he paints with lies ❆ kookmin

18

February 4th 2020

"So... you're saying that you'd agree to all of our demands?" The furrow of her eyebrows is so slight that it is barely visible. It is the only clue to what goes on inside of her mind, and Jimin immediatley labels it as being unconvinced; distrust.

She needs clarification. "All of it?"

Jimin casts a glance at Jungkook's father, urging him to accept, with a seemingly indifferent expression. They cannot let her know that they have no intention of signing this bullshit.

"Yes, and you can be certain we'll follow the contract to a T. Though, if you have any worries you can always chat with our lawyer. That's... Jimin-ssi's father, for your reference," Mr Jeon said with a tilt of his head towards Jimin, as he looked through the contract briefly.

As he looked up again, his gaze met hers; the journalist that had forced them to Daegu.

"Of course, I take for granted that you've realised no collaboration will be made with your newspaper from now on," he continued, as he picked the ink pen up from the table and pressed his thumb to the button. "Nothing about it is stated in the contract, but I suppose you understand why we'd refrain from it.

"It's such a shame really, collaborations are usually very beneficial for both parties. But, considering," he said with a nonshalant wave of his hand.

Mr Jeon gave her a small smile, and Jimin watched how her jaw clenched as soon as Mr Jeon cast his gaze down to the contract. The ball of the pen only graced the paper, above the line where Mr Jeon was about to sign his name, before she broke.

"Wait," she said, her voice tense. "What could you offer?"

Mr Jeon hummed as if in thought. "Well, if we were to do this my way, we could offer you monopoly of information about Jungkook's way to taking over the company. First hand information, interviews. Perhaps even on his private life, his partner."

She seemed to struggle with withstanding the offer. It was a profitable deal for the newspaper, especially in the long run. "And what is it you gain from this, may I ask?"

Jimin sat up straighter in his seat. "Well, we'd like to ensure that we have someone in the media on our side. Instead of creating a bad relationship though this," he said with a pointed look towards the contract, "we could form a good relationship where we both profit from The Degau Shinmun's articles. Obviously we should make a contract to ensure that neither of the parts are disappointed later on."

She nodded, "Alright, let's rewrite the contract briefly then. I have another appointment in a few hours though, so we better get started."

 
ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ- 

Jaehyeong shook his head in disbelief as they existed the building through the spinning glass doors. "I can't believe that your idea worked that well."

Jimin glanced his way, and as their eyes met, they both let out chuckles of exhaustion and relief.

"Goodness, Jimin. What an idea. The poisoned berries..."

"I told you she'd comply more easily when she felt like she held the strings. With the way she orchestrated this whole deal from the start, I'd say she feels the need for control. We needed to avoid that side of her though. I'd take her for the kind of person that presses until you can't breathe, and takes what you have before you can fight back."