Riser

22-27

Added 2025-04-12 04:24:22 +0000 UTC

EP. 27 # 2. (Actress Soo-rim) - Brother...Really? (6)

My mind went blank for a moment. What was this situation?

It was like a room for entertaining guests, and there was the chairman of STB, a national broadcasting company. Well, he wasn't the chairman anymore since he was fired.

But why was he here?

"It's just like two years ago."

I only worked in the film industry, but my brother, who was the head of our agency, wanted me to expand my activities to other areas.

[You haven't even reached the top in the film industry, and now you want to do dramas?]

I resisted my brother. At that time, my film schedule was already overwhelming, and I wasn't the best yet. I thought it wouldn't be a good choice to appear in dramas and waste my image.

[Soo-rim, you have to make time today.]

[Why? You know I have a busy shooting schedule tomorrow and the day after.]

[I made a lunch appointment with the STB chairman.]

[What?]

My brother gave me an ultimatum. He asked me to have lunch with the broadcasting chairman just once for the sake of other celebrities in our agency.

[Why do I have to eat with him if I'm not going to appear on TV?]

[He wants to have lunch with you, Soo-rim. Just do it once, okay?]

[No, why do I have to? If my condition worsens and the movie fails, you'll be responsible.]

[Hey! Our company doesn't just have you! Think about the others! Do it just once, and we'll promote our other talents. Plus, they'll heavily promote your movie.]

The talents he was talking about...yes, our agency wasn't just about me. There were idols and other celebrities, including Joo-yeon, who specialized in dramas.

STB was a national broadcasting company with the highest viewership in the country, dominating about 60% of the domestic broadcasting market. The chairman of STB had immense power, but our agency didn't have strong ties with them.

The chairman wasn't well-reputed; there were rumors that you had to use your body to network with him to succeed at STB. This was evident since our agency's celebrities struggled to make a name for themselves there.

My friend Joo-yeon was talented and had starred in dramas on private broadcasting stations, achieving high ratings. However, at STB, she could only get minor roles.

Joo-yeon was stressed because she couldn't break through at STB, which was necessary to become a true star. But she wasn't the type to use her body for networking.

[Can you help Joo-yeon if you have lunch with him?]

Most people in our agency didn't like me. I was a special case, not an elite like them. They were educated at top universities, and I was different.

[Of course! It's for Joo-yeon's sake. Why not?]

If it was for Joo-yeon, I had no reason not to do it.

[Okay, I'll meet him.]

So, my first meeting with the STB chairman was arranged. But it led to consequences that could never be undone.

[Brother, trust me. I wanted to meet him at the broadcasting station to avoid any big issues.]

My brother was confident that meeting at the broadcasting station would be safe. But I didn't trust him, so I secretly brought a recorder.

Now, I was in a room similar to this one, which was called a VIP meeting room inside the chairman's office.

[Hello, our Limi is here?]

He was bald, fat, and had one eye covered. His face was full of greed and lust.

He was drinking steak and whiskey. It was lunchtime, and he looked different from how he appeared on weekdays.

[Oh, our Limi is even more beautiful in person. Come here, come here.]

Limi? He was already using a nickname for me. Being called that by such a perverted man was the worst.

I wanted to run away, but I couldn't. I had to endure this for Joo-yeon's sake.

[Hello, Chairman. I'm Soo-rim.]

[Yes, yes. Come here, come here. My eyes are a bit...]

[Yes...]

I didn't want to approach him, but I did it for Joo-yeon.

[Wow, you're truly beautiful! Just as Jun-seong said.]

[Thank you, Chairman.]

[My apologies. On behalf of my incompetent staff for not recognizing your talent.]

The problem started from here.

[Let's take a closer look at our Limi. Is she good enough for our broadcasting?]

Swish. His hand went under my thigh.

He started groping my buttocks with his pig-like hands.

I had anticipated this situation, which is why I brought a recorder. But I needed solid evidence of harassment.

[What...what are you doing, Chairman?]

[Oh, I need to check your body properly. That's why I'm touching you like this.]

[Huh...Chairman, your hand...is on my buttocks...huh...this...you can't do this.]

[It's an interview. We've raised many big talents with these hands. I can make you a star too.]

I finished gathering evidence. I twisted his hand, using self-defense skills I learned for movies.

[Ahh! Ahhh!]

The chairman fell, clutching his hand. Who knew those skills would be useful?

[Perverted old man. Let's finish the rest of the interview at the police station.]

[You...you...how will you survive in this industry after doing this to me?!]

[Don't worry about that, perverted old man.]

I reported him to the police. He was indicted without detention and received a one-year suspended sentence. He was also fired as the STB chairman. It was a natural consequence.

But the connection with STB was completely severed.

[Soo-rim, you shouldn't have reported him to the police.]

My brother was furious, but I had something to say.

[His attitude suggested that all our agency staff would have to offer themselves to him to succeed. Did you want that, brother?]

[That's not true! We had talents who appeared on STB, like San and Shin, and even Lizzy! What will you do now?!]

I was angry at my brother for blaming me instead of supporting me. It made me want to rebel even more.

[I'll earn their salaries myself. Is that okay?]

[That's not what I mean!]

[It's true!]

We hurt each other, despite the real culprit being someone else.

The resentment lasted for a long time. I felt a bit sorry for my brother and the talents whose careers were affected.

Even though they looked down on me, I helped them by asking directors to give them minor roles.