Val let herself be escorted in to see G-Bear. She knew that he had taken a paternalistic approahc to dealing with her before....but he would only see her as Val and not as...whatever her name used to be.
He gestured for her to sit opposite him. "Miss Glover," he said. He seemed to speak English well enough, if with a noticeable accent. "I confess, I have been staying away from you during your visit."
"Why is that?" Val asked.
"You interviewers...always try to make the manager part of the story. The story is the group...not me. My time for being the story has passed. It is better that I am not taking away focus."
"Then why agree to see me now," Val asked.
"Because your story is over. We are leaving after this show," he said. "You have been very..." he seemed to struggle for the right word. "....professional. If we are happy with the results, we may work with you again. The English speaking market, not just your country, is good for business."
"And now you are going to take them to the States," Val said.
"The arena was suddenly available. We had plans for this in future..." he shrugged. "It is business. It will be a challenge, but they will rise to it."
"I was thinking of asking to accompany you, conclude my story with their first American concert..."
He thought about that. "I would have to get approval for this from the label...it is not what we agreed to originally."
"I wanted your input before I pursued it further," Val said. "No point in even considering it if you and your label are not amenable."
"It is most...intriguing...Miss Glover. We are not against...mutually beneficial arrangements. We have no problem with the Korean press...but the English speaking countries....Australia, the States, your country...."
"I'm looking for a good story," Val said. "It is up to you as to how you present yourselves to me. I ask questions, but you answer them."
"But some ask questions designed to cause conflict. You do not," G-Bear commented. "That is why we accepted your interview request. And why, I will make your case to the label."
"I haven't gotten approval from my people either...this is still just informal," Val said. "We do not have much time, as you know."
He nodded. "I understand this."
Val had come to hate G-Bear and his attitude toward her before. But, this version of him...speaking respectfully to her, she suddenly had a bit more sympathy for him. He was trying to take care of them...in his own way.
