“I’d be more than happy to.” Even after the thousands (could it be millions?) of autographs I’ve signed over the past few years, I still have a hard time saying no.

He smiles as I hand my signed cocktail napkin back to him. “I’ll be guarding this with my life tonight.” He folds the autograph and places it in his breast pocket, patting it securely. “You know, Rachel, Miyoung’s not your only fan. My wife and I are big fans too. You have a fantastic voice.”

Now it’s my turn to smile gratefully. “Thank you so much, Mr. Park.”

“You’d be great on radio.” He raises his eyebrows curiously. “Would you ever be interested in hosting? SOAR is launching a new radio show that focuses on one-on-one conversations with artists from all different walks of life. You’d be a great host.”

I immediately perk up. “That would be amazing,” I tell him with another smile. “If you connect with DB, I’m sure they could set up a meeting for us,” I add with more confidence than I actually feel. But why shouldn’t DB be interested? SOAR’s radio shows have a huge audience, and if I can use it to promote Girls Forever while also enjoying deep, intimate conversations about the creative process, isn’t that a win-win?

“Excellent,” Mr. Park says. “I’ll be in touch!”

We toast and then he’s swept away by a group of other media folks eager to speak with him. I’m debating between checking out the dessert bar or hitting the dance floor when Mina sashays toward me, grabbing my free hand.

“There you are!”

Mina must have a radar system that alerts her anytime someone else is getting special praise or attention—I had barely finished my toast with Mr. Park when suddenly she was at my side. But she’s bright and beaming, her eyes shining with the high of the music, exuding charismatic energy, the kind that makes you want to join in on whatever she’s doing. So when she says “Come on, let’s dance!” I take a quick swig of my drink and then let it melt away onto one of the many passing trays as she leads me to the dance floor, spinning me under her arm.

She looks chic in her shimmering wide-leg pantsuit, her ash-brown hair twisted away from her face in a loose, elegant updo. We dance, laughing, me following along with her moves. She’s undeniably magnetic and even more so when she dances, totally effortless and buoyant, and all the cameras in the room have already started pointing in our direction.