Chapter 1044: Princess and the Maid (4)

"How could you possibly think I wouldn't know that you only made it to where you are because of two men?"

Thirty years ago, Ahn Yoo-Ra wasn't nearly as glamorous as she was now. Back then, her agency had planned to market her as a serious actress whose appeal didn't depend on her looks.

Yet while she was still in high school, Ahn Yoo-Ra boldly approached Yoo Myung-Min, the president of the famous agency she belonged to at the time, and offered to become his sponsored mistress. In return, she asked him to pay for plastic surgery to turn her into the most beautiful actress in the industry.

Yoo Myung-Min gladly accepted the audacious proposal from a high school girl more than twenty years his junior and spent an enormous fortune transforming her appearance. From that point on, Ahn Yoo-Ra was hailed as Chungmuro's brightest rising star and quickly became one of the film industry's most talked-about actresses.

Then, one day, while everything was going her way, Ahn Yoo-Ra asked Yoo Myung-Min to find her another sponsor. She wanted to climb even higher. Wanting to expand his agency further, Yoo Myung-Min once again joined forces with Ahn Yoo-Ra and searched for someone with real influence.

The man they found was none other than Shin Woo-Jin, the current president of LT Hotel. At the time, Shin Woo-Jin was so infatuated with Ahn Yoo-Ra that even during his newlywed years, he spent almost all his time with her instead of his wife. He also spared no expense sponsoring every project she appeared in. And that financial backing had continued to this very day.

The only reason I knew about this filthy arrangement was because, before my regression, Ahn Yoo-Ra's longtime talent agent, Park Yong-Ki, had gotten into a huge fight over money. After getting completely drunk, he had spilled every last detail to me.

I kept it buried because I hadn't secured any evidence. However, with things having reached this point, I had no choice but to use it.

Just then, Ahn Yoo-Ra's voice trembled at what I said. "What do you mean, two men... What are you talking about?"

"Why pretend you don't know? I'm talking about the two men who made you who you are. Ah, and I'm not counting your husband."

At that moment,Ahn Yoo-Ra flew into a rage. "Cut the bullshit. I got to where I am through my own ability! I earned every bit of it! How dare you mock me with this ridiculous nonsense? Two men? Who the hell are you talking about? Besides my husband, I don't know any men!"

I let out a scoff before sending her a Kk Talk message.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: President of Y Company. President of L Company.]

Beep.

A cheerful notification chimed from Ahn Yoo-Ra's phone.

"What's this supposed to be?" asked Ahn Yoo-Ra.

I shrugged. "Go ahead and check."

She pulled out her phone and read the message. The next instant, her entire body began trembling.

"How did you..."

"The information talent agents share among themselves goes far beyond what you imagine. So unless you're planning to retire, you'd better prepare yourself. You'll pay dearly for what you've done to Ms. Moon Soo-Jung and Hoop Entertainment."

Ahn Yoo-Ra glared at me as if she wanted to kill me, but she never uttered the words that she would retire. Normally, anyone backed into a corner like this would have dropped to their knees and begged for mercy. Yet Ahn Yoo-Ra, one of the industry's biggest stars, refused to back down.

There was only one possible reason—she was counting on Shin Woo-Jin.

Sure enough, Ahn Yoo-Ra raised her voice. "If you're going to make threats like this, then show me some actual evidence! If you've got anything else, let's see it."

"Do I really need anything more?"

A faint smile spread across Ahn Yoo-Ra's face. "You don't have any evidence, do you? If you did, you'd be showing that instead of sending some stupid Kk Talk message. Hey, Chief Jung. Do you think you're the first talent agent who's tried blackmailing me over the past thirty years? Huh?"

Looking thoroughly pleased with herself, Ahn Yoo-Ra reached over and picked up her handbag from the sofa.

Thud.

"I don't know which idiot talent agent fed you that story, but go ahead and do your worst! Something like this will never be enough to force me into retirement!"

Ahn Yoo-Ra shouted with baseless confidence, then turned and walked straight out of the president's office. She hadn't survived thirty years as a top star for nothing.

Still, there was one thing she didn't know. By the time someone reached my level as a talent agent, I didn't need hard evidence. The information I already possessed was more than enough to forge weapons capable of bringing someone like her down.

'Just wait, Ahn Yoo-Ra. You'll soon see the kind of weapons I can create.'

Just then, President Hong Jin-Gyu clicked his tongue in amazement as he applauded me.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

"Ahn Yoo-Ra's got nerves of steel, but you're even more impressive, Chief Jung. You even know about something that happened thirty years ago? Just how much do you know about this industry, huh?"

The way he was buttering me up told me he was definitely after something.

I asked, "What are you trying to ask?"

"Could you tell me, just between us, who those two men are?"

Yoo Myung-Min was now seventy years old and worked as a vice president at a media investment company. And Shin Woo-Jin was the president of LT Hotel. Neither was someone I had any reason to identify for him.

"I'm sorry, but aren't we only partners when it comes to HK Inc.'s affairs?"

"Tsk... That's disappointing..." Hong Jin-Gyu grumbled.

For someone who had spent his entire life as part of a royal family, being told "no" wasn't something he was used to. In the end, though, he was the one who needed me.

"Fine. I'll back off for now. But if I become HK's chairman one day... will you tell me then?"

"When that day comes, I will."

Only then did Hong Jin-Gyu burst into laughter. "Looks like I've found one more reason to become chairman. With the kind of information you've got, Chief Jung, I could climb mountains far bigger than HK Inc."

Hong Jin-Gyu was burning with determination to climb a mountain he had never reached.

"Ah, Chief Jung. So what's your next move? Are you going to leak everything to the reporters?"

"No. There's no need."

"Huh? Then what are you planning?"

Instead of answering, I simply smiled.

Looking disappointed, Hong Jin-Gyu stood up from the sofa. "Tsk. So you're not telling me. Fine. I'd love to stick around and watch, but I guess it can't be helped. Come on, let's head out together."

Not that anyone at HK Entertainment would dare lay a hand on me if I left alone, but there was no point inviting unnecessary trouble.

"Yes. Let's go."

I left the president's office alongside Hong Jin-Gyu and slowly made my way out of HK Entertainment.

I was ready to tear apart Ahn Yoo-Ra's glittering world one piece at a time.

***

After leaving HK Entertainment, the first person I called was President Kang Gam-Chan.

"Mr. Kang. Everything here has been settled. And President Pi Sang-Deuk has left the entertainment industry, so you don't have to worry about him anymore."

-That stubborn bastard left the industry?

"That's right."

Kang Gam-Chan's voice quivered ever so slightly. Just as Kim Dong-Soo had tormented me, Pi Sang-Deuk had spent years making his life miserable. Hearing that man was finally gone seemed to stir something inside him.

"I'll explain everything once I get back. But before that, I have one favor to ask."

-What is it?

From that point on, I made a single request of Kang Gam-Chan. There was someone he needed to meet if we were going to bring Ahn Yoo-Ra down.

-Understood. I'll meet with them.

After finishing the call, I took a deep breath and picked up my phone. Then I immediately called Park Hong-Cheon, Chief Secretary to Shin Woo-Jin, the president of LT Hotel. After several rings, Park Hong-Cheon answered.

-What is it?

I replied in a calm, measured voice. "I'd like to meet with Mr. Shin Woo-Jin."

-If you have business, tell me instead. I'll let Mr. Shin know and he'll contact you when he has time.

"Please tell him it's regarding Ahn Yoo-Ra."

The line fell silent. Having served Shin Woo-Jin for many years, Park Hong-Cheon immediately understood what I was referring to.

-Could it be... that?

"Yes. It's exactly what you're thinking."

-Come here immediately. I'll report it to the president.

Click.

After ending the call, I smiled to myself, pressed down on the accelerator, and headed for LT Hotel.

Evidence that didn't even exist had already begun exerting its influence.

***

As soon as I arrived at LT Hotel headquarters, a secretary who had been waiting outside greeted me. I handed over my car keys and followed him to the president's office.

When I entered alone, Shin Woo-Jin and Park Hong-Cheon were already seated on the sofa waiting for me.

Shin Woo-Jin, now sixty-two years old, spoke in a slightly raised voice. "How did you find out?"

The moment he saw me, he demanded to know how I learned about his relationship with Ahn Yoo-Ra.

I said, "I'm not here to blackmail you, so you can relax."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

Ever since I became involved in HK Inc.'s succession battle, more and more influential people had begun treating me with caution. Before my regression, they had all looked down on me as someone beneath their feet. The fact that they were now wary of me was still a little surprising.

Still, that wasn't why I had come.

"If I wanted to blackmail you, I would've gone to Mr. Shin Jong-Ki at LT Entertainment first."

"Hmm... Then if this isn't blackmail, why bring up Yoo-Ra?"

All I had was information about Ahn Yoo-Ra's relationships with powerful men. I had no evidence, but I intended to turn that information into real power with the help of one small lie.

"A little while ago, Ms. Ahn Yoo-Ra and I had a rather heated confrontation. When she realized she couldn't win, she brought up the wonderful time the two of you supposedly spent together at a villa in Guam years ago."

The moment I implied that she tried to intimidate me by flaunting Shin Woo-Jin's backing, his expression hardened.

"Yoo-Ra's been going around saying things like that?"

"Yes. She even claimed that the two of you still spend your summer vacations together at your villa in Hokkaido, Japan, and warned me to back off."

Secrets shared by only the two of them were now coming out of my mouth. A sense of betrayal spread across Shin Woo-Jin's face, and his whole body began trembling with anger.

"So I came to confirm something. If I end up fighting with Ms. Ahn Yoo-Ra... are you planning to interfere?"

"I've indulged that bitch for too long. Looks like she's forgotten to fear anyone."

The LT Inc. was also in the middle of its own succession battle. With his rival, President Shin Jong-Ki, gaining momentum, news of Shin Woo-Jin's relationship with Ahn Yoo-Ra would deal him a devastating blow to his plan of becoming the head of the company.

Perhaps that was why he exploded so quickly. After fuming to himself for a while, he held up his phone.

[A: You're not answering your phone. Please call me when you have time. Please? I'm begging you.]

"So that's why she sent me this message during the meeting earlier. It was because of you, Chief Jung?"

The text Ahn Yoo-Ra had sent only made my story more convincing.

I simply nodded. "Yes."

"Fine. I'm done with that bitch. I have no intention of ever seeing her again, so handle her however you like. No... you said the two of you are at war. In that case, I'll lend you a hand. What do you need?"

He intended to use me to eliminate Ahn Yoo-Ra with someone else's knife. Information that had been nothing more than unsupported claims had finally become a source of real power.

"Then first, I want every advertisement featuring Ms. Ahn Yoo-Ra removed from LT Hotel, LT Department Store, and LT Construction."

Ever since she was young, Ahn Yoo-Ra had monopolized advertising deals throughout the LT Inc. thanks to Shin Woo-Jin's favoritism. That hadn't changed even now.

Shin Woo-Jin nodded and turned to Park Hong-Cheon. "You heard him. Give this young man exactly what he asked for."

Park Hong-Cheon looked visibly conflicted. "Are you certain you're alright with this, sir?"

"Yes. We've had... a long history together. But it's time to end it."

The moment he realized she had become an obstacle to his succession, Shin Woo-Jin was prepared to ruthlessly cast aside the woman he had once cherished.

"Then what about Chief Jung? What do you intend to do about what he knows?"

"If he were the type to cause trouble over something like this, he wouldn't have come to me in the first place."

"Understood. I'll begin by terminating her advertising contracts."

"Good. And for the time being, anything related to Ahn Yoo-Ra... do whatever Chief Jung asks. Whatever it is."

"It will be done." Park Hong-Cheon rose from his seat and left the president's office.

I stood up as well and said, "Then I'll be on my way as well."

Just then, Shin Woo-Jin stopped me. "Chief Jung. Do you really not have any interest in joining me? I'm much closer to becoming the next chairman than Jong-Ki is."

His attitude was noticeably gentler than when he tried recruiting me at LT Amusement Park. However, knowing his true nature—his greed to possess everything—I simply smiled and shook my head.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have no intention of accepting."

Before my regression, Shin Woo-Jin eventually became the master of LT Entertainment's chairman's office. Even so, I had no desire to work alongside a man cold enough to discard the woman he'd treasured simply because she had become inconvenient.

"What a shame. Anyway, if Ahn Yoo-Ra causes any more trouble, contact me immediately. You have my number, don't you?"

"Yes."

After leaving the president's office, I drove straight to KBC. This time, I had a weapon that truly possessed power in my hands.

***

"Great work, everyone!"

The recording for The Lives of Stars, KBC's popular Thursday night variety show, had finally wrapped up. The Lives of Stars featured drama casts sharing behind-the-scenes stories from filming, and today's guests were the cast members of Queen Jeonghee.

Although Queen Jeonghee had seen its viewership ratings fall to the low 10% range because of the overwhelming popularity of its rival, Hwaranjeon, KBC had invested heavily in the drama. As a result, the network was doing everything it could to promote it through its own variety programs.

That was why Ahn Yoo-Ra was still appearing here even though her character, Queen Soheon—the wife of King Sejong—had died in Episode 20.

"Phew... Finally finished."

Having rushed over after leaving HK Entertainment, Ahn Yoo-Ra wiped the sweat from her brow after four straight hours of filming and picked up her phone. She intended to try contacting Shin Woo-Jin, the president of LT Hotel, once again after failing to reach him earlier.

Just then, So Yi-Yung, the female lead of Queen Jeonghee, approached with a smile. "Unnie, you worked so hard today."

Suppressing the irritation rising inside her, Ahn Yoo-Ra forced a smile. "You too. Good work."

At that moment, after glancing around to make sure no one was listening, So Yi-Yung asked, "But I heard Chief Jung came to the company earlier and turned the whole place upside down. You were there too, weren't you?"

"Turned the place upside down? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on. I heard Mr. Pi got completely kicked out. So... what's going to happen to us now? Does that mean joining Hoop Entertainment is officially out of the question?"

"Hey. Is Hoop Entertainment the only agency in the world? Don't worry. I'll talk it over with my man. I can at least make sure you're taken care of."

"Okay. Then I'll buy you a designer bag every quarter."

Ahn Yoo-Ra was already planning to introduce So Yi-Yung to the president of LT Hotel as his next sponsored mistress. And in return, she intended to ask him to crush Jung Yoon-Ho without mercy.

"Hey... just don't ever betray me. Got it?"

"Oh, come on. Who understands each other better than we do? Don't worry. I'd never betray you."

Just as the two of them put their heads together over a single sponsor, Oh Tae-Hwan, the producer in charge of the show, approached Ahn Yoo-Ra with a grave expression.

"Ms. Yoo-Ra, I'm sorry, but we're going to have to cut all of your footage from today's recording."

Still talking with So Yi-Yung, Ahn Yoo-Ra tilted her head in confusion. "What? Why?"

"I've delivered the message. That's all you need to know."

Just as the producer turned to leave, Ahn Yoo-Ra shouted after him. "Hey, PD Oh! Since when do you get to make decisions like this without even giving me an explanation?"

Oh Tae-Hwan had only been a producer for five years, while Ahn Yoo-Ra had thirty years in the industry. However, for an actress to speak to a PD like that was completely out of line.

Sure enough, the PD stopped walking and turned around. "What did you just say?"

"Didn't you hear me? At least tell me why! Just because HK Entertainment's fallen apart, you've started looking down on me too?"

The staff looked over in surprise, but Ahn Yoo-Ra made no effort to hide the anger she had been carrying all day.

The PD sighed and said, "Look, those were my orders from above. What exactly do you expect me to do?"

"From above? Who?"

At that moment, a sharp voice rang out. "I gave the order."

Kwak Hye-Jin, KBC's newly appointed Head of Variety Programming, entered from one side of the set. Walking beside her, smiling brightly, was someone Ahn Yoo-Ra had never expected to see. It was Jung Yoon-Ho.

'Jung Yoon-Ho... Was this your doing too?'

***

The moment I arrived at the station, I went straight to see Kwak Hye-Jin, the new Head of Variety Programming.

I let her listen to my phone call with Park Hong-Cheon and informed her that LT Hotel would no longer be backing Ahn Yoo-Ra. Then, after I explained everything that had happened earlier that day, Kwak Hye-Jin ordered that all of Ahn Yoo-Ra's footage from today's recording be cut. Afterward, she suggested we head down to the set together, so I accompanied her.

Frowning slightly, Kwak Hye-Jin explained the decision. "Ms. Yoo-Ra. LT Hotel says they won't sponsor any program you're appearing on. So what choice do we have? You're the one who'll have to be sacrificed. Oh, and don't even think about setting foot in KBC's Variety Department for a while. Understood?"

Realizing just how serious the situation had become, Ahn Yoo-Ra turned toward me and shouted, "Hey, Jung Yoon-Ho! This was your doing too, wasn't it?"

Normally, I would've avoided answering directly. This time, I didn't.

"I warned you, didn't I? I told you to prepare yourself."

"Shut up!"

Without caring that the entire staff was watching, Ahn Yoo-Ra yelled back before grabbing her phone and making a call. As the ringing continued, the anxiety on her face grew more obvious.

Then the call connected.

"Mr. President, I just heard something strange, so I wanted to—"

Before she could finish, Shin Woo-Jin's icy voice exploded through the phone.

-How dare you contact me! I don't even want to see your face anymore, so don't ever contact me again!

Realizing something had gone terribly wrong, she hurriedly raised her voice. "No, Mr. President! I think you've misunderstood! Please, just hear me out! This is all something Chief Jung—"

Click.

The call ended.

Having been discarded without a second thought, Ahn Yoo-Ra staggered in shock. "No... No, this can't be happening. How could the president... How could he do this to me..."

Her expression was that of someone watching her entire world collapse. However, I wasn't finished yet.

I held my phone out in front of her. "And this is my final gift."

Completely dazed, Ahn Yoo-Ra stared blankly at the screen. On the live broadcast of the MeTube channel Entertainment Oddities TV, which had over a million subscribers, the man who would drag her into the abyss had just appeared.

"How... Why is President Yoo there...? How...?"

It was Yoo Myung-Min, the former president of Yoo Entertainment. He was the man who had debuted her, paid for her plastic surgery, and arranged her sponsors. He was the man who knew everything.

Following my instructions, he was now preparing to give an interview.

"You really should have listened when I told you to prepare yourself."

'Ahn Yoo-Ra... You underestimated me.'

I turned my phone's speaker volume all the way up so that everyone on the set could hear. The next moment, Yoo Myung-Min began exposing Ahn Yoo-Ra's secrets one after another.