EP3: A Night to remember
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*The next day*
Piercing stares..
Glares..
Glances..
All were thrown away towards her direction.
"Who is she? Is she the daughter of the CEO?"
"She look so beautiful. But probably a brat-"
"Oh shoot-! you are just newly promoted right? The identity and name of the CEO was kept hidden to provide security and lessen the controversy inside the company. We are the only ones who know who the CEO is here on the upper management. There's some who oppose her promotion anyways so we can't spread the CEO's identity"
"Wait- You're telling me she's the CEO?"
Haerin paused on her tracks to glance towards their direction. The employees shivered in fear and ran away immediately.
"I'm hungry.."
Haerin mumbled. She just finished her 2nd meeting today. She doesn't even have the chance to eat breakfast. And it's already past-lunch time already.
"Ms. Cha!"
She turned her head to look at the man running to her direction.
"Yes Vice Pres. Kim?"
Kim Leedo. The Vice President of the board. He smiled at her. Hae-rin beamed back with a fake one.
'What a pain..'
"It seems like you are rather busy right now."
"Yes. What do you want to say?"
"I heard the negotiations with the Chin Group went very well."
"naturally....."
Haerin glanced on her fingernails. Kim Leedo gulped his saliva to prevent himself from spitting bad words to the ceo.
"I just wanna congratulate you from taking the position of your father. We are on your hands now."
He bowed.
'As far as i can recall he's against me taking the position. What a fake one.'
"Is that all?"
She replied shortly.
"W-What?"
"I don't have spare time with this chats. Talk to me when you have something important to say already."
"Ahh yes. Sorry for bothering you."
"Well then, Excuse me."
She said, walking towards the elevator leaving the old man speechless and frustated with her curt attitude.
"You should be much more lenient when it comes to your employees Ms. Cha."
Byun Minji, her assistant told her as the elevator door closed. Hae-rin ignored her statement and just waited the elevator door to open again.
"What's my next meeting?"
The both of them walked towards her office, seeing Jay casually sitting on the sofa and drinking whisky.
"It's the Marriage interview with the second son of the Shim Group. 19:00 sharp, at the Eden Garden's lounge."
Jay walked towards her desk and gave her the brown envelope she asked for.
"This is the thorough profile you asked for."
Hae-rin nodded her head and took the envelope, opening it eventually.
"Alright then. Please begin the preparations."
Ms. Minji fixed her eyeglasses with confidence.
"I contacted your stylist already and the store where you always buy your clothes. The car is ready too."
"I mean begin the preparations for my lunch. I'm starving, Minji."
"Y-Yes! Understood. Ms Cha."
Jay just laughed with Assistant Byun's reaction.
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18:59 pm
Eden Garden's Lounge
"Are you already there Son?"
Jake boringly looked at the side-mirrors of his car and went out, walking towards the Lounge.
"Yes dad..."
He answered with a sigh.
'Let's get this over with.'
He thought as he went inside the lounge for his reservation.
"That's good son!! The man should always arrive first!"
Jake ignored his statement
"Oh well have fun! I'm sure you'll like her once you get to know each other since she's the best career woman on your age!!"
"I guess. Since you're praising her that much."
"Well, That's true! HAHAHA!"
"But don't feel pressured. Just meet her and-"
Jake hung up the call the moment he saw a woman figure on their table.
"Was i late?"
Jake checked the time on his watch, seeing it's 19:00 sharp.
'not bad...'
The both of them thought.
"No you're not. I just like being early, force of habit."
"please have a seat."
'He's spacing out... '
Hae-rin thought as she saw the latter staring on the void.
"Mr. Shim?"
"Ah yes. Thank you."
Jake snapped back to reality and sat on the chair, opposite from her direction.
"I believe we already know each other's name but i want to make a proper introduction. Let's forget about the first expressions too."
Hae-rin reached her hands towards Jake.
"I am Cha Hae-rin. A pleasure to meet you Mr. Jake Shim."
She said with politeness. Jake shook her hand.
"The pleasure is mine too, Ms. Cha."
They exchanged blank glares. no-one wants to reveal anything.
They ordered their meal and decided to spoke before the food arrive.
"So you are still a student... Specifically on my University too."
Jake boringly looked at the wine glass in front of him as he spoke.
'he's losing interest...?'
Haerin thought.
"Yeah... Besides, I rarely go to school since the office is really hectic. That's why you can't see me around."
Haerin answered.
"It must be tough handling a company while studying."
Hae-rin slyly smiled.
"Not really. Tough is but an excuse."
Jake glanced at her direction, seeing her proud eyes beaming on his.
"All it takes is a bit of ambition and a lot of discipline."
Hae-rin looked around, locking eyes with someone she doesn't know and looking back to Jake again.
"How about you Mr. Shim? I heard from your father that you are promising. Will you take the seat after your father's retirement?"
"I'm not interested with my father's business."
"Why not? You already have the means and the talent so why not?"
Hae-rin rested her hands on the table and leaned her chin on it.
"I'm just not... Interested."
Jake looked away. Hae-rin scoffed.
"How come?"
"My brother is better at everything. He's more capable of the position. And besides, I am pursuing music."
"It's a nice goal. But to be frank, It's impractical."
Jake flinched a bit with her straightforwardness. Clearly, he was caught off guards.
"If you were to ask me, You should just grab the best opportunities presented. The world is cruel for dreamers afterall. If you don't know how to use your asset, You are doomed to fail."
Haerin's piercing glance met Jake's gaze. His eyes tell nothing about him.
"Quite miserable right?"
Hae-rin tested him. Jake scoffed uncomfortably.
"Oh pardon me, was i out of line?"
"Never treat him like your employee Ms. Cha!! He will be your husband not your assistant!!" - Minji
"Not at all. I'm already used to it."
He looked away.
'I hit a sensitive topic'
Jake smirked at her suddenly. Hae-rin was taken aback.
'He's acting? Interesting... '
"That's it for me Ms. Cha. How about you?"
He asked her, resting his hands on the table like Hae-rin and leaned his chin on his palm.
"You are already on the top of your company. I guess you already reached your goal."
Hae-rin smirked back at him.
"I am just starting to achieve my dreams. The Nexus should be on top of the food chain.-"
The waitress serving wines walked towards their direction with poise. Sadly, a woman near their table tripped the waitress into slipping to Hae-rin, The opened bottle of wine glass splashed on her.
The wine spilled all over her face and dress. The waitress' eyes went wide. Jake's eyes too.
'How troublesome...'
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