Was he willing to put the film in jeopardy for his family? This partnership would be a huge step forward for CS Productions, and it would open up many more doors in the future. Opportunities like this didn’t come along often, and Colin wanted to make the most of it. He wasn’t about to unnecessarily risk the partnership if it could be helped.
But if he found concrete evidence of Rotelle Corporation’s involvement in the espionage against Hansol, he would have to inform his family. He would do everything in his power to minimize the risk of being exposed and see the project to its conclusion, but he would always choose his family in the end. Even over the film. He just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
A knock sounded on his door, and he smoothed the frown off his face. “Come in.”
“Am I interrupting something?” Ethan asked, poking his head in.
“Not at all.” Colin sat up straighter in his chair, giving himself a mental shake. “What can I do for you?”
“I think we might be able to sweeten the deal even more for Rotelle Entertainment.”
His stomach lurched with excitement and dread. “I’m all ears.”
Colin was excited for CS Productions, but the thought of being another step closer to spying on Jihae Park started a throbbing pain behind his eyes. He just hoped his inconvenient attraction to her wouldn’t cloud his judgment in this precarious situation. One thing was for certain: under no circumstances could he act on his attraction her.
They would be business associates and any other relationship between them would be unprofessional. It could adversely impact the partnership and stifle the film’s potential. That alone should be enough to nip any interest he had in her. Moreover, she was an enemy of the Song family. He shouldn’t be swayed based on a single meeting with her. It wasn’t worth the complications.
“You know the screenwriter Charity Banning, who wrote the screenplay for Never Again Maybe?”
“Of course I know her. She’s immensely talented and her comic timing is perfection. Are you telling me that we have her?”
“Sort of.” Ethan adjusted his red-framed glasses when Colin cocked an eyebrow. “She’s very interested in Best Placed Bets, but after her success with Never Again Maybe, her pay rate should reflect that. It would be a stretch to hire her on our budget, but a partnership with Rotelle Entertainment should make things like budgets a nonissue.”
“Charity Banning would be a fantastic choice.” But Colin wasn’t sure if Charity Banning would be a big draw for Jihae Park. She might not have even seen Never Again Maybe yet. “Is the movie still playing somewhere?”
Ethan quickly typed into his phone and looked back up in five seconds flat. “Most of the mainstream theaters pulled it last week, but the Shadow Cinema in Santa Monica is still playing it a couple times a day.”
“That should work. Thanks, Ethan.” An idea formed in Colin’s mind. It was bad for his sanity, but good for CS Productions. “Good job getting Charity Banning’s interest in Best Placed Bets.”
“You’re welcome,” Ethan said with a beaming smile, and returned to his desk.
Colin pulled up Shadow Cinema’s website on his computer and purchased two tickets for an evening showing.
His hand hovered over the phone for several seconds. Then, with an impatient flick of his head to get his overgrown hair off his forehead, he snatched up his phone. He listened to the dial tone for two deep breaths, then punched in Rotelle Entertainment’s office number.
“Rotelle Entertainment,” said the singsong voice of Jihae Park’s assistant. “How may I assist you?”
“Ms. Park, please. This is Colin Song.”
“Hold, please.”
Colin caught himself fidgeting in his seat and stopped himself. He was not some awkward teenager asking a girl out on a date.
“This is Jihae Park.”
Her sultry voice hit him in the gut, and he was momentarily out of breath. “Hello, Ms. Park. This is Colin Song and I have news that might interest you.”
“Do go on. Please.” He grinned when he heard the curiosity in her voice.
“We found the perfect screenwriter for Best Placed Bets, and she’s interested in working with CS Productions.”
“Oh? What’s her most well-known work?”
“Never Again Maybe. It’s a recent release, just fading from the big screens.”
“Never Again Maybe?” Jihae’s laughter, pitched slightly higher than her speaking voice, rang across the line and raised every hair on his arms. She sounded so carefree and young in that moment. “I love that title. So adamant then...not so much. But I’m afraid I’ve never heard of or seen the movie.”
“That’s not surprising since you have so many films to keep track of in multiple countries. I assure you it’s great, but you don’t have to take my word for it. I found a theater still playing it, and have taken the liberty of getting us tickets for tomorrow night at eight twenty.”
“For us? At the theater?” She sounded stunned, and Colin frowned. Did she think he was asking her out on a date? It couldn’t be.
“CS Productions would like to persuade Rotelle Entertainment to work with us. I believe seeing Never Again Maybe will convince you that a perfect story with the perfect screenplay could be ours if you say yes to the partnership.”
“Let me have the name of the theater and I’ll meet you there at eight o’clock sharp.” Her voice was poised and professional once more. “Will that work for you, Mr. Song?”
“Absolutely. It’s the Shadow Cinema in Santa Monica. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
Colin hung up his phone and placed his face in his hands. He could barely handle a phone call with her without getting hot and bothered. How was he going to keep it together sitting beside her in the dark?
By remembering what a coldhearted, vengeful woman she was.
Jihae Park had planted a corporate spy in Hansol and endangered their partnership with Vivotex, a multibillion-dollar venture. Not only that, but she’d also chosen a spy who had been Natalie’s college boyfriend to cast the blame on her, and put Garrett’s marriage in jeopardy. How could Colin forget what Jihae had nearly done to his cousin and Natalie? What she had almost accomplished with Hansol Corporation?
No, he could never forget that. Not only would he not forget it, but he would also get this partnership any way he could and get hard, cold evidence of Rotelle Corporation’s culpability in the Hansol affair. Somehow. That was what tomorrow night was about—making sure CS Productions secured the partnership for its future and finding justice for his family. He wasn’t in any way motivated by his attraction to her.