CHAPTER 7: You Can't Escape It
HO-SEOK POV.
I woke up early, my head was brawling as I held onto it like a fucking bowling ball. Abruptly, I jumped out of bed straight to my small-sized fridge just to get myself a bottle of cold water when the door twisted, and Jimin peeked in.
"Good morning, I came to call you for breakfast since you skipped your dinner."
"Give me ten minutes please," I murmured groggily before dragging my feet to the bathroom.
Once I was done, I clad myself in some black loose-fit pants, a white turtle neck top with a black double closet jacket. Rummaging through my cologne, I began to apply different scents to my body.
I slide different rings on my fingers, adoring my neck with the most beautiful sterling silver chain, a golden bracelet, and a Rolex watch.
I moved to the mirror, picked up my long comb, and did a small styling on my head that left me in the tuft ponytail style.
Don't laugh please, I always do it for my Ex, restyling her lazy ass hair. I chuckled. Worst memory early this morning.
I slide my legs in my black combat boots.
Once I was done with my dressing routine, I picked up my designed backpack, phone, and ear-pod and left the room.
I was walking downstairs when I noticed HwangMin standing at the door, waiting for me I guess or should I say the punk was pulling the handle to leave.
"Sorry Hyung, I will reschedule the audition for next week. I have a fashion show to attend and also a serious case to defend this week." Jimin began immediately I took my seat at the dining table.
"Stop stressing yourself too much, Jiminah! The audition can wait until you are done, just choose the reliable ones and send them to Hobified T-Center for their training."
"Hyung I want you to do a handpick."
"The fuck, Jimin, you and I knew I don't have that time. The trainers at HOT-Center will handle them, I will visit them from time to time just to know how they are doing."
Well, I have well-furnished apartments for my first steps of training before sending you to Hobified T-Center Seoul to undergo the full training.
"Wanna talk about yesterday? Jimin fixed his eyes on me curiously.
"Not now, event will expose itself." I managed to smile.
I know he was curious about my last night's mood, but I would be the craziest person to tell him I saw Bella or should I say Kathryn Howard is Bella knowing fully well how her disappearance hurt and tortured him.
"When are you leaving for the show?
I managed to change the topic, I don't want anything that would remind me of Bella, but how could I when I was already dodging from hearing her name?
How can I dodge from something that was engraved in my mind?
"I'm leaving this evening." Jimin's voice snapped me back to my present self and I nodded. "Just be careful and take care of yourself.... " I reminded him..."HwangMin....." I called out, I wonder where that punk was.
The door cracked open and HwangMin rushed in and I stretched out my hands to receive my android Tablet.
After carefully cross-checking my schedules and seeing the activities there aren't important, I hissed, before handing it back to HwangMin.
"You can bring the boys today let me handpick since the schedules I have aren't that important....." I was telling Jimin when HwangMin's voice echoed in my ear.
"You have a meeting against your upcoming photoshoot with a K25 artist." HwangMin slowly relayed the information and I still.
K25 Label, I slowly turned around just to make sure I wasn't hearing things or overthinking.
"K25 Label? That's Kathryn Howard Label??? I slowly mouthed and he nodded. I was waiting for him to tell me it was just a joke but judging from the look in his eyes, it shows he wasn't joking.
"Why wasn't it in my schedule list?? I almost yelled at him but I managed to hold back myself.
"The company emailed it this morning, saying it is an important shoot."
"Tell Jason to handle it, I have other things to handle." I waved him off but he stood his ground which irked me the more.
I mean I don't want anything to do with Kathryn Howard, what did he mean by I have shot? Like when? How?
"Sir, K25 chooses you to take the shoots, since it is a promotion shoot."
"Why was I chosen? When? How? I asked loudly amidst irritation and Jimin could notice my sudden change of emotions.
"Sir, we seriously need those promotion shoots since our company is getting recognition in Canada and it will be such a wonderful opportunity to work with the Country's favorite superstars." Hwangmin go on and on just to convince me by then I was already losing my shit.
Just when I thought I was getting over it, here comes the devil plotting points. Why should I even have this shot? Why all of a sudden? There are things I love to avoid and these are one of them.
I could feel Jimin's eyes fixed on me and since I didn't want to get him involved especially now Kathryn Howard was involved, there was no way he wouldn't know if I managed to show him her picture. He will recognize her immediately, which means I have to distract him or else I might end up spilling the tea and opening an old wound.
I slowly dragged myself up."Okay Jiminah, have a sweet fashion show...." I smiled sweetly at him, and gently tapped him on the shoulder; before excusing myself with Hwangmin striding behind.
Once we got to the car, I hopped inside, my eyes closed tightly as I tried to think of a way to escape having anything to do with the K25 Label.
"When is the meeting? I asked him without opening my eyes.
"Today by 11 am." Hwangmin's voice was like a fucking knife on a chalkboard, the strength to process the information wasn't there again.
"When was this information decided on? Right now, I'm fucking angry, like I don't want anything to do with that record Label. Yes, the K25 Label has the most prestigious artist and they are influentially talented but I still don't want anything to do with them.
"According to Jason, K25 changed his mind immediately after he saw you on the stage. He said he was happy and trusted your talents and influential skills would give him the sales and target he was placed on." Hwangmin said and I hissed.
Money and capitalism are the Soul trade of every industry.
"Have they chosen which of their artists is having the shoots??
"Not yet, but according to Jason, Castle Madison, Payson Omolf, Klara Brudton, and Sabina Cruz are likely to be chosen," Hwangmin said and I breathed a relief after hearing the said names, that means there is nothing to be scared of.
We arrived at Hobified-Mind just when I was about to open the door, the flashlights caught my attention.
"Who the fuck gave the reporters access to my Company's premises? Shit! They came with K25. It's not even 11 am yet but that punk was already in my office.
"Use the back entrance," I instructed Hwangmin and Sus gladly obeyed.
Those reporters are just some miserable kind of species, always saying the meanest things just to get engagement. What a pathetic lifestyle. After what they did to me, who would allow them to get what they want?
Hwangmin pulled the car over and stepped down to open the car for me. I speedily leaned down and moseyed towards the entrance door, then entered the elevator with Hwangmin striding behind as usual.
Once I entered my office, I slouched down, didn't even take twenty minutes I entered my office, and I was interrupted by the office land ring.
It was the secretary informing me of K25's presence and patiently waiting for me. I asked her to let him in and also inform Jason to report to my office.
Ten minutes later, Jason and K25 entered my office, just a young gentleman in his middle thirties with that rasta called Jason.
Once they were seated, K25 went ahead to congratulate me on my winning the PAA Grand Award he even went ahead to say it was funny seeing his artist Kathryn Howard getting beaten by a rookie.
A rookie? Audacity must be on sale today because he did not just refer me as a rookie. I made that fraudulent star you boast of. I cussed mentally, gritting my teeth.
"After going through your fashion catalog, I concluded that you are the best superstar for this shoot, and having one of our best Kathryn Howard as your partner will be a great duo."
I saw my world crashing right before me the moment he mentioned who I was to get the promotion shoots with. I know this is some kind of joke and I needed it to be debunked with immediate effect.
Out of the four names Hwangmin mentioned earlier, none sounded like this nightmare I was hearing, I wonder how they managed to push her in or wait! Am I imagining things?
"Sorry, you are saying the shoots will be between me and who? I loomed closer, bringing my face a bit forward just to make sure I caught what he was saying.
"You and Kathryn Howard are the best duo for these shots." He said with a broad smile, and I scowled.
Regretting my life decision
He looked pleased, but who will tell him I fucking want to send him flying for smiling at such a thing as horrendous as what he just said? Who will tell him that the name Kathryn Howard is a pain in the ass? Who will tell him that the name he bragged of caused me years of sleepless nights? Who would??
Truly one man's food is another man's poison.
"Also, I was thinking about merging my company as a subunit under yours but that will be decided later after the shoots," K25 said but I adamantly stared at him.
"Don't even think of it." I cussed mentally
My thoughts messed up.
Jason handed me the contract papers, which I accepted and promised to go through it after the meeting and the shoots will be done later after a brief meeting, guess who gonna be there?
Things are about to get messy.