Chapter 154
Director McKenney spent a long time monitoring the recent scene. It was Geon-woo’s ad-lib scene. Though it wasn’t in the script, he was reluctant to cut it out. He wanted to keep it and film it from various angles.
Malik’s acting as Rich was also impressive, but now it was completely overshadowed by Geon-woo. Geon-woo was simply Nathan himself. It felt like following Nathan’s life with a camera.
With the actors’ passionate performances and lunch time long past, a break for meals began. Amidst the noisy set, only Director McKenney kept rewinding and watching the recent scene. He was deeply immersed in it for quite some time.
Considerably shocked, McKenney had long conversations with other directors, and eventually decided to use that scene as it was.
“What the…”
Director McKenney wasn’t the only one surprised by Geon-woo’s acting. As soon as his scene was over, Malik observed Geon-woo from behind the camera. He had thought it would be fine if Geon-woo acted at a moderate level, but Geon-woo’s skills were considerable, beyond expectations.
Bae Geon-woo had created a new Nathan, adding his own interpretation beyond the Nathan written in the script. The recent ad-lib was a scene that showed Nathan’s deep and complex emotions. Director McKenney was glued to the monitor, repeatedly watching that scene.
Feeling irritated and jealous, Malik looked around. As he approached Geon-woo, who had just sat down with his lunch box, Mitchell also came to Geon-woo’s side. They were like magnets.
Were the dating rumors true?
Unnecessary questions kept popping up.
“Let’s eat together.”
Malik joined Geon-woo, two of Geon-woo’s staff members, and Mitchell at their table. Malik sat right next to Mitchell and opened his lunch box.
“Can I have some coffee?”
Mitchell offered Malik a drink.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Mitchell reached out and placed a can of coffee next to Malik’s lunch box. Geon-woo, who had quickly stolen a glance at this, quickly lowered his head and moved his spoon. Mitchell looked at Geon-woo, and Malik looked at Mitchell again. The only ones free from this entangled gaze were Geon-woo’s two staff members who had just finished their meal.
“Take your time eating.”
“We’ll go ahead.”
As they disappeared, Malik opened his mouth while chewing his food.
“Mitchell, don’t you want me to introduce you to someone?”
“Who?”
“She’s worth billions, and she’s a former beauty pageant contestant. Now she’s doing well with her own company. She seems to be very interested in you.”
Geon-woo was the first to react to this sudden matchmaking suggestion. He tilted his head back and squeezed his eyes shut. It looked like he was forcibly suppressing his rising emotions.
“But it seems Geon-woo doesn’t like it?”
As Malik added a comment while looking at Geon-woo, Mitchell picked up his coffee. After taking a cool sip, Mitchell immediately refused.
“I’ll pass.”
“Why? I’m telling you, her face is out of this world. She’s smart and her wealth is enormous.”
“My standards for looks are extremely high. I don’t care if she’s not smart, and I’m rich too. I’m not interested.”
Malik clicked his tongue at Mitchell’s firm attitude. He glanced at Geon-woo and saw that his expression had noticeably brightened. Since he couldn’t have become happy eating the tasteless lunch box, there was only one reason. Malik’s suspicion deepened. It seemed like a good time to test the waters.
“When I talked to him earlier, he didn’t seem interested in you?”
Malik pointed at Geon-woo while speaking to Mitchell.
“What? What are you…”
Geon-woo was greatly flustered by Malik’s statement. Mitchell, finally interested in the conversation, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He lifted his chin as if to say ‘go on’, and Malik’s mouth spewed out a story beyond imagination.
“Geon-woo doesn’t have any feelings for you. I asked just in case those dating rumors were true, but he shook his head vigorously in disgust. And given the situation, wouldn’t it be best for you to get a new partner, Mitchell? That’s the only way to stop those trashy articles. Even if you don’t like the girl I introduced, at least pretend to date her. You’ve actually been doing that, right? You can cover up lies with more lies.”
The conversation suddenly twisted into advice for Mitchell. Geon-woo missed the timing to clear up the misunderstanding about himself and just bit his lower lip. His appetite was completely gone, and he didn’t feel like eating anything more.
“Thanks for the advice, but I’ll handle it myself. Don’t overstep.”
Geon-woo was more surprised than Malik at Mitchell’s somewhat excessive statement. Even if they were close, it seemed too rude, so Geon-woo instead looked at Malik’s reaction. But Malik just shrugged his shoulders without any particular reaction. It seemed their sensibilities were different, not being from a Confucian culture.
“Mr. Mitchell. Are you done eating?”
As Mitchell stood up, the conversation was awkwardly cut off.
“Don’t you need to get ready now too?”
He spoke to Geon-woo as if suggesting they go together, but Geon-woo shook his head at Mitchell.
“I’ll come after I finish this.”
“…Alright.”
The way he narrowed his eyes suggested that he didn’t like Geon-woo’s answer. Malik, who had been quietly watching the two, waited until Mitchell was completely gone before abruptly opening his mouth.
“It seems Mitchell cares about you a lot?”
“I think so too.”
Geon-woo replied with a smile. Malik smiled along with Geon-woo’s grin. He had been stirring up trouble and talking nonsense, but Geon-woo’s reaction was lukewarm. He didn’t get irritated, nor did he correct the wrong parts.
Malik found Geon-woo strange.
What kind of person has so little reaction? Earlier I was just mocking him, but is his personality really angelic? How does he plan to survive in the harsh Hollywood like this? Tsk tsk.
“I’m going to have a drink with Mitchell after filming. I also have some advice for Mitchell’s business. Do you want to come along?”
“…Yes.”
He wanted to explore Geon-woo a bit more.
***
The film shooting ended quickly, as Director McKenney had told us. Although the atmosphere was unsettled due to the leaked set photos, we couldn’t indefinitely postpone the next shoot because of Malik’s schedule.
We finished shooting only Malik’s parts, and it was just past five o’clock. We headed to a place Malik frequents.
In truth, I was already seething just looking at Malik’s face.
I endured it when that damn Malik damaged the prop and framed me. It seemed his fluttering coat had knocked over the prop, but for some reason, it felt petty to point that out openly.
With staff members rushing over to clean up the floor, I couldn’t clear up the misunderstanding and could only apologize. Fortunately, it wasn’t difficult to clean up as it had broken cleanly.
Crucially, I didn’t want to mess with Malik, who seemed close to Mitchell.
Malik never missed Mitchell’s parties and was a member of the cruise trip that Mitchell took with close acquaintances. He even mingled with Mitchell’s family. I learned this fact when I was intensely investigating Mitchell’s private life long ago. Although he had some unpleasant aspects, he didn’t seem like a completely terrible person.
Moreover, I saw with my own eyes today how close the two were. I secretly watched them from behind the dressing room as they playfully touched each other without hesitation.
There were times when I wanted to punch that bastard in the face, but I could endure it because I didn’t feel jealous even when I saw them together. Mitchell and Malik were just normal friends. Malik couldn’t give Mitchell what I could give him.
“Let’s have a quiet, comfortable time.”
The place Malik brought us to was a private room inside a bar. A thick, long table was placed in the center of the room.
“Are you two really dating? Why are you sticking so close together?”
Malik and I sat facing each other, and Mitchell, who came in last, took a seat next to me, but he sat so close that our shoulders were touching. This was despite the chair being spacious enough for five people to sit comfortably.
“Stop talking nonsense and order quickly. I’m hungry. I didn’t eat properly earlier.”
As Mitchell scolded him, Malik arbitrarily ordered food and alcohol without even looking at the menu. While the food was being prepared, the two chatted, and I sat quietly beside them, just listening to their conversation.
Mitchell was unrestrained with Malik, who was like an older brother to him. Malik was the same. They even enjoyed playful insults. They were truly like close friends.
The food arrived when the business talk was in full swing. I, who had been sipping only low-alcohol champagne, focused on eating with a fork. I couldn’t join in anyway as it was a topic I didn’t know much about, and I also avoided it in case Malik said something nonsensical again. I took a bite of steak and poured the champagne that tasted like a soft drink into my glass.
Just as I was about to order more beer, a hand moved under the table.
Mitchell’s hand caressed my thigh, marking his territory. Mitchell, with a serious face while talking to Malik, held a champagne glass with his right hand and touched me with his left.
When his hand, which had gone deep into my inner thigh, grasped my center that had frozen with tension, I downed the full glass of champagne in one shot.
“Get me some beer.”
I couldn’t just ignore it as my lower body was heating up.
“Two bottles? No, make it five bottles.”
Malik looked at me with strange eyes. Even though my mouth was getting dry, I didn’t push Mitchell’s hand away. I was just thirsty.
