Suho and the sea

Seventeen

Two months later

My summer was cut short and sort of ruined. I had the most magical night with Junmyeon, and the next thing to happen is that 5 am I wake up to my phone buzzing, the management company wanted me to come in early and fill in for someone who had been in an accident. I was going on the first flight possible on the same day to New York to meet up with a band called Red Velvet. I texted Kevin to let him know what was happening, and I texted my former boss to leave his house sooner than planned. And it never occurred to me that I never got any of the boys' numbers. But it wouldn't have mattered, I was thrown into something I was new too, and just trying to manage the girls as well myself. It was a big challenge. Plus, I got a new phone with a unique number. I was given the freshest of starts.

I've spent about five days back in Korea; it seems like time has been erased and refreshed. Ever since I landed, Lee has texted and called, he has invited me for dinner, and when I haven't had the time, so he kept dropping off food for me.

I'm confused; I'm not quite sure where I'm at in my life. Working with RV has been good for me, though, and becoming a substitute manager for red velvet was more than I could ever dream of. But since we returned me, I'm still living out of my suitcase and spend most of the time at the RV dorm, and I haven't even been to the sm's headquarters yet. Today will be my first time there since I got hired. Lee drops me off at the entrance and smiles as he pats my hand.

I know he wants to try again. I know he has these dreams about starting fresh and builds the life he/we dreamed for us. But the only feelings I really have for him are friendly, but I can't seem to convince him that that's the case. He just got his dream job in broadcasting as a tv host. He's fresh meat for sure, but he's rising to fame quickly. He's already tried to persuade me to become his manager instead. I've come to terms this short time that I'm actually good at this, which annoyed me because I spent four years in university—studying something completely different.

As I sign in at the front desk and is handed my credentials, I'm not really aware of my surroundings. But being distracted further was caused by Yeri and Wendy, who hook their arms with mine: "Unni." They smile as they walk me to the elevator: "We don't like this," they say as we step inside the elevator, I know I'm most likely to be assigned to something else, and the girls and myself included had a cry fest about it last night. The elevator is almost crowded, and Yeri suddenly screams out in laughter, "BAEKHYUN." She helps as she turns and throws her arms around his neck and hugs him making them both laugh.

"You girls finally back?" He smiles at her, I feel out of place the talents are very close, and I'm just someone managing them. Yet the girls made me feel like their friend more than their guardian of sorts.

As they talk and the doors open and I need to step out the girl instantly follow me pulling the male with them: "Baekhyun, this is our sub-manager instead of Yoon, she broke her foot in the states, and we got this pearl of life as a sub, she's the best, Lily" I laugh as Wendy introduces me, and wave my hands in front of me: "No, no I didn't do much." I say, and the girls whine: "It's a lie." They laugh, and I smile: "Stop it, okay, I didn't do that much." Baekhyun smiled at me and extended his hand: "Noona, it's a pleasure to meet you. I must admit, you're face matches your name; it's pretty." He chuckled, and Yeri hit him over the arm: "Such a creep." She shook her head and laughed.

"Why are you here now?" Yeri asked, and Baekhyun smiled: "We have a meeting today, so we are here for that." He smiled; "Aww, my Oppas!" Wendy said with a wide smile. "It was nice to meet you, but I have to go. "I smile as I walk off in the direction I've been told to go, as I do I feel a text causing my phone to vibrate and smiles as I see Min-ah wanting to meet up later. As I reach my boss's boss's office, I knock on the door.

"Lily." The man almost shouts happily. I sit down, confused about what's going on: "Well, you saved our ass with flying to New York and meet up with the girls." He said, sitting down, "You know you were just filling in for Yoon, right?" The CEO said, and I nod: "Yeah..." I say and about to talk, but he cuts me off; "You're going to be assigned to another band, I know the girls really wanted you to stay, but there aren't any spots for you, I'm sorry." He says playing with a fountain pen. "I didn't even know the girls had said anything-" I say apologetically.

"They weren't why you got hired sadly." I nod, it's the first time I actually take a look around the room, we are quite high up, and the walls to my left is almost only glass. The place is immaculate, and the decor is exceptionally stylish. The Ceo, whose name is Simon, is very intimidating. The fact that I have to talk to him instead of my actual boss is scary. But it was through Simon I got hired, well Bailey my old boss, recommended me to Simon. And here I am. 

"Another band under the SM company will be needing a new manger from today and forward." Simon has an intimidating way over him as he speaks, he has a power behind his voice so listening to it is hard not to: "Actually the assigned day was suppose to be your first day but you were so kind to fill in for Yoon," He smiled but his smile never reaches his eyes and I nod: "Well, I've been given less to no information so whatever you say, goes I guess." I shrug, I really did enjoy working with red velvet but I knew it wasn't for forever; "Well that's my bad for sure, I just asked them to have you fill in, we were suppose to meet six weeks ago, when you were suppose to start, instead we had you start working about two weeks early," Simon said, leaning back in his chair. "I don't mind, but I was called, given a job, and I still don't know what I'm hired for." I laugh but it was a nervous laugh and it feels like Simon caught onto that. "Bailey talked warmly about you, and when I heard what happened at your former job, I had no choice but to hire you." Simon said but he cleared his throat; "I didn't hire you for the incident, Bailey kept recommending you, and when I heard you were desperate for a new job, and Bailey kept saying you would go fast, if we didnt grab you.." Simon realised his words making me laugh. "She told me what happened to you, I know it was most private incident, but..." He says being awkward now. I hadn't told Bailey, but my psychologist had me write it down, and hand it to the person I most likely trusted the most at my old job, and it was Bailey who had already quit and Adam, my later boss.

"We dont have to talk about it." I say and tries to drop the subject: "I have infromed Tad about the situation, who will be your direct boss,  he's the main manager, for Exo." I watch him slightly confused: "Exo?" I ask and Simon nods; "Exo's in despreate need of a new manager." I watch him confused; "Exo is a band?" I ask and he raised his eyebrow and scoffs; "Yes, one of the bigger groups we have here." Simon said; "Because there are so many members, you'll most likely handle Loey and Beakhyun." I look at him wide eyed like these names will mean shit to me. 

"We should go through your contract, with your pay, you'll be the on call manager too, so you'll be living at the house." I tilt my head and frown: "What do you mean?" I asked confused. "We need a manager on site, for accident, care etc, you'll be living for free, but your day off might not always be a day off in return." He says looking through a bunch of papers: "So your saying I have to live with the band?" He simply nods: "Why me?" I question: "Because you're the only single manager, ontop of that, they boys will most likely behave with you there." I frown: "What makes you think that?" I ask feeling slightly overwhelmed with the thought of a bunch of men living in the same house as me. "Because they were raised right." I sigh and nods; "Here is the contract, read this over." Simon says and hands me a folder. I start reading it through and nod as I agree to both pay and working agreements, after all the pay is really good to what I expected and on top of that, I can save a shit ton rent. I sign the papers after I read the most of it and handed it over to him: "I'll have my secretary send over the contract to the house." And my eyes widen; "You want me to move in now?" I question and he shrugged; "The sooner the better." He replied as I sigh and nods again.

"I'm going to introduce them to you now," Simon says and stands up and I feel so out of it: "Now?" I ask as he chuckles: "Yes, I have them all here to meet you before they all head off again." He said and opens the door for me, "And all the schedules and information will be handed to you tomorrow, by Tad." He said as we step into an elevator that takes us down two floors: "So let's just meet the boys." I smile as he opens a random door and steps inside; "Boys here is your new live-in manager!" I don't see them at first but when he speaks my eyes adjust to the much brighter room: "Boys, meet Lily Crown, Lily meet the boys." And it's when my eyes locks with his, my heart drops.