Page 38 of Idol Lives
Jason quietly sighed, the sound heavy with a weariness he hadn’t even admitted to Tae Hyun. But the time was coming when he’d soon have to.
“I’ve gotta say, this view is much better than your old office.”
Jason turned to Seong Woo, sitting to his right. “This isn’t my office.”
Seong Woo chuckled. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“It would be distracting if I wasn’t already elbow-deep in this shit,” Naomi remarked from her desk behind them. “Honestly, I’m starting to think Gerald had such a big office so he could keep a bed in here.”
Jason snorted. “You assume my father ever slept.” He swiveled his chair to face Naomi. “Could you at least come sit with us? I’m already feeling weird enough about this without you staring at the back of my head.”
“Seriously, Jason?” Naomi bitterly laughed. “After all the shit you’ve been through in the last year, this meeting makes you nervous?”
“I didn’t say nervous.” Jason knew his sharp tone was too defensive. “I said weird. And I don’t get the point of all this scheming. If you don’t like him, why don’t you just fire him?”
Naomi shook her head, a hint of frustration in her frown. “It’s not that simple. For one, it’s not a matter of liking him. David was your father’s right-hand man. He’s powerful. He’s directly involved in or in control of too many important projects. Firing him without getting him to let go of that power first could seriously damage the company.”
Jason frowned, understanding even without completely understanding. “But isn’t letting him stay risking even more damage?”
“I hear you,” Seong Woo offered. “But Naomi’s right. Your father’s corporate structure was very top-heavy.”
Jason smirked. “That’s what he–”
“Don’t,” Naomi sharply cut in.
Jason dramatically rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“So,” Seong Woo continued, “even though Naomi sits at the top, people like David still have a lot of power.”
“Maybe,” Jason tentatively agreed, still not convinced. “But my father would’ve just fired him.”
“Your father would’ve ruined him,” Naomi added, dark and foreboding, “and then he would’ve run him out of town. But I’m not him.”
Jason chuckled. “None of us are.” He huffed. “Alright. Run the plan by me one more time so I don’t fuck it up.”
Seong Woo nodded. “It’s simple,” he began, explaining the plan they’d previously discussed. He’d claim to be in town as his father’s representative for the Imperative Group to discuss a possible partnership with Brightstar. It made sense, given Jason’s existing relationship with Seong Woo. David wouldhave no reason to suspect anything was fishy. “And we’ll use the opportunity to reel in David’s cooperation,” he continued. “But there won’t ever be a real partnership, so it’s really a red herring.”
Jason grinned. “Now I want sushi.”
Seong Woo chuckled. “Sorry, that was a lot of seafood metaphors. But you get it, right?”
Jason reluctantly nodded. “I do. It just seems needlessly risky. What if he catches on?”
“It is risky,” Seong Woo agreed. “But the risks are calculated, and the need is real.”
“And there’s nothing to catch,” Naomi added. “We’ll have a genuine conversation about partnering on a project.”
Jason nodded, not satisfied but knowing it was the best he’d get from them. “Fine. Let me get into character.” He shared a wry grin. “I’ll be playing the son of a wildly successful business mogul with no idea what’s going on.”
Naomi laughed. “It’s the role you were born for.”
“Ms. Bell?” Justice’s voice echoed over the intercom. “Mr. Soh is here.”
Naomi’s smile tightened, cold steel replacing the previous warmth. “Send him in, please.” She turned to Jason and Seong Woo, shifting into full professional mode. “Alright. It’s showtime.”
The door opened, and David Soh entered, his usual unbothered confidence masking whatever apprehension simmered beneath the surface. Jason was impressed despite himself. David had received a thorough thrashing from Naomi just the day before, yet there he stood, seemingly unfazed. That carefully cultivated composure had to come from his years working under Gerald Park’s thumb. His gaze swept the room,settling on Seong Woo with a hint of recognition.
“Mr. Cho,” David said, extending a hand. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we were at grad school together.” There was a subtle desperation behind the question, David fishing for validation from this powerful player.
