Checkmating Jessica

As soon as the press conference had ended, an emergency meeting was called at the company. They were going to discuss what steps would have to be taken to save themselves from the negative pressure that was no doubt heading their way. At this point, the company had decided that Jessica was too much trouble to keep around.

Having come to a decision, the teenager was summoned to the CEO's office when the meeting ended.

"Jessica, you've caused us more trouble than you're worth. It was a black day for this company when they took you in as a trainee."

CEO Jang was a middle-aged man who still looked moderately handsome and was popular with B grade stars in the industry. He was a womaniser and a cheater but forgiven for it because he was a wealthy, albeit, useless man.

"Likewise. It was a dark day when I, Sun Young-mi, joined company Y," Ji-ho replied. She was going to separate herself from the name Jessica because it was tarnished. There would no longer be a Jessica, only Young-mi in its stead.

The CEO's smile was sinister. Jessica had cried and acted the weak little lamb in front of the press. But where was that lamb-like attitude now? The teenager sitting in front of him was brimming with easy confidence. He began laughing at her reply.

"Sun Young-mi, we made a mistake by turning you into a pop star when we should have just signed you up as an actress."

Ji-ho calmly smiled.

"Young-mi, who was it that you sent the pictures to?" His tone softened. "I want to help you because you said you were scared of that person's power and wealth."

Ji-ho had scrubbed her phone and kept a backup of her chat logs in a pen drive that was securely wrapped in plastic and hidden inside her still full shampoo bottle. If they hadn't underestimated her so much, her phone would have been seized much earlier.

"I'm sorry CEO Jang, this person is someone neither of us can provoke. If you know what's good for your company then you'll stop poking the hornet's nest."

The man's nostrils flared in humiliation. His ego was damaged. So what if he wasn't as powerful as that other person? It wasn't Jessica's place to compare them. It wasn't her place to decide whether he could or couldn't provoke them.

"You stupid girl!" He slammed his palms to the desk. "You can't even appreciate that we're trying to help you even though you've cost us so much money and brought shame to the company! You are the most ungrateful and shameless artist we've had the misfortune of signing with."

Ji-ho couldn't believe how unprofessional this man was. She had searched the internet for information about this Ceo and found her suspicions about the company confirmed. After bankrupting a small business he had started under the bankroll of his rich parents, company Y was established from the inheritance he had received. This too was going to die out like the first one, she could tell.

"Ceo Jang, what do you propose we do, hmm? I did tell the press that the company is on my side. We might have to fight a few cases."

The man was disturbed anew by Jessica's words. The company just couldn't afford to stick with the unlucky star that she was. But they had to find a way to break the contract between them without coming out of it as the bad guys.

"Jessica, I'm giving you one hour to decide upon an offer I have for you," he told her.

Ji-ho was happy to hear that. She had been waiting for this.

"You can sever the contract with us since it'll be a good thing for you to disappear from the limelight for a while. If you initiate the severance then the penalty will not be applied. In fact, I'll give you some money so that you won't have to go hungry for a few months. That is the kindness that I am showing you despite the damage you've done to this company."

Perfect, Ji-ho thought. Her meal ticket was ready.

"But how- how will I survive without the company?!" Ji-ho stammered as she abruptly stood up like she was shocked. "I have nobody to rely on!"

Ceo Jang smiled benevolently at her. He was satisfied by the regret he could see in her eyes.

"Your other option would be to stay with us, Jessica. But you'll have to sign a few more contracts and give us more power over what you're allowed to do or say in public. This way we can protect you better." And enslave her with legal backup.

Jessica was shaking from anger, pin-drop silence stretching between them as CEO Jang swivelled his chair slowly from side to side and smirked at the young girl he had checkmated.

"You are a horrible person, CEO Jang," Jessica said through gritted teeth. "I'll initiate the severance."

_________

One week later, Jessica was being hounded by the paparazzi as she tried to cross the road and get to her new apartment.

"Jessica! Tell us why you broke away from your company?"

"Jessica, who is the person who leaked your pictures?"

"Smile Jessica!"

"Miss Jessica, what are your plans for the future?"

Her company had quietly and without much explanation sent news about Jessica's departure from the company. It had been entirely her decision, they'd told the press. Since one of the terms of the severance was that Jessica would have to keep her silence about it, Ji-ho wasn't able to answer the press. She wasn't bothered by it though. Her revenge would come in time if company Y didn't collapse in a few months from further mismanagement.

Aside from the press, Jessica's phone was also blowing up with notifications that came from several people who were following her on a popular platform called KokaTalk. From a paltry 1200, her followers had increased to 1 million. A staggering number of them were young people who had decided to support her but she also received many death threats and demeaning messages from trolls.

"Jessica!"

"Wait! Miss Jessica!"

The young lady slammed the gate shut in the faces of the people chasing her.

"I'm not Jessica," she told them through the bars of the gate. "I'm Sun Young-mi."

The cameras began flashing in her face as she smiled politely. She had a surprise planned for the public and would unveil it tonight.