The boss didn't like it.
The boss didn't like it one bit.
A day after John de Vo… Johnny Badcock signed a new deal, a small press conference was scheduled. On one hand James would have preferred to have no media event for this at all, but on the other hand this wasn't something that could be kept under the carpet forever. Better for people to hear it now than see the name Badcock appear for the first time on credits.
It was also in part to create a hype, a ceremonial and promotional event pre-arranged with the CEO's confidence in his ability to convince and hang on to his star - to announce the renewal of the contract and drop some juicy hints about potential new movies featuring… Johnny.
Being a man of big heart, though, as he often liked to see himself as, James could have accepted all that. It's just business. John's reinvention of himself - which he called 'going back to my roots' - didn't suit the taste of discerning taste, but he was no stranger to show-business. It's not like Thorne Media survived on dry-as-bones historical documentaries.
What the Emperor didn't like though, was that evil child chattering away with Johnny on the backstage, just a few steps away from him.
'They have been blabbering for more than five minutes now…'
James didn't think Misha was capable of holding a reasonable conversation. And he was right.
"…then the old lady's dog ran into the elevator and I ran after it 'cause you know, it can be dangerous for a dog to go on an elevator on its own. Then the door closed around my neck like that time and my head got stuck…"
The boss didn't mean to eavesdrop, and neither did he care for what this fool had to say. But he couldn't help keep getting distracted by the two idiots chattering and chuckling.
"But then the doors should open automatically, right? But it didn't!"
"Oh, no! Haha, but obviously you survived!"
"Yeah! I never panicked so bad before. I was keep telling the dog to jump and press the button, but it didn't understand what I was saying, so-"
'Just what kind of situation is this?'
"What did you do? What did you do?" the actor was getting way too invested in the story.
"I started barking! And it worked!"
Johnny Badcock burst out laughing, a little too loud, a little too happy. And same was true for Misha.
"Mr. de… Badcock, this way please." Luckily the PR manager, Melanie Wallers, appeared and interrupted to lead the happy actor onto the stage.
"Is it time now? Right, let's go then, Misha." Johnny casually suggested, extending his hand.
"Eh…? Me?" Misha looked confused but she took his hand anyway and was already following his lead.
Something snapped inside James Thorne.
"No, you won't."
Misha was startled as her boss forcibly grabbed her wrist to stop her. His grip was firm. His palm felt hot and she could feel the throb of his pulse where their skins pressed against each other.
"Why not?" Badcock casually asked, as if he genuinely didn't see what was wrong with it.
"This is your press conference, Mr. Badcock. That stage isn't for Ms. Seo."
"Oh, I just wanted to talk a bit about how this young lady opened my eyes - to find that passion again."
"With all due respect, Mr. Badcock,"
James' grip on Misha's wrist tightened.
"Misha is my employee."
Johnny saw something in James' eyes, something that told him not to cross this man now.
"Heh, that's right. I'm a full-time employee of Thorne Media after all!"
The oblivious girl made nothing of it, gave a thumbs up to Johnny with a bright smile of reassurance.
"Of course, Mr. Thorne. My apologies. I get carried away sometimes "
"No offense taken, Mr. Badcock."
"This way please, Mr. Badcock." Melanie gently placed a hand on the actor's shoulder and led him away.
Even from the backstage the applause sounded exceptionally loud, and the room was swarmed with cascading sound of beeps and shutters from cameras.
"Mr. Throne?"
That snapped James back to here and now.
"Are you alright?"
Misha was standing right in front of him, looking up at the Emperor with her big round eyes full of concern.
"I… I'm fine."
Just as James realized he was still holding onto Misha's wrist, the silly girl reached out and held his other hand.
"Look at me and take a deep breath," she whispered.
Without knowing why, he yanked his hands out and took a sharp step back.
"I'm fine!"
It only dawned on Misha then that she might have offended her boss in some ways without meaning to.
"I'm sorry!" The girl apologized, shaking her head and raising her palms in front of her chest.
"Don't just go and hold people's hands like that!"
"I'm sorry… I won't do it again…" Her eyes were getting teary, and James was triggered that she looked so clueless.
"It's very unladylike. Don't do that again!"
Like a good child scolded without knowing why, Misha stood still trying to hold it back in, but she soon broke into tears and ran off.
"Gees, James. Calm down."
Micky emerged from behind and put his arm around the perplexed man's shoulders.
"I am perfectly calm."
The younger cousin said nothing and just gave a single firm squeeze on James' shoulder.
"Take a break and cool down in the rooftop garden or something. I'll follow up on the press conference."
The lonesome Emperor, as if in trance, walked away from the scene, telling himself maybe - just maybe - he should control his temper a little sometimes.