If You

Trapped

Emily and Seunghyun sat at the long conference table, exchanging stories and laughing harder than Emily had thought possible. She felt brighter, like she could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Maybe I'll be okay after all, she thought, smiling at her new friend.

The door opened at the rest of the band filed into the room. Emily stood to greet them, only to be crushed in a bear hug from Daesung.

"Thank you for the dinner!" he said, squeezing her tightly. Emily patted his back awkwardly. "You're welcome," she gasped.

Daesung pulled back from the hug, only to plant a giant kiss on Emily's lips. Her surprise gave way to instinct and she slapped him. The room went quiet, Daesung's eyes widening in shock. Then, like a spell had been lifted, the rest of the band dissolved into gales of laughter.

"If you could see your face!" Youngbae gasped, tears pouring down his face.

Emily turned back to Daesung. "I'm really sorry," she said, embarrassed.

Daesung grinned, rubbing his cheek. "You were startled. I'm just glad you didn't kick me."

Emily smiled and sat down again, glancing at the others as they chose seats. Youngbae hadn't moved, still incapacitated by laughter. Seungri and Seunghyun were next to each other, trying to contain themselves. Jiyong sat on Seunghyun's other side, his mouth twitching in spite of itself.

At least they're laughing and not angry, Emily consoled herself.

*      *      *       *      *       *

Jiyong glanced at Emily across the table. I can't believe she just smacked Daesung like that, he thought. Part of him wanted to be upset, but the look of utter shock on Daesung's face was just too hilarious. Whatever. It's not that big of a deal.

He looked over at Seunghyun, who was still chuckling at Emily. Were they...hanging out earlier? Jiyong wondered.

Finally the laughter subsided and they all settled down. "So what happens at these meetings?" Emily asked, pulling out one of her many notebooks.

Must she always take notes? Jiyong thought irritably.

"This is where we plan stuff, like albums, music videos, appearances, even tours," Seunghyun replied. "We meet once every couple of weeks usually, unless we're touring."

"So what's coming up for you guys this time?" she asked, already writing.

"Probably some variety show appearances and interviews leading up to our new music video," Seungri replied. "That will drop...when exactly, Jiyong?"

Emily looked at Jiyong, pen poised above her paper. Her brown eyes watched him expectantly, as if he would say something profound at any moment.

He couldn't be more annoyed.

"Ten days," he said abruptly, looking away. He heard her pen scratch on the paper and he clenched his fist under the table.

You promised Sagowa you'd behave, he reminded himself. He felt Seunghyun nudge his foot and had to refrain from giving him a dirty look.

"Would it be okay if I made some recordings before the meeting starts?" Emily asked, pulling a voice recorder out of her satchel. "That way I don't have to scribble furiously."

Jiyong slammed his hand on the table. "Enough!" he barked. Everyone jumped in surprise.

"Is it not enough that you are constantly around us and scribbling endlessly? You have to record us too?!"

Emily was perfectly frozen, the voice recorder still in her hand.

Jiyong stood up suddenly. "Do you have no shame?!" he yelled. "You spend every waking moment with us and even sneak into our apartment when we aren't there, but that's not enough, is it? You have to have recordings!"

Emily blinked rapidly. "I didn't mean..."

"Mean to what, be an intolerable nuisance?" Jiyong demanded. "You may have everyone else under your spell, but you will never get anything from me! I refuse to share anything with a pushy, nosy woman like you!"

All of the air left the room after Jiyong finished his tirade. He could feel his pulse thudding as he stared at Emily. She didn't break eye contact, though he could see a film of tears forming.

Sagowa and his team came in, talking good-naturedly. Jiyong didn't move, waiting for Emily to respond.

Sagowa glanced at them. "What happened here?" he asked jovially, though his eyes showed concern.

Emily stood, still maintaining eye contact with Jiyong. She picked up her notebook and, without saying a word, gave a graceful bow before turning and leaving the room.

"What was that?" Sagowa asked again, less jovial now.

"That was completely uncalled for," Seunghyun said. "Go apologize."

"Apologize?" Jiyong couldn't believe his ears. "Don't tell me you're on her side!"

"In all the years I've known you, I've never seen you mistreat someone so outrageously," Seunghyun said, standing up. "Apologize."

"Jiyong, what did you do?" Sagowa demanded, looking directly at him.

"He...destroyed her," Seungri said, still in shock.

Sagowa shook his head. "I thought we talked about this!" he said, frustration infusing his voice. "You promised you would give her a chance!"

"I can't!" Jiyong snapped.

"This isn't about you!" Sagowa retorted. "This about BIGBANG. YG hired her to write this book and spent a lot of money to do so. Her job description is literally 'live with the band and write about their lives'. How is she supposed to do that when you're making her life a living hell?!"

Jiyong sat down and folded his arms. "We don't need a book," he said defiantly. "We're already one of the biggest, most successful groups in the industry. All of us sing, dance, rap, act, model and goodness knows what else. I refuse to have our last shred of privacy stolen by a writer!"

Sagowa closed his eyes tightly. "Do you know why YG hired Ms. Carter above the other candidates?" he asked, looking at Jiyong.

Jiyong shook his head.

"It's true, she's a talented writer and works for one of the biggest publishing houses in America. But that wasn't why we picked her."

The others sat up in their chairs, intrigued.

"I called her editor and asked her which of her writers she personally recommended for this job. She didn't hesitate to name Ms. Carter. 'Why?' I asked. 'Because she's genuine', she told me. She said that Ms. Carter was one of the most valued and trusted employees she had because of her loyalty and caring heart. 'She'll take care of them', she promised me. So I hired her - not just to write, but to be your friend."

Sagowa looked at the door. "Today, you spat in her face and threw her away. Up until now, she's been tolerant of you, but I don't know if even she would stay after that."

Jiyong shifted uncomfortably. Who said I needed a friend? He thought stubbornly. I have plenty of friends.

"I expect a huge apology from you, Jiyong," Sagowa said sternly, "and you're going to beg her to stay here."

He held up a hand before Jiyong could protest. "If you can't do that, I'll be forced to inform the executives that you insulted one of the most sought-after writers of the moment, and I can't promise what they'll do."

Everyone looked at Jiyong, waiting for his response. Jiyong felt trapped, like an animal on a cliff facing hunters.

Well, may as well jump and hope I survive, he thought. "Fine, I'll apologize tonight."

Sagowa nodded approvingly. "Good. See that you do."