I Became the CEO of an Idol Company in a Game Chapter 23

<Episode 23>

 

As soon as I stepped out of the CEO’s office, I heard the sound of employees arguing with Reporter Kim Yerin.

“Please, you can’t do this here!”

“I’ll leave after I meet the CEO and talk to him. It’ll really just take a moment.”

“What kind of behavior is this, coming into someone else’s company and causing a scene? If someone came into your company and acted like this, would you like it? Huh? Would you?”

“We deal with things like this often, so we just carry on with our work as usual.”

Reporter Kim Yerin didn’t back down a single inch.

The employees looked at her with expressions full of irritation. Some even frowned deeply.

Even so, she acted shamelessly, as if she couldn’t see any of it.

“Everyone, go back to your seats. I’ll handle this.”

At my appearance, the employees slowly returned to their desks.

Kim Yerin greeted me with a bright smile.

“Hello, CEO. We met last time, right? I’m Reporter Kim Yerin.”

“This isn’t the time for greetings… You should be apologizing first.”

I spoke with the most expressionless face and tone I could manage.

“I’m truly sorry. I was in a rush, so I had no choice.”

She was truly a tough opponent.

Even when I openly showed anger, she didn’t even blink.

‘Is this what it takes to be an entertainment reporter?’

“You should leave now. If you continue like this, I’ll report you to the police for obstruction of business. That’s why I came out, so stop bothering my employees.”

I turned to go back into the office, but she grabbed my wrist.

If it had been a man, I would’ve shaken him off by force, but since she was a woman, I couldn’t bring myself to do that.

“C-CEO!”

Kim Yerin spoke urgently.

“Let go of me first.”

“Then you’ll go back inside.”

“Of course I will.”

Her attitude made my anger surge.

What kind of situation was this?

In over 20 years as a CEO, I had never seen such a shameless and persistent reporter.

“I have absolutely no intention of letting this incident slide. I don’t care about your circumstances at all. I don’t want to have any further conversation with someone who wrote an article about my words without permission.”

As I said that, I removed her hand from my wrist.

“I–I know about your past!”

It seemed like she thought she had just thrown out a trump card.

Unfortunately for her, it didn’t affect me in the slightest.

“So?”

“…What?”

It looked like she had expected me to panic and comply with her demands, because her gaze began to waver nervously.

‘What exactly does she think she knows about my past?’

If there were anything she could use against me, it would only be how I treated Spade Joker harshly, or how I unilaterally terminated contracts with idols I previously managed.

‘But everyone already knows that. So what now?’

After appearing on Reverse Perspective, everything had already been revealed.

Anyone who knew me already knew those facts.

And it couldn’t be about anything from the U.S.

‘If I’d been causing trouble in the U.S., Han Suseok would’ve cut ties with me long ago.’

Despite my poor behavior after coming to Korea, Han Suseok stayed by my side because of what he saw in the U.S. and what I told him.

If I had been a complete mess back then, he would’ve left without hesitation.

He was capable enough to be welcomed anywhere.

‘Or maybe she’s just probing. Reporters are good at psychological games like that.’

“Reporter, using someone’s weaknesses like this is blackmail. You’ve just added another offense to your list. I will proceed with a lawsuit, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs.”

“N-no, I mean…”

Only now did it seem like Kim Yerin was beginning to grasp the situation.

“C-could you please refrain from suing me? I’ll release a statement immediately. I’ll publish a correction saying I wrote it by overhearing. Please…”

“If you had said that from the beginning, I might not have sued.”

That was the truth.

If she had come and apologized first, I might’ve let it go out of pity.

It wouldn’t have been bad to have a reporter owe me a favor, and the article itself wasn’t particularly damaging.

“Then please be careful on your way out. Let’s meet again in court.”

After pushing Kim Yerin out of the company, I closed the door.

“Wow. Now that Spade Joker is starting to rise again, things like this are happening. We’ll have to be careful even during company dinners from now on.”

One employee said, relaxing his previously angry expression.

“If someone like that shows up again, call the police first.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But, CEO… you were really cool just now.”

“How so?”

“When you told her not to bother us!”

“Well, we already have enough work. We can’t afford to waste time on things like this.”

It was half a joke, half sincere.

“CEO, give us back our emotional moment.”

“Everyone, focus back on your work. That’s how we’ll move offices and hire more people.”

Despite all that chaos, our in-house composer was still seated at her desk, wearing headphones and completely focused.

‘Did she get a new inspiration?’

Last time she concentrated like that, she brought back a perfectly refined version of [I] the very next day.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit expectant.

‘It’d be great if her workflow really picks up speed.’

“Oh, right. A filming crew will be coming to the company next week.”

“Are they filming Spade Joker?”

Han Suseok pulled out the notebook he always carried and asked.

“No. Me.”

“You? But you rejected all filming proposals.”

“I did. But earlier, a PD came by. He said if I do one shoot, he’ll produce a reality show for Spade Joker. So I accepted. If anyone feels uncomfortable about appearing on a broadcast, let the team leader know in advance.”

“Understood.”

“And since it’s going on air, please clean up your workspaces. Just bear with it for one day.”

“Got it.”

The office wasn’t particularly messy to begin with, so there didn’t seem to be much more to say.

‘Since I’m already up, maybe I should check the practice room.’

As I headed toward the elevator instead of the CEO’s office, Han Suseok followed behind me.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m heading to the practice room. Since they’ll be filming there too, I should do a final check and see how the trainees are doing.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“You’ve got plenty to do. You don’t have to follow me.”

“I’m your secretary before I’m the general manager. It’s only right that I go with you.”

Han Suseok could be stubborn about things like this, so I decided not to argue further.

‘We’ll just take a quick look anyway.’

We got into the elevator together and headed down.

[Basement Level 1.]

The doors opened, and I stepped out carefully.

Every time I came here, I couldn’t help but think back to the first timeline.

Now it had changed a lot thanks to my instructions to Han Suseok, but before that, it had been miserable.

Flickering lights. A gloomy hallway without a single window.

It had looked straight out of a horror movie.

‘Yeah. At least now it’s a place people can actually use.’

Despite being underground, the hallway was bright, and there was a water purifier placed in the center.

I was very satisfied.

‘At this level, no one can call it child abuse anymore.’

“Is that Composer Han Youngjoo’s studio?”

“Yes.”

At the very end of the hallway, a space that used to be a storage room was being cleared out and converted into a studio.

Curious, I walked over and opened the door.

“The interior is already cleaned up? I thought it would take longer.”

All the clutter that had filled the space was gone.

With new flooring and wallpaper, it no longer resembled a storage room.

It wasn’t a large space, but if decorated well, it could function perfectly as a studio.

“There wasn’t as much stuff as expected. It’ll probably be finished within this week.”

That was good news.

Han Youngjoo had been working in a very poor environment.

Composing music in a noisy office with just a headset was absurd.

When I told her I’d prepare a proper studio as soon as possible, she said she was used to working in her grandfather’s record shop, so she was fine.

That only made me feel worse.

‘A workspace is incredibly important for an artist.’

“If you need anything later, let me know, and we’ll get it for you.”

“Understood.”

This was clearly an investment.

Being able to obtain Han Youngjoo’s music with this level of investment was a huge gain.

‘She’s someone we need to hold onto no matter the cost.’

The profit her songs could generate was enormous.

Naturally, she should be treated well.

‘She’s not the type to openly ask for things, so it’s better if I take initiative and provide what she needs.’

“Alright, let’s go check on the trainees.”