Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 14

JHS Entertainment Building

after the scandal broke out

"So, it wasn't a date?"

The raven-haired idol nodded in her usually sweet demeanor. Sitting next to her on the couch was her manager, Mr. Choi.

"I just wanted to thank him for helping me out with the leaked MV issue. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have contained the situation."

"I see."

Astrid folded her arms and went back into thinking. Even though they release a statement about it, the fans wouldn't buy it and do a ton of digging.

"Miss Manoban," her temporary secretary, Jinny, went in with a tablet at hand. "Um... I... You need to take a look at this..."

The girl handed her the device and her eyes grew wide as she saw how their stocks plummeted.

Wow. These people take dating way too seriously. She can't help but feel pity on Miss Lee. The woman can't go out and have a good time without being in the headlines the next day.

She then turned to the copy of Miss Lee's contract and scanned it. There seem to be no stipulation whatsoever regarding dating. She's free as a bird.

"I'll have the PR team release a statement regarding this issue, Miss Lee," she said dismissing the idol. "You can release your own statement after with the legal team at your disposal. For now, I'd advise for you to stay in the building for your own safety—"

"Sorry, I'm late."

Astrid raised an eyebrow as soon as Jeon Joshua walked in the room. He was dressed in his usual suit but he was covered in flour and... eggs? She was hoping it was eggs and not anything else that would stain the floor. Miss Lee was wide-eyed and her hand was on her mouth.

"I uh... got caught up."

"Oh my God!" the female idol exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Uh... there were kids and... eggs... and well, we all know how fans are..."

"Secretary Jeon I'm so so sorry! It's my fault. I didn't think this would happen—"

"I'm fine, Miss Lee," the guy politely answered making Astrid roll her eyes. "It's nothing a good laundry shop can't fix."

"Then, please send me your laundry bill and I'll take care of it." Miss Lee turned to her manager. "Manager Choi, please handle it for me. Make sure Secretary Jeon's suit would be cleaned, pressed and good as new."

Joshua couldn't help himself from blushing as Miss Lee gave him a warm smile before taking her leave. When it was just the two of them, Astrid and him, the former gave him an unimpressed look.

"I was just about to re-hire you yet you still made a mess," she spat. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"It's all my fault. She had nothing to do with this—"

Thanks to good reflexes, Joshua was able to dodge the flying pillow. CEO Manoban rubbed her temples. She was pissed since the company's stocks are experiencing a major downfall. And she just got here.

"To my defense, I didn't know there were paparazzi's out there," he defended. "And uh..."

"Tsk." Astrid looked at him from his head down to his shoes. He looked pitiful. "Korean fans are so... intense. How many were they?"

"A few..." he managed to whisper. "They're just... protective. And uh... I could handle a few eggs—"

She rolled her eyes before standing up.

"How do you think you'll be able to get out of this mess, Secretary Jeon? We could easily deny the rumors but I don't think that would stop your... uh, people from attacking you."

The way she said "people" made Joshua flinch a bit. He wasn't really making a good impression on his new boss now, is he?

"Well... Uhm... they wouldn't believe it even if we release a statement," he answered. "But, if we were to say I'm currently in a relationship, it would stop the rumors completely."

Astrid's brows furrowed.

"Secretary Jeon, are currently in a relationship?"

"Um... no, but..."

"But you're seeing someone?"

"No..."

"Then that's basically lying." She folded her arms. "Wouldn't it be wise if we were to just tell them you went out on a friendly dinner? Or she's out to thank you?"

He shook his head.

"Um... some fans don't really believe statements the company releases," he stated. "We've encountered this problem before when Miss Park and Jaxon got involved in rumors. We release a statement that Miss Park wasn't necessarily on a date but they were with the rest of the Royal members discussing their comeback as she's a producer for them. But the fans didn't believe it and sent her tons of hate mails and death threats so we had to make it seem like she's already dating someone else."

"And how did you do that?"

"By sending one of Royal's loyal fansite images of Miss Park on a date with Producer Vincent Min," he answered. "It calmed the fans and the fansite even helped explain that Miss Park was also with Producer Min that time and he was just running a bit late."

"They believed it? Wow. I thought fans were like the FBI or something. Wouldn't they question the reliability of the pictures?"

"Fansites are no joke, Miss Manoban. They have a huge following and influence online. One word from them and this issue would die down. Some might not believe but the majority would."

Astrid was skeptical and eyed the secretary. He would know how to handle fans because... well, he is one so he knows this more than she does. Even if her pride says a hard 'no', she cannot just let this be and watch as their stocks continuously plummet over this 'scandal'.

The idea of dating being a scandal is downright stupid. Stupid and totally out of line.

"I can get the legal and PR team to help me draft a good story about my dating life and I can just say my girlfriend's identity is to be kept hidden," the secretary explained.

"And how would they believe this if you don't show these... proof?"

"They won't need any. Being the CEO's secretary would at least give leverage as Miss Lee wouldn't date someone like... like me," he almost stuttered. "I'll make sure to clear up any rumors regarding me and Miss Lee."

"For a minute there I thought you're a complete t**t for saying that," she said standing up. She's fairly impressed at how he was able to come up with a solution that fast. "Come. I don't want you looking like a big heap of rubbish. A fresh suit would look good on you. I don't like the idea of my secretary looking ugly with a plain-looking suit."

Then she marched out of the office with a confused secretary following.