Alexandra Verlino

Ep 22: The Meeting

I took a deep breath before stepping closer to the very familiar building. Jung Soo is with me. He is still half clueless about my ultimate plan. Ji Yong was really against this, but he doesn't have a choice when I told him that I will be fine, and they will leave me alone when they find out my blood test does not have any specialty. At least that's what I believe in. My mother was told only this morning before I came to this place. There was a non-approval tone in her voice, but knowing she couldn't do anything to stop me, I hope she can just pray for my safety. Another breath later and we both are already inside the ground floor elevator, waiting to go up to meet Soo Hyang first before we move together to meet the shareholders and board of directors. For the first time, I really want to see the face of the main guy who was behind all this. Well, they might be a certain group of people rather than just one enormous powerful entity. Nevertheless, facing them now front to front will make it much easier to go through hell than just fighting their pawns and black knights.

I stop breathing for a moment when I stand in front of Soo Hyang's door. It feels like yesterday when he kicked me out and we ended in not so nice terms with each other. I wonder why he is helping us now. If I could guess, helping me must have been a benefit on his side. Or else, he, like the other piranhas, would be eager to kick people out from here so they can have a better grip on their position in the company. Soo Hyang's face looks swollen, but he tries to smile while welcoming us both inside. I let Jung Soo lead the way as I am still hesitating on his kindness.

Jung Soo stops to take a seat on one of the new glossy brown couches in the room. Soo Hyang then sits in front of him, on his special chair he has for himself. They are separated by a long rectangular table. I wanted to take a seat beside Jung Soo, but the space is too small, so I move back and sit on the chair on the left, facing both of them sideways. It really wasn't a good position, as I am obviously awkward with this. Soo Hyang opens up a few files and hands them to Jung Soo. Again, I am left hanging in the middle. Like I wasn't important and wasn't supposed to be there. Jung Soo takes the files, reads a few pages, and then looks at me while handing them. I took them quickly, so the papers won't slip from the files. As I started to read them, Jung Soo gets a call, so he excuses himself from the room. Now this is really awkward. I pretend to focus on reading the words printed on the paper, but my mind is totally blank, that I have to re-read them thrice to understand what the content is about. This is the contract that Super Junior has with SM! What has this got to do with what we are discussing today? It wasn't supposed to be about them, it was supposed to be about me! I frown at Soo Hyang with fierce eyes combined. Within a second, I throw the files on the table in front of me.

"Stop merging my problem with them! I came today to discuss about myself! Not them! Let them go!" I half scream the words at him. My eyes almost produced tears from it.

I hold it really well inside of me. Soo Hyang doesn't look surprised with my reaction.

"Stella, this isn't just about you. You might forget, but you went to YG in the first place because of them. To save those guys out there," he reminds me.

I snap.

"I do remember it. But I thought once I agreed, they would let Super Junior alone! Heck I even signed the contract!"

"That...is where you have been wrong. I told you to be cautious while reading them. Now you are coming begging at me with that face. Trust me it will not work on them," he keeps making this seems like my entire fault.

I do remember reading the contract. But how could I miss that part where Super Junior will only be here if I stay? If I left, it means lethal for the guys, or minimum risk, losing any perfectly functional body part. Either way, I don't want them to do this.