Chapter Text
Celine had a big meeting today, which she had prepared for. It was an acquisition of a small franchise chain of record stores, and this integration would mean that Sunlight Ltd Studios could sell more of their own music. It was at least a decade out, but this would be another step in the pathway to make sure that, once Rumi had gotten a group and they were all trained as hunters, the Record label could push their music, selling more of it, to get more fans and hopefully strengthen the Honmoon.
They still needed to be good performers, but the more ears that it would reach would mean the more media buzz and fans. The extra profit wouldn’t hurt either. Celine wanted to help the next generation as much as she could, which was why she made this whole company in the first place. So that they wouldn’t have to deal with the worst of the industry. Getting songs prewrote for them and either allowing minor to no changes. No input on collaborations or sponsors, rigid schedules that made protecting the Honmoon, their real job, much more difficult. Sunlight Ltd Studios was made to differ from competitors, giving freedom to it’s talent to express themselves more than any other record label. It wasn’t more profitable then the competitors, until last year that is. But this talent first model made it so there was less burnout from its idols, and more loyalty from the fans, as the label could advertise that it prioritizes an idol’s well-being over music sales. It was fortunate that the business’ vision also, eventually, made it out-compete profit first music studios.
Unfortunately, as the CEO of her growing company, It meant that she needed to be contacted for important things. She knew this acquisition was going to happen, and that today was going to be a meeting to finalize all of the details. What she wasn’t told until last night that the franchise’s legal team wanted her there in person, instead of joining in from her home office. Skype apparently wasn’t good enough, even though it was just fine for other businesses, internal meetings, quarterly reports. Maybe they wanted to meet the retired idol in person, in which case this whole thing was a formality. Or there was something to sign, some policy to refer to, something small her legal team could take care of.
With it being so last minute, Celine couldn’t arrange for anyone to watch Rumi. She insisted she could take care of herself. But Celine could not trust a six year old alone in her home for a whole day, while she was a plane ride away from Jeju in Seoul, who just learned she could summon a magical glowing sword last week. That would be a recipe for disaster. Which was how the pair found themselves waiting outside Incheon International Airport for a driver to pick them up and take them into their offices. Rumi’s tutors had given her workbooks, for learning about history, as well as how to write both English and Hangul. Rumi would be allowed to take breaks, but these workbooks would just be a way to keep Rumi busy during meetings and office work. Celine cared about her deeply, but…it was difficult to fully pay attention to Rumi, and also run the company, on top of other responsibilities.
She would allow her to take breaks of course, but studying was important. While Celine entered the car and sat her briefcase on the floor, Rumi slid her backpack off and rested it in her lap. “Imo, how long will we be at your job?”
“As long as your schooling is at home, dear. We can get lunch delivered to my office, and afterwards go around Seoul until we head back home on the plane.”
“Can it be the walnut hotteok from the old lady’s store?” Rumi asked, as if that description narrowed it down. But Celine knew what she meant, and nodded. The last time they had visited, for Rumi’s birthday in October, the smell dragged the child into the store, and refused to leave until she had ‘whatever that yummy food was!’ It made both of the women laugh, and Celine struggled to recreate that food at home. ‘S’okay, but tastes…different.’ Celine chalked it up to a family recipe or a secret oil. No matter.
They exited the car and went into the front entrance of Sunlight Ltd Studios, Rumi reaching up to hold Celine’s hand. Their greetings were varied, a walk by wave, a bow, a polite greeting. Some still gawked, mostly new employees, seeing a retired idol in business attire, but it wasn’t like they just disappeared after a career was over. Idols were still people. Celine especially needed something to do, to keep herself busy. Some employees also stopped to say hello to Rumi, complimenting her on her professional outfit; black ankle length pleated skirt, dress shoes, and a light blue cardigan over a white blouse. ‘ You look just like your eomeonim.’, ‘How precious!’, ‘Don’t forget to clock in, dear.’ and others. Rumi was raised to be polite and respectful, bowing to each of the greeters as Celine made her way to the elevator, then her office on the second floor.
“Manjeol-nim, please screen all my calls before sending them to me. Is there anything on my schedule besides the acquisition meeting?” Celine asked her secretary, as Rumi went into the office room, putting her backpack on the low rise couch in the corner, unpacking her workbook, pencils, and toys onto the coffee table.
“There’s also a meeting with Ran Hyun-soo, he’s a manager, who looked at some of the talent that we have in our training program and he wants to propose a new idol group. There’s also a financial report to view, but there’s also a meeting next week to go over that. It’s just to help prepare you for it.”
“Thank you, Min jee. I’ll just save the report for tomorrow. If anyone needs to talk to me, please have them leave a message, and if it’s urgent, let me know before you bring them in.” Her secretary nodded, moving back to her computer. With a small sigh, Celine grabbed her morning drink from the holder and entered her office, moving to her own desktop.
“I’m hungry, Imo.” Rumi said, chin in hand as she bounced a pencil in her lap.
“Rumi, when I’m in the office, please call me Celine.” She asked, skimming through her emails. Flagging the important ones and sorting the rest into folders. “I have snacks in my briefcase for you, but they need to last until we leave. If you eat them all right away, you won’t be hungry for lunch, and then by the end of the day your stomach will hurt because you didn’t eat.”
“Okay, Celine. Thank you.” Rumi came over to the big desk, her forehead just peeking over the edge. She gave a small bow to her aunt, and then opened the briefcase. Apple slices, cut into the shapes of stars, as well as grapes, Jeju mandarins, and jujube dates. Rumi picked a mandarin, and shut the container, before going back to the coffee table.
“What are you working on first, Rumi?” Celin asked. Partly for idle conversation, but also to prompt her chi- her friend’s daughter to focus on her studies.
“I think Hangul. I’m getting better, and Lee-seonsaengim says I just need to work on alignment.” She started to peel her snack, picking off any stray white peels.
“That’s very good Rumi. I’m happy to hear that you’re learning so well.” Celine meant it too. She was never the top of her own class, but dedication and focus got her through schooling. “If your marks are good by the end of the week, we can go somewhere on the weekend, within reason.” That got the little girl smiling, and she placed a slice in her mouth, getting onto the exercises in her workbook.
The important emails were only three; that financial report and meeting reminder, an email confirmation about Sunlight Ltd Studios winning the category for Record Label of the Year, with an offer to have her accept it at the Idol Awards ceremony next month. She would need to formulate a response, and hope Rumi wanted to come. She had last year, but complained the whole time, long and boring. She had thrown a bit of a fit before falling asleep in her chair, head in Celine’s lap. It wasn’t a good image, but she didn’t want to risk a caretaker seeing Rumi’s patterns. Ex-idol turned business executive tattoos her deceased bandmate's daughter. Explaining the purple hair as natural was headache enough.
The third email was an invitation, a trip to Japan and having her be a spokesperson for a new makeup line. This would be an easy response, no unless details changed. Politely, but firmly, she explained that she had too many obligations at home and in Seoul to travel to another country. While both true, she also knew if she left, even for 2 days, that would leave Korea defenseless if demons had broken through. As the last hunter of this generation, it was up to her to hold the line until the next generation was spotted. She added that if the ads and photos could be shot in Seoul, she could further discuss her involvement with the products, and then hit send.
“...assets should be liquid-dated. Sell everything.” Celine looked up before she processed who was talking. Rumi had her toy phone held to her ear as she was working in her book. That put a faint smile on Celine’s face. She reached over to her coffee to have a drin-
Immediately she spat it back into the cup. What a start to the day… Celine picked up her phone and pushed the button to connect with Min jee. There was just one ring that passed before it was picked up. “Good morning Sajangnim, what can I get for you?”
“Whichever assistant did my coffee run got it wrong. It’s supposed to be a triple-shot oat milk latte, no foam, half sweet, extra hot.” Celine took her drink and dropped it into the garbage bin.
In the corner of the room, she heard Rumi speak. “No. Triple…oat milk…no foam…hot.”
“Did they get your order wrong too, aegiya?”
“Yes. And call me Rumi while at work!” Rumi looked up from her workbook with a smile, hand still holding up her toy phone.
“Of course, I am so very sorry, Rumi-nim.” Celine said, using a professional tone. “Is there anything you would like to order?”
Rumi pursed her lips, looking deep in concentration. “Am I still too young for coffee?”
“Much too young, yes.”
“Okay. Apple juice will be fine, then.” Rumi smiled up at the CEO, letting out a giggle, before going back to her own work.
Celine returned to her phone. “Min jee, please have someone go and get my order again, and a bottle of apple juice for Rumi. Just charge it to the business meeting food budget.”
“Of course, Celine-nim. I’ll get that right away. Is there anything else?”
“That’s it for right now. Thank you.” Celine set down the phone and leaned back in her chair. A long workday indeed…She might enjoy the hotteok afterwards as much as Rumi.