~Anna POV~

“… The overall campaign and logo design are my own work.”

My ears are ringing. I can’t believe what I just heard come out of her mouth. That brownie bite! I look around the room at everyone. The rest of my team is dead faced, except JinAe, she looks mildly nauseated, while JooWon is smirking right at me. President Kim is beaming at his low fat fudge niece while she’s looking at Jaejoong with a stalker like face. Super creepy, I shudder.

Then I look at JYJ, they seem calm and that makes me begin to calm down also. Oppa said they had a plan and I need to trust them. I take a closer look and can see Junsu squeezing his fists so tight his knuckles have turned white. Micky, while having a calm face has body language looking as if he’s ready to take flight, straight at HaeRa. Then there’s Jaejoong. He looks cool and in charge of the situation. I know then that they will deliver on their promise. I just need to remember my instructions, ‘Follow their lead and call them oppas.’ I can do this.

Jae asks her to go back to the logo design and we all look at it. I then hear him criticize the design. I’m not too happy about that but realize it must be a part of the plan. They had seemed to really like the sketches up on the roof. I decide to trust him on this; things can’t get any worse after all.

I notice Jae looking at me while the others talk and give him a nervous smile, he gives me a small one in return then turns back to talk. He states that the overall campaign is good. He better believe it, I worked my tail off on it. Finding out what kind of merchandise was popular with the fans, who the best photographer would be for a photo shoot, some cross promotional tie ins with a beverage company and even a candy bar. But then I hear him say we need to change the logo design. This must be it, HaeRa can’t change it, I would have to. I wonder how she’s going to try weedle out of this?

Jae then surprises me by turning my direction and asking if I still have the first draft of the logo since he liked my sketches. I can’t believe it. He just laid it right out there leaving it up to me. If I say yes, I can prove to President Kim that not only is this my design and I’m a competent designer, but also that HaeRa has been stealing my work. Or I can say no, and continue this cycle of bullying. This is one devious oppa. He’s helping me out while also letting me decide my own fate. I am so happy that I made these three new friends and that they are here to help me out.

I take a deep breath and a huge smile spreads across my face. After all, I did promise myself that it’d be on like Donkey Kong. I’m gonna kick her butterscotch ripple to the curb!

“Neh, Jae oppa. I have my sketch book and the flash drive with my first draft right here.” I grab my stuff and walk over to the conference table. I happen to look up right then and the look on HaeRa’s face is priceless, like someone smacked her with baseball bat.

~HaeRa POV~
WHAT?! Jeajoong not only knows Anna but knows that it’s her design? Moreover, he’s seen the earlier drafts and likes them better! How did this happen? How did little miss nobody become friends with Kpop idols?! This isn’t fair! She’s trying to steal my bonus!! I have to try and stop her, uncle can’t find out.

“Oh Anna, thank you for holding my supplies,” I say as I begin to round the table toward her. Only I’m interrupted by Yoochun before I can get there.

~Yoochun(Mikcy) POV ~
I hear HaeRa try to claim that the sketchbook and flash drive really belong to her. I can’t stand it. I have to say something to help out Anna.

“Wait just a minute!” I say while standing up.” If you think we’re going to sit by while you claim credit for any more of Anna’s work, you can think again!” I’m starting to get really worked up but then I feel a soft hand on my arm. I look over and see Anna standing next to me.

“It’s okay oppa,” she says in English. “I can handle this. Thank you for what you’ve done so far.” And she smiles at me. It goes straight through me and I begin to tingle all over. I nod at her and sit down letting her deal with her co-worker.

~Anna POV~
I turn away from oppa and look at HaeRa. I am filled with the confidence that JYJ has given to me. If they believe I can deal with this situation, I certainly can’t let them down. HaeRa is looking uncertain and that makes me even surer I can win this battle. HaeRa tries to speak again, I can’t allow that.

“Dakchyeo, double dutch cholocolate!” I yell at her. She snaps her mouth closed and looks at me in surprise.

“HaeRa, I don’t know what kind of spumoni you’re trying to pull,” I say in Korean, to ensure President Kim will understand. “But everyone on the team knows that I designed the logo. I have all the original sketches in my sketch book, with my name on it may I add. And yes, I showed my oppas the designs prior to this meeting.” She doesn’t have to know how much prior, now does she? “So they are also aware that I created this design. In fact, I think the only person who didn’t have a pralines and cream clue, was President Kim. So, I have to wonder what your intentions were, that you would try to fool your own family.”

I leave the question hanging as I turn and plug the flash drive into the computer. I then call up the relevant design file and place it next to the final draft so everyone can compare the two. JinAe reaches over to my sketch book and flips it to the relevant page and puts it in front of President Kim and Jeajoong. I always thought she might be on my side, guess this just proves it. I flash her a smile.

“Jae oppa, here is the first and final drafts and you have the original sketch in front of you. What specifically did you want?” I ask.

But it’s Junsu who answers. “I think we could go with your original draft actually. It has the sharper lines and the more distressed look that we favor than the final version. That’s what was missing from the final, you took out the distressed details. But as I said before, your overall design concept is stellar.”

“Thank you Junsu oppa. Yes, I had put in the distressed details originally because they seemed to be a theme in all of your previous promotions, as I figured that was the style you preferred. They came out in the final draft along with more a streamlined design due to suggestions from my team to reflect the current trends.”

“We don’t want to go with current trends, we want to set them and to please Orion. I think Junsu is correct. We can go with your original design Anna-ah. Don’t you agree Yoochun-ah?” Jae asks.

“I think you both know that I think Anna is fabulous.” Oppa says. Oh my blushes, he sure gives me a lot. “But I wonder how it’d look if we changed the primary color from purple to red? Our Orions would like that the best.” I give him a questioning look. “Our fan club,” he whispers.

Ah, I had forgotten about the fan colors when making the logos and reminded myself to add the balloons into the final promotional contract as well. “I can get those changes to you later this afternoon or tomorrow morning at the latest, “ I say.

“Sounds good. Get us the revised designs and the final contract details about the deliverables, you can contact our manager for any specific questions, and I don’t see why we can’t come to terms.” Jaejoong says while talking to President Kim. “That is assuming that Anna will stay as the designer on charge of our account.”

Assurances are made by President Kim and hands are shook on the deal. Yippee! I think I’ve finally come into my own here at Star Promotions! If nothing else, I’ve scored my first big account. I feel a wide smile spreading over my face. I look over and see JYJ returning my smile. I want to do a happy dance. The only other person in the room who looks mildly happy is JinAe, the rest of the team and President Kim look decidedly grumpy.

JYJ is is getting ready to leave when Junsu turns to me and asks, “Anna-ah, I forgot. It’s almost time for lunch. Are you going to be able to go for ice cream with us?”

President Kim answers for me, “If you could give us about 15 minutes to wrap up, I’ll send her down to join you in the lobby.”

“Kamsahamnida, that’s great! We’ll see you in a little bit Anna-ah.” JYJ leaves the room and we all watch them go down the hallway. Then President Kim turns to all of us, he doesn’t look happy.

“Now, someone had better start talking and it better make sense in a hurry.” Uh, oh… who’s going to go first? And will I be able to get out unscathed? Wait oppas, don’t leave me!

Notes

Uh, oh. Is Anna really saved or is she in deeper trouble? Will HaeRa be able to get out of this? Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think!