Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 761: Lost Incident (2)

Every fashion model dreamed of walking in a Louis' Batton show, the pinnacle of luxury brands. After all, just being on that stage changes how they were treated. If they made it to one of Louis' Batton's major shows in global cities, a dreamlike future opened up. They flew out on private jets, strutted through New York, Paris, and London, living the star model life.

Because of that, models naturally kept a close eye on Ryan Kim, the brand's Asia executive director. He was the one with final say on which models get picked. That was the reason I planned to use his influence to resolve the fuss over Jang So-Yeon's missing item.

But first, I had to calm down the furious Ryan Kim.

"Please, find your calm," I said.

"Where am I supposed to find my calm in this situation? The main accessory is missing! How are we supposed to run the show today? Ms. Vice Chairman from Daechon specifically asked me to look out for you, Mr. Jung, but this? This I can't overlook!"

Even if Vice Chairman Kim Ae-Ryeon of Daechon Inc., who had placed an advance order worth hundreds of billions, was backing me, losing a one billion won accessory was a critical blow. Yet if I could find the item, we could pretend it never happened.

I stepped in closer and whispered calmly.

-I'll find the earrings before the show starts. But I'll need your help, Mr. Kim.

Sensing the seriousness in my tone, Ryan Kim's expression changed. He whispered back.

-Do you... know where the earrings are?

-Yes.

-Then why don't you go get them now?

-All I know is that they're still somewhere in this waiting room.

Ryan Kim's eyes widened.

-Are you joking?

-I'm not. The Butterfly wasn't lost. It was stolen.

-Stolen? Are you saying one of the models messed with the main item?

-Yes.

-Who...?

-Well...

I leaned in and briefly explained that even though Jang So-Yeon hadn't left her seat, several senior models had approached to greet her. The only ones likely to have orchestrated that were Hong Hyun-Joo, the second daughter of HK Textiles, top model Ban Hyun-Hee and Sung Hee-Min.

Though Ryan Kim focused on sales for Louis' Batton, he managed over thirty fashion shows annually, big and small. So he understood immediately.

-Right, aside from those three, no one else would pull something like that. But are you certain Ms. Jang So-Yeon never left her spot? Couldn't it have been a mistake?

-Not at all. And the only person who stepped out of this room today was Choi Hee-Seon, secretary to Acting President Jin Ah-Ram.

-Sigh... Circumstantial evidence supports your theory, Mr. Jung. But if we search and still don't find it—then what?

Ryan Kim wasn't offering trust for free. He wanted something in return.

-What do you want?

Sensing an opportunity, Ryan Kim laid out a condition.

-Ahem. Ms. Jang So-Yeon's a great model, sure. But our Vice President casually asked what I thought about Miss Jung Yoo-Jin becoming a Louis' Batton model.

Yoo-Jin's drama Hwaranjeon in which she plays the lead hit 33.5% viewership ratings last night and topped its time slot. And her main brand, L.M.L, was also seeing explosive growth. Naturally, they were eager to make Yoo-Jin their main model.

-Yoo-Jin is the face of that brand. If that's the condition, I'll find the earrings myself without your help.

Ryan Kim grabbed my hand.

-Fine, fine. Let's do this. Just allow us to make her an offer. We'll take care of the penalty issues with L.M.L. How about it?

There was no way Yoo-Jin would cancel her contract with L.M.L, a brand that had supported her from the very start. Louis' Batton could make all the offers they wanted, but it wouldn't change the outcome. I had no idea where his confidence came from.

As Ryan Kim and I whispered for a bit too long, the models started murmuring among themselves. Noticing their gazes, I figured I needed to wrap this up quickly.

-Even if I tried, I couldn't stop Yoo-Jin if she wanted to talk. But for now, I need your full cooperation to catch the culprit. I'm going to be a little aggressive. Can you back me up?

-Of course. But as promised, you won't interrupt when I talk to Miss Yoo-Jin. Right?

-Correct.

After exchanging a few more words with Ryan Kim, I glanced around. I caught sight of Hong Hyun-Joo, Ban Hyun-Hee, and Sung Hee-Min sneering at my expression. They were clearly confident that I was cornered. The rest of the models weren't much better and their faces looked just as smug.

-Now that Ryan's onto her, Jang So-Yeon's done for, right?

-Obviously. Some nobody's trying to take our spot? Please.

-Oh, right. Did you hear? That girl's stepfather is that detective who got arrested the other day.

-And she still tries to take care of her half-siblings. What a total pushover.

-I don't know. I just hope I don't have to see her anymore.

I didn't know what was wrong with all of them, but thanks to that, I no longer felt the need to go easy. If Hong Hyun-Joo, Ban Hyun-Hee, and Sung Hee-Min were the ringleaders, then the rest of the models were accomplices. This meant it was time for them to face the consequences.

I took a deep breath, then intentionally raised my voice and began to argue with Ryan Kim. "I'm telling you again. It wasn't lost—it was stolen!"

At that moment, the models in the waiting room immediately started whispering. If it was theft, that meant everyone here was a suspect.

Ryan Kim played his part as promised, joining the act. "You're calling it theft after losing the accessory? Are you seriously making excuses right now?"

"So-Yeon never even left the waiting room. Someone clearly took it. That's why we'll be going public with what happened today if you're filing a fifty billion won lawsuit."

"Listen, Chief Jung. Fifty billion won is being generous. If today's show gets ruined, do you even understand how much damage Louis' Batton will suffer?"

"Then maybe Louis' Batton should've hired more staff to monitor the room!"

"Hah, this is unbelievable. Are you seriously blaming us now?"

"When we're about to be slapped with a fifty billion won lawsuit, do you think I care? You know what—forget it. Let's call the police and have them search everyone."

"Fine! Do that. And if nothing turns up, we're going ahead with the lawsuit. Just so you know!"

As we started pointing fingers and yelling, the tension in the room grew thick. It wasn't just hazing between models anymore, but it had become a criminal case.

-What do we do?

-Shit... Fifty billion won? If they don't find it, won't it affect us too?

-Probably. Chief Jung and Ryan Kim both look ready to lose it.

-Fuck. Maybe we should come clean? Say Hong Hyun-Joo made us do it?

-Ban sunbae and Sung sunbae helped too. We'll need to name all three.

As things spiraled in an unexpected direction, the murmurs among the models grew louder.

Then, Hong Hyun-Joo, who had been watching with folded arms, clenched her jaw and finally spoke. "So-Yeon... she did leave her seat."

All eyes turned to Hong Hyun-Joo.

Seizing the moment, I shouted. "And you saw that!?"

"Y-Yeah!"

'Got you.'

"You're not the only one who saw, right?"

Right then, Ban Hyun-Hee and Sung Hee-Min chimed in.

"We saw it too."

"Yeah. So-Yeon stepped away for a bit."

'Idiots. You're all done now.'

I immediately turned to Choi Hee-Seon standing beside Jin Ah-Ram. "Ms. Choi, there may not be a security camera in this waiting room, but the hallway is covered, right?"

"Yes, on both ends."

"Then since So-Yeon took off her earrings, has anyone else left this waiting room at all today?"

"Uh, no. Other than me, no one has."

"Then that means the earrings must still be in this room, right?"

"That... seems likely. Unless the earrings grew wings and flew off."

At that, I turned away from Hong Hyun-Joo and addressed the rest of the models. "Besides Ms. Hong Hyun-Joo, Ms. Ban Hyun-Hee, and Ms. Sung Hee-Min—did anyone else see So-Yeon leave her seat?"

Everyone averted their eyes.

Seeing that, the now cornered Ban Hyun-Hee suddenly shouted, "What the hell? Are you threatening us now?"

"If asking a simple question feels like a threat, that's disappointing. Or should I just call the police right now? Ms. Ban Hyun-Hee, how about we run a lie detector test? So-Yeon says she never left her seat, so one of you is going to test positive for lying."

"W-Well, that's..."

"Don't say something you can't take responsibility for unless you want to be arrested for making false accusations!"

I deliberately got angrier to heighten the sense of fear. They had harassed my celebrity as a group, and I had no reason to hold back anymore.

Just then, I met eyes with Ryan Kim. When I gave him a nod, he joined in.

"Oh, and listen up, all of you. If this was just you girls pulling some rookie hazing stunt, now's the time to speak up. I'll be mad, but I won't pursue disciplinary action. But if we call the police and the earrings turn up in this room? Then I'll consider everyone here an accomplice. And at that point... don't even dream of ever walking in another Louis' Batton show again."

Panic rippled through the models. They tried to put a rookie in her place and now found their careers on the verge of collapse.

As the murmuring grew louder, a model seated behind Jang So-Yeon suddenly raised her hand. "I-I was sitting behind Ms. Jang So-Yeon and I never saw her leave her seat. Not once."

Once one person spoke up, others followed.

"M-Me too. So-Yeon never stepped away."

"That's right. And earlier, Hong Hyun-Joo, Ban sunbae, and Sung sunbae said they were going to teach So-Yeon a lesson."

At that, Hong Hyun-Joo erupted. "What!? Are you saying we're the culprits now? Did you see us steal it? Did you?!"

"No, we didn't. But with everything going on, it's only natural to suspect you."

"Exactly. If you weren't up to something, why did you tell us to go greet Jang So-Yeon? Weren't you trying to steal the earrings while she was distracted?"

"Yeah! This is on you!"

With talk of police, lawsuits, and fifty billion won damages flying around, the other models stopped listening to Royal Family member Hong Hyun-Joo.

And right then, Sung Hee-Min betrayed her and confessed. "Okay, look... it's not like we were intentionally trying to steal them. Hyun-Joo just said to put them in my bag for a bit to teach the rookie a lesson. That's all. Really."

Sung Hee-Min ran to her seat and pulled out the earrings wrapped in a white handkerchief.

At that moment, the color drained from Hong Hyun-Joo's face.

***

The glittering pair of earrings returned, wrapped in a white handkerchief.

Jang So-Yeon silently took it and put the earrings back on. Once the Butterfly set was in place, her eyes turned cold.

"I won't talk about revenge. But what happened today—I'll never forget it."

Color returned to Jang So-Yeon's pale face, replaced by fierce determination.

With the main model finally composed, Ryan Kim addressed the room in a low voice. "As promised, we'll treat this as an unfortunate incident and move on. But I won't forget any of your names either."

The models bowed their heads. There would be no immediate punishment, but a shadow now loomed over their careers.

Ryan Kim scanned the group with his eyes cold, then turned to Hong Hyun-Joo. "And you, Hong Hyun-Joo. Don't show your face at our brand's show ever again. Not today, not ever."

"M-Mr. Kim... It was just a prank..."

"If it was a prank, you should've returned them before rehearsal. And I said it clearly that if you confess, I'd let it go. But you kept denying it to the end. So what now?"

Hong Hyun-Joo's face turned red at his booming voice. Nevertheless, the second daughter of HK Textiles raised her head and lashed back rather than backing down.

"If you handle this like that, things won't go well between you and HK Textiles."

'Wow. Talk about not knowing her place.'

"Oh~ Is that how it is?" Ryan Kim gave a smirk and pulled out his phone. "Hey~ Louis. It's Ryan. Yeah. We're still sourcing fabric from HK Textiles, right?"

-Yeah. They're Korea's top supplier.

"Check out LM Apparel instead. I heard their in-house textiles have great quality."

-Why? Did something happen?

"Yeah. HK Textiles tried to sabotage today's show. I think it's time we switched."

-Got it. If it's for you, I'll make it happen. I'll tell the procurement team right now.

"Thanks."

Click.

Ryan Kim ended the call and stared straight at Hong Hyun-Joo. "Tell your precious daddy that the deal with HK Textiles is dead because of you."

Hong Hyun-Joo collapsed into her seat, stunned.

'Goodbye, Hong Hyun-Joo. I hope you learned that life's not a game.'

***

The fashion show for Louis' Batton's accessory brand, [LVS.ACC], began.

An array of artificial flowers lay scattered beneath the transparent acrylic runway, while perfume sprayers along each side released a soft lily scent into the air.

Wearing a black dress and the yellow Butterfly accessory, Jang So-Yeon stepped onto the runway, walking with confident poise.

The moment she appeared, murmurs spread through the audience on either side.

-Wow, she looks incredible.

-Is she really Korean? She's gorgeous.

-That charisma is something else.

-The Butterfly looks way better than in the press photos.

The VIP guests gasped in admiration. Meanwhile, the heads of HK Textiles were craning their necks and searching for their daughter.

-Where's our daughter... Why isn't she coming out?

'Sadly for you guys, she wouldn't be appearing anytime soon.'

Jang So-Yeon finished her first walk and exited the stage.

Just then, Yoo-Jin seated to my left turned to me with a bright smile. "Oppa, I heard last night got really dangerous."

Dressed in a gown so stunning even a butterfly might mistake her for a flower, Yoo-Jin smiled brightly.

'She's smiling... But why does it feel terrifying?'

Momentarily thrown off, I forced a calm expression and answered casually. "A-Ah, well... it wasn't that dangerous. But hey, didn't So-Yeon look beautiful?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Don't change the subject. I heard everything from Yeon-Sil unnie."

Oddly enough, this felt scarier than last night's literal knife-edge encounter. I was even starting to shiver.

'Maybe I caught a cold from dozing off outside the OR?'

At that moment, Lopez, Louis' Batton's vice president, leaned over and spoke with a charming smile.

Ryan Kim translated from behind. "Ms. Jang is truly stunning... but if Miss Jung had worn that accessory, the stage would've been even more dazzling. What a shame."

I had said earlier I wouldn't interfere if Louis' Batton approached Yoo-Jin with a proposal.

'But this is the timing he chose? Right when she was worrying about me? Talk about a guy with zero sense of timing.'

It worked out well for me, though.

'Rest in peace, Vice President Lopez.'

Yoo-Jin turned to Lopez. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

Thinking Yoo-Jin was interested, Lopez immediately followed up with his offer. "I only meant I'd love to see that beautiful butterfly find its rightful owner. And with that in mind, I'd like to gift you the Butterfly. What do you say?"

Since offering a ten-billion-won gift was a bold move, there was full confidence beaming from Lopez's face.

But at that moment, Yoo-Jin gave a radiant smile and started to respond in a way no one could have expected.