Chapter 11
“Today?”
“Yes, do you have any plans today?”
“Hmmm…”
Jaegun’s reply didn’t come right after .
On the other side of the phone came a repeating unknown buzzing sound .
Tewon became nervous .
He worked a long time as an editor, he had that ‘feeling . ’ Now it seemed that feeling was coming to him now . It might be that writer called Jaegun was already…
“Sorry . ”
Jaegun’s voice returned with the signal .
“I must have pushed a wrong button with my ear . You wanted to meet today, right?”
“Yes, Writer, are you ok?”
“Of course . I’m fine . I’ve finished writing the series and I’m free . Where do you want to meet? The same place?”
“I’ll go close to where you live . ”
“No . There’s nothing to eat here . It’s not far so I’ll go to Guloo Station and see you there . How about 7?”
“Yes, Writer . That seems fine . Ah, also…”
Tewon slurred his words and moved his glance to editor’s office .
Somii was already putting her face on the screen and was typing fast on the keyboard . She was already ordering Jaegun’s books in a list .
She was always doing more before even being told to do so . She knew how to do her job, and so, she never got intimidated when facing an overload of work .
With both his eyes on Somii’s laudable self, he replied back on his phone .
“If it’s fine Writer Ha, could your head editor also come as well?”
It was good for the head editor to meet with the writer . Especially with a writer like Jaegun who seemed to be close to success . Tewon wanted Somii to get more opportunities and experience as a editor .
Jaegun didn’t stop and accepted the offer .
“That’s good for me . We can see each other’s faces and exchange greetings . ”
“Yes, Writer . I’ll see you at 7 .
“OK . Thank you .
Tewon stretched as he cut off the phone .
After he finished that call, he felt refreshed . He felt that his ‘feeling’ was getting worse as time went on . Jaegun didn’t change . He was the same diligent hardworking nice guy .
“Representative . ”
Tewon, surprised, stood up . A man with half hair about in his 60s was walking in with his hands clasped behind his back . It was StarBooks representative Park Jeguk .
“Hey hey . Don’t stand up . Just sit down . ”
Jeguk pushed Tewon’s shoulder and made him sit down . And he pulled a chair on the side and asked passing by .
“Is there anything good going on?”
“Nothing changed except Martial Rankings . ”
“The freaking market is terrible . ”
Jeguk scratched his neck and complained . Looking at Tewon’s schedule, he continued his question .
“Is that book selling well right now?”
“The reviews are good . From book 4, there’s going to be more copies . If the reactions are good, there might be more . ”
“Hmm . That’s good . I just wish he could write faster . We have to finish printing in paper to release it electronically and suck the juice out . People these days don’t even read paper books . They use their phones . ”
“The world is changing after all . ”
“No, Editor, How about we slow the book down and start the electronic service quickly?”
“Speaking of, I needed to tell you something . I’ve got the last book of the series . ”
“What? When?”
“He sent it yesterday . Somii skimmed it, but it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with it . ”
“He sent 10 books already? Wait, but he wants to end it in only 10 books? You said the reviews are good? Isn’t this a series that we can push over 20 plus books?”
A publisher wants to pull a successful series as long as it can . Tewon shook his head and answered .
“We were going to meet today during dinner . We can start discussing the contract for later . I’ll ask him if he has any intention of stretching the series . ”
“Ah . Yes . Good job . ”
Jeguk tapped his shoulder and stood up .
“Give him some expensive food, 300 or 400 dollars doesn’t matter so just swipe it . Give him some specials . You eat as well . And persuade him well . You need to lock him up . ”
“Haha . Yes . ”
“We need to lock this writer up . At a time like this, we found a selling writer, this is good news . We can’t miss this money line . Hmm . ”
Jeguk walked out with his hands clasped on his back, the same way he walked in the office .
Tewon gazed at Jeguk’s back with a complex expression on his face . It has been 9 years since he joined StarBooks, the representative was old and unmarried when he joined; but now he was a dad of two children . A lot of things have changed .
“Somii, You and I are going to leave together today, so please finish the work by 6:30 . ”
“Yes, editor . ”
Somii’s energized voice came back .
Tewon downloaded the book from the company’s mailbox and and started reading it . Even though he was in a position of an editor and had to treat a book like a job, he turned into a reader and immersed himself into the novel .
‘I should get ready to leave now . ’
It was 6 and Jaegun started to get ready to leave .
Beep!
The phone rang on his pocket as he was putting on his shoes . When he checked the phone number, Jaegun’s face tightened .
Hetae Media’s Assistant Manager Park Gyungsoo
‘What is it?’
Jaegun couldn’t answer the phone right away and was stuck in his thoughts .
Even though he deleted Ma Jonggu’s phone number, there was a reason why he didn’t delete Park Gyungsoo’s .
Even though he didn’t have much power, he was a person who tried to help out Jaegun as much as possible in the company .
‘Are they planning to use Gyungsoo to try and get a contract out of me? If then, they are completely mistaking the game . ’
Out of Jaegun, a laugh came out . Business is business . Gyungsoo’s niceness was a different problem .
Jaegun picked up the phone .
“Assistant Manager Park?”
“Ah . You had my phone number . Hello . Hello . Writer Ha . Anything happened?
It was the same rushed and nervous voice .
Jaegun felt the same sorry feeling and answered .
“Nothing else happened . You’re doing fine?”
“Yes . I’ve been doing fine . Hahaha . Yes . I’ve been doing fine .
Jaegun’s eyes were on the clock on the wall’s minute hand . If he didn’t leave right now, he was going to be late so he was going to have to talk while walking .
“Did general manager Ma tell you to get a contract signed?”
Jaegun closed the door and walked through the hall .
He didn’t want to beat around the bush . Gyungsoo was the type of person who was careful with every writer he spoke with . He also had a weak hearing . It was better to talk straight away .
“Ahhh . That is… I wanted to to ask how you’ve been doing and with that purpose…”
“I’m sorry to you, assistant manager, but I have no mind to sign with Hetae Media . No, since this is business, there is no reason to be sorry to you . Right? I have no bad feelings with you, assistant manager . ”
With Jaegun’s sure tone, Gyungsoo’s voice became more rushed .
“That is, Writer Ha, the general manager said he would listen to any conditions at all . He said he wanted to give you the best conditions . Seriously . Can’t you listen just once?
“Assistant manager, I’m not sure if you understa…”
Jaegun’s stopped mid sentence .
Just 10 steps away was a car . And next to that car, there was Gyungsoo in a crouching position holding a phone .
“Ah… Writer Ha . ”
Gyungsoo, noticing Jaegun, put down his phone and laughed awkwardly . Of course, Jaegun couldn’t laugh . The only people who knew where he lived out of Suwon’s people were the employee’s of StarBooks . Did his personal information get exposed or something .