Chapter 17: Fine Print

"There is no way this is happening right now," Juliette commented.

"Why would HYBE do this?" Valerie asked.

"They can't do this and they shouldn't have! This is unacceptable and a total invasion of our privacy. Not to mention this is a f*cking lie!"

"We are going over there right now and asking Mr. Bang what the f*ck is going on," Jimin blurted.

"Agreed, let's go," Juliette replied.

Jimin, Juliette, and Valerie hopped into Juliette's car and drove down to HYBE's office building. Once they got there, they angrily knocked on Mr. Bang's door until he opened it.

"Venus! What are you doing here? I thought you had a release party for your music video," Mr. Bang told them, confused.

"Don't Venus me Mr. Bang," Valerie replied, "You know why we're here."

"Oh you mean our marketing plan?"

"Marketing plan? But that was my marketing plan because, I don't know if you've noticed, I am actually Jimin's soulmate," Juliette scoffed.

"I know that."

"Then why did you lie to the media Mr. Bang?" Jimin demanded.

"Because it's a great marketing plan and it's already working. Look how many people are waiting on YouTube to watch."

Mr. Bang turned his computer screen to face the others. He had Venus' debut music video "Galaxy" on screen. There were about two million people waiting to watch the video and all the comments were raving about wanting to see how amazing Jimin's soulmate was at singing and dancing. When they had left the release party, there were only half a million people waiting to watch.

"Forget that it's working, you can't release that lie without our permission!" Valerie snapped back.

"Actually, we can."

"What? How?"

Mr. Bang pulled out Valerie's contract and flipped to the second page.

"Read paragraph four on this page out loud for us Valerie," Mr. Bang instructed.

"I accept any marketing plan that HYBE sees fit to help my career. I agree to endure any consequences that may come of it. I attest to following the marketing plan after it has been put into place until I am told not to (should the option arise). CURRENT MARKETING PLAN: To be revealed as Jimin's soulmate for the purposes of popularity by association."

"But why would this be on her contract?" Juliette asked.

"Remember exactly what I said that day?"

*Flashback to several months ago (Chapter 17)*

"All we have to do is switch Juliette's name with your's on this contract and it can be your record deal, if you want it" - Mr. Bang

*End of flashback*

"So you never changed Juliette's original contract, you just put my name instead," Valerie said.

"That's right. Nothing changed other than who was going to be the idol."

"None of you read the contract?" Jimin questioned.

Valerie and Juliette shook their heads.

"You should always read the contract. I re-read my contracts even though it's been the same each time I sign but you never know if they try to slip something in there."

"Over the phone though you told me that you wouldn't use the same marketing plan," Juliette recalled.

"I told you we weren't sure yet and we would come up with one. This is what we came up with and since she had already agreed to it on the contract, we just went with it."

"But what now? I have to pretend to be soulmates with someone I'm not!" Valerie said.

"You will for as long as we see fit. You need the boost of association and when you are famous enough on your own, we can reveal the truth. By then, you will have enough people who admire you to take a blow and lose some followers," Mr. Bang informed her.

"This isn't fair!"

"You wanted to be an idol so this is what you have to deal with."

"Well I think it's bullsh*t and I will reveal the truth right now, I don't care about the contract."

"If you want me to sue you and lose lots of money for breaking your contract, sure. Go right ahead and tell the truth."

"Sue me?!"

"There's a contract for a reason. You violate it, I sue you. That's how it works."

"Fine. I will play your game for now; I will get out of it somehow though. Any other lies or surprises I should know about?"

"Yeah, I guess I can tell you before we announce it."

"What now?"

"You are going to be the opening act for BTS upcoming tour."

"Opening act?!" Jimin and Juliette exclaimed.

"We have never had an opening act before," Jimin pointed out.

"I know, but since people think Venus is your soulmate, it would make sense why she would be allowed to be your opening act," Mr. Bang clarified.

"I don't even have an album out yet or choreographies put together, I am so unprepared to go on a tour right now! I barely even have a fanbase. And BTS will go on tour in two months. How am I supposed to prepare that fast?"

"Do you know how many songs we have floating around that are unreleased with full concepts? We can take any of those, tweak them to your style, and then you have an album that you can record in two weeks. Then in the following two weeks you'll learn the choreographies, Sacha will make you a wardrobe, and you will be whipped into shape in no time."

"I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS!" Valerie screamed.

"Need I remind you, you signed a contract that is legally binding," Mr. Bang reminded her as he waved the contract in her face.

"You know what I think about your stupid contract?"

Valerie snatched the contract out of Mr. Bang's hand, walked to the paper shredder, and let it run through the machine making it split into a million tiny pieces.

"That's fine, I have a copy on file. I can print it as many times as I need to," Mr. Bang said.

"Don't bother," Valerie continued, "Because I quit!"

Valerie walked to the door.

"You walk out that door and you will regret it. HYBE will sue you, don't try us."

She turned around and looked Mr. Bang dead in the eyes.

"Watch me."

And with that, she exited the office leaving Jimin and Juliette behind with him.