FK 2 [Fortune Killer] - Nevereverland

Chapter 1 (UNEDITED)

"Haaaa."

Lain breathed heavily as he arrived at the villa where he had been once last night and sat in the parlour. His heart still can't calm down. Last night, he even signed the contract as if he was possessed by something and even accepted the package of keys and the PDA, but when he opened his eyes this morning, he wondered what was going on.  

Soon after, he realized that it was real when he saw a bunch of keys next to him and a Jaguar with a dented bumper in the parking lot. And he drove into this villa in that car, and the fact that the elevator's card key was working makes him realize once more that it’s real, and after entering the house, he once again looked into the contract he signed yesterday and slapped himself on the face.

He’s nervous. He’s so nervous. He doesn’t know why is that, but he’s extremely anxious. Rather than thinking that this is such a good fortune, he thought that there was no reason for such luck to come to him.

Even in college, just getting a scholarship caused - expensive electronic products or major books get wet, or when living in a very affordable apartment, he was asked to get out of the apartment immediately because the building is getting demolished - that much accident. So there's no way that luck will deliver itself without him paying the price.

His annual salary is $500,000 with car, meals and accommodation provided, moreover being Edan Blake's lawyer and spokesman. Edan Blake's Legal Advisor was Luke Feltin. He was a legendary lawyer in New York City and already had 30 years of experience. It is weird that his successor is himself, and above all, the conditions are so good.

He was exactly a human being who sought only earned income. Unearned income is a disaster for oneself. That means that there will be problems if you are paid more than you do. It's safe to do exactly as much work as you are obliged to do and just get that much money. To get paid beyond one's ability is just disturbing. What else is going to happen again. What if the house explodes this time? Or maybe the car just suddenly rolled upside down and he ended up in the hospital? Or maybe someone in his family is guaranteed a debt...….

He was holding the contract tightly in his hand at the sound of his pounding heart, and he heard heavy footsteps coming from the hallway outside the parlour. Hearing that sound, he jumped up from his seat, straightened his suit, and waited. Although he lived in New York for quite a while – for college, graduate school and social life - it was his first time seeing a celebrity up close.  

Sometimes, even when he saw a model or actor on the street, he passed by pretending not to know, but now his heart is pounding. This is Edan Blake. It's Edan Blake, not anyone else. The American star who has grown from a teenage star to an actor and producer who boasts strong ticket power. Since the star is not a regular star, but a very huge star, his heart began to flutter at the fact that he met him in person, who he had only seen in photos or television. As soon as he met him, he was going to get an autograph first and take a picture with his new old generation cell phone that he bought this morning - the cheapest one - and send it to Kelly.

When he told on the phone this morning that he was going to work with Edan from today, Kelly screamed, while Ellie on the other hand hung up the phone coolly and said, "You just hit a Jaguar and now you're crazy."  

If he sends the picture to Ellie, she will have no choice but to believe it. He’s waiting excitedly thinking about whether to take a picture first or get an autograph first, and someone enters the parlour. While thinking about how to greet as cool as possible, he could see a huge black man and a smallish but firm-looking white old man entering the parlour.

"Oh, new lawyer?"

Looking at the man about two meters tall in a comfortable shirt and cotton pants and the firm-looking old man, Lain’s eyes twitched. Edan Blake in question was nowhere to be seen and strangers kept appearing.

While thinking where on earth Edan Blake is, the grey-haired old man reached out his hand with a gracious smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Jerry Brooke, this is Sean Kaylee. Eddie's bodyguard. I heard the story roughly from Alex yesterday."

Looking at the man who familiarly called Edan Blake as Eddie with surprise, Lain hurriedly reached out to shake his hand.

"Oh, yes. Hello, I'm Lain Jang."

Lain greets Jerry first, and when he reaches out to Sean with a huge stature behind him, his large hand shook Lain's hand. It was literally the size of a pot lid. If you get hit with that hand, you’ll at least get a concussion.

"Eddie is in France right now. He'll be back soon. So we’re thinking of going to the airport to pick him up, do you want to go with us?"

"Oh, can I?”

"Of course, we'll be family in the future."

Jerry smiled brightly, and he thought something was wrong. They've been going about family this family that since yesterday.…. Something's getting strange. Wondering why these people use the word family, not friends, Lain just said what came to mind at the moment.

"Mafia?"

"Huh?"

"Family. Don Corleone. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino. Oh, Marlon Brando!"

He wondered who this old man resembled, then he figured that he looked like Marlon Brando, and the moment Lain shouted confidently, Jerry let out a hoarse hohoho laugh.

"You must like The Godfather."

"Yes, you look like Marlon Brando."

"Oh, I hear that a lot."

"Marlon Brando and Mike Tyson."

Lain pointed to Sean standing next to him with a slight smile absence of ulterior motive. In a way, it was quite rude, but Lain's expression was so innocent that both of them just laughed.

"He often hears that, too. Well, shall we go out? 'Cause we have to catch him before he skedaddles away.”

"Yes?"

Jerry looks at the clock, checks the time, and nods his head before he could ask who is skedaddling to where.

"Come on, let's hurry, hurry. We don't have time. Lawyer gentleman, do you usually use your physical strength?"

"What? Yes, well. On a regular basis."

"What about running?"

"I'm good at running."

He can't do other sports, but he’s confident that he’s good at running, so when Lain replied with a smile, Jerry tapped Lain on the shoulder as if he was satisfied with the answer.

"Good for you, let's go."

"Huh? Where?"

"To the airport."

 

It was early in the morning, but JFK Airport was crowded.

Lain, who was looking around while standing in front of the general gate, was thinking that Edan Blake might be using the VIP gate while checking out the surrounding. Jerry, who steps forward together with Sean, was whispering something trying to figure out his location.

"Well, when is Edan coming?”

"He'll be here soon.”

"But why is he coming out of the general gate?”

"……...Well, I don't know."

While he was looking at him who was muttering ominous words, the gate began to open. People began to flock to the gate while Lain tilted his head, wondering if Edan Blake was going to and fro a private plane. No one looked like Edan Blake amid the deluge of people.

"Well, by the way. Is this all he has for bodyguard?"

"No."

"Then what about the others?”

Sometimes when he looked at entertainment programs, there seemed to be five or six bodyguards and two or three managers surrounding Edan Blake, but when Lain tilted his head as if wondering whether everyone is taking a break, Jerry explains very kindly.

"There were originally five people, but two quit last week and another quit yesterday. There were originally three managers, but two of them quit yesterday. The lawyer also got his license revoked as of yesterday, so I could say that he eventually quit."

Come to think of it, Melissa also said she was on vacation from today, and Lain looked at Jerry with apprehensive eyes at Jerry's murmur.

A job that treats you too well is a problem. He doesn’t know about others, but at least that’s the case for him. If he looks back at his life, which is exactly plus and minus zero, there is nothing free in the world. Cheap things will end up useless, and unearned income will soon be linked to disasters. If he gets it for free, he has to pay it back. So, he thought it was strange.

What does it mean when a freshman lawyer who barely got out of his elementary internship - whose current winning rate is unknown – is getting paid $500,000 in annual salary. It is clear that this is a slave contract or another hidden conspiracy. No, even if there is no conspiracy, something like that will definitely happen.

Edan Blake is a celebrity famous for being accident-free. It should be said that he does not actually use a lawyer except during a movie contract. If he does his job without a private office, he will raise a huge unearned income. Then the aftermath is scary. He had a hunch something very scary was going to happen.

"Well, Jerry, I'm sorry…… May I ask why they quit?”

Jerry seems to be in trouble for a moment when asked by Lain, who is full of suspicion.

"You'll find out slowly."

"What is that?"

"Let's just say that's what life is all about. No matter how much money is being paid, there are few people that can be trusted, and even if the trust is there, people have personal circumstances."

"I mean, those personal circumstances...….”

He's trying to ask him what the personal circumstances are while hugging his pounding heart, but Jerry, who was looking around the gate at the moment, tapped Lain on the shoulder and pointed to the gate. Turning to the touch, he saw a man carrying a large Louis Vuitton monogram Keepall on his shoulder.

His face was barely visible wearing a black beanie and dark Boeing sunglasses, but the man wearing a comfortable black V-neck T-shirt and jeans with earphones in his ears definitely stood out among those flocking out of the gate. At first glance, he looks like a model or an actor. The way he walks and his attitude, which seemed to proudly enjoy the gaze of those who look at him without being intimidated by those gazes proved that the man was at least a model.

Lain sincerely exclaimed, "Wow!" at his slim yet moderately muscular body, and his head which looks small compared to his height, and his long neck, arms and legs.

Since the only human being around him were middle-aged men who started to have bellies and started using hair extensions, plus lawyers who were short and had a bad temper - except for Edward Clark, but this guy has a brain problem – so, when he saw a handsome man who was close to perfection, his eyes felt very refreshed.

"He’s totally an air purifier, air purifier."

While Lain was looking at the man with a pleased face and sincerely thought of the word ‘God bless humanity,’ the Hollywood actor who trudged toward this side with nothing but Louis Vuitton's Keepall on his shoulder suddenly stops, slips his sunglasses down and then stare through Lain. 

They were such blue eyes. The blue eyes were shining like jewels. But it's different from sapphire. It’s like lapis lazuli, where mysterious blue radiance embraces numerous golden lights in it. His eyes were literally like pure azure stone. It was like a dawn sky full of stars, and it was like a blue sea shining under the light. It was different from any blue eyes he’s ever seen.

While Lain stared blankly at the eyes, feeling as if he was going to be sucked into them, the owner of the lapis lazuli eyes raised his hand and pointed to Lain.

"What's this?"

Long and pretty fingers which give aesthetic look, as well as a very clear, distinct and elegant pronunciation. When Lain opened his eyes wide with a face that says ‘No way!’ to the voice that he had only heard on television, Jerry, who was standing next to Lain, quickly introduced Lain to him.

"Our new family member. You didn't listen to Alex's message.”

Despite Jerry's introduction, he still looked at Lain with eyes full of meaning. The colour of his eyes was so pretty, but somehow, as Lain blinked his eyes while he looked at him with fierce momentum, he once again points to Lain with his fingertips and asks Jerry.

"This, is working for me? Isn’t he a high school student?"

"What do you mean this. Call him Lain. Say hi, Lain. This is Edan."

Lain was about to reach out his right hand when Jerry said that. However, just before the hand went forward, Edan's curt voice was heard.

"Are you kidding me? Aren't you a minor? All you did is dress up in a suit?”

"Lain Jang. Korean ancestry. 26 years old. He’s an adult."

Jerry patted Lain on the shoulder as if he liked Lain very much and introduced Lain instead. But Edan still looked at Lain as if he couldn't believe it. Wearing a nice suit and standing still, Lain was obviously an adult, but he gives the impression that he looked quite young, perhaps because of his slightly lowered bangs and unusually large eyes. The strict Alex couldn't have been scammed somewhere, so it might be right about the age, but he’s still suspicious of what he’s seeing.

"Really not a minor?"

"I told you so."

Only then did Edan, who looked around Lain one more time, turned away from Lain and asked Jerry, as if he was no longer interested.

"What about Vince, Kyle and Gale?"

"They quit yesterday."

At that, Edan nods convincingly and murmurs, "So, the time has come," and asks Jerry again.

"What about Alex?"

"Attended to childbirth. He said Jane's due date is tomorrow.”

"Is that why it's just you and Sean here?”

"First of all. To tell you one more thing, Sean is going to quit today. His contract is due today, so he’s going back to his hometown tomorrow.”

Lain swirls since this is the first time he heard it, and when he looks back at Jerry, Jerry pats Lain on the shoulder as if saying he doesn't need to worry.

"For now, let's leave first. Before anyone recognizes you."

Jerry looks this way and looks back at the whispering people, and when he urges them, Edan, who was standing with a displeased face, throws the bag he was carrying at Lain.

"Pick it up."

"What?"

"I told you to bring it."

At Edan's behaviour which seemed to act like he's a Hotel Assistant Manager, Lain asked back, frowning slightly once he had picked up his bag.

"I'm not a porter?"

Do you know that I'm your spokesperson and lawyer from today? Lain tries to double-check, but Edan, who was ahead of him, turns his head and looks at Lain and asks back in a blunt manner.

"So what?"

"Yes?"

"Are you asking Edan Blake to carry the luggage just because you're not a porter?"

Edan Blake has no arms? And while trying to say that, Lain instead replied quietly as if bewitched by the intense gaze over his sunglasses.

"……I'll bring it with me…….”

It was only then did Edan smile at the low answer.

Suddenly, he smiled brightly as if he felt better, turned around and began to walk quickly.

Soon after he moved, Sean and Jerry stuck to both sides of him and began to walk while looking around him as if they were escorting him. When the bodyguard was attached, the people who had been glancing began to buzz as if they had noticed something.

A scream soon erupted among those who were whispering among themselves, asking "Who is it? A model? An actor?"

"It's Edan!"

With a scream, the lobby of the airport quickly began to turn into chaos. People who just started coming out of the gate and those who were waiting in front of the gate rushed altogether while taking out their cell phones and cameras.

Jerry grabbed Edan's arm and began to walk quickly to avoid the series of crowds. Lain, who was left alone in an instant, looked sapped at seeing a swarm of ants flocking toward the candy.

Whoever is it that says New Yorkers are cool and chic? People who pretended not to know even when they saw him on the street and had only been whispering in the distance at best now began a collective madness and began to flock to him as if they had been triggered.

While being frozen there for a while due to fear of the momentum, Jerry, who was walking through the crowd, looked back and threw something at Lain. Upon receiving it, Lain nodded to Jerry when he realized it was the key to the van they were riding.

This could be Bentley Bentagya or Benz actually but I’m guessing it’s just a normal van and honestly idk coz they sound similar.

Only then did Lain, who come to his senses, carefully begin to walk with Keepall's strap crossed over his shoulder. Avoiding those who blocked in front, he slightly escaped to the side and went to the van that was parked in the parking lot, started the engine first, and waited for them to come.

He’s never driven a car this big, but there's nothing he can't do. It's possible with a license, Lain consoled himself. As he started the car and stepped on the brake with his seat belt on, he saw three people coming out breaking away from the crowd. Those people who led a swarm of clouds behind them soon arrived at the van and got into the car and closed the door.

"Hurry up. You can drive, right?”

"Yes. Probably…….”

Lain, who slightly blurred his words, quickly honked to avoid the crowds. The car slowly began to move as soon as he took his foot off the brake after the threatening horn.

"Now you know how nice would it be to come out of the VIP gate? Or you can just tell me in advance and wait. Then I'll have security guards on standby."

As Jerry is giving a roasting in the car that was slowly leaving the parking lot, Edan, who sits at the back leisurely, answers bluntly.

"I just get hold of any airplane. Anyway, it's fine since you’re here."

"Hardly, you didn't even know if I would really come. Just call Alex. He’s been in a monster mode since yesterday because he’s been stumped and stepped on here and there."

He was like a real Hulk, and as Jerry mutters under his breath, Edan sitting at the back talks casually as if he's angry about something.

"What's the fuss about missing a little drama meeting? It hasn't been decided yet."

"Alex has high expectations for this drama. Give him a break, too. He's been really busy trying to get that role.”

"I won't do dramas."

"Why?"

"It's over once I'm tied up. I have to do it for at least five seasons, and I don't want to work like that, and it took me years to get rid of my Ash image, and now I have to walk into that path again?"

Lain felt as if he had been awakened by the words. It seemed like something he knew finally came out.

"Rain Vill's Ashton McConaughey?"

Rain Vill, a youth drama that was associated with terrifying monster ratings at the time, was a successful work by Edan Blake and it was a youth drama that reflected his growth process. It was aired for as long as five years and he enjoyed the most popularity throughout the show, but with Edan's departure, as he’s about to transform into an adult actor, Rain Vill ended.

The broadcasting station aired Snow Vill, which is like Rain Vill's spin-off, but the spin-off series received critical criticism with disastrous ratings, and eventually ended in one season. When Lain came to the United States, it was already over, but the popularity of the drama was understandable to the extent that he learned English by watching the drama that was aired indefinitely on cable and became close to other friends - especially girls - by talking about the drama.  

At that time, there were exactly two categories in the United States. People who know Rain Vill and people who don't know Rain Vill.

In particular, Edan Blake in the drama, or Ashton McConaughey, was a role model for teenagers at the time and an ideal image of a son that parents wanted, so he heard that the support of parents was great. As Lain intervenes in the conversation, recalling what happened 13 years ago, Jerry asks Lain as though he’s curious.

"Did you watch Rain Vill? I don't think you're around that age.”

"When I came to America, my friends wouldn't let me in if I didn't know Rain Vill."

So he couldn't say that he learned English by forcing himself to watch something he didn't like. Back then, Koreans were rare in New York and he had no choice but to follow their cultural codes to somehow join other friends. To tell the truth, he really hated Rain Vill.

"Oh, really? So you must have wanted to be like Ash.”

"No."

"Why?"

"Because he was annoying.”

Lain spat out quite frankly and stopped the car at the traffic light. At that moment, there was a strange silence in the car. Jerry asks again from behind while wondering if he said something wrong.

"That’s unusual. Everyone said they wanted to be like Ash though?"

That certainly would have been the case. In the drama set in the upper class of New York, Ash who is a quarterback of a rugby team and also a student council president and an honour student, was portrayed as a perfect student with a warm-hearted personality who would stand up to protect the outcast students.

While watching it, Lain thought that the character was incredibly unrealistic, no matter how dramatic it was. By nature, if someone is handsome and smart, the personality is bound to be bad. It's annoying that there can't be a handsome man with a good personality.

"He’s handsome, smart, has a nice personality, and his family is rich, but he’s a jerk."

Jerry burst into laughter behind him when he briefly revealed what he felt at the time. The laughter also somewhat eased Lain's mind. Edan is a little difficult to say but he likes Jerry very much. His first impression is impressive too, and this person is very nice. He makes people feel comfortable.

There wasn't much traffic on the road because it was past rush hour. It was his first time driving a big car, so he turned the steering wheel while focusing on driving, and then someone asks him again when he heard a low voice right behind him.

"Then who did you like?”

"Gary. Gary is more realistic with his character."

"Oh, really? You have a unique taste. Isn't Gary a hated villain?"

"Come on, he must have been so stressed out. Being next to Ash, who pretends to be really nice. I would have done the same too.”

Gary Stevenson was obviously set up as a dorky villain in the drama. In every case, he was the kind of role where he had to repeatedly drink water when arguing with Ash, and the reason why he sympathized with that role was because Gary lived next door to Ash and their parents were close friends. It's understandable that he’s crooked because he has been compared and brought up like that since childhood. In addition, Ashton's phoney act of kindness was a little too much. At least that's what it looks like to Lain.

This Korean expression is used in situations that you have failed because of some situations or beaten by someone else.

"Actually, what Ash did was a huge nuisance. He's a cheap guy who always puts up justice. He caught the girls on the hook and eventually stole Gary's girlfriend, but I was sad that Gary was the only one who got hurt after it ended. Actually, Ash didn't do anything as a Student President. Vice President Gary did it all."

The Korean expression there doesn’t make sense in English and doesn’t really convey the meaning if I translate it literally so I substitute it with the nearest English expression instead. Hope I didn’t butcher it.

Lain, who took on Gary's side, as he was watching the drama from Gary's point of view, expressed the feelings he felt at the time when the traffic light changed momentarily. As he stepped on the accelerator at the signal, the voice he heard from right behind him became very low.

"I'm a nuisance?"

For a moment, Lain wondered whether he had heard wrong. At the dreadful energy coming up to his spine, his neck stiffened and Lain froze as he straightened his body. He thought it was Jerry who kept talking to him because he was focusing on driving, but it must not have been Jerry. As he was barely holding back the urge to hit his head on the steering wheel thinking how he could not distinguish between Jerry and Edan's voice, he heard the drowsy voice again coming into his ears.

"I’m such a jerk who puts up justice to the point of annoyance, huh?”

Edan's voice was clearly smeared with tenderness and laughter. But it was definitely scary.

His own mouth is the problem, and Lain reiterated what he always said. Why am I so bad at social life?

"……I mean, not Edan, but Ash…… I…."

When he answered quietly with the steering wheel clenched, he heard Edan laughing from his ears.

"You said you’re new from today, right?"

"...yes."

"Well, how many years is the contract?"

"A year."

"Really? A year. Let's get along well."

He doesn’t know if he wants both of them to get along well or if he actually wants him to get along well by himself, but at the moment, Lain saw a dark future ahead of him. Weirdly, he landed a job just a day after being fired the day before yesterday, but there was no abnormal climate after the horse race, and he was promised a huge salary and even received a Jaguar. The latest PDA and Jaguar. As expected, it was weird. He already felt uncomfortable while waiting in the parlour earlier. He can't be this lucky.

If there is something that comes, there must be something that goes. Everything in the world is subject to accurate causality and, naturally, it costs as much as it is obtained. Above all, he, in particular, has been living a life based on the zero-sum principle, in which by getting good luck, he has always had to pay as much effort for gaining something without trying. The money that came in easily went out easily, and anything that was obtained for free was always defective.

Edan Blake, 33 years old. America's iconic superstar, genius actor and producer. His career started at the age of eight at Disney Club, while the drama Rain Vill, which he starred in starting from when he was 13 made him became a millionaire in his teens and then he won the Best Actor for Golden Globe Award through his role in the movie ‘Another Heaven’ when he was 18. This attractive guy who has dominated the Golden Globe Awards and Academy Award since then has held the top spot for more than 15 years.

He is 188 cm tall (6ft 2in) and beautiful like a sculpture. Calling him a God's blessing to mankind is not an understatement as he is loved both by the critics and audiences for his perfect self-management and genius acting skills. That's the image of Edan Blake in Lain's head so far. He does not particularly like celebrities, but he is taciturn, intelligent, and the kind of man that has sincerity which distinguishes him from other Hollywood stars. Literally so perfect that he wants to get his autograph when he meets him at least once. But Lain noticed that perhaps his relationship with him will be hard to improve. For the time being, no, it actually seemed difficult to get along well with him for quite a long time.

"Lain, you're gonna have a lot to do for me. I'm looking forward to it."

At his terrifying voice, Lain couldn't bring himself to say that he was originally a divorce lawyer and know nothing about the world of show business. Although he thought about tearing up the contract and running away even now, it was because eight years of student loan that still remained popped up in front of him.

Four years in college and the amount of law school tuition loans - excluding scholarships – was about $300,000. It has to be repaid at $30,000 a year for 10 years, but the amount of money spent is a little over $3,000 a month. And the rent of the apartment is $3,000 per month. Considering other miscellaneous taxes and insurance policies, it means one must earn at least $6,500 a month to achieve one's basic life. If he received the promised annual salary, he can have about $300,000 in his hand after paying for this and that excluding taxes. If he can live in Edan Blake's villa and get the car according to his contract of one year, his one hell of a student loan will be over.

Since New York lawyers and doctors boast about huge salaries, everyone thinks they make a lot of money, but the odd is one in ten thousand. Those who graduated from the Top 6 law schools earn $250,000 a year after they are over 30 years old and have a certain position. It is a significant gain, but the amount of money spent on maintaining the dignity in clothes, shoes, watches and cars - This is not a matter of choice as a lawyer. But that doesn't mean lawyers are being extravagant. The criteria for people to evaluate their opponents are clothes, shoes, and watches. It's especially worse for the upper class, so no client asks lawyers in cheap suits to work for them. - are quite substantial. And there will be nothing left after paying back the apartment rent and 10 years of cursed tuition loan.  

Paying back the student loan is not the end of it. After paying back all of the student loan and car instalments to death, the housing fund smiles and beckons. After getting married, most people buy a house with a loan rather than paying for the rental fee, which is also an investment, and they have to pay back the loan for another 20 years. And after those 20 years, their children become college students. Unless you are from the middle class with some foundation, you will end up paying off your debts for the rest of your life. If you don't like such a life, you should go to another low-cost area, die and be reborn, or work like crazy to become a bad lawyer.

But Lain knew he couldn't do all of the three. If he goes to another region, he’ll have to take another Bar Exam there, and he hates the idea of dying so he can’t die yet, and he can work like crazy, but he has no confidence to join the ranks of evil lawyers. The reason he chose to become a divorce lawyer was that divorce lawyers can earn the most money without conscience. Being a criminal law specialist is out of the question since he’s scared of blood while becoming a mafia specialist sparks too much guilty conscience, and being a lawyer specializing in inter-business transactions can sometimes harm the public interest, so he chose the civil and most lucrative one which is divorce specialist.

No matter where he gets the job now, no company will pay him that much. If the money doesn't slip away and he can earn it right with his own hands, he can suffer anything. No, he'd rather have a hard time. Then, the money will truly be his.

"Edan, don't frighten someone who's new to work today. He'll be scared."

While Lain was frozen with the steering wheel clenched, Jerry took his side and only then did Edan fall off Lain's back. Barely able to breathe comfortably, Lain takes a breath long enough to make no sound. He didn't know because he only heard it on TV, but his voice is also powerful. It's obviously a mellow voice, but it's strangely scary. Come to think of it, the role he played in the movie that was nominated for the Academy Award three years ago was a serial killer role...….

"Well, let’s talk at home. Let's go home first and we’ll see."

Jerry managed to lighten up the mood with a smile in the rigid atmosphere. Edan too no longer said anything to Jerry's words and he leaned against his seat and looked out of the window. Lain gave a long sigh as he looked at the rear-view mirror. The reality of the anxiety he felt until just before his arrival seemed to be gradually revealed. As such, Lain's road of suffering was slowly opening up.

"Melissa, coffee."

As soon as they got into the house through the elevator after parking the car, Edan shouted at the kitchen. However, there was no answer coming from inside.

"Melissa?"

Edan takes off his sunglasses and walks along the hallway into the kitchen and looks around the kitchen, feeling somewhat strange. But as expected, it was empty in there. Looking back at the kitchen in wonder, Jerry then exclaimed as if he had remembered something.

"Oh, right. Melissa's on vacation from today. She went to Boston to take care of her granddaughters because her daughter had an accident."

"What?"

"Alex had so much going on yesterday that she didn’t manage to tell him. She also happened to be in a hurry last night, so she only told me and left. Her daughter and son-in-law seemed to have had an accident after returning from a meeting. I think their arms and legs were hurt so she needs to be there for a while?”

Jerry's kind yet detailed explanation made Edan fly off the handle.

"Then, what about my coffee? What about meals? Cleaning? What about laundry?”

"You have to call someone else."

"How can I trust someone who's not Melissa and leave the kitchen to them?"

"Then you should do it."

Edan looks at Jerry as if he is dissatisfied with Jerry's accurate and realistic comments. Even though he was blatantly frowning, Lain, who has been following the gorgeous face since he came in, was pointlessly thinking that a handsome man is cool no matter what he does. There are so many other things to think about in-depth, but Lain has only been looking at his face since he met Edan. These days, people use the word ‘crazy beauty’ in Korea, and he thought he could understand what it meant. What a crazy face. This is very unfair, Lain reiterated.

"Eddie, this can't be helped. When she’s been indulging you for 20 years, you can't just tell her to work when her daughter is in a car accident. Melissa almost raised you, and if you have a conscience, you shouldn't do that."

When Jerry gently admonishes him, Edan holds his tongue as if he has nothing more to say.

Edan, who had never made a cup of coffee or fried an egg with his own hands his whole life, suddenly faced an immediate problem of eating and living when Melissa, who had raised him since he was 13 said she couldn't come home for the time being, but he couldn't just put himself over her situation when her daughter was injured. Usually, he doesn’t think about anyone else's situation at all, but Jerry and Melissa are different.   

There were only three people who have worked next to Edan for more than three years in his life. Bodyguard Jerry Brooke, who has been taking care of him since he was 13, housekeeper Melissa Sanchez, and high school friend and manager Alex Veaber. There were only these three. Edan didn't trust anyone but these three and hated to let them leave either.

Due to his early entertainment activities, his diet and personality had become seriously demanding and he was extremely reluctant to let others into his house because he couldn't trust people well. Edan doesn't really care about his parents’ situation, but he did care about Melissa’s and Jerry’s.

"Hey, you go get it."

Lain, who was suddenly attacked while gazing blankly at Jerry and Edan, asked, pointing his fingertips at himself with a surprised look.

"Me?”

"Yes, you."

"Why me?"

Edan, who was looking at Lain standing with his right hand raised as if raising an objection in an awkward situation, frowned.

"Who cares? If you go to the delivery box at the entrance of the building, you’ll find the coffee for today. Grind it and dilute it down properly. Americano. If it's too thick or too watery, you’re dead."

"……I'm not a barista…….”

When Lain honestly raised his right hand and raises an objection, Edan's blue eyes sparkled, while he wondered if he could meet that tricky condition – in fact, his childhood dream was to become a chef, so he’s good at cooking and brewing and anything – but he’s quite confident in making coffee.

"You, Chinese? Japanese?"

"I'm Korean."

"How old are you?”

"As was said earlier, I'm 26 years old."

"I'm 33. And Jerry is 55. Do you want me to get it or tell Jerry to get it?”

It’s logical and reasonable - but somehow, it’s kind of odd – and Lain immediately withdrew his objection to Edan's explanation.

"……I'll get it."

"Go ahead."

When Edan finally pointed his chin at the kitchen, Lain put the Keepall he was holding down on the sofa near the parlour and trudged toward the front door. It was a very strange situation, but Lain was just moving instinctively because he vaguely thought it was natural for him to make coffee.

 

"Don't worry, and while you're at it, just take a good look at your granddaughters. Yes, I'm fine. There’s nothing to worry about. It may be a little uncomfortable, but it can't be helped. Yes, okay. Call me if there's anything I can do to help."

Lain, who brought the fragrant coffee beans and ground the coffee beans with clumsy workmanship, finally came down with three cups of coffee while Edan was talking to someone on the phone.

His expression was quite soft and the way he spoke was also gentle. Based on the phone conversation, Melissa in question seems to be on the other side of the call, but Lain was quite surprised by the attitude that was completely different from how he treated him.

Taking the cup and putting it down in front of Jerry first and then putting it down in front of Edan, only then does he put it down in front of him, and sit down slowly, while Edan, who had just finished the call, throws his cell phone and sighs for a long time.

"So, Melissa's at least 15 days, Alex's a month. And Gale, Vince and Kyle quit, and Sean will also quit?"

As soon as Edan asks Jerry, Jerry nods.

"Well, that's how it’s going to be."

"Suddenly there's another 911 yesterday? Why is everyone quitting? If you hadn't come out, I would have thought that everyone in the entire villa had gone away.”

Take the meaning as an emergency. I’m just trying to be literal here. And fun fact, if you call 911 in Korea, nobody will answer coz Korean calls 119 for an emergency.

"Before that, why don't you look back on yourself?"

"Why should I?"

"You should've treated them right."

"They have to be worth the money if they were paid that much."

“Edan, people are not machines.”

As Lain stares at Jerry who’s having a mysterious conversation, Edan slowly picks up the coffee cup with a disgruntled face.

Then, as Lain looked at him with his shoulders tensed as he took a sip of the coffee, Edan frowned slightly, but soon he straightens his face. It seems that he didn't hate the taste of the coffee.

"For that reason, it's just you, me, and Lain in this villa right now. Sean is going to grab his bag and run away tonight, so I have to take him out of the equation."

"Well, you said it well. But where did you pick this up?”

You know I'm picky about people, adds Edan, and Jerry shrugs.

"Alex picked him up, so I don't know."

"Oh great."

Edan muttered with a face like he’s really about to go crazy. He didn’t really like this situation, but now he couldn't help it. Everyone is either busy, retired or ran away, so there is no one around him. But it’s not about whether he can live without people around him or not. He even has to carry a bodyguard when he goes out for a cup of coffee, and he can't do anything about it. But Jerry is too old to ask him to work by himself.

"Suddenly, I'm hungry since I'm annoyed. Hey, cook something."

"What?"

"From now on, I’m going to the swimming pool and swim for 30 minutes, and I'll be back after taking a shower, so within an hour, you need to leave my clothes at the dry cleaner and the underwear must be hand-washed. And go grocery shopping and make pasta."

At the quick commanding tone, Lain quickly raised his right hand and raised the second objection.

"Say, I'm not a housekeeper."

"How old are you?”

It's about age again. American people don't care about age at all, but this guy's playing dirty with age. He doesn’t know why he, a substitute lawyer, should make coffee, do laundry, shop for groceries, and cook, but it was an atmosphere where he couldn't refuse.

"……I'll do it."

"If you get paid, you have to work as much as you get paid, right? I don't have anything scheduled for a while, so clean up, do laundry, and at least cook."

Come to think of it, that's true. And he’s comfortable with that statement too. At any rate, all he has to do is ensure that his efforts are worth the money. Something is a little strange, but anyway, it’s a good thing, and that’s how Lain justified the bizarre situation.

Not realising that his identity is shaking to the roots, Lain got up and headed to the laundry.

 

Lain, who stood at the centre of a supermarket, looked around for a moment and asked himself. Where am I? Who am I? Questioning his sudden identity, Lain stood blankly in front of the cart. Why did I come here?

"Lain?"

"Oh, yes."

"Move fast. Eddie hates people being late.”

"Huh? Yes, yes."

Thanks to Jerry, who gave detailed information on the location of the dry cleaners and supermarket near the villa, Lain, who is suddenly a housekeeper intern, hurried along with him.

“Edan only eats organic food. Not just fruits, the same goes for ham and cheese. There's an organic section inside this supermarket. Keep in mind that he only eats bread made from organic wheat. And he never eats ingredients after a day, so you'll have to go grocery shopping the same morning."

Does he splash his money in the market? As Lain was about to say that, he filtered his words a little.

"He's very, very particular.”

"Well, I guess so. Health care is his cause to die for. Oh, you also have to blend the juice yourself at home. Of course, the ingredients have to be organic. You have to buy the whole Evian’s mountain spring water and filter it out with the water purifier. The water used in all foods should also be using this water. Don't use oil at all and use only a little organic butter when oil is needed. He hates seafood very much. He doesn’t like steak either. No sugar or syrup. Just add a little bit of honey to make it sweet."

The word 'awfully picky bastard' tried to pop out of Lain's mouth, but stopped.

Somehow, he had a strong feeling that he would dream of farming in an organic farm in his dream today. Meaning, they will also be on a family basis. From there, Edan is likely to come out as a picky customer and continue to say, ‘How old are you?’

"He doesn’t like his juice too sweet or too strong, so you have to taste it properly. He also doesn't like salty foods, so throw them away if the spices are strong."

That's very difficult, Lain thought. If Edan throws the fork, he will also throw the plate. It's likely in his character.

"Excuse me, I'm not complaining, I just want to ask you something.”

"Ask me anything."

"Did Luke do anything like this? I mean, do private lawyers do this kind of thing?”

He can't imagine Luke Feltin, not anyone else, going grocery shopping and cooking to Edan's taste, so when Lain asks like that, Jerry giggles and bursts into a cheerful laugh.

"No way. How could that be?"

"Right? This is weird, isn't it?"

"Yes."

At that moment, Lain was finally reassured.

"What a relief."

"What?"

"I was worried what if all private lawyers were like this."

When Lain mumbled that it was a relief, as he had been thinking about something totally different for a moment due to extreme confusion of his identity, Jerry then apologizes to Lain when he realized that Lain was a lawyer.

"I'm sorry to have you do this as a lawyer. But Eddie is just unique.”

"Jerry, please don't be sorry."

It's all because he's hapless, and Lain was already desperate. He’s so relieved to have Jerry at least, Lain genuinely thought so. At least one person would be a coach next to him, and it would be very embarrassing if he's pushed to work but he’s clumsy because he's not taking over properly.

He hates to say this, but he is a human being who is overflowing with slave nerves. He’s very good at what someone tells him to do, but he can't do things voluntarily. This was the downside of Korean-style cramming education. Lain was still more of a Korean than an American because he spent his most important childhood in Korea.

"As Edan says, I have to do as much as I get."

Otherwise, there's going to be a really big disaster, Lain thought to himself.

He doesn’t know how much Melissa's annual salary was, but a lawyer and housekeeper may be entitled to $500,000 a year. In fact, he’s a little nervous about this situation as well. All he could think was what he would do if his money ran away because of the lack of this kind of situation.

If he doesn’t have it, he’ll live as if he doesn’t have it, but when he took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he desperately wanted to pay back his student loans with this money and be free. One year. One year of hard work will pay off more than half of the remaining student loans. If he thought about it like that, he thought he'll try to endure it for now. Jerry smiles at ease as if he had heard Lain's thoughts.

"Alex picked the right person."

Lain was pretty upright and sociable for a rough pick. Skills are skills, but to work with a lot of people, and especially to work with Edan, who is especially picky and sensitive, one has to have a good personality, and Lain was a customized human being that fits well with this bizarre situation.

At first, he was worried about his age, educational background, and experience - a stiff and smug lawyer would’ve fought with Edan right away – but Jerry thought Lain was pretty good even though it hasn't been long since he saw him. Above all, he likes that he was not intimidated or overly servile in front of Edan, who is full of charisma as a celebrity to the bone.

"Well, can I ask you one more favour?"

"Say it."

Jerry pushes the cart and moves to the organic section, and when Lain replied innocently, Jerry drags his words for a while and speaks slowly.

"Actually, I need to be away for a few days.”

"What?"

"Oh, it's not a big deal. It'll be over before long. I booked a medical check-up a month ago and suddenly people quit their jobs one after another. I knew it would be like this, but I thought Alex would take care of it somehow. But now even Alex was away when I was about to run for a check-up, but lawyer(you) seems to be trustworthy.”

"Oh, if you have a check-up then you should go get the check-up. Don't worry about me."

"Will you be okay?"

"Yes."

"Thanks. It'll be over in three days. There is nothing scheduled at all, for the time being, so you don't have to worry. It won't be a problem if Eddie is kept well in the villa.”

Normally, he would have thought that he would go out sometimes because he is a person, but after hearing that he ran away to France yesterday, Lain focused more on him running away from home rather than him going out.

"Does Edan leave home often?”

"Well, sometimes he disappears."

"Then what to do?"

"He usually comes back all right, but when he doesn’t have work like this, he stays off the grid for up to a month."

Literally, take a dive under the sea. Usually used when someone is ghosting you without saying anything.

"……then what should I do?"

"Call Alex. If he goes anywhere alone without saying anything, you can call me or Alex."

"Yes."

"Don't worry too much. Eddie seems to like you, too.”

"Well……."

If he likes him, then he wondered what did he do to people he didn't like, but Lain just shut up.

"Haha, I guess it's because of Eddie's way of talking, but that's still really soft. If he didn't like you, he wouldn't have given you the bag. He's such a picky guy that he doesn't even leave his things to others. What's more, I can't believe he’s letting you enter his house. I'm sure there are about 500 people who were rejected so far."

"What?"

"Even if Alex hired them, there were more than 100 people who he kicked out in front of the house right after seeing their faces. People who came to work for the first time."

"What about those 400 people?"

"He made at least 200 people cry when he rejected them during the interview, and about 200 people were dismissed in the middle of the schedule and he left them just like that."

"On the street?"

"Yes, he left them in the desert once."

Lain shuddered with chills as he imagined being left alone on the barren wasteland.

"But why does he have such a good image?"

"Alex silenced them with money."

"……is money enough?”

"Well, that's how it is. And there’s nothing that can be done about it. Eddie has had his phase in the entertainment industry since he was 10 years old and he knows well about the effects of people around him. It's already been 20 years since I started working with Eddie and he was a very smart kid then. He knows very well how to manage his own image and protect his privacy. When exactly necessary, he will contact the media on purpose and tell the paparazzi to take his photo openly, and when he doesn't like it, he never let those people hang around him. It’s something like I'll give you the pictures you want when you need them, so don't follow me around."

"That's very... clever."

Now he can see why Edan Blake is sometimes referred to as a very clever and cunning actor. Of course, they said he was a smart actor who never played the same role twice and never risks anything that can undermine his career, but there was a nuance in their tone that he was very calculative, and he guesses that this is what they meant. It must have meant taking the most as he can while minimizing the sacrifices he has to make as a celebrity.

"All smart stars do that on purpose. In connection with favourable paparazzi or reporters, they deliberately get back to them and give them unconventional tips. Instead, they're promised that they won’t be seeing their face around. If they don't let those people shoot too much, they’ll stick around more persistently. It's important to give the impression that there's nothing to hide. All the official schedules are usually disclosed while they move around, but they keep the informal and private schedules to themselves."

"That's nice."

"Well, he’s still okay when it comes to working. As long as he doesn't disappear sometimes. And as long as he doesn’t get too unpredictable."

"What kind of unpredictable is he, specifically?"

"……just look at him and you'll see. Oh, that ham over there is nice."

Although Jerry's sudden change of subject was highly suspicious, Lain was relieved by the hopeful situation that Edan didn’t do much that would need a lawyer. In fact, civil cases are all similar, but what he’s learned from his internship was to catch the spouse's weakness and make them agree on divorce - or not to divorce – but when it comes to what usually happens in show business, he was at a loss for explanations of what to do if an incident such as drug or drunk driving breaks out, but now he was relieved.

"Eddie will take his own initiative for the contract, so all you have to do is check the contract at the end. Alex knows how to coordinate it all anyway."

That's what he said, but somehow Lain couldn't get rid of his premonition that he would do a lot of other odd things.

"Yes, I'm glad to hear that."

No wonder his shoulders feel heavy. When he thought about what his work would be like to have an annual salary of $500,000, his heart seems to be blocked.

 

[Are you really inside Edan Blake's villa?]

"Yes."

After bringing pasta made from pure organic ingredients for Edan, which is neither salty nor sweet, he sighed with relief after watching him eat well and after he said he was tired and going to take a sleep, Lain sneaked into a study furthest from his room and complained to Ellie who was waiting for the verdict.

[I thought you’ve gone crazy after you got fired, but it was true. But somehow it doesn't bode well?]

Having been together from college to graduate school, Ellie knew how strong Lain was in bad luck. When Ellie mutters that this situation is too smooth, Lain immediately responds to it.

"I know."

[Well, Edan Blake, he’s famous for not causing trouble, so you don't have to worry about him, but how can everyone leave on the day you came in?]

"It’s not that everyone leaves the day I came in, but everyone left and I came in."

[Anyway.]

"Oh, I'm going crazy. It's not a problem that people went out, but I'm more anxious because there's nothing to do. At this rate, the apartment I live in might explode! Or maybe a disaster will hit New York and burned it to the ground or even flooded it!"

[You being suspicious of everything is abnormal, seriously. It's a disease.]

"If you were me, wouldn't you doubt it too? There's no reason for me to have this luck in my life! Besides, it's so comfortable. It's so perfect!"

[Well, just think positive. You might be driven crazy from now on. Who knows? You never know if you'll be a manager, bodyguard and housekeeper too?]

Ellie burst into laughter while saying so. Working in the kitchen wearing an apron and holding a ladle, checking Edan's schedule, going out together and getting his hair ripped off by the fans instead or carrying Edan's luggage to and fro and even managing the contract, Lain was in fact desperately eager for all that to happen when he heard her laughing.

"I hope that will happen so I can keep my basic living rights. Anyway, what goes around comes around."

[Then I guess so. You're going to have a hell of a time in the future.]

It’s a consolation but not really a consolation and Lain could only let out a long sigh.

"I really don't like tuition loans."

[As if you didn’t study excitedly with that money.]

"Why is school cutting back on their budget when it's time for me to get a scholarship! What do they mean by cutting the name right before mine?"

[It’s your fate. Why didn't you go to either City University of New York (CUNY) or State University of New York (SUNY)?]

If you’re a resident of a State University or City University, the tuition must have been cheaper, murmured Ellie, and Lain repeated what he had been fed up with over the past nine years.

"I told you when I was a freshman, didn't I? I thought New York University (NYU) was one of the City University of New York (CUNY)."

[That's what you were stupid about.]

"Why are there so many New York universities?"

The university he was originally going to go to was John Jay College, one of the City University of New York (CUNY). He aimed to become a lawyer in the first place, so he was going to graduate there and go to law school, but at that time, he just went to New York University (NYU) and chose there because he saw the business administration department first. The problem was that he conveniently thought that he would learn again when he entered law school anyway.  

[You're usually smart, but sometimes you do stupid things at critical moments. How can you think of New York University (NYU) as one of the City University of New York (CUNY)? It's on a completely different level.]

Not only the levels but the tuition fees are also completely different. The murderous tuition fees at a private university were terrifying.

In fact, if he had gone to a City University, he would have graduated comfortably with a scholarship, but once he signed up and enrolled in New York University (NYU), he studied so hard that he couldn't miss it, but if he were to get a scholarship, the number of scholarships given would have always been cut off right before his name. He studied so hard just to get even half of the money, but strangely enough, he did not get a scholarship compared to his grades.

So, in the end, he did it with his body. There is no end to completing part-time jobs for four years of college. Damn it, New York University (NYU) was mainly attended by the wealthy. Although it is lagging behind in the ranking by schools, it has a high reputation because upper-class children come out of there and they soon divided into social leaders, and above all, the tuition fees are the highest.  

He would never do such a stupid thing if he went back to nine years ago. He'd rather go to Yale than go to New York University with those grades. No, come to think of it, it's all because of the damn bicycle.

He was thinking about earning some living expenses right before registration – at that time, he lacked reflection on his life – and the moment he thought he had earned all the tuition fees when he won $30,000 in a bicycle race, he received the terrifying tuition bill. The problem was that he registered without thinking about anything after receiving the bill.

If he were to go back nine years ago, he shouldn't have rewritten the application, but he shouldn't have done bicycle racing. If he didn't have money, he wouldn't have enrolled in the university in the first place.

[Anyway, I'm glad you got a job right away. Our law firm is about to start cutting off people too. Based on the earnings, they are targeting young lawyers right now. Maybe that's why you got fired too.]

Of course, there must have been such an effect, thought Lain.  

One of the stupid things that not only law firms but all companies do is start layoffs when the economic recession hits, and they just leave the heads that earn unnecessarily a lot of money and cut off the bottoms that were paid least among them.

Lain thought it was very unfair. He had to renew his contract at that time, so he really has no luck.

"I hope it stops here."

[But you got a good job. Even if your money is spent, how much do you earn now? Anyway, your life doesn't bottom out.]

"That's true."

At any rate, you get rewarded for your hard work. The disposal of unearned income is harsh, but earned income is paid as much. So once you do your job properly, you won't be on the side of the road. That alone is a blessing in the long run.  

[Oh, I guess the verdict has come out now. Let's have a drink once you're settled down.]

"I envy you for coming and going to court."

[You'll freak out when you see a case like this. The husband crushed his wife's head.]

Thanks to how Ellie is laughing, Lain was appalled.

"Crush her head?"

[Yes, he was charged with first-degree murder, but I compromised with the prosecutor and lowered it to second-degree because of mental problems. He’s already prepared to be guilty anyway, so I dragged him to the end.]

"How do you do such a thing?"

[I'm on the judicial side.]

Thinking that the nickname ‘Heartless Ellie’ is perfect, Lain hung up the phone, asking her to go in.

He doesn’t even want to talk to a woman who can laugh and say that a husband has crushed his wife's head. How on earth do they deal with the harsh criminal law? He thought he was going to faint just by looking at the evidence photo. She's a real bold woman to be able to defend a murderer. He can't even do such a thing even if he dies.

"It’s better to see Edan Blake's face than a picture of a crushed head."

Lain, who finished the call thinking that he had such a good face stretched out as he sat on the sofa. Anyway, it’s better than nothing. He’s a little worried about the future, but he won’t fret about it at the moment. Thinking that he's gotten a job anyway, Lain comforted himself by repeating exactly what Ellie had said.

Until then, he never imagined that Edan would have no inkling of him being a lawyer.

I bet y’all don’t know how much I was triggered while translating this chapter. Especially the talk abt student loans etc. Fortunately, mine is just 46k and I only have abt 5k left to be paid. That was a nightmare. And peeps, go get your slippers ready. We need to smack our ML with them slippers soon. And can I say that Ellie is the kind of bestie that we all need???? See ya.