Bab 29: A messy situation
Ji-ho was surrounded by hypocrites and sycophants who had thrown stones at her but were now fawning over her because Sun Young-mi was going places from here on. The competition had garnered a huge amount of publicity for all the participants but it was the winner who took home the grand prize.
"Young-mi, let's add each other on Koka chat," an upcoming actress said to her during the after-party that S.S. was hosting.
"I'm not on it," Ji-ho lied. A male pop star slithered to her side and suddenly she wanted to go home and eat ramen while watching a romance drama.
"We should collaborate, Young-mi," the pop star suggested with a smirk. "Why don't we exchange numbers?" He was handsome but not her type because Ji-ho was, in reality, older than the boy who looked like he was about eighteen years old.
"You'll have to ask the boss," she politely replied. On cue, Lee Tae-Hyun arrived to extract her from the sticky celebrities who wouldn't take no for an answer.
Tae-Hyun's stylish pink blazer was gone but he still looked fetching in his white shirt. Trailing not far behind him were two blushing girls. Ji-ho suspected they were newly signed singers under S.S. who were crushing on the handsome and talented producer.
"Boss, you said you'd treat me to something nice if I won," Ji-ho loudly told him. Lee Tae-Hyun had been wanting to leave without seeming rude so this gave him an opportunity to do just that.
"I had forgotten all about the promise," he replied while smoothly inserting his tall form between Ji-ho and the young man who had been bothering her. "Let's go before the place closes down."
Iris was nursing a glass of something alcoholic as she watched the interaction between Tae-Hyun and Young-mi. She rolled her eyes before tipping back the glass entirely. It was her fifth drink and Iris was high on outrage and the liquid courage that ran in her veins. She tossed the empty glass, shattering it against the wall and catching the attention of everyone in her vicinity.
Lee Tae-Hyun and Ji-ho turned to look at why the room had suddenly become less noisy. They weren't surprised to see it was Iris who was causing a commotion. The young woman strutted up to Sun Young-mi and stared at her with a contemptuous smile.
"Iris," Lee Tae-Hyun said with polite warning in his tone. "You're drunk. I'll have a guard escort you home."
"Producer Lee, boss, sir," she said with bitterness. "I haven't done anything to Jessica so why are you trying to chase me away? I deserve to be here just as much as she does."
"Then stay," he coolly replied. INO was about to switch out its leader and Iris had no idea. Lee Tae-Hyun glanced at Ji-ho like he was telling her to follow him. She felt the awkwardness stewing in the atmosphere and hurriedly chased after the exiting man.
"Hold it, Jessica! You whore! I know you're having an affair with my boyfriend!" Iris began screaming, drunk and humiliated. "You stole him from me!"
Ji-ho was getting second-hand embarrassment for Iris. How could she be so idiotic and cause a scene like that when Lee Tae-Hyun was obviously very annoyed by her earlier provocation. And how ironic it was that Iris was accusing her of the crime of boyfriend stealing. She hadn't ever met anyone so shameless and narcissistic.
"Please escort miss Iris home," Lee Tae-Hyun told a few bodyguards of the company who were near the door.
The attendees of the after-party were enjoying the free drama that Iris was manufacturing. Had Sun Young-mi really stolen Iris' boyfriend? They'd all seen the video of Blue and Jessica during Dan-bi's birthday party so it seemed like there was a strong probability of it being true. Regardless, the truth didn't matter to them. They were like sharks circling some fighting prey.
"Boss, can you let go of my hand, please?" Ji-ho asked the irritated Tae-Hyun with a small smile.
He hadn't realised that he'd grabbed her hand. The producer looked down with surprise at where he was holding her wrist, but he sensed that Sun Young-mi was about to confront Iris and thus he refused to let go.
"Please, I have to defend myself or the rumours will get out of hand again," she pleaded. "I won't beat her up or anything..."
Lee Tae-Hyun couldn't imagine the delicate-looking girl beating up anyone. Sun Young-mi had plenty of inner strength and she had demonstrated it in spades when the anti-fans had attacked her relentlessly. Anyone else her age would have been broken down by the relentless personal attacks on her reputation. But could she really beat up Iris?
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," he softly told her as he let go of her fragile-looking wrist.
Ji-ho nodded briefly and turned around to walk up to the hysterical Iris. The singer was beautiful, had a lot of singing talent, and loads of fans following her, but her rotten personality and bratty behaviour were pushing her down a path of no return. Ji-ho had a feeling that after this night, Lee Tae-Hyun would be taking strong action against her.
"Iris," she said to the drunk singer. "Let's not get the facts mixed up. Your boyfriend is a pervert who stalked me at Dan-bi's party."
"Liar," Iris hissed. "He would never-"
"There was even a witness to it. I have proof of what he tried to do to me."
The pink-haired girl appeared shaken. For a moment she lost momentum and stared at Ji-ho like she was afraid.
"If you have proof then why haven't you shown it, hm?! Go file a case against him for sexual harassment then," Iris sneered. "You think I'll fall for your bluff?!"
Ji-ho wasn't angry anymore. She just felt really sad for Iris. The singer wasn't just arrogant, she was dumb and arrogant, a deadly combination that tended to bring about the downfall of those sitting on their ivory towers.
"Someday, you'll look back at this moment and realise how foolishly you acted," Ji-ho told her calmly. She was building up a mountain of evidence against the couple and had enough material to send them both behind bars. "Good night, Iris."
_____
"Boss, was Iris always like this?" Ji-ho turned to ask Lee Tae-Hyun. She was seated shotgun in the car he was driving.
"No. The fame got to her head," he replied. "I'm sorry you had to deal with her temper on your special night." There was a pause before he asked her a question. "Did Blue assault you?" His words came out soft and mirrored the concern in his eyes.
"He tried," Ji-ho answered. "I'd love to say that I fended him off but it was someone else who came to my rescue."
Lee Tae-Hyun turned to glance at her before looking back to the road again. There was no traffic and their drive was smooth.
"You need a better apartment. And a security guard."
Ji-ho smiled. Not everyone was lucky to work for such a caring boss.
"Ah- don't worry about it," she responded. "I'm sure Blue has learnt an important lesson."
Tae-Hyun doubted that. His doubts would be proven true soon enough.
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