Worked Up

Jaehee's POV

The phone never stops ringing and every three seconds I hear the same thing:

Hi, This is A! News, calling to get the scoop on Jumin Han's sexuality...

Nextra here, we'd like an interview with Mr. Jumin Han regarding his grudge against women.

Ms. Kang! We've heard a lot about you here at VBS, would you mind a private interview regarding your boss, Mr. Jumin Han?

Haha, yeah, I-I'm not with any news agency but I'd like to hear it straight from the camel's mouth. Ahem... Does Jumin Han is gay?

I groan, answering them all with the same monotone reply, "Mr. Han and I currently aren't accepting any interview offers. If you have any pressing questions for Mr. Han, or myself, please leave a message and we will get back to when, or if, we see fit. Thank you."

I hang up on the last caller only to get another one within seconds.

It's going to be a long night, isn't it?

The phone keeps ringing as I lean back in my desk chair, pressing my fingers to my temples and sighing. I silence the phone by picking up the receiver and laying it on its side by the phone's base. The person on the other end chatters on and on, never stopping to notice I'm not even listening.

It's best not to answer these calls anyway. Just stay calm and wait until the rumor fades like all the others. Right now, there are other things to worry about...

Like Zen's career.

Echo Girl's got the media helplessly wrapped around her finger; they believe every word she says no matter how pathetic and over-victimized it sounds. She's practically the darling of the press and the people! If we aggravate her any further, who knows what else she'll do... Like she told Mr. Han when she visited, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Reputation is crucial in the acting industry, and with this alleged sexual assault? Things really don't look too good for Zen... His only chance might be... to quit.

No, there must be another way... But how else can this be resolved?

I refocus on the present when I hear the phone ringing again. But I thought it was left on call?

I glance back at the phone to see the receiver still lying on the table, the person on the other end still hasn't noticed I'm not listening. (... Moron.) Only then do I realize that it's my personal phone ringing. I fish it out of my desk drawer and see that Basil's calling.

Basil?

I answer without futher hesitation, "Hello?"

"Hi Jaehee..." She says softly. "Are you still at work?"

I sit upright and nod, even though she can't see me, "Yes. I'm still at work."

"Oh..." She sounds somewhat disappointed. "Sorry for bothering you then, I know it must be busy over there since Echo Girl's rumors."

"It's fine. There are so many calls that I've resorted to ignoring all of them. Besides, it's better to let this rumor fizzle out on its own rather than flare up the press with retaliation." I tell her. "Anyways, do you need anything?"

"... I-I just wanted to talk to you. A-About Zen's situation." She says, probably shifting in her seat based on how much muffled noise I'm receiving.

"I see. Zen's situation is far more difficult compared to Mr. Han's. I'm sure you're quite worried." I spin my chair away from the phone on my desk, just to be sure they don't overhear our conversation and think of it as "a new scoop".