"Are you not late for work?" I notify.
"Not really, my first schedule is a morning meeting at Namdo's", he smiled.
"Who am I meeting exactly?" I try to get it out of him. But he just casually shrugged off his shoulder, his phone rang, it was Joon-o.
"We will just discuss the extent of your proposal. I can't stay long since I have a meeting at 10. But I suspect, that Seo-hyun and Nan-do just wanted a confirmation…" he declared.
"Confirmation? On what…?"
"You and me…"
And here I was thinking that I was summoned to this meeting in order to brief me for the upcoming anniversary. Can this executives really do this? Waste their time for private reasons?
Getting out of the Loft with him on my car is totally surreal. I thought that it would be hard to go out with him again without the worry of being photograp and being in the headline the next day. But the talk between us has yet to happen.
As I expected, the meeting with Nan-do and Seo-hyun is about the upcoming anniversary and how I have to attend so I could have the full experience of the entertainment industry.
When I went to the basement parking to get my car, I didn't realize that my car key is with him. Just as I was about to call him, the car stopped infront of me.
"Are you planning to gift me your Tesla?" he greeted when he rolled down the windows.
"Are you planning on leasing it?" I retorted.
"Hop in...."
"Where are we going?"
"You treated me for a homecook lunch before, it's my turn to return the favor...."
"How would you like Korean food for dinner?"
"I would love to…"
We ended up at Itaewon. When we went in, the manager greeted us, like he knew Jae-woo. We are ushered to a table by the 2nd floor, with an open terrace. Minutes later a lady in her 60s came to greet us. She looked at me with curiosity. Jae-woo introduced her to me as their previous cook before she opened her restaurant. I didn't understand what he told her, but it made Lady Noh's eyebrows raise. He asked Lady Noh for the traditional spread and after probably half an hour, our table is full of different side dishes. We ordered ribeye to barbecue.
"And here I am thinking that the homecook meal will be prepared by you.." I sighed in disappointment.
"That would be for another time. I think you need to earn the privilege for that...afterall, I'm a very elusive CEO" He has time to joke about it, like as if it's his pride. Well, it might be.
"I never imagined you in a place like this…" I confessed to him.
"That's what happened when you let your prejudice gets the better of you…" he smiled. He rolled up his sleeve to start grilling the meat. I look at him with amusement. This right here is happiness to me. My fear and my hopes collide into this moment, it made my heart flutter, of excitement, anxiety and uncertainty. But for now, I will dismiss them, for this moment and this moment alone, because right now, my heart will only tolerate happiness.
"Are you really trying to make this light atmosphere heavier?" I just casually remark to make him feel that I am uncomfortable talking about something serious at the moment.
Just like that he became very obedient the whole night while we enjoyed the sumptuos meal. After the meal he took me to a sky bar at the heart of Gangnam. It's probably the first time that we are together in a bar not as a stranger.
"Joon has his day-off so, I can only ask you to bring me home first..." he stated while we are waiting for the designated driver. I might have drank a little too much and agreed.
I haven't thought much about it. Although, I felt that he's brewing something up. I didn't mind it at all.
I might have fallen asleep during the car ride that when I opened my eyes, I am already on his bed. I was shocked at first when I saw his face so close at my face.
"I am trying to remove your make up and washing you up...."as he said these words, he has an annoying smirk on his face.
Before things register on my brain, I felt that something was amiss. And before long, I realize that I am totally naked on the bed. I felt the sudden rush of warmth on my face, I snatched the duvet and ran into the bathroom. Only his laugh is heard behind me.
I went out of the bathroom after thoroughly washing up and put on his bathrob.
"Can I borrow sleeping clothes?" I shyly approach him while he is on the bed waiting for me with an amusing smile.
"Do you really need to wear sleeping clothes?"
Before I can even say anything, he seemed to have become the Flash and pushed me on the bed pressing his weight on me. I was expecting for his ferocious kiss as I close my eyes instinctively. But then after awhile the kiss didn't come. As I slowly opened my eyes, I was surprise to see him just staring at me, intently.
"I apologize for all the grievances that I caused you because of my special status. I am scared to lose you Ara Rivera."
I managed to push him up, while I sit on the edge of the bed. And while I am seated, he was on kneeling position on the foot of the bed, infront of me.
"There's really no hiding this matter, is it?" I calmly asked.
"I want to have a proper relationship with you. I don't want to hide it nor do I want to deny it. I don't want to constantly fear that someone would leak it to the public. Hence, if you're willing I want us to be made public."
"Can you give me time to think it through?"
That night, he actually let me sleep alone on his bed. While he went to his study. I had a long night.
When I woke up in the morning, I found something to change into and went to make breakfast.
"Good morning....." he greeted while approaching the kitchen. His expression a little relieve,
"Good morning. You seem surprise...."
"Let's say, I have had a trauma of mornings with you and after last night. I am scared that you ...."
"...that I might have left you another note?" I continued with a joke.
This is probably his cue to realize that I am indedd infront of him at this moment. He sat down and take the plate I serve for him.
"Thank you." He said .
"Don't mention it...it's not a big deal. I didn't do much, I just casually prepared what you already have..."I replied, thinking that he was referring to breakfast.
"Thank you for staying..." he said earnestly. I looked at his sincere look that made my heart flutter.
"I wouldn't let you deal with this alone anymore, Jae-woo. If you still welcome me into your world, then let's conquer your world together."