A Handsome Kinky Gangster Reporter

I grabbed Gloria’s hand that was stained with jam.

“When you’re hungry, make sure to come to my house. Promise me that you’ll tell me whenever something difficult happens to you.”

“Yes, thank you, Haley.”

Seeing the female lead enjoying her meal, I decided to change the plan for my life.

First was to make Gloria happy, and then stay as far away from the main lead as possible.

Second was to succeed working as a reporter and eat well with my mother.

After I realized that this world existed in the novel I was writing, I began to bring up memories about the novel bit by bit. I have to tell my mother about land or investment goals that would rise in the future, and build our wealth step by step. We wouldn’t be too rich, but at least we have to make enough money to survive.

‘If I work hard, I’ll be able to set up a newspaper and printing office to open in the future.’

When that time comes, we would attract many pushovers by taking advantage of Claude, who was a beautiful visual, as my employees to work in the newspaper office. Claude, who appeared as an ethereal angel made of marble, would surely show off his extraordinary visual when he grew up.

Claude held out a note to me as I was daydreaming by myself.

[Hey, what’s wrong with you? I’m afraid to see you’re smiling by yourself.]

I rubbed Claude’s soft head as a way to reassure him.

“It’s nothing. I just want you to grow up well.”

Handsome men would be useful in many ways. I was so glad Claude became my little brother.

* * *

On the first day I met Gloria, I had a dream.

In my dream, I set up a newspaper office that I really wanted and became a reporter and the boss there.

“Wow! President, come here!”

An employee with curly brown hair made a fuss and called me over the window. The scenery seen through the window was covered in snow, and the surroundings looked white.

“I think you have a precious customer in the office.”

I approached the window on the second floor and looked out, and there stood a large carriage pulled by horses. A carriage made of high-quality white leather was in the shape of a pumpkin. The decorations were painted with real gold and colorful jewels which were attached in several places, illuminating the sunlight, and shone brightly. It wasn’t just the carriage that appeared luxurious.

The six horses that pulled the carriage also stood whilst showing off their sleek and smooth appearances. At first glance, I knew they were widely-known horses.

The plain white horses, matching the white carriage, swaying manes that were more beautiful and soft than most noble ladies. Nobles must have great pride in their pets. Perhaps, they thought it was not preferable for them to be here when seeing the shabby building even without saying anything. The white horses raised their jaws high, exhaled angrily, and looked ahead.

“They look very expensive.”

The nobles are really good at making money. I suddenly felt sad for no reason and walked away from the window. However, my employees were still fussing with each other while talking about the situation outside.

“Oh my, look who has dropped by. Would they come here?”

“They must have dropped by to buy bread on the first floor.”

“Oh, the bread my father makes isn’t as luxurious and delicious as what the nobles usually eat. Oh, shouldn’t the President come out to meet them personally?”

When I glanced towards my desk and saw the letters, <President of Golden Goose Daily> the plaque that stated, ‘Haley Mertes’ was shining there as well.

‘What kind of dream is this where it feels so real?’

I pinched my cheek slightly. It didn’t hurt at all, but somehow I was still in a dream.

In my dream, I opened a newspaper office in an alley not far from the city center. I rented the place on the second floor in a bakery building managed by one of the employee’s father that worked in my office.

‘Even though it was just a dream, can I understand everything now? It’s like a situation I experienced once.’

The name of the employee who got the job at my newspaper office was Mary, and she said that she was tired of making bread. She treated me very leisurely as the daughter of the building owner. Sometimes, she spoke informally to me, just as this time.

“She’s coming, she’s coming. I can hear her steps climbing the stairs. President, at least you have to greet her.”

There she was, speaking in an informal way with me. Does she realize I’m her boss? Even I was three years older than her.

‘Oh, how do I know this kind of thing?’

The setting in the dream was very detailed. I was surprised. I was waiting for the guest to come to the room. This was obviously a dream, but strangely, I felt like I had experienced it.

I sighed silently, proceeded to return to my seat and crossed my legs gracefully. As Mary had said to me, if there was a guest who came to meet me, I should be prepared already.

“Stop making unnecessary remarks and stay in your place. If the lady knocks on the door, don’t open the door right away, count to three before opening it.”

I opened the Golden Goose Daily and searched our newspaper for articles that might get the nobles worked up.

‘There is nothing offensive about it though…’

There were only three cases when guests visited the newspaper office directly.

First, it was those who lived in luxury to come for advertisements.

Second, an informant who reported an article and wanted to receive their money.

Third, a guest who comes to complain that they didn’t like the newspaper article.

Please, I hope the wealthy customer who was climbing the stairs at the moment wasn’t the guest with the third case. I tried to relieve my pounding heart. I was the president after all, and my staff would be shaken if I showed any hint of fear.

Knock, knock.

The soft knock sounded from the other side of the door.

The sound slightly relieved my heart.

People who came to complain about the newspaper articles would not bother to do so. They would persistently knock on the door even when their hands and feet were broken until we opened the door. Due to that, the glossy and sturdy wooden door of our newspaper office were filled with marks of hands all over it.

‘Oh. One day, there was a customer who got me an axe as a gift. They’re certainly not such a bad guest, aren’t they? What about this woman?’

I was surprised when I thought about this. I was sure this was just a dream. Why am I thinking this kind of thing?

As I was frustrated by the sound of knocking, Mary bit her nails and looked nervous.

“It looks like she has arrived. What should I do?”

Mary was confused, knowing that the guest on the other side of the door was obviously a high-ranking noble, and she couldn’t recall the correct way to greet those people.

“Take it easy. Just hold the hem of your skirt and bend your knees slightly to greet them.”

Why did she still not apply it in real life when she reads our newspaper so carefully and thoroughly every day?

I was surprised again when thinking about that.

As the adult who appeared in the dream, I was not myself even though it was, indeed, me. Although we shared both our thoughts and actions, we felt a sense of difference.

Trembling, Mary opened the door and greeted the woman. The nervous expression was obvious on her face.

“W-Welcome to Golden Goose Daily.”

Hey, did she think this was an amusement park? Her greeting was so.

However, the woman who entered the office replied with a friendly smile.

“Nice to meet you. I’d like to meet the president here, would that be fine?”

After saying so, I slowly got up from my seat and replied while pointing my hand toward the sofa.

“I’m Haley Mertes, president of Golden Goose Daily. Please have a seat.”

The woman with braided-blonde hair must have really liked the color white and gold. The dress she wore also showed off its extravagance by combining gold threads and white silk embroidery. The diamond barrette on her head also looked exquisite. The necklace hanging around her neck consisted of large chunks of colorful gems that appeared so shining even anyone with a fragile neck would be afraid to break their own neck when wearing it.

‘Oh, that necklace…?’

I know that necklace. I happily told the lady about it.

“Isn’t that the Bruan tear necklace? I can’t believe your wife bought that rare necklace. You’re amazing.”

“Isn’t that Bruant Tears Necklace? So, the Madam has bought such a rare necklace. It’s really amazing.”

I envied her, along with your wealth.

I wouldn’t be jealous if I had that kind of necklace as well. No, if it were me, I would immediately sell it and turn it into money.

In my dream, I was very excited and spoke quickly.

“Wow, I wanted to interview you last week, and caused quite a fuss at the auction house… I mean, I’ve pestered and badgered the one who came to win the bid. Is that why you came here directly?”

If the owner of the necklace called, I would go look for it myself, even if it was far away. In my dream, I made a deep impression on the owner of this sort of necklace. Then, the woman slightly raised her gloved hand and made an ambiguous expression.

“Oh, that’s not why I’m here. I still refuse to do the interviews.”

“Then why are you here…”

Then, Mary approached with a trembling voice.

“I’ve… prepared tea for you. I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

On the tray that Mary held in her hand, there was a set of high-quality teapots that I’ve never seen before.

The taste of the tea was pungent.

I secretly threw a glare at Mary.

Although there were high-end utensils in the office this whole time, my employees had never served them to anyone, even to me, the president in this office. Even from the scent of the tea filled in the teapot, the tea leaves seemed quite luxurious.

As I felt a little betrayed by the employee in my dream, the woman proceeded to drink the cup in her hand, then placed it on the table and brought up the topic she wanted to talk about with me.

“You know Ciel, right? I’m his mother.”

Ciel? Who was that?

After blinking my eyes a few times, I glanced at Mary, and she said from behind the woman with her mouth, ‘That blond-haired man.’

Oh, her? I forgot his name because I rarely called him by name.

“Oh, yes, I know. I know him.”

Your son has been bothering me lately.

I was surprised once again when thinking that way.

‘I don’t even remember who Ciel is now. What happened to me?’

Silence hung heavy between us, it looked like she didn’t like my answer, which came one second later than it was supposed to. The woman looked at my face and signaled at the servant who followed her with her eyes. She took out a large bag from her arms.

Oh, I’ve seen this in morning dramas often in my previous life. Is this even not impossible in this world?

“My son was raised at home with a lot of support, but he grew up knowing nothing about the world, therefore he’s a little immature.”

My heart was pounding.

I held my trembling chest and felt a hint of anticipation and delight.

The woman went on.

“My goodness. Red hair? Where would we put such a low lineage in our family? Oh, sorry if I offended you. As you know, the woman with red hair is a bit shunned as they are regarded to may ruin the country. That’s what I mean. Do you understand what I mean?”

Raising one corner of her lips, the woman looked at my hair and tried not to say anything that would offend me directly. So, the fact that I was red-haired bothered this woman more than the fact that I was an ordinary person.

‘What is this? The kind of scene that always appears in buzzing dramas?’

Hurry up and say it. It made me giddy.

I looked at the woman with high expectations in my head.

It was right.

The woman threw the bag she had asked the servant for in my direction as if she was fulfilling my expectations.

“Take this money and stay away from my child.”

Haha! I almost laughed out loud, that was why I covered my face with my hands. If I were to laugh in this situation, I would lose the money.

Oh, I really wanted to try this.

What should I do?

Should I cry and run away from this place after saying, ‘Aunty, why are you doing this to me?’ just like those stupid, innocent female leads in the drama? Or just do whatever I want…