When Noelle returned, she found Chloe in her office. Sang-Jun was also there. He looked cool and distant. He greeted them with a casual nod, as if nothing had happened, and went to the meeting room with his laptop.  

All the others seemed to be long gone. 

Chloe waved at Noelle, asking her to join her.

"Sit down, Noelle" Chloe said when she closed the door. "So… I need to apologize again for Ye-Jun’s behavior. And for his girlfriend's behavior this time. Τhey are both unprofessional and childish. I am profoundly shocked by Mi-Ok's attack. Listen, Noelle. I know this is too much for a young girl. I will totally understand if you want to resign. I am also open to discuss the issue of your compensation in any case" Chloe explained. 

Noelle reflected carefully on what she heard. On one hand, she was not being thrown away. On the other hand, she heard something about compensation. 

Could it be? 

"Is this a subtle way of asking me to leave?" Noelle asked. 

"No. I would ask it directly if that was my target" Chloe affirmed. 

Noelle straightened her back and raised her head. They had started a war and that was their first battle. It was too early to admit defeat. 

"I don't want to leave. I am not scared that easily. I came here with a purpose and I plan to finish what I have started. I think I like working with you and the rest," she said. 

Chloe smiled. "I am glad you are not a scaredy-cat. I was expecting that from you. But it is obvious that I cannot guarantee that the environment will be... sophisticated. I realized that today. Will you be fine with that?" she asked Noelle. 

"As long as you want me here, I will be fine," she lied. 

As the war was evolving, she would need allies. Chloe was the most important ally she could gain. 

"That's a deal. Stay and finish what we've started," Chloe suggested, smiling. 

"Yes! Thank you again for the opportunity!" Noelle said shyly. 

Chloe nodded. "I feel I must bring up the issue of your compensation again," she added a bit formally. 

"What do you mean?" Noelle asked. 

"Well... We are used to offering compensation for incidents that affect... others. Sang-Jun is currently investigating if there was any sort of leak" she explained. 

Hm... Easy money.... 

She was bribing her not to talk about what happened. She never thought that she could gain money for keeping her mouth shut. 

How nice it would be to get some extra cash?

Ugh! 

She felt disgusted that such a thought had even crossed her mind. Accepting money without giving something in return, apart from being illegal in many cases, meant that the person giving the money owns you. 

Nobody will own me. 

“I don't want anything. If I am part of the team, I protect the product as part of my job," she replied sharply. 

Chloe looked amused with the answer, and smiled widely. "I am glad you see yourself as a team member! But… product??" she asked. 

"Artists are classified as intangible products," Noelle said. That was right. He was out of reach. 

"Correct. Just note that we don’t use the term," Chloe suggested. 

Noelle felt bad. She had said something out of bitterness but probably offended Chloe. "Sorry, I understand it sounds contemptuous.” 

"It’s ok. He also calls himself a product from time to time.” 

This is self-awareness...