled. “Practicing for the role of villain still, are you?”
“Of course,” Rain said. “I am training for it as well. I will get that role, and I will break out of the girl next door mold that I have been forced into for my entire life. I’m done being the nice, good girl. I’m a woman and the world will acknowledge that I am one.”
That wasn’t exactly what Chairman Hu wanted to hear, but it was to be expected since the request to read for the villain was offered to Myo Mi-Sun.
“Where are you heading?” Chairman Hu asked. “You separated from the others, didn’t you?”
“I did. We are having a private little vacation that is tailored to my interests,” Rain admitted.
That’s all Kita would tell her.
“Pictures will be provided as proof of life,” she offered.
“That isn’t funny,” he scolded before chuckling. “It sort of is, but be careful out there. Don’t do anything I will have another heart attack over, and when you get back to Seoul we’ll discuss this pretend engagement more. Okay?”
Rain huffed. “I am done discussing it, Uncle. If Kita’s siblings and parents understood my position and reasoning for the preposterous idea, then you will accept it as well. It isn’t as if we are sleeping together in a scandalous way or running off to get married. It’s just for the cameras and those I’m suck working with until I can wrap this stupid movie that keeps getting delayed. Promise.”
It wasn’t something Chairman Hu wanted to agree to, but she was giving him very little choice.
“For now I’ll honor your wishes, but we will discuss this more when you’re back,” he warned.
That was the best Rain would get for now.
“Love you, Uncle,” Rain said. “I’ll check in with you.”
Chairman Hu sighed. “Love you, too, Rain. Be safe,” he said before hanging up. “This is not going to end well for anyone,” he grumbled, fighting the urge the throw his phone against the wall in frustration.
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