Chapter Text
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Taehyung impatiently tapped his fingers against the wooden table as he waits for Mr. Han, one of the executives of the company, to start the meeting but it seems like the executive is too busy dealing with his phone to notice his presence or could it be the fact that he was trying to ignore him on purpose, prompting Taehyung to look at his manager as if to silently ask him a ‘what now?’ but his manager dismissed him, mouthing him to wait as if that’s not what he has been doing for the past ten minutes.
“They’re here” Mr. Han’s secretary said as she entered the room with two other women following behind her – one whom Taehyung recognizes as one of the artist’s managers in the company but he can’t exactly point out which artist in the company she’s handling until you came into view.
“Sorry, there’s just some minor changes we had to do for her stage fittings” your manager spoke on behalf of you.
Taehyung stood up, following everyone else as they bow in greeting but his gaze remained on you even as he sat himself down, leaving him to wonder as to why your presence is needed for this meeting because for all he know, this is just one of the nth meetings – more like scoldings – they had in the past week all of because one of the hotel staff leaked the CCTV footage of him and a girl he met in the bar making out and getting handsy in the elevator.
“Now that everyone is here, shall we start?”, Mr. Han placed his phone on the chest pocket of his polo as he intertwined his hands together atop the table, “So, as you all know, Taehyung is continuously receiving negative backlash not from only the media but the general public as well in regards to the scandalous video that surfaced online about a week ago, causing the company’s and his image to suffer despite releasing an apology statement. On the–”
Taehyung huffed in disbelief, “You call that a scandal? That’s an invasion of privacy.”
“Well, that’s not what the public sees,” Mr. Han sighed as he massaged his temple, beckoning the woman with the round rimmed glasses whom you believe is the company’s PR Manager to continue, “Let’s just get straight to the point, Millie.”
“Hello, I’m Millie and I hope everyone had a great morning,” Millie said enthusiastically, smiling brightly despite everyone’s somber faces, “Well, to simply put it, we have already established a plan that will possibly divert the public’s attention away from Taehyung’s scandal.”
You dumbfoundedly looked at your manager, wondering what role could you possibly play in this meeting considering that this is the first time you’ve personally met Taehyung despite working in the same company but your manager could only nudge you, urging you to listen to Millie’s talk.
“Y/N here has earned herself a good reputation of being the nation’s sister,” Millie said as she rounded the table, placing down a brown envelope right in front of you and Taehyung, “And we believe, that with Y/N’s help and cooperation, she could eventually fix Taehyung’s reputation.”
“I’m sorry but what do I have to do with all of this?” You asked.
“You may check the contents of the envelope to know,” Millie clasped her hands, excited to see the scheme she planned with her team, Mr. Han, and your managers.
You unsealed the envelope, thoughts running around your head as to what this plan could be. Could it be a song collaboration? A music video feature? A variety show appearance? but none of it was what you expected as you read the document in front of you.
“We’re going to date!?” you widen your eyes as you look at Millie then to Taehyung who holds the same expression as you.
“As a publicity stunt, of course” Millie clarified.
“I’m sorry, I'm having a hard time trying to understand this,” you massaged your temple as you try your best to remain calm, “Who thought of this? Who thought it’s a good idea to create another scandal to cover another scandal?”
“Again, it’s an invasion of privacy,” Taehyung retorted in frustration.
“Can you please sit down and relax?” Mr. Han interjected between the two of you.
Taehyung sat down begrudgingly, “How come no one told us about this before the contract was made? Don't I– we have a say on this?”
“We’ve pitched this already to your managers and we have their approval to push it through,” Millie chuckled nervously as she looked at both of your faces, “Besides, this stunt will last for only 3 months and it’ll end before you know it.”
“You knew this?” you whispered to your manager who could only look at you apologetically.
“It’s for your benefit too,” your manager said.
“How so?”
“Your comeback is in 3 months and they said that this stunt will help boost your popularity outside the nation.”
Well, Taehyung has been in the music industry far longer than you have and he has garnered global popularity but wouldn’t this be more beneficial to him than to you? Wouldn’t your reputation be tarnished if you’re associated with him?
“I think it’ll be better if we run through the contract clauses first, shall we?” Millie suggested but no one dared to speak as everyone just looked at her and she took the silence as a go for her to start.
You let out a sigh as you reluctantly read and listen along with Millie as she went on to explain in detail the arrangement of the stunt like how the first month will consist with the two of you going out somewhere in public to ‘secretly date’ and how the media outlets will be tipped off by the company regards to your location so that they’ll have a chance to capture the perfect publishing material photo to be released on the public at exactly the first day of the year, branding the both of you as the fake new year couple.
You boredly sat throughout the contract reading, drowning out Millie’s voice, thinking how you have no option to disagree but to only comply with the whole thing considering that you’re just a fairly new artist in the industry with 2 years of experience under your belt.
“Here you go,” your manager said, interrupting your thoughts as she handed you a pen to sign the contract and the non-disclosure agreement.
Defeatedly, you signed the contract, putting all of your trust to Mr. Han, Millie, and your manager for this publicity stunt to work.
“Alright, now that everything is settled, I'll be making a group chat for the 3 of us so I could coordinate with you your schedules, okay?”
“Great,” Taehyung sarcastically quipped.
Millie – who still can’t read the room – gestured for the two of you to shake hands and you being the junior, you extended your hand towards Taehyung.
“I’m looking forward to working with you, Taehyung,” you try to be as polite as possible, cringing at how fake you sounded.
Taehyung quickly shook your hand not even looking your way as he rushed out of the room like he’s not the very reason you got dragged into his mess, prompting you to drop your fake smile and roll your eyes.
What a great way to start.
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