Hypocrisy

"You are a hypocrite, Hong Mina. You can't have both at the same time."

"W-what?"

"If you want to be a goody-two-shoes," Jeho raised his arms, leaned his elbow on his knee, and said, "You can continue being a side character who appears on the first and last episode of the drama. Or, if you want to take the opportunity and stomp into other's hard work, you can choose to play the main role of the drama." He continued, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Choose only one, not two."

He was right, and for the first time in Mina's life, she agreed with what Jeho just said. But he sounded annoying and so full of himself.

Plus, being called a hypocrite was something she did not want to hear from him.

Like, how can he even call her something like that?

Jeho had the guts to call her one, and he was not like other guys who tried to get into her radar by talking nonsense with her.

"You seemed to have gone silent," Jeho commented as he stood up and approached Mina, who was across him. "Hong Mina, did it hurt you to be called a hypocrite?"

"No," Mina became firm with her stance as he glared her eyes at Jeho, who was now standing right in front of her. She followed his gaze as he bent his upper body and leveled their eyes, "I don't care being called a hypocrite. I am an actress, and someone who breaks down with one unworthy comment won't make me improve."

Jeho smiled as if he was pleased with Mina's response, "Then what?"

"I do not want to take the lead role," Mina firmly replied; sitting up straight and meeting with his gaze seemed too familiar for her. For some reason, her heart rate was elevated as her memories from that perverted dream resurfaced again.

A muscle in Jeho's jaw twitched as he nibbled his lower lip; he slowly came back to his seat and crossed his legs, "But then, we can't take it back anymore."

"W-what?"

"If I call the director I know and say that you don't want to be the lead role, then that would be bad for the image of our company, don't you think?" Jeho mused, brushing his palms together. "There will be news about the sudden changes of lead roles, and it will make an even greater fuss than it already did. And you know what that means, Mina. You are not a newbie in this field."

Kim Jeho was right again, and it irked Mina how good he was at foreseeing things. The female employee who told her that Jeho was good at seeing the company's situation from every angle was correct.

Knowing how netizens react, if they change the leading role several times, not only will they boycott the actress who made it through connections, but it will be impossible for the drama to pick up too.

"You should just take the role, Hong Mina," Jeho sounded authoritative and exerted his power as the future CEO and chairman of the company. "Take the role and don't tarnish the image of the company."

Mina thought about it and at the back of her mind, she was was in relief that she did not have to give up her first main role.

Wait, what?

If she was happy that she did not have to give up the role, Jeho was right.

Hong Mina was a hypocrite!

It was true. Anyone can call her names, but Mina is and will always be a hypocrite. The innocence she had when she was still an aspiring actress already disappeared. She has been a victim of unfair treatment ever since she started her career as an actress.

At first, she disliked how some people cheated their way to land lead roles in musicals, dramas, and even CF's or commercial films.

But at her age, she already knew how the world revolved around money and connections.

Even talent required money, and so does beauty required money too.

The world of the entertainment industry is harsh, and not all people can walk on a flowery path.

"Yes, I understand," Mina gracefully answered and pursed her lips together. "I can't do anything about it anymore. What's done is done."

"You know, I can call the director and cancel it if you want; after all, I am not the one who will suffer the backlash." Jeho joked.

"No!" Mina immediately paused, realizing that she has already been baited. "No, I mean. The whole production staff and the actors and actresses involved will be in a pinch. I think it's better not to do it."

"Okay then," Jeho answered with a half-shrug. "You can go now,"

'You can go now,' This line was like in a repeat mode in Mina's brain.

Did Mina hear what he said?

Did he ask her to go?

Was that the only thing they had to discuss?

They only had to discuss her landing the lead role with Jeho's help?

What about the contract that they had---

No, Mina did not come here and was expecting anything.

What you are thinking is not correct, okay?

Mina did not assume that something will happen that time when she first went into his office. She did not reminisce how hot his chest and abdominal muscles looked like, contrary to his gentle face was a hot body nor how he showcased his talents in touching her private area--

Now, this is getting out of hand.

She was the one who made herself feel embarrassed, and she can feel how her ears felt hot and looked red from afar. Her perverted thoughts swallowed her as a whole.

Suddenly, a thought came into Mina's brain. It was the right moment that she had to ask it. After all, that was ACTUALLY the main reason she wanted to stay behind for a few minutes!

"Mister Kim," She took a deep breath to calm down and spoke, "Don't I have a manager that will take care of me when I go to my schedule?"