NCT Imagines (Requests Open!)

Very Berry (Chenle)

"Excuse me, where's the bathroom?" a guy tapped you on the shoulder.

You whirled around, now face-to-face with the most gorgeous man you'd ever seen.  His plump lips were centimeters from yours.  You quickly put some distance between the two of you and pointed down the hallway.

"First day?" you mustered up the courage to ask.

"Yeah.  Thank you-" his mischievous eyes shifted to the name tag on your shirt, "Y/N."

He promptly moved past you, and your hands flew to your cheeks.  They were burning hot, and you forced your legs to keep moving down the hallway to the big auditorium.  Today, the cosmetic company you worked for would be revealing its new CEO.  He was apparently versed in the world of makeup and beauty products which was an interesting twist since all the previous CEOs had been women.  

You took your seat next to your best friend Haechan.  He was really good with makeup and often did yours when you were running late and came in to work with no eyebrows.  The lights in the auditorium dimmed, and everyone buzzed with excitement.  A spotlight illuminated a well built silhouette followed by a thinner, taller shadow.  As the two figures stepped into the light, you gasped for air.  Standing on that stage with a microphone in his hand was the guy who had asked you for directions to the bathroom.  

"Zhong Chenle, what a gem.  And his secretary Park Jisung is cute too, isn't he?" Haechan smirked.

You found yourself subconsciously nodding in agreement.  Chenle's whole figure was stunning.  And sure Jisung was attractive, but you couldn't peel your eyes off the new CEO.  He was young and handsome and-

"I'm going to be fired," you muttered under your breath.  "How could I have talked to him like he was a regular employee?  Well, Haechan, it was nice knowing you."

Haechan sealed his lips and looked straight ahead.  You swallowed the nervous lump growing in your throat, knowing you'd have to see Ceo Zhong later today since he would be meeting with your department.  Since you were the director of the Development Team, you and him would be very involved in order to launch new, hot products.

You slipped out of the auditorium and made a beeline for your office.  Instead of panicking, you lost yourself in your work.  You were in the midst of reviewing some documents when you heard a knock on your door.  Haechan bit his lips and led someone in, closing the door so that it was just you and the person you last wanted to see.

You shot to your feet, a stammering mess when Chenle laughed.

"You're not in trouble.  I came to ask about the new lipstick your team developed.  I wasn't sure about the color and wanted to check it out.  The Very Violet isn't selling as well as the other colors, so I wanted to swatch it."

"Sure thing."  You tried not to lose your resolve under his intense gaze.  Quickly, you found him the Very Berry lipstick, and he gestured for you to sit.  

Ceo Zhong stepped closer, slipping one hand behind your head.  He brought his head level to yours and uncapped the liquid lipstick.  

"Wha-what are you doing?" you struggled to speak.

Chenle used a finger to close your parted lips before layering on the lipstick.  

"Oh, it smudged a little," he murmured in a low tone.  He slowly wiped the excess lipstick away with the pad of his thumb.  "Anyways, I was hoping you would be excited.  I didn't mean to get you all flustered by walking on stage as the CEO.  I didn't expect you to run away in the middle of my introduction speech."

You blushed a very berry shade of red.  "You saw?"

"Well, you left an impression, Y/N.  I asked three people before you for directions to the bathroom, and you were the only person to stop and show me.  You treated me like a somebody, and I was thankful for that.  I know I'm the CEO and all, but do you think we could be friends?  I'm new to Seoul, so my secretary Jisung is the only person I really know."

You hesitated for a second before piping up, "Why don't we go grab dinner tonight?  I'll show you one of my favorite restaurants.  And I'll introduce you to the coolest spot in the city after!  I mean, only if you want to, that is.  And Jisung can come along too, if he wants."

Chenle looked towards the door and smirked.  "I'm pretty sure Jisung has other plans tonight.  Should I pick you up?"

You shushed him by placing your index finger on his lips, taking him by surprise.  "I'll pick you up, and I'll be paying for dinner."

Chenle replied without words- simply taking your phone and entering his number and texting you his address.  The whole exchange left your cheeks very berry ablaze with butterflies fluttering in your stomach.  Was this okay?  To be friends with the CEO?  And what if you fell for him?

Dinner time came sooner than you expected.  You checked your makeup one more time in the rearview mirror of your car.  If anything, your makeup had to be perfect since you worked for the top cosmetic company in Korea.  

Chenle knocked on the window of your car door, startling you.  You quickly let him in and tried not to  laugh at the irony of the situation.  You thought he would be dolled up in a suit and tie with hair styled up and designer cologne.  But he sat next to you in a simple coat layered over a sweater and some jeans.  His hair, unlike the morning, lay tousled over his forehead.  You glanced down at your fancy dress and jewelry you whipped out just for this occasion.

"Dressed to impress, I see," Chenle remarked.

"Oh, um, I guess.  You obviously have good taste," you retorted.

"Of course I have good taste.  That's why I'm with you tonight and not Jisung."

That shut you up.  You kept your eyes on the road and pulled into the lot of your favorite restaurant.  Both of you ordered pasta, and you ate while getting to know each other.  You asked Chenle about his life before becoming CEO.  He admitted he never started off at the top of the chain.  Just like you, he had started as a mere employee and used his skill with makeup to prove himself.  It gave you hope seeing an underdog like him in such a high position.  Maybe one day, you'd be Chenle's right hand employee.  But instead of using your connections, you would use your skills, too.  

Afterwards, you drove Chenle to a spot with a large bench overlooking the city.  There were plenty of trees- shadows of their leaves dancing in the moonlight.  The breeze brushed your hair out of your face.  

"Beautiful, right?" you gestured at the view.

But Chenle's gaze was fixated on you.  "Stunning."

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A/N: Thanks  for requesting this Chenle imagine!  It was fun imagining CEO Chenle hehe :D

Question of the imagine: What's your favorite makeup thing to do?  I really like doing eyeliner, but making sure the wings are even is realllllyyyyy hard!  What about you guys?