Circles and Circles || Jensoo

Chapter 3

Jisoo watched the brunette strum the guitar while her soulful tune filled the studio. It reminded her so much of Jennie, she could barely breathe. But this wasn't Jennie. She knew that right away. She would have known Jennie from a mile away, from a scent, from a flash of an image. This girl reminded her of Jennie as she knew her ten years ago, when they had first met. The voice was melodic and powerful, but it wasn't Jennie's.

Jisoo shivered slightly and stood back. She listened to the music as it melted away, and found her eyes fixed on the young girl who put down her guitar and turned around. Jisoo found herself staring at one of the cutest girls she had seen in a long time. Her hair was auburn-tinged, Jisoo realised, now that she could see it better in the light. Her smile, crooked though it was, seemed to light up her face. She seemed to possess a warmth that Jisoo found herself absorbing.

The brunette came through the door to the sound engineer's booth, jeans slung low on her hips, her halter top showing just a hint of stomach. Jisoo felt her insides lurch sideways. She quickly pushed her thoughts in a less-distracting direction. This girl looked like she was barely past jail bait age.

Get a grip, Jisoo, she thought.

Rosé stepped forward, her hands reaching out to the musician.

"Ella, Ella, that was fantastic. You're sounding just amazing." She pulled the girl over to Jisoo, and introduced them. "Ella, this is Jisoo, the artist we've been talking about. Jisoo, this is Ella, our new prodigy." The raven haired smiled smoothly.

Jisoo reached out and shook the young girl's hand. "Pleased to meet you".

To her surprise, a flush fell across the young girl's face. She looked at the ground, shyly. "It's an honour."

Jis looked taken aback. "It's... it's no honour," she replied, laughingly. "Your music is amazing."

Ella looked pleased. Jisoo felt a tug at her mouth as she smiled, almost involuntarily. There was something about this girl that Jisoo really liked. She found herself quite irritated when Rosé stepped in, all business, to bring Jisoo's attention back to more mundane matters.

"Ms Kim, if you'd like to step this way, we have a proposal we would love to run past you." The raven haired's emphasis on the word 'love' rubbed Jisoo up the wrong way.

The more she spent time around Rosé, the more she found her fake. She shrugged it off. Sometime in the last few days, since the arrival of Ms Park, Jisoo had found her emotions in turmoil. She wasn't sure if she was happy that she wasn't numb, or completely thrown. She tried to get a hold on her feelings.

"By all means, Ms Park. And again, it's Jisoo, please."

The icy raven haired smiled. "Rosé."

Soon Jisoo found herself seated at a large oval table, in what could only be the boardroom of the company. Rosé and Ella were the only two vaguely-familiar faces at the table. There were two men in bland business suits and another young woman who, by the laptop she had in front of her, Jisoo could only assume was the administrative assistant. So, this must be their pitch. Jisoo still had no idea what she was doing here, or what the heck they wanted her to do.

Rosé was clearly in charge.

"Ms Kim, what we ask from you is really quite simple. Ella here is our newest singer, and her debut record is something we expect to be spectacular." Ella blushed and looked down at the desk.

Jisoo had the overwhelming urge to take Ella by the hand and take her somewhere where she could actually breathe. Jisoo had never felt at home in meetings like this and it took no great insight to tell that the young musician was completely uncomfortable. Jisoo somehow felt vaguely reassured by her urge to mother the young girl; at least it wasn't an inappropriate emotion.

"From the little I've heard of Ella's music, I don't think you need to be worried about that," replied Jisoo.

"Well, we think that you would be the right person to market her," Rosé smiled.

Jisoo sat looking confused, if not slightly stunned. "I'm not a marketing agent. I'm an artist, an illustrator," she pointed out.

"What we have in mind for this marketing campaign is something... different. We don't need the same old photos and paraphernalia. We would like you to design all the angles for us: the album cover, the inserts, posters, everything."

Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "I've never done anything like this before. I'm not even sure what you're after, or if I'm the right person to produce it."

"Actually, Ms Kim, our orders are to let you guide this project as you feel best. Having seen some of your work, we think that the concept of a completely-illustrated campaign will be refreshing."

Jisoo wasn't quite sure how best to respond and so continued to voice her uncertainty. "I'm really not sure if I can give you what you need."

"Ms Kim, I assure you that all you have to do is draw. We'll tell you what marketing tools we're planning on using. You can have as much artistic license as you please, and we'll implement them. We have a great deal of faith in your work."

Jisoo somehow knew that her protests were going to go nowhere. And she also knew that she was going to say yes. It was crazy. This was not her normal kind of job. She had no idea what she was going to do, and had no idea why she was saying yes.

"Okay, I'll do it. But Ella has to have input." She surprised herself with that one.

"Of course," Rosé agreed warmly. Jisoo kept her eyes on the young musician, and returned the smile she got.

Ella's grin grew.

"I've seen some of your drawings. I loved them. I can see why Jennie wanted you on this project."

A silence descended upon the room. Jisoo stared at the young girl, oblivious to Rosé's sudden attempts to end the meeting without speaking.

What had Ella just said?

* *©clomle44* *