CEO'S HIRE GIRLFRIEND
Chapters 12. Recognition

After the dinner, Tae Woo invites Eun Jo to walk around the house, walking in tandem without a word. Suddenly an awkward feeling enveloped them. Eun Jo who is not strong with this silent mode, she tries to start the conversation, "what did you do earlier ?"

"What am I doing ?"

"Why do you agree we're married ? isn't our agreement just a cancellation of your match?"

"really. You don't want to marry me ?"

Tae Woo stops, then he faces Eun Jo so they can meet each other face to face.

Eun Jo laughed crisply, "Married to you ? that's right. Dreaming is not brave. You're more deserving of a girl equal to you, Tae Woo." Eun Jo tries not to look directly into Tae Woo's ebony eyes

"If you were invited to marry Jong Hyun, would you like to ? and he's not equal to you? Sorry, I don't mean it."

"I know that. But Jong Hyun understood marriage on the basis of love instead of treasure, we used to dream of marrying simply, having a simple house, having 2 cute children. It's just that simple. Well that was the thought, the reality is different now."

Eun Jo imagines what happened when she was in high school, a thought that was still unstable at the time. And now he has to be slapped with the harsh reality that Jong Hyun prefers treasure over love.

"You're still expecting Jong Hyun ?" Tae Woo asked flatly.

Eun Jo shrugged her shoulders, "well. I hope it won't be able to."

"So getting married to me also doesn't hurt right ? I can fulfill all your wishes. Life is not simple. Marriage on the basis of love, is that enough ?" Tae Woo asked sarcastically.

"Living needs treasure, but treasure cannot buy life. Not everything has to be measured by treasure, Tae Woo."

"Don't be too hypocritical, Eun Jo. Looks like you did. All women love jewelry, branded goods and power. Degrees that measure you. Once you've got a lot of treasure, you'll forget what's simple."

'plaque'

Eun Jo slaps Tae Woo hard. He knew it must have hurt. But it hurts his ears more when he hears people deduce the no-no about him.

"I know I have nothing and you have power, it doesn't mean you can demean me like that. I'm not a girl who likes to go after people's possessions. You're right, degrees can measure power, but I don't want to be a man hungry for treasure, so I never forget myself when money can't bring happiness. So if your assessment of me is like that, please ! I don't care about people who think low. Turns out I misjudged you, honorable Mr. Jung Tae Woo!"

Eun Jo's anger has peaked until no matter who she finished slapping and getting angry. No matter if his boss after this would fire him disrespectfully it was even worse to imprison him.

Tae Woo seemed to endure the pain, leaving a sore sting on his cheek. "But I'm right to judge you. I know you're not like that. I just wanted to test you."

Eun Jo glanced at Tae Woo as if saying 'what-you-are-making-a joke?

It seems he must often pry his ears so as not to occur early deafness.

"You crazy ? Why do you have to do that ? I'm not a schoolboy who has to get an exam."

"I'm just making sure I didn't choose love wrong. I love you, Eun Jo." Tae Woo stroked Eun Jo's cheeks and stared meaningfully.

This time his eyeballs will be out of their sockets, glaring at Tae Woo's confession. Is he acting to get an Oscar ?

"I beg Tae Woo. At a time like this you're still playing?"

"You think I'm having a show right now? All my treatment of you is theatrical ? When I kiss and hold your hand is also a charade ? You can't tell the difference ?"

Eun Jo puts her hand in front of Tae Woo to stop. Eun Jo chuckles amusedly with Tae Woo's rhetorical question.

"Wait on! So if you haven't been playing the show all this time, then... You're playing me, are you ?"

"It's not like that. The situation alone is in favor of doing this charade. It's true that I'm stuck in an arranged marriage and it's true that you want to avoid Jong Hyun ? Only my feelings are not theatrical. Then have you had no feelings for me all this time, Eun Jo ?"

"I. I. "Eun Jo was nervous to answer. Questions about his feelings made it difficult to speak.

"No need to answer. You know my feelings are enough. Don't because of that, you're avoiding me, Eun Jo. Now I'll take you around my house."

Tae Woo walks in front, as the host of the guide and Eun Jo follows behind him, almost Eun Jo does not pay attention to the beautiful architecture at Tae Woo's house, just follow the footsteps that lead him to his destination.

Tae Woo's hand hangs on the left side and the right hand is inserted into the pants pocket. The hand tempts him to hook his fingers to the sidelines of Tae Woo's fingers. Strong, big and soft hands. The hand that used to hold his hand tightly like that hand will always give him comfort and protection.

He brought his index finger closer to Tae Woo's fingers, not only missing the grip, but also wanted to tell him if he now had feelings for Tae Woo, whether it started from when. Nor can he continue to fall into a mess with his past.

Eun Jo already knows how to get rid of Jong Hyun's memories in her eyes, namely Tae Woo. Not as an escape, but his heart is already filled with Tae Woo's love. Strange indeed if you have to say so, but who else this man who several months close to him, gave a surprise in his life and fascinated by a tempting kiss, if not Tae Woo ? Her fingers are getting closer to Tae Woo's hands.

10 cm...

5 cm...

1 cm…

"This is my room. Come in" Tae Woo said.

Failing is his intention.

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THE TAE WOO ROOM

Eun Jo sees Tae Woo's room is very large with luxurious furniture arranged nicely in it. Minimalist shades of black.

He glanced at the large bed, king size. It seems very comfortable to sleep with. But his eyes suddenly shifted to the table beside the bed. A white photo frame. Not Tae Woo's selfies or family photos, but his picture while still in High School. Why would Tae Woo have one ?

"Isn't this my picture ? but this was when I was with Jong Hyun ?" Eun Jo asked while holding the photo.

"Hn. I was introduced to Noona's boyfriend back in America. I accidentally found a photo of him falling on the floor of Jong Hyun's house. I know he still loves you and he still keeps your memories. When I saw your picture, I was interested. But I also know Jong Hyun can't do anything about it, because he's already been betrothed to noona. I also can't be honest with Noona if her boyfriend has a loved one, because I also don't want noona to lose the one she loves. So when I find out you're my secretary, I want you or us to find a solution to this relationship. Now that Jong Hyun and Noona are getting married, you're starting to forget him and I'm falling for you. Is this a fair decision for you ?" the longest explanation Tae Woo ever spoke of. A little bit of gasping in the last part.

"I don't know if I can be sure either. But all I know is that God planned this well."

Eun Jo then switched to a photo album tucked between the books. He immediately took it and opened it.

"Gee ! This is a picture of you when you were a kid, Tae Woo. Very funny!"

Eun Jo flips through the sheets of photos and laughs at Tae Woo's timidity as a child. Handsome face from childhood, adorable bulging cheeks and jutek poses that until now Tae Woo did.

After he finished looking at the photos, he turned the album back into place. Then Eun Jo tries to break into Tae Woo's big, soft mattress. Like on a soft cotton candy. If you sleep here for a long time, Eun Jo is guaranteed to be a sleeping princess that will be difficult to wake up, even with the kiss of the prince.

"Then why do you have to stay in an apartment. It seems like living here is fun."

Tae Woo sits on the edge of the bed, next to Eun Jo. "I want to live alone and independent."

"A house this big, doesn't it make your parents lonely ? Mr. Jae Woo now lives in China, Miss Yeo Woo lives in Jong Hyung's apartment and you live in another apartment."

"Just calm. In a few months this place will be crowded with cries."

"I mean ?"

"That's it. I'll take you somewhere else. I don't like you sleeping in my bed."

Tae Woo got out of bed and stood in front of Eun Jo with a position still sleeping comfortably on his back.

"Why ? I'll just try."

'thud'

Tae Woo drops himself right on top of Eun Jo, with both hands resting right next to Eun Jo's shoulder. Their faces were very close to sharing their breath.

Tae Woo lowered his head to the left, whispering right in Eun Jo's reddened ear.

"Don't let me pounce on you in bed if you keep going" Tae Woo said with a smile that was hard to decipher.

"... or do you want to cure my sore cheek?"

"Well?!"

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...TBC...

...^^...