Black Label [EN]: Chapter 113

Black Label – Episode 112

113. The Changed Stock Price

Wayne’s voice, amplified through the speakers, cut through the silence that had fallen over the venue.

“…Before we announce the winning team, I think it’s appropriate to reveal the vote difference between the two teams.”

Mark Jacobs immediately exclaimed, clearly annoyed, “Damn it! Why are you dragging this out….”

His frustration was palpable, and Jae Seung found himself agreeing.

There’s a saying: it’s better to face the music sooner rather than later.

Win or lose, he just wanted to hear the results and put it all behind him.

As Jae Seung bit his lip, Wayne’s voice echoed from the speakers again.

“Unlike previous matches, which were closely contested, the 7th seed match reveals a significant difference in votes. A total of 557 audience members participated, and the winning team garnered 432 votes.”

That meant the winning team had over 300 more votes than the losing team.

A low murmur rippled through the backstage area as Wayne finished speaking.

Unlike the previous matches, where the vote difference was usually around 100 votes, this was a completely different story.

“Now, let’s announce the results of the highly anticipated 7th seed match. The winners, achieving a glorious victory with an overwhelming vote difference, are….”

Time stretched, each second feeling like an eternity.

His hands were clenched, damp with sweat, and his heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears.

“Team Parsons’ Lee & Mark duo-!”

His mind went blank. A groan escaped Jae Seung as the reality of their victory sunk in, triggering a wave of reactions around him.

Some of the Parsons participants erupted in joy, punching the air.

Others knelt, hands clasped, offering thanks to some higher power.

Jae Seung, however, remained frozen, unable to fully grasp what had happened.

He simply stared blankly ahead, oblivious to the cacophony around him.

Then, Mark Jacobs’ excited voice pierced through the cheers, reaching Jae Seung’s ears.

“…Lee, we won! We did it!”

We won.

* * *

After the results were announced, the participants took their curtain call, and the ‘*MVP*’ (*Most Valuable Player*) trophy and plaque were awarded.

Unsurprisingly, the MVP plaque and trophy went to the Lee & Mark duo, who had received the most votes throughout the competition.

As Jae Seung made an emotional expression while accepting the trophy and plaque, Mark Jacobs smirked and said,

“It’s yours.”

“Huh?”

Jae Seung asked, confused. Mark Jacobs clarified, “I mean the trophy and plaque.”

Jae Seung shook his head emphatically. “Mark, this trophy and plaque are the result of our joint effort….”

“That’s true, but I still don’t want to take it.”

“Why not?”

“It’s just a pain in the ass to carry around.”

Mark Jacobs said casually, then added in his characteristic swagger, “I already have a ton of trophies and plaques gathering dust. Instead, let me pour a celebratory drink into the trophy at the party tonight.”

Jae Seung smiled. “Of course.”

With that, the competition officially concluded.

Enthusiastic applause and cheers continued to echo from the audience.

The 2013 Parsons·F.I.T Competition had come to a successful end.

* * *

As soon as the competition ended, Jae Seung and Mark Jacobs were swamped inside the HQ center with interview requests from editors and reporters from various magazines and webzines.

Unlike Jae Seung, who saw this as an opportunity and diligently answered questions, Mark Jacobs made his displeasure known, acting out with every question he received.

It seemed his eccentric temper was flaring because he was missing the after-party, which had already started.

Gulp, gulp.

With each ripple of Mark Jacobs’ Adam’s apple, the water level in his bottle dropped rapidly.

He finished an entire bottle in one go and spoke, his tone laced with annoyance.

“Damn it, my mouth feels like sandpaper from all this talking. Let’s pack up and ditch this place.”

Mark Jacobs began packing his bag, adding, “If we answer everyone, there’ll be no end to it. I’d probably be stuck here doing interviews until tomorrow evening.”

Jae Seung smiled and followed suit, packing his own bag.

“That’s right. We can work tomorrow, but the after-party is only today.”

Jae Seung also wanted to set work aside and quench his thirst with alcohol.

He had been battling intense fatigue since the competition results were announced.

Perhaps because the tension he had been holding for so long had finally broken, exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave.

On top of that, he had to endure interviews with editors and reporters, conversations with executives from various premium brand boards, buyers, and even industry professionals he was meeting for the first time….

After countless conversations with a ‘business’ agenda, he’d had enough.

‘Okay. Time to forget about work for a while.’

As Jae Seung packed, lost in thought, a knock echoed from the door.

He and Mark Jacobs exchanged a quick, silent glance.

“Who is it?”

Jae Seung asked. The door to the waiting room opened.

The unexpected visitors were a sharply dressed man in his sixties and a middle-aged man.

Jae Seung stared, surprised, as Mark Jacobs smirked and whispered, “Lee, looks like the guests we’ve been waiting for have arrived.”

It was none other than Chairman Ardo of the ‘LVMH Group’ [a French multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods] and one of his executives.

Chairman Ardo casually took a vacant chair and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“It seems everyone is here.”

“It’s been a while.”

He nodded in response to Mark Jacobs’ greeting, then turned his gaze to Jae Seung, staring intently.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Chairman Ardo’s eyes felt piercing.

It was as if he was looking right through him, sending a shiver down his spine.

After a moment of silence, Jae Seung regained his composure and greeted him politely.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee.”

“Yes. I know.”

“Yes. But, what brings you here….”

Jae Seung asked cautiously, swallowing hard.

Even just sitting there, he felt an intense pressure.

Chairman Ardo suddenly pulled out a business card from his wallet and handed it to Jae Seung.

“Take it.”

Jae Seung politely accepted the card. It was made of paper with finely ground ivory sprinkled on it.

Chairman Ardo’s full name, written in elegant gold leaf, adorned the card.

Even the edges were trimmed with pure gold.

As Jae Seung stared at the business card, Chairman Ardo cut to the chase.

“You probably have some idea, but I’m here to offer you a job.”

He paused, then added with a faint smile, “How would you like to take over the direction of ‘Chrischan Diom’ [likely a fictional brand inspired by Christian Dior]?”

A short gasp escaped Jae Seung’s lips.

Once again, the moment he had dreamed of had arrived.

Even though he had faced similar situations before, it still felt surreal.

To regain control of his emotions, Jae Seung rubbed his face and managed to speak.

“…Of course. If you entrust it to me.”

It was an answer delivered with confidence.

Chairman Ardo nodded, seemingly satisfied, and snapped his fingers.

The middle-aged executive standing behind him handed Jae Seung a document envelope he had been holding.

“This is the contract for the 2014 Chrischan Diom Haute Couture Creative Director position. My business card is enclosed, so please review it carefully and contact me via the email listed.”

Before Jae Seung could respond, Chairman Ardo stood up and asked, “I trust it’s okay to look forward to the wonderful haute couture you showcased today?”

“No.”

Jae Seung answered, then smiled brightly. “I hope you’ll expect even more than that.”

The competition was over. And the end of the competition marked the beginning of a new venture.

* * *

His head throbbed, and his stomach churned. He woke up in the bedroom of his Manhattan apartment.

Ashlyn, lying next to him, was sound asleep.

After listening to her soft snoring for a moment, he gently covered her with the blanket that had slipped off.

Jae Seung went to the living room, sat at the dining table, and began to piece together the events of the previous night.

After the competition, he had gone straight to the club with Mark for the after-party.

It was a large-scale event attended by Parsons participants, students, famous designers, and celebrities who had attended the show.

He figured he had gotten drunk on the atmosphere first, and then on the alcohol.

He remembered drinking the celebratory drink Mark had poured into the trophy, but his memories after that were a blur.

“Huff-.”

He checked his smartphone album, which was filled with photos from yesterday.

All of them were taken before he drank the celebratory drink.

Jae Seung smiled as he scrolled through them.

He thought yesterday might have been the most enjoyable day of his two lives.

After a refreshing stretch, he picked up the document envelope from the side table. It contained the contract from the LVMH Group executive.

‘Let’s see….’

The revelry was over. He had a lot to do, and it was time to get back to reality.

First, he wanted to review the terms offered by the LVMH Group.

Then, he planned to read the articles and columns about the competition that had been posted online.

Jae Seung carefully tore open the envelope, took a large sip of cold water from a crystal glass.

Then, as he looked at the contract amount on the front page, he reacted.

“Ptooey-!”

He spat the water he was holding into the air.

Jae Seung, forgetting to wipe his soaked mouth, stared intently at the contract.

“H, how much is this….”

One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million….

The contract amount proposed by LVMH was a staggering 1.8 million dollars. In Korean currency, that was over 2 billion won [approximately 1.5 million USD], offered as a simple contract amount.

Compared to the contract amount he had received from Alexander King last season, it was ten times higher.

What if royalty-related clauses and various incentives were added?

He had only completed one season and one show, but his value had increased tenfold.

Life is changing. And it’s changing more and more rapidly.