To Kiss An Idol

He didn’t ask about how to hide his identity and they didn’t tell him that either. Stupidly, he made an account with his official e-mail and Missmatch traced him successfully. Now, he was scared to death. He was scared about someone finding him out, finding about what he did with Nivritti’s phone, finding about that he was ready to leak news about ASD.

“What do you want?” asked Dae and gulped with fear.

“The story YOU promised me, the proof of violent act by June, that YOU promised me,” replied Missmatch and walked in his face. She was a young woman and Dae was bulkier than her, but she was not afraid at all. On the contrary, Dae was sweating like a pig.

“Please, shhh… people might hear you,” Dae shushed her and grabbed her arm. He dragged her away with him into a corner and looked at her with pleading eyes.

She immediately jerked her hand away from him and looked at him. “What are you afraid of? Losing your job? Give me the proof and I will make you rich. You won’t have to work another day in your life,” said Missmatch.

“I am sorry, but I don’t have the proof. The video I was talking about is deleted forever,” replied Dae while joining his hands in a plea. “And how do you know I was even telling you the truth?”

“I checked everything. The date, the location, and the circumstances you gave me, my team and I cross-checked everything. There was an incident that happened in that restaurant. Two girls were being harassed and a man came to their rescue. As per the communicator app, he was some CEO wearing masks and he had his bodyguards with him. No one could recognise those men. But you say that it was June?” asked Missmatch.

“Yes, everything I said was true but there is no evidence. There was a video but there is no trace of it,” replied Dae.

.....

“If it was June, this is going to be awesome news. I want every detail. Who were the girls?” asked Missmatch.

“Please! If anyone finds out I told you everything, I will be in big trouble,” pleaded Dae.

“You were ready to tell me everything last night,” notified Missmatch.

“Yeah, but then I thought that I had proof, I had the video. If I would have given you the video, they would have focused on that and not on me. But now, if I tell you anything, all they will do is try to find out who leaked this news. Only a handful of people know about it,” begged Dae.

“Just answer the question, who were the girls?”

“Two girls from the script department,” replied Dae.

“Why would June risk his reputation for two girls?” asked Missmatch.

“One of them is his friend,” Dae gritted his teeth.

“June is friends with the script department?” asked Missmatch.

“Yes, it’s a new friendship,” Dae rolled his eyes, and his jealousy took over. He took a deep breath and said, “listen! I am ready to give you every detail and I can make the restaurant manager say that everything I say happened there. But you will have to pay me for every detail and publish the news on your blog. I will help you,” said Dae.

Missmatch was confused. One second ago, he was asking her to leave and refusing to tell any detail about that incident. What suddenly changed his mind? “What is in it for you?” asked Missmatch.

“I… I want that girl out of here at any cost,” replied Dae.

“Who? The friend?”

“Yes,” replied Dae.

“What did she do to you?”

“Do you want the news or not?” asked Dae.

Missmatch looked at him for a minute and sighed, “No, I don’t.”

“Excuse me!” shouted Dae, confused.

“K&Q have the best PR team and legal team. My lawyer is nothing compared to them. I know I don’t verify facts and post news on my blogs and other social media apps, but I cannot go against K&Q. they will sue me for slander, and I will lose everything,” said Missmatch. “Also, you don’t know the power of ASDians. They will lynch me if I post anything without verifying the facts.”

“Then why are you here? To rub it in my face that you found me, to exert your power on me,” yelled Dae.

Missmatch smiled and touched his collar. “I am here to tell you this. Create another e-mail ID where it does not mention any details about you, no names, no address, no phone number linked to it, then create another anonymous account with it. Keep giving me fresh updates about Rencontre, even before your PR team could publish it. I will pay you for every detail. I will be the first in the industry to publish new news about Rencontre, fans will pay my blogs as much money as I ask to get the updates first and we both will get rich. If someone finds out, spread the rumour that she is the one leaking the details. You know what, better create the e-mail and the anonymous account in her name. The trail will say that she is responsible for leaking the news. That way you will get her out, get rich and I will be the best in the industry. By the way, what is her name? I want every detail about her,” asked Missmatch.

“Her name is Nivritti,” Dae gritted his teeth.

“Oh, she is not Korean.”

“No, she came from India and is overtaking my department. This rencontre was supposed to be mine, but her idea was approved,” chided Dae.

“This idea was hers?” asked Missmatch, impressed.

“Anyone could have come up with such an idea, no need to be that impressed,” scolded Missmatch.

“Credit should be given where it is due. Her idea is good,” said Missmatch.

“Well, your idea is good too. I will create an account in her name and tell you everything important thing about Rencontre, but I need to be paid upfront,” said Dae.

“Fine by me. You inform me if any of the ASD members are involved in any scandal, no matter how tiny that is. Get me proof and I will shower you with money. If anything like that restaurant drama happens again, call me instantly,” instructed Missmatch.

“Will do that,” replied Dae. “If you want, I can give you a few updates now. I can send you a few screenshots of scripts that we are reading now.”

“Anyone can read submitted scripts on your website,” Missmatch rolled her eyes.

“But no one knows the selected one. I can give you a few names that we have selected till now. Those who are participating would flock to your blog to check if their name is up there,” suggested Dae, too pleased with his idea.

“That is a good suggestion. I would love that. Create an account and chat me up. Send me everything you know about her. We will discuss other details later on. We can talk about payment…” said Missmatch.

“I want cash. I don’t want any trails that can lead back to me. Cash payment is the safest,” said Dae.

“That is not possible. I can’t come every time I have to pay you. Are you out of your mind?” shouted Missmatch.

“You know payments can be traced, right?”

“Then get a virtual credit card. That way you can use your regular credit account, but no card number will ever be displayed to anyone, and it is virtually untraceable,” suggested Missmatch.

“That is better. I will set up everything and send you a message,” said Dae.

“You don’t send a message, you DM on social media apps. How old are you?” taunted Missmatch.

“Yeah, yeah, I will learn everything and be in contact with you. I will give you a few names of people whose scripts we have liked so far. But be sure to tell everyone that nothing is fixed yet, they can be winners or could be rejected at a later stage,” replied Dae.

“Can we fix the results? That will get us paid in millions,” Missmatch’s eyes twinkled with happiness. She could see money in her future.

“That would be impossible,” Dae shattered her dream.

“What? Why? Are you not the boss?”

“No, the final script will be selected by King,” replied Dae.

“Excuse me!!!! Why were you hiding this detail?” shouted Missmatch.

“Shh, shh, shh… why do you keep shouting?” scolded Dae.

“Sorry! But why didn’t you tell me this before? Do you know how big this news is?” Missmatch clapped with happiness.

“Well, he said that he will look at every script and then decide on a script for every member as he does not want any surprises during shooting,” replied Dae.

“I am so happy that you contacted me. Name your price,” said Missmatch, happily.

Dae beamed with happiness. “I want 5,00,000 won, no 7,00,000 won,” said Dae.

“Done. I don’t have the cash right now. Set up everything and DM me. Your money will be deposited in your account immediately,” smiled Missmatch. She extended her hand towards Dae, “very nice to meet you.”

Dae too smiled and shook her hand. “Pleasure is mine.”

Missmatch smiled at him and walked away. Dae smirked at his luck and murmured, “now, I will get my enemy away from me.”