Page 34 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
Confirmation—enthusiastic confirmation at that—came through thirty minutes later. He texted Jun after that and then sent off a message to one of his favorite stores to order an outfit for Jun. His boy probably had something back at The Residency, but who knew if it was washed or up at the Estate with everything that had been going on. Either way, Jun still didn’t have a full wardrobe.
He made it through the day. Jun arrived at the very last minute. He knew more about the coming dinner than Damian did. While Damian helped him change into his outfit, a dashing blue silk shirt—open halfway down the chest—tucked into black jeans, Jun briefed him on names and intentions.
Damian pulled out a few items Émeric had sent over from The Residency. A watch, probably from Émeric’s own collection, and a multi-strand silver necklace, likely from Richard’s grandfather’s wife’s collection. There was a set of rings. Damian let Jun choose himself. Jun put three on one hand and two on the other, sticking to silver and jewel tones that complimented the shirt and black jeans. Then it was time for boots. Damian crossed his fingers that they fit. They were black leather ankle boots with heels. Wearing them, Jun was as tall as Damian.
“You look good.” Damian nodded, surveying their joint efforts. Jun had arrived in makeup, just a bit of eyeliner and shadow, color correction and foundation on his cheeks, and a dark gloss on his lips. He was show ready.
Jun smirked and leaned back against Damian’s desk like he was about to shoot a magazine cover. “Except I’m going to freeze.”
Damian chuckled. “Never. I have a wool cape you can borrow. And you have that leather jacket you can wear under it.”
Jun pushed himself upright and kissed Damian on the cheek. “Are you ready? You look good in your suit, but I dressed up.”
“Just my suit is fine for this.” The brand was expensive enough to speak for itself.
Jun smirked, running his hand over Damian’s shoulder. “Come on, then. Our driver is circling the block. There’s nowhere to wait.”
Since when did Jun know more about their team than Damian did? Jun had really stepped up. And he shouldn’t have had to. He should have been working on rescuing his career and clearing his name.
They made it to the restaurant with minutes to spare. Émeric and Collin were already there. Collin was wearing a smart dark-blue suit with a pink button-down. The pins holding down his collars bore Richard and Émeric’s signature marks, an R and an E. He carried a leather folder and was busy reviewing something on his phone. He looked like the up-and-coming professional Richard had believed he could be when he’d first laid eyes on him in the college lecture hall.
Émeric was slightly more relaxed, wearing a burgundy sweater over a black button-down shirt and Momotaro jeans from Japan. His leather jacket completed the look. He might have been out to the church again.
“We ready?” Damian asked Émeric.
The older dom nodded.
The investors arrived one by one, two women and three men. Damian ordered for the table, his reputation for taste preceding him. Émeric carried the conversation, explaining the vision for reimagining the property. Collin chimed in, noting how the location could be tied in with the new railroad line Reevesworth Industries was building and the implication of mapping new development into that region of the city.
One of the investors, an heiress out of New York who had family and businesses in Chicago, turned to Jun. “What’s your interest in this, Mr. Gang?”
Jun smiled at her over the edge of his wineglass and set it down. He said something in Chinese. She laughed delightedly and answered.
Jun gave her a polite nod and switched back into English so the entire table could follow along. “I’m always looking for new ways to present music and performance. 5N and I are planning to center the property in some of the music videos in our first comeback post-BBB3 management. I’m drawn, artistically, to the concept of rebirth. It’s not public knowledge, but we intend to shoot in the location as it is now and then continuously shoot new sets there throughout the rebuild.”
Ms. Wang raised her eyebrows. “How interesting. I’d never considered storytelling between place and music like that.”
Jun inclined his head. “We’re looking forward to the richer artistic experience. This new path is allowing us to give something fresh to our fans, both here in North America and back in Korea.”
“You’re not afraid your fans will resent you leaving?”
Jun shook his head. “While we are loyal to our roots, our fans are global.” He rattled off concert attendance numbers both in Chicago and other major US cities to prove his point. “And our home base fans have a global mindset. We’ve done shoots in many locations before including L.A., Kyoto, and Paris.”
“Does your interest in the site go beyond music videos?” one of the other investors asked.
Jun nodded. “As soon as we are untangled from BBB3, 5N will be investing into the concert venue side of the location. We’d like to have a home base location for smaller, more intimate performances. Being a co-owner and having rehearsal space will be useful.”
“So, you intend to stay in Chicago?” Ms. Wang pointed out.
“As a second home base, yes.” Jun glanced toward Damian with a smile. “Damian has given me a good reason to want to be here.”
Damian had to fight a blush.
Jun continued. “Besides, one of our favorite choreographers likes working here. You’ve probably heard of Gigi Ricardo? Being here will let us tap into another base for dancers who might not have the same opportunities here as those in, say, New York or L.A.”
“You’re not worried you’ll be missing out on talent here?”
Jun shook his head. “We’re not afraid to invest in developing talent, if necessary. Talent is everywhere.”
