Chapter 030
Two weeks passed.
During that time, we were so busy dealing with one meeting after another and handling the tasks assigned to each of us that we barely had time to breathe.
“Wait, shouldn’t the fuel cost be paid separately?”
“It says in the contract that the fuel cost is included.”
“Come on~ Giback, why are you being so strict about this?
Normally, this is something people just take care of unofficially.”
“Then I’ll ask the manager.”
“No, do you really have to ask Manager Baek about that too?
Forget it!
How petty.
Then at least process the cost of the meal we had today!”
“Give me the receipt.”
“Ah, I threw away the receipt···.
Just make a simple receipt for roughly the amount.”
“From now on, if you don’t have a receipt, I absolutely won’t process it.”
Every day, there were arguments between the staff who were trying to squeeze out every last penny and me, who represented the company and couldn’t carelessly approve even a single penny.
But I found this work interesting because it allowed me to understand the overall flow of money.
Meanwhile, Director Park Junbeom, who had initially shown interest when Choi Moonho said he would cast Lee Kyung-hoon, continued to postpone the meeting.
Whether it was because he still had lingering feelings about actor Park Jung-ho or because of his loyalty, even when Producer Choi Moonho said he would arrange a meeting immediately, Director Park kept making one excuse after another and delaying it.
For me, this was actually a good thing.
Because if Lee Kyung-hoon really ended up being confirmed as the lead of this movie··· once the contract was signed, there would be no turning back.
I was trying to figure out some way to show Han Taesung or Director Park the true nature of Lee Kyung-hoon.
Just when my head was starting to ache from thinking about all these things, I got into the elevator to go to the rooftop and get some fresh air.
However, Han Taesung, the CEO, was already inside the elevator.
“Oh, Min Giback.
Long time no see.
How’s the work?
Can you handle it?”
It was our first face-to-face meeting in nearly two weeks since we had exchanged a brief greeting on my first day at work.
Even though our offices were on different floors of the same building, I rarely ran into CEO Han Taesung.
“Ah, yes.
I’m doing my best to keep up.”
“Seeing you going to the rooftop, do you smoke?”
“No.
I quit.
I just wanted to get some fresh air···.”
“That’s good.
You know, smoking is completely useless···.
I also smoked when I was in the army without knowing any better···.”
It was while CEO Han Taesung was going on and on about how useless smoking was that something suddenly occurred to me.
‘Right, the bet···.
Maybe I can use that as an excuse to create an opportunity!’
Without hesitation, I went straight for it.
“CEO, if you have some time, would you like to have a cup of coffee with me?”
“Now, what is it you wanted to say?
You weren’t really asking me to have coffee just for the sake of coffee, were you?”
CEO Han Taesung sat across from me with a cup of coffee between us, staring at me with a mischievous expression.
I had been planning to suggest that if I won our bet, instead of getting 0.1 percent of the company’s shares, we should go to a room salon together.
But once I was actually sitting face-to-face with CEO Han, I began worrying about what he would think of me if I brought that up.
So, I couldn’t bring myself to say it easily.
After thinking for a moment, I finally opened my mouth.
“There’s something I’m curious about.”
“Something you’re curious about?
Go ahead.”
“Is there a particular reason you chose Producer Choi Moonho as the main producer?”
“A particular reason?
Why do you think there would be a special reason?”
“Actually··· in a situation like this, wouldn’t it be more natural for Manager Baek Seonghan to become the main producer?
Manager Baek already has enough experience and ability to make his directorial debut.
Besides, he has been working together with the director since the planning stage.
But CEO, you deliberately brought in Producer Choi Moonho, who is the team leader of another team.
That made me wonder···.”
I paused for a moment before continuing.
“Let me ask you directly.
Did Producer Choi Moonho make some kind of deal with you regarding the casting of actor Lee Kyung-hoon?”
Han Taesung blinked several times, seemingly caught off guard by my unexpected question.
Then he burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha.
A deal, huh?
Yes, there was a deal.
But that wasn’t everything.”
“You mean that wasn’t the only reason···?”
“Manager Baek is too soft-hearted.
Because of that, he has a tendency to accommodate Director Park too much.”
Balance was important in the relationship between a movie producer and a director.
Especially when dealing with directors who were ambitious about their projects and had perfectionist tendencies, constantly giving in to their demands would inevitably lead to budget overruns and problems with the production schedule.
That was why producers couldn’t be too close to the director, nor could they be dragged around by the director.
“But Producer Choi is someone who can become thoroughly ruthless when it comes to his own interests.
And now he says he’ll even bring Lee Kyung-hoon.
Why would I have any reason to refuse?”
“I see···.”
“But is that really what you were curious about when you asked to meet me alone?”
For some reason, I felt that it was a good thing I hadn’t brought up the room salon.
There would probably be another opportunity later···.
“Yes.
That was what I was curious about.
Thank you for the coffee.
Then I’ll be going.”
Just as I was getting up from my seat, the door suddenly flew open, and a familiar face appeared inside the CEO’s office.
‘Huh···?
Han Hyeju···??
Wait, but why is Han Hyeju here···?!’
“Hyeju, what brings you here?”
“Uncle, why don’t you ever answer your phone?
Did I really have to come all the way here myself?!”
‘W-Wait!
What is going on right now··· uncle···?
Th-then, Han Hyeju is Han Taesung’s niece?!!’
For a moment, I was stunned by Han Hyeju’s sudden appearance.
