Namjoon's cavernous eyes peeked into Sayesha's soul. There was something utterly unprecedented about him and his energy that Sayesha could feel but couldn't understand.
On the other hand, Namjoon felt something in his heart, like something just moved.
They broke the eye contact and started looking here and there awkwardly.
Finally, Namjoon spoke,
"I umm.. thank you."
"You're welcome."
Just then Aera spoke from behind,
"Excuse me, ma'am I mean S-Sayesha. Sir is ready for you now."
"Oh alright. Which one is his office?," Sayesha asked.
"Second last door by the end of the hallway," Namjoon said with a smile.
"Yeah, that one. All the best!," Aera said with a thumbs up.
Sayesha thanked Aera, glanced at Namjoon one last time, who was now flipping through the pages clumsily and left for Mr. Bang's office.
Namjoon too walked in the elevator and when the door was about to close, it hit him.
"Hmm..Sayesha. Wait! SAYESHA!? The new manager? She is our.. and I.." as he was talking to himself, the elevator door closed.
In Mr. Bang's office:
Sayesha took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in," said an elderly voice.
Sayesha went inside and greeted Mr. Bang,
"Hello sir. It's an honour to finally meet you."
He smiled and gestured her to sit.
"So Sayesha, since you're now a part of the Big Hit family, I'm not going to be all formal and make you more nervous. First of all, congratulations. There was a lot of tussle regarding this job but we chose you because you showed great potential and I along with the board of directors feel that you're capable of taking Big Hit and BTS to new heights."
"Honestly sir, I am aware that the competition was fierce. There were better people than me but I'll do my level best. I'll be dedicated to this company as well as the band. Your faith won't go in vain," she assured him.
The conviction in Sayesha's voice made Mr. Bang feel glad on his choice.
"Look dear, with Sejin gone, the boys have been having a hard time managing everything. He was a gem but we had to let him go due to some issues. I'll be honest with you, it's not going to be easy. Sejin was older than them so they looked upto him. You're the same age as Jungkook. You'll share a different bond with them. RM might lead the band on stage but it'll be your job to lead them off stage."
"I understand sir."
Sayesha was listening keenly like a sincere pupil trying to grasp everything he was saying.
"You'll supervise, keep a check on them and their activities, handle the PR team, deal with the legal matters and people they work with, every tie up and collaboration, keep work related information and their lives private and tackle every kind of crisis. Everything will go through you, Sayesha. Do you understand?"
Sayesha nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. He continued,
"They didn't become the biggest boyband on the planet overnight. They've made it big from the ashes. They gave it all. I hope you only add on to their glory."
Who would know BTS's struggle better than Sayesha? Being an ARMY since the beginning, she had seen them fight day and night to grow.
"Entrust your worries to me, sir. I won't let you down," she said.
Mr. Bang placed the contract on the table Sayesha was supposed to sign.
She exhaled and thought,
"This is what you wanted, girl. This is it."
She took the papers with the slightly trembling hands and signed them one by one and gave them to Mr. Bang.
"Congratulations Miss Sayesha! Officially the manager of Bangtan Sonyeondan!" he stood up extending his hand for a handshake.
Sayesha was overwhelmed and feeling proud of herself.
"Let me call Namjoon. Your meeting with the boys shouldn't be delayed. He'll introduce you to them. They already know that you are their new manager so, get to know them, okay?," he said.
Sayesha nodded.
He took his phone and called Namjoon.
"Yeah Namjoon, she is here. You people should meet. Tell the boys to gather in the dorm and you take her there. Yes... Okay."
"He'll be here in a while."
"I'm looking forward to it sir!," Sayesha said enthusiastically.
"Ahh one last thing Sayesha."
"Yes sir?"
"You see, hiring a female manager for a boy band is something that has happened for the very first time in kpop industry. The media isn't taking it very sportingly. Rumours are everywhere. Although it is mentioned in your contract but I'll say it again that, anything that takes BTS's or Big Hit's name down is FORBIDDEN and I think you know what I mean."
"I..I do sir and you don't have to worry. Emotions will never come in the way of my duty," Sayesha reiterated.
The very next moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Oh come in, Joon."
"How you doin' sir!?," Namjoon said playfully and gave Mr. Bang a quick hug.
"Haha I'm very well. Meet Sayesha. BTS's new manager."
Namjoon and Sayesha looked at each other and pretended as if they didn't just have a 'moment' in the hallway 45 minutes ago.
They shook hands and Namjoon said,
"Welcome Sayesha. I'm Namjoon, leader of BTS. Welcome to the family. I hope we can be good friends."
"We already are friends," Sayesha replied warmly.
"Okay then, off you two go," Mr. Bang said.
11th floor, BTS's dorm:
Namjoon and Sayesha were standing outside the dorm.
Sayesha was blankly staring at the door. Namjoon noticed her well hidden uneasiness. He smiled at how cutely clueless she was looking.
"Hey, it'll be great. They've been waiting for you," he said in a comforting tone.
Sayesha was screaming internally. Her mind was conflicted. What will it be like? Will they accept her? She can't let anybody down. This was her dream.
"Y-yeah right. Ahem.. okay! I'm ready."
The door swinged open and they went inside, to the hall where 6 boys were waiting to meet their new manager. Little did Sayesha know that this meeting would change the course of her life.