Chapter 3: His Adorable CEO
"Are you ready for the meeting?" Eunsu asked.
Ae Rin gave him an amused smile.
"Of course. You've prepped me so many times, I just want to get it over with now. Let's go, Eunsu?" Ae Rin asked holding out her hand.
Eunsu gulped.
"Is it your heels again? You should pick shoes that are more comfortable to walk in," Eunsu said but held out his arm for her to cling onto.
"Eunsu, shoes are part of a woman's armor. Makeup, clothes, and shoes. Comfort is the last thing a woman thinks of when she goes to war," Ae Rin said as they walked.
"And you are going to war?" Eunsu asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ae Rin nodded with an expression so serious on her face that Eunsu found so cute but he won't tell her that. She was going to war she said and he can't tell her that she looked cute.
"When I'm in front of other people, I'm always at war. I have to be vigilant! There are enemies everywhere. Even if they act nice, they're waiting for me to fail and all my hard work will go to waste," Ae Rin said.
"Does that mean you are also at war with me?" Eunsu asked.
Ae Rin laughed.
"No way. You're the exception," Ae Rin said and leaned her head on his arm.
Oh God.
Her head was on his arm and she was clinging to him.
Was this it?
Was this her telling him that she . . . ?
"You're the only one who knows the real me because you're my best friend!" Ae Rin said with a bright smile.
Best. Friend.
Argh!!!
He felt like he was just hit with a hundred of bullets and his heart was bleeding on the ground.
"Eunsu. Eunsu! You didn't press it!" Ae Rin said, pulling on his arm a bit.
"Ah. Right," Eunsu said and pressed the elevator button.
The elevator door opened and they boarded it together. Ae Rin let go of his arm. He watched her from the corner of his eye as all trace of childishness faded from her. Her eyes were cold and serious. Her posture was that of someone with great confidence. No smile on her lips.
CEO Song Ae Rin was ready for war.
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"If we fail this project or even have average results, we're going to become a laughingstock and the reputation of our company will go down," Ae Rin said.
"Miss Ae Rin, the risk is too high. Shouldn't we not take the risk at all?" Ho Jong-Dae, a thin man with graying hair and wrinkles on his face said.
Ho Jong Dae had always challenged Ae Rin's endeavors. Rumors had it that he wanted to be CEO but he couldn't because the company owner wouldn't allow anyone else to fill that position. Ae Rin couldn't fire him either because despite his constant challenges to her decisions, he was an exceptional worker.
"And if our astronauts said that then we would remain ignorant and we'd probably still be worshipping the moon. No. Song Industries will not cower at risks. We do our utmost to make those risks zero and we'll make sure that what we achieve isn't average at all but greater than we expect. This make us different from the other companies. We have a vision and we make that vision into reality. It's not enough that Song Industries is already great. We have to continue being greater than we already are. It's how we evolve after all and if we don't evolve, we'll just die out through the changes in our environment, " Ae Rin said.
Eunsu felt pride and admiration for Ae Rin. There were people who thought that Ae Rin wasn't suited for the job because she was young but Ae Rin always pushed herself to the limits to work hard. This was why he wanted to lessen her burden as much as possible by ensuring that whatever comes her way would not contain errors anymore. She had innovative ideas for the company and most people would say that she was insane for always trying out new things instead of just keeping things as is. But she always made sure her innovative ideas worked and this made Song Industries one of the top companies in the country with the highest net income.
"Can I count on all of you to help me on this?" Ae Rin asked looking at each and every employee in the meeting room.
They didn't look unmotivated anymore. Even Ho Jong Dae looked convinced again with Ae Rin's words.
"Yes. We'll do our best!"
"You can count on us, Miss Ae Rin!"
"You'll have nothing to worry about. We'll make sure we succeed."
"Well, if you put it that way, I suppose you do need our help. Fine." (That was Ho Jong Dae.)
A smile slowly crept on Ae Rin's lips, making her gaze appear softer in the process. The employees stared in awe with their jaws wide open.
It was rare for them to see their CEO smile. It felt like the skies opening up after a storm and the sun had come out. They didn't feel worthy. She was so beautiful and she looked like an angel. No, they would be worthy. They would do their best to be worthy of that smile of hers and maybe, just maybe, she would smile at them again when the project becomes a success.
Eunsu knew it was the cue to leave. He stood up and walked directly in front of Ae Rin, blocking their view of her.
"The meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for joining us today," Eunsu said.
"Thank you!" The employees said in unison with a bow.
Ae Rin and Eunsu left the meeting room.
Ae Rin looked at Eunsu curiously.
"You seem to be in a bad mood. What's wrong?" Ae Rin asked.
"Nothing," Eunsu said even though he was obviously irritated.
"Come on, what's wrong? Ah. Are you hungry? Let's have food delivered to my office and we'll eat. What do you want? Bacon? I'm in the mood for bacon," Ae Rin said.
They boarded the elevator together.
"Your smile," Eunsu said.
"My smile? What are you talking about?" Ae Rin asked.
Eunsu frowned.
"You smiled at them!" Eunsu said.
"Oh. Did I? I didn't notice. Did it make me look unprofessional?" Ae Rin asked worriedly.
Eunsu sighed. "No, it made them motivated to work."
"Then why do you look so angry?" Ae Rin asked.
Eunsu narrowed his eyes at her. Did she really not know?
She cocked her head to the side and looked at him innocently.
Argh.
She really did not know. Why did he have to fall for someone this dense?!
"Ae Rin, try not to smile at others too much," Eunsu said.
"Why? Do I look ugly when I smile?" Ae Rin asked with her eyes wide.
The elevator door opened. Eunsu offered his arm for her to cling onto and Ae Rin happily did.
"No. You look too beautiful," Eunsu murmured.
"What? I didn't hear you. Can you repeat that?" Ae Rin asked.
"No," Eunsu said.
"Ehhh? What did you say? I didn't hear you! Why can't I smile at others?" Ae Rin asked.
"Not repeating it," Eunsu said, chuckling.
"Tsk. You meanie," Ae Rin said pouting.
"I'll order bacon and rice for us. With the usual hot chocolate drink, right?" Eunsu said.
Ae Rin's eyes lit up.
"Eunsu, you're the best!" Ae Rin said.
Eunsu chuckled.
Fine.
She could smile at others and motivate them to work but they didn't know her true adorable self that he saw all the time.
"Ah. Tell them to add extra bacon. I can pay more," Ae Rin said excitedly.
Yes, truly adorable.
If he could just cross that line between them, he could die happily.
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