9 How very out of character, you two! (1/2)

Jaehyun drank his cold tea as he watched the girl eat her fish sticks with gusto.

”How about you make some room for the actual meal, huh?” He asked as he picked up after his 'Boss', taking the now empty sticks from her hand and chucking them on a nearby trash can.

She smiled at him as she paid the lady vendor for her pre-meal.

”I was hungry,” she said simply.

He let out a laugh. Years ago, he had been surprised by the amount of food this girl can ingest in one seating, but after a few years of knowing each other, he kind of grew used to it. Missed her habit at times too.

”You promised me beef, Jaehyun-ssi,” she reminded him lightheartedly. ”I want to drink a little too, if you don't mind.”

”Yes, I know,” he said. ”I didn't forget.”

He allowed her to cling to his sleeve as she dragged him along the bustling food market in Main City. From time to time, she would stop and buy drinks, food sticks, and other stuff she thought looked tasty enough to eat.

Ji-Eun knew her companion didn't like eating ahead of a meal, so she didn't waste her energy asking him if he wanted anything. If he liked something, he would tell her. So, she went along the street happily, minding her own business.

If it was any other situation, he would not allow her employer to go about this way. But taking her situation into consideration, he allowed her to do everything she wanted because he knew that come tomorrow, she would have to go back to being the aloof and collected Boss of her father's business empire.

In that regard, he felt a tinge of sympathy for her.

Being rich and all wasn't really a good thing after all, he thought to himself as he watched her stop in front of another food cart. Of course, because the Chung Family has money, she and her father wouldn't have had to worry about what food to eat the next day, where to sleep that night, what the state of their home was, and how they were supposed to pay their bills. But in exchange for all of those, being actual public figures and business people, they had given up their right to privacy. And being the leaders of an empire, both father and daughter had to take on the challenge of taking care of a lot of people, that included their employees and their employees' families.

He nodded at her gently when she turned to hand over a small plate of spicy rice cakes. She knew he liked them, so he just accepted her offer gratefully.

”I ordered the not-so-spicy one,” she quipped.

He patiently waited for her finish before he started to walk towards the direction of the barbecue place she wanted to visit.

He sighed as he thought to himself that all he could do for his friend is to let her run freely for a few hours on his watch.

”We're here!” He heard an excited cry as they reached their destination.

A few seconds later, the old lady noticed Jaehyun's presence behind her most precious customer.

”And I see you've brought Secretary Oh too!” She gushed as she ushered them both inside. ”Come inside, come inside! It's very cold right now...”

There was a time when the old lady thought that these two were a couple. But when she heard the handsome man speaking to the young girl in a polite and formal way, it had been a work day that day, she deduced she had thought wrong. Soon, she found out from the young man himself that he is but the girl's personal secretary.

”You came at such a good time,” the proprietress said as she placed their drinks on the table. ”I just made some bone soup. I'll bring it out right now.”

Ji-Eun expressed her thanks and picked up the aprons at the side of their table. She raised her arms towards him, ”Bow down a little. I'm going to put this on you.”

Jaehyun saw her gesturing to lower his head a little and he could not help but laugh. The top of her head didn't even reach his shoulders. Could she be more adorable at this moment?

”Still a pint-sized fairy, I see.”

She could only click her tongue and wait until he leaned forward so she could secure his apron.

”Well, this pint-sized fairy is going to make sure you pay a lot for dinner tonight,” she declared.

”Wait, what?” He did a double take as she took a seat on the floor and began tidying up their utensils.

Soon, their food arrived and they began to eat and drink. Being the older of the two, Jaehyun always made sure that she doesn't drink too much as he's sure that she'd end up one in about a dozen different ways. He had seen a number of her drunken alter egos and he wasn't sure he'd be able to do much to help her out tonight because he was tired too.

So, in order to create much distraction over drinking, he began to regale her with stories about his trip overseas. He had been away for three whole weeks, working on her behalf, meeting with investors and contractors in the US, in Hong Kong, and in Japan. He had spent a considerable amount of time meeting each and every one she had been in contact with over the web. While he was attending preliminary meetings abroad, she had been closing deals and contracts with other international investors. One could say that when Secretary Oh meets with an investor and leaves with a favorable impression, it's already a done deal between them and the Chung Group.

In other words, he was also her right-hand man. That's how much she valued Oh Jaehyun's capability. Ji-Eun had always trusted his work and she had mentioned during a shareholder's meeting once that her 'Secretary's' words are her words. And that to insult him or his work is to insult her as well. She had always been this cool in his eyes.

But right now, looking at her semi-excited pose, he wondered where his cool 'Boss' went off to.

He smirked at some of her comments, keeping the conversation light. He knew he just had to keep her from drinking a bit too much, so he left out the important and boring details for tomorrow's report.

”Ji-Eun-ah,” he started, clearing his throat and looking at her intently.

”What? You're looking at me weirdly.”