Chapter 38: Strike It

The lawyer's name was on a card, and I didn't bother to learn it.

He sat at the big table in the Driftwood with a laptop, a leather folder, and a cup of Odette's coffee he hadn't touched.

The cats had arranged themselves around his chair like a jury.

It was Monday morning, and the café was full.

Nobody had ordered a muffin and left.

The Legion ladies had the corner table, and Rory had the stool by the till.

The girl in the yellow raincoat sat at the window with a book she wasn't reading.

Odette had put a sign on the door.

It said, in her round handwriting, "Open Meeting. Be Quiet. Sit Anywhere."

Chan sat on my left with a pen.

Hyunjin sat on my right.

Chan's phone stood propped against the sugar jar, with five faces in a row on the screen.

They were in their pyjamas again, because it was late evening in Seoul.

"Shall we begin?" the lawyer said.

"We started an hour ago," I said. "You were late."

He didn't blink.

"On behalf of the board of HaneulStar Entertainment," he said, "I wish to convey regret for the events in Vancouver."

"Is that on paper?"

"It is the first page."

Chan took the folder and read it, with his lips moving slightly, in Korean.

The five on the screen leaned forward as one.

"Page two," the lawyer said. "The board proposes that Mr. Hyunjin and Mr. Chan resume activities in January."

"In exchange, the company will provide private security and a therapist of Mr. Hyunjin's choosing.

"It will also support a formal police report in Canada and Korea."

"Done," Hyunjin said.

"Page three."

"Wait," Chan said. "Page two has a number in it."

"It is the security budget."

"It's a third of what we asked for."

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