Black Label [EN]: Chapter 177

177. Memorial Project

“President, is it true? Is it really happening? I get to plan Janelle’s show this time…?”

Nam Gwang-min’s voice trembled fiercely as he asked the question, and I could feel all sorts of emotions pressed into it—doubt, a little hope, and even the joy he was trying to suppress.

Soon, Jae-seung nodded once and replied in an indifferent tone.

“Do you think I would joke about something like this?”

It was a reaction I had already predicted. People tend to doubt when a big opportunity suddenly comes their way.

Of course, I had prepared the ‘materials’ to quell such doubts at once.

Rather than rambling on about how the current situation was unfolding, presenting clear, material evidence would be much more efficient.

Soon, Jae-seung picked up a magazine from the back seat of the car and handed it to Nam Gwang-min, already opened to a specific page.

“Would you like to read this first?”

Nam Gwang-min, with his hands trembling like an aspen in the winter wind, took the magazine and began to scan the contents, his eyes darting back and forth.

Why a magazine all of a sudden? The part Nam Gwang-min is reading now is the section containing Chairman Bertheimer’s personal interview.

Of course, the main topic of the interview was about Janelle’s unconventional hiring.

Nam Gwang-min, with his eyes wide open, stared at the magazine as if he would make a hole in it, and then began to read the part aloud.

“The chief VMD [Visual Merchandising Director] who planned and organized Janelle’s show this season is a talented person who has been in charge of planning all the shows led by designer ‘Lee.’ He has been working secretly as if he doesn’t want to be known. Starting with Alexander King, Chrischan Diom, etc… He has a history of planning shows for well-known brands. Our Janelle Group has made this decision because we believe that his abilities have already been sufficiently proven, even though he may be less well-known to the public…”

Nam Gwang-min, who had been mechanically reading the letters on the page without any inflection, finally trailed off and exhaled as if he were spitting out a breath.

I know how he feels.

In fact, it has been verified, but it still doesn’t feel real. His heart will be pounding, and the sudden opportunity will feel too great.

I had experienced this feeling several times since the regression, so I could understand it even more deeply.

Nam Gwang-min carefully placed the magazine he was holding on his lap, and then held his face in his hands.

I stared at Nam Gwang-min for a moment. Jae-seung smiled faintly and turned his gaze out the car window.

He knew that any words of encouragement or congratulations would not be properly heard by him now.

Even if he heard them properly, he would not be able to interpret their meaning properly and would feel burdened.

It was Nam Gwang-min, surprisingly, who first broke the silence that had crept into the car.

Nam Gwang-min called out in a low voice, “President,” and then hesitated for a long time, unable to open his mouth.

He couldn’t continue, as if he had a fish bone stuck in his throat, and his lips were just twitching.

How long has it been?

Now that he was a little more stable, Nam Gwang-min forced a bright smile and spoke again.

“Thank you.”

It was shorter than words containing plausible ambitions, but it was much more simple and concentrated.

* * *

A few days later, inside a small brunch cafe located near Janelle House, the warm sunlight filtering through the glass windows was gently warming the store.

From the cute props displayed along the window sill to the softly playing jazz music, there was nothing I didn’t like.

Inside this cafe, which was less than ten pyeong [approximately 33 square meters or 355 square feet], only two people were sitting face to face.

One was Lee, a designer called a genius, and the other was Chairman Bertheimer, the de facto owner of the absolute premium brand Janelle.

The two were focused on their own work without any conversation.

Jae-seung was busy moving the bread and salad on the plate into his mouth, and Chairman Bertheimer was engrossed in reading the daily newspaper published today.

Only an awkward but not entirely uncomfortable silence passed for a while. Jae-seung gently wiped the dressing from his mouth with a napkin and asked cautiously.

“By the way, what happened to the chief VMD contract? Was it completed without any problems?”

“Ah, yes. I was so distracted that I forgot to tell you. It was completed on the evening of the chief VMD’s arrival.”

Soon, Jae-seung let out a burst of hollow laughter. He realized that he had forgotten what kind of place Janelle Group was.

Even in the face of Karl Lagerfeld’s death, who had been in charge of the brand’s pillar role for the past few decades, they had not lost their composure and speed.

The brand itself had regained stability, and the direction to move forward had become clear, so it must have become even stronger.

“I guess you haven’t heard about it separately?”

“Yes. I guess everyone is busy.”

“Then you wouldn’t have heard about the contract terms either.”

At Chairman Bertheimer’s question, Jae-seung shrugged his shoulders once and replied in a nonchalant tone.

“That’s right, but wasn’t the original contract supposed to be kept strictly confidential?”

“Yes, in principle, but…”

“Since this contract was only between the chief VMD and Janelle Group, I will try not to be curious.”

It was a roundabout way of saying it, but it was essentially a clear refusal to tell him.

Of course, I was curious in many ways. How much did he get for the contract fee? Were the incentive payment conditions written favorably? There was no way, but did he inadvertently overlook any clauses like shackles?

At that time, Chairman Bertheimer added a few words, which dispelled the anxiety that remained deep in my heart.

“For the record, I would like to mention that we provided the VMD with an interpreter and a contract specialist lawyer from a well-known law firm at the time of the contract for a fair deal.”

“I see.”

“Yes. To add an explanation, it was a competent lawyer from ‘Leader Smith,’ which Lee is currently using. The war of nerves that started in the evening ended around midnight. In the end, both sides had no choice but to sign a contract with conditions that would make them feel a little regretful.”

Soon, Jae-seung nodded his head as if satisfied.

He knew very well that the most perfect contract was one that left regrets for both sides.

Moreover, the fact that the lawyer who stood by Nam Gwang-min was affiliated with Leader Smith, who is called ‘The Fierce Animal Of The Wall St,’ was even more pleasing.

Chairman Bertheimer’s explanation continued. According to the stories collected from the team members who are currently planning the show together, everyone is describing the newly appointed chief VMD Nam Gwang-min with praise.

It was interesting. First of all, some of the team members said that, unlike other VMDs, Nam Gwang-min has no ‘framework’ or ‘formality’ and has a flexible way of thinking, so he carefully examines the opinions of the team members and actively accepts opinions that seem reasonable.

To put it simply, it was nothing more than a comment that his qualifications as a chief VMD had not yet been clearly verified, but his qualifications as a ‘Leader’ were certainly in place.

Also, some team members expressed blatant envy, saying that he had a ‘sense’ that could not be bought with money and did not grow in proportion to the time invested.

Chairman Bertheimer, who had been listing the various evaluations made by the team members for a long time, raised his index finger and added.

“The only drawback is the language barrier, they say. Of course, even that is only a slight delay. He always brings an interpreter with him.”

“I guess there weren’t many flaws to pick?”

“Yes. Everyone was only saying good things, so I urged them to tell me at least one bad thing.”

Thanks to the brief conversation, a sense of relief soared. It was because I was convinced that the worry that he would not be able to show his capabilities because he could not bear the weight of the name Janelle was a useless worry.

The fact that Nam Gwang-min is receiving such evaluations from his team members is nothing more than a prime example of how desperately he is working and how quickly he is adapting in order not to miss the great opportunity that suddenly came his way.

On the other hand, what about me?

I was reluctantly processing the given tasks one by one in order.

But that was all. Whenever I thought of Karl’s death, I would often feel dazed for no reason.

Soon, Jae-seung put his hand into his coat pocket with a blank face.

A neatly placed fountain pen was touched. Karl Lagerfeld’s name was engraved on the side.

Why a fountain pen?

It was the only memento I received through Karl’s lawyer. The note that was delivered with it only contained a few lines that made me imagine Karl’s tone.

-I’ve been using this fountain pen for over twenty years. It may look like an antique, but it’s one of the most meaningful things. Oh, I guess it’s an antique after all? You have a lot and will have more soon, so I think this is enough.

Even though quite a bit of time has passed, I can’t shake off the emptiness caused by his absence. Of course, there is no particular solution.

Whenever I get so deep in thought, I consciously nod my head a few times. I hope that these 잡념 [japnyum – stray thoughts] will be shaken off by the nodding. I pray that the common advice that time is the best medicine will work for me too.

That was all.

Damn it, damn it…

Even now, when I close my eyes, the last memories of Karl still smolder. His weak, trembling voice 울린다 [ullinda – echoes] lowly. His pitiful back 모습 [moseup – figure] comforting his own life flickers.

He’s buried just a few meters below, but the gap between this world and the next is so heartless.

“Lee?”

Jae-seung, who had regained his senses at Chairman Bertheimer’s call, replied in a low voice, “Ah, yes.”

Soon, Chairman Bertheimer straightened his tie again and asked again.

“By the way, you said you had something to say about the show?”

“Yes. I want to intervene a little.”

“What do you mean by intervene…?”

“I want to make this show a secret memorial service.”

This morning, an email arrived from England.

The email titled ‘Completion’ contained a sample of the memorial song I had requested.

Karl celebrated that he could face death secretly and greatly, but Jae-seung could never accept it.

The funeral, which was attended by only a dozen or so people, was the same.

I thought it was a last that didn’t suit great designers like Karl.

Soon, Jae-seung took a breath and continued.

“Janelle didn’t give up the most prestigious Paris Fashion Week among the world’s four major fashion weeks anyway, did they?”

“Well, it wouldn’t make sense for Karl not to show up at a large-scale event like Paris Fashion Week…”

“Whatever the reason, thanks to that decision, we are now able to design the show much more freely.”

“I’d like to hear exactly what you mean by a secret memorial.”

Chairman Bertheimer, who put particular emphasis on the word secret memorial, stared at Jae-seung with his eyes wide open.

What should I say?

In just a moment—no, as soon as the word secret memorial was mentioned—it was as if a flash of light had suddenly appeared in his sunken eyes.

“It’s just as it sounds. I want this show to be a special collection that shows off Janelle’s new identity and a memorial service only for those who know the ‘secret’.”

“Lee, I’d like you to be a little more specific.”

Chairman Bertheimer, who replied in a low voice, swallowed the 침 [chim – saliva] that had been 고여 [goye – gathered] in his mouth and leaned his face slightly. He had a face that was seized with the hope that a good idea might come out.

On the other hand, Jae-seung, who was looking at Chairman Bertheimer, could not help but smile faintly.

Soon.

Jae-seung opened his mouth again and began to recite the plans he had conceived.

Around the time Jae-seung’s explanation was finished, Chairman Bertheimer, who was holding his face as if he were 싸매다시피 [ssamaedasippi – wrapping it up], nodded his head and added a few words in a low voice.

“That’s a really good plan. Let’s proceed as is…”