228 The Shady Area
Dae was in a dilemma about whether to check his phone or just go in. He needed to check if Missmatch messaged him for a meeting. If she did, what time and place was she proposing? Was he going to get into another encounter in the car? He was in his thoughts when Chung-Ho came out.
“What are you doing? Everyone is waiting for you,” whispered Chung-Ho, angrily.
“Sorry, sorry, give me a minute. I think my wife messaged me,” replied Dae.
“Okay, just a minute. But come fast,” said Chung-Ho.
“Yes.”
Chung-Ho left him alone and went inside. Dae took out his phone and opened the SNS app. There was a DM from Missmatch replying to his message. She gave him an address. It had the name of a hotel with the room number. But there was no time mentioned. He started dreaming about what can happen inside a hotel room.
After reading the message, he looked up the distance of the hotel from the office. It would take around half an hour without traffic. He messaged her immediately and asked for the time. She replied that she was already in the hotel room waiting for him. She also asked him to take as much time as he needs, and she would wait for him.
A satisfied smile played on his face. He sighed and went inside the cabin. It received his answer as to who was ‘they’. ASD and Bong were seated inside while Chung-Ho kept standing near the door waiting for Dae.
“Sorry! I had to talk to my wife. Very sorry,” Dae apologised the moment he entered.
.....
“How is she now?” asked Bong.
“Doctors treated her burn and gave her some pain medication. She is taking the cab to home right now,” replied Dae.
“Do you want to leave as well?” asked Bong.
“No, no, let me give you an update and then I will run home,” replied Dae.
“And how is Ms. Rathod, Choi-ssi?” asked Bong.
“She has a hairline fracture. San Jae-Hwa is with her. I will ask for more updates later. But I know that she is getting a cast and doctors have said that she must not walk and be on bed rest for at least 4 days,” replied Chung-Ho.
“Ohh!”
“That was my fault, I am very sorry. This day is not mine. One mistake after another, I will do anything to make up to all of you and Nivritti. Please forgive me,” Dae immediately knelt down and apologised to everyone.
“That is not necessary, Seong-ssi. Please get up,” said Bong.
“But King was so angry at me,” sulked Dae. “He even grabbed my collar. And I deserved that, poor Ritti, I fractured her toe.”
“What? King!” asked Bong. He found that difficult to swallow. It was true that King cared for everyone and it was also true that he had legendary anger in him. But he never restored towards violence. His looks and his angry voice were enough for people to back off. He also had great control over his anger then what happened that he grabbed Dae’s collar? Why was his reaction so over the top?
“We all knew her toe was already injured. It was on the verge of healing and then he did that. He should have been more careful,” chided Kyung-Soo.
“Okay, okay, we all know, it was a mistake. No one wants to hurt anyone here. Choi-ssi, give her leave for a week and let her work from home,” announced Bong.
“What?” shouted Kyung-Soo. He was shocked and sad that he won’t get to see her if she does not come to the office. But the next second he realised how selfish he was acting. She needed rest. She needed to get better.
“What?” asked Bong, surprised. Why was he getting affected if she was getting a leave?
“I am just worried that when she comes back, I will have a heap of scripts to read,” lied Kyung-Soo.
“You can read her scripts on either Jae’s computer or Seong-ssi’s computer. All selected scripts go in your folder, remember?” informed Chung-Ho.
“Right! I forgot,” smiled Kyung-Soo.
“Okay, Seong-ssi, show us your numbers,” said Bong.
Dae placed his laptop on Bong’s table and opened the flap. The word file appeared on the screen. Bong noticed that it only had ten questions.
“Where are all the other categories that Nivritti had?” he asked.
“Before she could send her document, she was injured,” replied Chung-Ho.
“Ohh, okay. Go on!” said Bong.
Dae then gave them a little summary and the meeting was done within minutes. Bong looked at him, he thought he was again going to be scolded. He prepared himself for the reprimand.
“Well, your numbers improved but I want to see these numbers even more. We have been receiving the scripts in thousands every day. You all need to pick up the pace if you want to be done before Rencontre. I am not asking you to take your work home. You have been in this industry for years, so, can I hope that you have great reading speed. Or English is throwing you off?” asked Bong.
“No, sir, English is fine. I will increase my speed even more. I will not disappoint you again, I swear,” replied Dae.
“Okay! When Nivritti gets back from the hospital, ask for the document from her. Choi-ssi keep that document as a template for the future. And when you talk t her give her my regards,” said Bong.
“Yes, sir, I will do that,” replied Chung-Ho.
“Fine! You both can go. And remember, no talking to the press or media about Rencontre. We have one leak, I don’t want any more information going out in the world. ASD have their Live session on Sunday, nothing should impact that,” warned Bong.
“Of course, sir. I will talk with everyone and warn them, again, to not to anyone, not even their families and relatives. We don’t know who said what to whom,” replied Chung-Ho.
“Yeah, that is the issue. We don’t know who the leak was,” sighed Bong. “Boys! You guys need to sit with our PR and rehearse what you will be saying in your Live session. Now, we have to be extra careful. And as this is going to be a one-on-one session with your fans, they will definitely ask you about the scripts. Be stoic and political in your answers,” suggested Bong.
“We will sit down with PR, Hu-ssi,” assured Kyung-Soo.
“I will inform PR, they will contact you. Seong-ssi! Take care of your wife,” said Bong.
“Of course, Sir. Thank you, sir, I am very sorry for today,” Dae bowed and ran away from the room.
“How hard did he stomp on her foot that it fractured?” asked Bong, immediately after Dae left.
“Her foot was already injured, maybe that weakened her toe,” replied Korain.
“Hmm… okay let’s move on. Go, prepare for Sunday,” said Bong and everyone left his cabin.
When Chung-Ho reached the Script department, Dae had already left for the day. He knew that Dae was worried for his wife, so he didn’t give it another thought.
Dae meanwhile, ran downstairs and threw his bags in the passenger seat and opened the GPS on his phone. The address for the hotel was at some place he never visited in his life even though he had been living in Seoul all his life.
He kept following the GPS and almost after 25 minutes, entered a narrow lane. The street was dimly lit. All around he could see the small, dirty houses made of cheap wood. They didn’t even have any paints or packing around them to keep the house warm.
Red and blue neon lights outside the buildings signalled him that he was in an area that was full of cheap hotels and guest houses. A number of eateries were filled with drunk people and girls in skimpy-clad clothes.
He was getting scared and scared with every passing moment. “Is this address the correct one? I am at the right place? She would not come here. She is a famous, sophisticated girl, why would she come here? Am I getting murdered here? Should I go back? Oh, what should I do?” Even though the AC in his car was turned on, he was sweating profusely.
Suddenly his phone rang, and he let out a shriek in fear. He flinched away from his phone but then controlled himself and looked at his phone. He was getting an audio call on his social media app. He picked up the call and Missmatch’s voice streamed in, “did you leave your office?”
“Yeah, and now I am in a shady neighbourhood. Did you send me the correct location?” gulped Dae.
Missmatch immediately started laughing. “Don’t worry, you are on the right path. This is the only place I can meet with people without anyone following me. No one comes to this filthy area. It is famous for drugs, prostitution, drunken brawls, not even police respond to this place on the first call.”
“But what if someone sees you here?” asked Dae.
“The hotel you are coming to is the start of a different street. It does not come under that den of crime. And also, I own the hotel. So, don’t worry, just come here,” replied Missmatch.
“Okay, GPS is showing five more minutes. I will be there,” said Dae.
“See you then,” said Missmatch and disconnected the call.
