Excuse Me, Miss

Claire leaned down over the cameraman's shoulder to get a better look at the display. “There,” she said, pointing, “make sure you're catching the light there.”

The first of the three scenes was already finished, but there was a worrying amount of cloud cover moving in and Claire didn't want to add to the overburdened post-production team's workload. “Let's get the battle scene set up,” she called, waving the crew forward.

She felt arms wrap around her and a cheek press against hers as Kibum’s familiar cologne wafted over her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Claire was definitely not okay, but she broke from the comforting embrace anyway. “We still shouldn't do that here,” she reminded him.

Kibum went to speak, then saw something behind Claire and his mouth formed a grim line. “Here he comes,” he murmured.

Claire turned around and saw Kyle trudging up the trail to the set with a hard expression, like he'd just fought some gruesome battle and was looking for his next opponent. She wasn't scared of Kyle himself, but her old fear of losing everything they had worked for came crashing down again and she was terrified.

“Claire?”

Claire sighed shakily and turned back around. “Yeah?”

“We need your approval for first marks,” Philip said, gesturing at the scene. “Is this how you want it?”

Claire made an effort and examined the set carefully. “Soldier group A needs to move farther back, while soldier group B should be hidden in the trees,” she said, gesturing as she talked. “Minho and the others should be here, and only four or five villagers behind each of the other huts.”

“Claire!”

Claire cringed instinctively, then turned to face her brother. “Yes?” she asked.

Kyle nodded for her to follow him and headed toward the changing tent near the edge of the clearing. Claire looked at Kibum with what she hoped was a brave expression, and he squeezed her hand before she followed Kyle into the tent.

“I just got off the phone with the execs,” he said immediately, “and they're gonna let the show finish out the season.”

Claire breathed a deep sigh of relief. “And after?” she asked.

“I don't know,” he shrugged. “A lot of that depends on how the next few weeks go.”

Claire nodded. “Of course, I understand.”

“Do you?” Kyle shook his head. “You know what I have to say next.”

“Enlighten me.”

“You have to break up with Kibum.”

Claire folded her arms. “No, I don't,” she said coolly. “The contracts allow for it, and it's not hampering the show.”

“What do you call this morning?!” Kyle demanded. “Thanks to your little affair I had to grovel to the execs all morning and beg them not to cancel our show. Can't you just keep it in your pants for once?”

Claire ignored the crude comment. “What happened this morning was Lonny's fault, not mine,” she said evenly. “He's been fired and relations smoothed over with everyone involved. There's nothing else to be said.”

She turned to leave.

“Either you break up with him or you resign,” Kyle said.

“Resign?” Claire echoed, whipping around again. “I'm the one who got us this project in the first place, and you want me to resign?”

Kyle shifted slightly. “I want what's best for the project and everyone working on it,” he replied. “This isn't just about you and Kibum.”

“The only reason we hid it was because I knew you'd react this way,” Claire said, “and we couldn't afford the distraction this close to completing filming. How much longer are you gonna hold New York over my head?”

Kyle didn't respond and she sighed again. “I've got a battle scene to shoot,” she said, and she left the tent before Kyle could say anything else.


******


Minho watched Claire exit the tent and made eye contact with Kibum across the clearing. Looks like that didn't go well, he thought.

“What do you think that was about?” one of the villager extras asked. Minho overheard the question and spotted a trio of extras huddled together with their backs to him, so he edged closer to listen.

“They probably want to fire her,” another one replied.

“But she didn't do anything wrong!” a third protested. “They're just dating, what's so bad about that?”

“Nice day,” Minho boomed in his most authoritative voice.

The three extras jumped and turned around immediately. “It is a nice day,” the first one agreed, looking very guilty.

“I'm sure I can count on you to have my back out there,” he teased, clapping the man on the shoulder.

The double meaning was clear and the extras bowed again. “Of course, your Highness,” the third extra managed, eliciting chuckles from her friends.

Minho smiled at them and strode away, thinking about what they'd said. They can't fire her or Kibum for this, he thought, but that doesn't mean Kyle won't make this unpleasant.


******


Kibum sat on the roof of his trailer and looked up at the night sky. This had been the most tense day of filming since he joined the show, but even with everything that happened it had been nice to have Claire directing. She's much more of a natural than Kyle, he thought. How does a guy like that get the directorship over talent like hers?

Someone started climbing up the ladder and Kibum hoped it was Claire, only to be a little disappointed as Minho's head popped over the side. “I thought I'd find you here,” he said, pulling himself over the edge, “though you could at least pretend you're happy to see me.”

Kibum smiled and punched Minho in the arm as he settled down beside him. “I wish I knew what's going to happen now,” he said wistfully. “I feel guilty for pushing her so hard, but-”

“But nothing,” Minho said firmly. “Claire's really happy with you, Ki, and you know I wouldn't lie about that. With you supporting her, she might finally be starting to stand up to Kyle.”

Kibum nodded absently. “How are the other actors feeling about the situation?” he asked. “None of them said anything today, but I know they're probably gossiping like crazy.”

“A little,” Minho admitted, “but I shut it down whenever I heard it. I think they all like Claire more than Kyle, so anything that makes him mad is all right.”

Kibum checked his phone and sighed. “I've got a voicemail from Jinyeong that I'm afraid to listen to,” he said, showing Minho his phone.

“I talked to him earlier,” Minho offered, “and for some reason he's not angry about this. He's certainly not pleased, but apparently SM doesn't mind the whole DP and actor romance. It's even boosting album sales.”

Kibum's heart lifted and he looked up at the sky again. “In that case, I've got a call to make,” he said to himself.


******


A week after the Lonny incident found Claire once again up to her eyeballs in extra work. They were less than a month from wrapping up filming, and in light of the recent drama Claire had been getting a head start on her proposal for season two. She had hoped that after season one their careers would be secure enough to find more work in South Korea, but now she wasn't so sure. If we get a second successful season made, other companies will want to hire us, she kept telling herself. She couldn't face going back to the States empty-handed, and she knew that if this failed she would be just as shunned in Seoul as she was in New York.

An email alert chimed from somewhere under the mountain of paperwork on her desk and she dug through it until her laptop was unearthed. It was from Kyle, and the subject line read Urgent Message.

Weird, Claire thought as she opened the email.

Execs want a meeting. Come to the YN building today at four. Kyle.

Claire responded with her acknowledgement of the message and closed the laptop. Maybe they want to discuss the next season, she thought hopefully, so she threw herself into her proposal until the clock struck three and she printed off her final draft. Filming should be wrapping up soon, but she didn't want to wait for the crew to return and risk being late, so she slid her proposal into her satchel and hurried out to her Jeep in the main parking lot.

It was a thirty minute drive to the YN building, which was located in downtown Seoul, and Claire spent the whole drive rehearsing her speech. Thank you for… no, I'm grateful for your… that's stupid too. I've really got to get this right.

She parked outside the main entrance and gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror before getting out. Thankfully she was in clean clothes and had gotten a good night's rest, so she felt more confident than usual as she strode up to the receptionist's desk. “Claire Gresham to see Mr. Lee Do Jin,” she said. “I have an appointment at four.”

The receptionist tapped the keys of her computer rapidly. “Ms. Gresham, thank you for coming,” she said, bowing to Claire from her seat. “Mr. Lee is expecting you.”

Claire thanked her and took an elevator up to Mr. Lee’s office suite on the ninth floor, where another receptionist waved her through. “Mr. Lee is ready for you,” she said with a bow.

Claire took a deep breath, smoothed her hair down one last time, then knocked on the gleaming chrome door.

“Come!”

Claire entered the conference room and was surprised to find Mr. Lee sitting alone at the head of the table, except for one other person who turned to look at her as she came in. “Mr. Lee,” Claire said respectfully. “Kyle, I didn't realize you were already here.”

“Mr. Gresham and I had a private meeting,” Mr. Lee replied in English.

Private meeting? Claire wondered. She tried to look at Kyle, but he avoided her gaze. “I see,” she said aloud, though this was obviously a lie. “Are the other executives on their way?”

“The other executives will not be joining us for this,” Mr. Lee said. “It is… unnecessary.”

Claire was thoroughly confused now and it must have showed because Mr. Lee smiled at her. “Please sit,” he invited. “Would you like some water, a coffee perhaps?”

“No, thank you,” she murmured, sinking into a chair near the foot of the table. “I'm sorry, I was under the impression this was a pitch meeting. Could you tell me why I'm here, exactly?”

Mr. Lee nodded. “Of course.”

He opened a file and laid it on the table. “We have been made aware of certain issues that are hindering production of The Forest Prince and causing problems with members of the cast and crew.”

Claire barely managed to suppress an eye roll. “Mr. Lee, I assure you that while the revelation of this news wasn't handled properly, Mr. Kim and I are-”

“Mr. Kim?” Mr. Lee interrupted. “Ms. Gresham, we have no interest whatever in whom you choose to spend time with. I am referring to the money.”

“The money?” Claire echoed. “Forgive me, but I don't know what you're talking about.”

“We have been presented with conclusive evidence that you have stolen over eleven million won from the show since it began airing, which equates to nearly ten thousand American dollars,” Mr. Lee said calmly. “Do you deny it?”

“Of course I do!” Claire exclaimed. “I've never taken a cent above my paycheck! Kyle, tell him!”

Kyle didn't reply and Claire got a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Kyle?” she repeated.

“Mr. Gresham is the one who discovered the discrepancies and assembled the evidence,” Mr. Lee said. “He was reluctant to reveal such things about his sister, but he has proven his loyalty to YN by coming forward.”

Claire's pulse was so fast her whole chest was vibrating, but she tried to remain calm. “Mr. Lee, I don't know what evidence you've been given, but I must repeat that I'm innocent of this crime,” she said emphatically. “An investigation-”

“I've already conducted an investigation, Ms. Gresham, so don't insult all of us by lying any further,” Mr. Lee cut in. His demeanor was harder now, and there was an icy glint in his eyes as he leaned forward. “I will admit that your work on The Forest Prince has brought YN a significant amount of revenue, so I'm prepared to offer a deal. Return the money, and you will be allowed to resign your position and return to the States without charges being pressed.”

Claire's mouth dropped open. “Resign? Leave?” She gathered her thoughts again and forced away the lump in her throat. “Mr. Lee, your investigation must have shown my financial history,” she attempted. “I don't even have direct access to the money for the show, let alone to take that much of it. I've never even had more than five thousand dollars in my account at any one time!”

“Whatever offshore account you've hidden the money in will be found eventually, whether you cooperate or not,” Mr. Lee said coolly. “Since you continue to deny it, you leave me no choice but to terminate your position and have you arrested.”

Claire was panicking now. “Please, Mr. Lee, I swear I'm innocent!” she pleaded. “Don't do this! It's not right!”

“You're the one who did wrong, Ms. Gresham,” Mr. Lee replied, and he reached for his call button.

“Wait!” Kyle said suddenly.

Claire's breath caught hopefully as he sat up in his chair. “If I find the account and return the money, will you let Claire go?” he asked.

Hot rage burned in Claire's chest and rendered her silent as Mr. Lee considered this. “Very well,” he said, pulling his hand back, “ but Ms. Gresham must be out of Seoul within twenty-four hours or risk prosecution.”

Kyle nodded. “Thank you, sir,” he murmured.

The door opened and two security guards came in, as if on cue, but Kyle stood and waved them back. “I can escort my sister out,” he said benevolently.

Claire stood up and waited until Kyle was close enough, then she punched him so hard he went flying into the wall and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. “You trash!” she yelled. “You filthy, abhorrent scum!”

The guards grabbed her and pinioned her arms, but she kept struggling and yelling insults until they dragged her from the room and onto the elevator. They hauled her through the main lobby, past a crowd of gaping spectators, and shoved her into the parking lot without a word.

This can't be happening, Claire thought desperately. I can't go through this again, not now. What do I do?

Notes