Taemin’s contract had expired two days ago, and without money, nothing would get done. Making a company from scratch, especially when they barely knew anything about owning a company at all, was next to impossible, and that was why the three of them were watching as Kwon Jiyong calmly sipped his tea on the couch across from them.

“You guys must really be strapped for cash if you live together.” His words were so casual, and Jongin would be protesting, but that was a better explanation of why he and Chaeyeon were currently living together. Kyungsoo didn’t correct the older man either, and Jongin was thankful.

“You have conditions.” Chaeyeon’s words were firm, pushing towards business.

“I do.” He put his tea down. “You do everything I say until after this trainee’s debut.”

Kyungsoo stared back at him. “We’re not signing the company over to you, or anything outrageous—”

“You have my word that I will not attempt to take it from you, but you’re right to question that. But in return, I will use all the connections I have to get him on stages, promotions, and more. It’s a money game, and you probably will have a lawsuit sitting on you as soon as he debuts.”

They didn’t have a choice, really. Staying afloat was all they could handle at the moment, and seeing that Lee Taemin was leaving the entertainment company’s dorm and setting himself up in a squalid apartment, they couldn’t even support their only trainee. Kyungsoo had even offered for him to share his own apartment, but the landlord had said the apartment was a singl