Chapter 177 - EXOTIC (IX): Power Play

The media was creating a pandemonium among all the fansites of EXOTIC. Messages were wild and continuous as fans erupted in anger and confusion.

"KJ oppa can't do this!"

"KJ oppa dated so many women before! He never hit them!"

"I bet that bitch is lying!" 

"That girl is the PA! She must be a gold digger!"

"Oppa is being framed!"

"LMAO your oppa is an abusive jerk!"

"KJ was always a problem!"

"He was such a snob! I knew he was a nasty piece of work!"

KJ's social media sites were filled with fan comments. Some supported him while others left nasty comments. The news spread like wildfire and the police were being pressurized to investigate. 

At Mystic Entertainment, the phones rang nonstop. Their PR personnel, Shin Junki, was having a nightmarish time. The media were crowding outside while fans too were protesting against Mystic Entertainment. 

"Kick out KJ!" they chanted.

"This is a debacle!" Junki shrieked at his team. "Who put out this report?"

"We don't know sir," one of the trainees spoke up. "But it seems as if the reports are true. KJ did have an affair with the PA hired by CEO Ahn and she is still in the hospital…"

"Well, fire her!" Junki snapped. "Bribe her to change her statement that she was knocked up by some random dude and was framing KJ. We'll put it all on her."

There was a murmur of agreement. "Draft up the press statement," Junki ordered.

"Shouldn't we consult with the new CEO?" one of the employees asked.

"The new CEO hasn't even shown his face here," Junki scoffed. "None of us know who he is! And even amidst the crisis, he didn't come. We'll have to deal with this ourselves!"

"What about KJ?" the employee questioned. "We should ask him before taking any actions!"

"None of us can reach KJ!" Junki argued. "Once we put out the statement, he'll have no other choice but to agree with us! First that Ash turns out to be an escort and now KJ is an abuser! If we don't hold on to KJ at least, then EXOTIC will be over! They're our biggest moneymaker. We can't let it disband."

"But-"

"No buts!" Junki screamed. "Pay that assistant and make her leave town! Use every nooks and crooks you can! Go. Now!"

The employees scrambled to their feet, running here and there to carry out their orders. Junki sat there, a faint smile on his face. If everything went according to his plans, he can push all the blame on that darned PA and get a promotion from the new CEO. CEO Ahn had thrown him aside for years but if he could just suck up to the new CEO, he may even become a director in the company. 

….

"Riggs, how did this happen?" Mirae demanded. She had summoned Riggs at the hospital to question him. "How did the media even come to this conclusion?"

"Ma'am it seems as if Mr. Kwon had signed the hospital papers and put his name on the place of your baby's father," Riggs informed her. Mirae let out a sigh. Even though she knew it was simply KJ's way of pushing the load off her shoulders, it gave way to a new load of trouble. Furthermore, with her face and name now on the media, Hyun Jung, Dasom and Jinhyun figured out her identity as the CEO of Abyss.

And Ash had obviously informed the rest of the Cartel about her identity as well. Everything was falling apart…

"They know your identity," Riggs said, confirming her fears. "The Cartel's members know who you are and-"

"Good," Mirae said calmly. "I don't have to hide anymore."

She looked up at him, a strange smile on her face. "They wanna use the media to hinder us, right? Then we'll use the media to protect ourselves."

Riggs was puzzled by her words. The CEO was planning something even in this state. It worried him to see her take up so much burden.

The door opened. Hyun Jung had just entered with Somi in tow. Mirae did not bother to put on a mask since her face was plastered on the TV anyway.

Somi rushed over to hug Mirae. "Are you alright?" she asked, pulling away. "Are those morons from the media giving you a hard time?"

"I'm alright," Mirae assured her. 

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Hyun Jung asked. "I've increased the security around the hospital but the media people seem to be sneaking in…"

"Where's KJ?" Mirae asked. He had not come to visit her after the fight he had with Jinhyun. 

"I don't know," Hyun Jung replied. "I called him to inform him of the media news but he hung up. He's not at his apartment either. God knows where he is."

"Riggs, find him." Mirae instructed the old man, feeling alarmed. "He's alone out there and that too with minimal protection! The Cartel can attack him any time."

"Understood ma'am," Riggs said, hurrying outside. 

"Hyun Jung, please find him," Mirae pleaded. "He needs you right now."

Hyun Jung nodded and followed Riggs. Somi and her were all alone.

"Somi, you gotta stay low too," Mirae said. "If the media find out that you're my friend, the Cartel will know as well."

"But-"

"Please I insist!" Mirae begged. "Stay low. If anyone asks, tell them you fell off the stairs in your home and hence happened to be admitted here."

"Alright," Somi nodded. She stood up to leave. Mirae bit her lips, pondering what to do. She was deep in her thoughts when a mousy haired man in his mid forties walked in.

"Jung Mirae," he stated. Mirae recognized him as Junki, the PR head of Mystic Entertainment. She peered at him.

"Yes, do you want something?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. He threw some papers at her. Mirae was offended by his rudeness but did not say anything. The guy had no idea who she was.

"Sign these," he ordered her. Mirae picked up the paper and read through them.

"These state that I will have to testify that KJ is not the father of my baby," Mirae frowned. "And I was lying about it. He never hurt me and I was only looking for attention."

Ironic how this rude guy hit the mark, she thought. But something about his behavior and arrogance ticked her off. She threw the papers back at him, surprising him.

"Why should I sign these?" she questioned.

"If you don't then there will be consequences," Junki said. "We're too powerful. We'll make sure you'll never be employed anywhere else."

Mirae maintained a poker face but smiled inwardly. The man was clearly power hungry and was simply looking out for his own interests. She decided to entertain him for a while.

"I can just ask KJ for favors," she said smugly.

"You really think KJ will listen to you after his career gets jeopardized?" he scoffed. "He'll abandon you in seconds."

He snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Oh no!" she feigned worry. "But the baby was his! Don't you think it's unfair? I can't lie!"

"You will," Junki ordered her. "Otherwise, I'll make your stay in Seoul a living hell."

"I...I will tell it in front of the media," Mirae agreed, faking a demure look. "I'll announce it however you want. Just spare me!"

Junki let out a crooked smile. The girl was smart. 

"Sign these," he ordered. Mirae picked up the pen and signed. As soon as she was done, Junki snatched the papers, not bothering to see her signatures.

"Tomorrow at twelve o'clock, we'll hold a press conference," Junki informed her with a sneer. "Be there. Announce to the world that you're a liar."

Mirae nodded meekly. Junki stepped out, feeling victorious. This will ensure my directorship, he thought happily.

As soon as he left, Mirae shook her head in disbelief. She knew very well, this tactic will fail. The media will turn their back against KJ and brand him as a liar again for making his so-called 'girlfriend' lie. She must think of another way. That too fast.

"Damn it KJ!" she cursed. "Where the hell are you?"

Just then her phone rang. It was an unknown caller who dialed the number she was using for her PA duties. Frowning, she picked up.

"Hello, who is this?" she asked.

"Hi, my name is Kang Dongsik," said the caller. Kang Dongsik? Mirae wondered. The name sounded familiar.

Then it hit her. It was the reporter from Exposed! She hacked into his computer just days ago to remove all pictures of Ash.

"I know what KJ did to you," Dongsik went on. "I'm a reporter at Exposed. I can help you get justice."

"Justice?" she questioned.

"All you have to do is tell the world that KJ abused you so much that you miscarried his child," Dongsik instructed.

Mirae rolled her eyes. Here comes another power hungry moron, she thought drily. 

"What do I get in return?" she asked sweetly.

"I'll give you five hundred thousand dollars," Dongsik offered.

"A mere reporter has five hundred thousand dollars?" she questioned. "Kind of suspicious."

"I have more," Dongsik boasted proudly. "Being a reporter with an immense amount of information is fun. You can blackmail anyone you want and get money."

And KJ did not give you any so you're trying to frame him, she thought. A surge of pride ran in her as she remembered how KJ almost choked this guy. Mirae decided to humor him too.

"Ahh…" Mirae said in fake understanding. "Fine. It's a deal. I'll send you the details of my bank account. Transfer the money there."

"Alright!" Dongsik said gleefully. "I'll transfer the money today. The Mystic Entertainment will hold a press conference tomorrow. Attend it and tell the whole world of what Kwon Jiwon did to you!"

"You're right," Mirae nodded. "The world needs to know the truth."

"See you then," Dongsik said, hanging up the phone. Mirae stared at the phone for a long time. Her mind was already figuring out the next move. The two idiots have made her way more clearer now.

….

KJ was lying on the bed. He was back in apartment 412, the home he once shared with Mirae in the original timeline. 

"So this is where I was supposed to be born," Jade commented, jumping on the bed. "It's small."

"We were poor," KJ sighed. "Where else did you expect us to stay?"

"Wasn't your family rich," Jade said. He lay down beside KJ, looking around the place.

"We left all that behind at that time," KJ stated. 

"Why are you here now?" Jade questioned. "Shouldn't you be with Mirae? She needs you the most now."

"I...I can't face her," KJ admitted. "Whatever she went through...it's my fault. If only I was brave enough to stay back that day and just listen to her instead of running away. If only I hadn't changed time…"

"She would have been dead and you'd have regretted that even more," Jade said sharply. "But focus on what's happening now. What are you going to do?"

KJ had been thinking of what to do. He received a text from the PR of Mystic Entertainment, Junki. A press conference will be held the next day and he had no idea how to handle the media's questions. Telling the truth will expose their rivalry with the Cartel and ultimately out Mirae as the CEO of Abyss. Telling lies will harm EXOTIC. He had no idea what to do…

He lay back, thinking all night without a wink of sleep.