in love, legally || CHOI YEONJUN

Chapter 6

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"Ya did you see this?"

Hyemi stared at the group of few employees circled in the coffee room, whispering as one of them held out her phone. As they became aware of her presence, a dark silent air diffused with the aroma of coffee beans, scattering like ants they quickly left the room. It was obvious they were talking about the article about her being Yeojun's potential fiance.

She groaned, dragging herself to the coffee machine and popping in one of the packets. Leaning on the kitchen island, she pulled out her phone and opened the article—again. She'd lost count of how many times she'd read it over the weekend, but here she was, reading it again this Monday morning.

Before she could get too far, Yejin came rushing into the room, her hair a mess, and her face pale, "You have a guest," she gasped, barely able to catch her breath.

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"This was why you didn't want to meet Han Da-on?" her mom asked holding the same article.

Sighing she laid back on the chair and watched a few familiar employees eyeing them. Having a conversation at your workplace's employee lounge is not a good idea. Hemyi leaned forward, quite embarrassed, and muttered, "Why did you come to my workplace?"

"I am a major shareholder fyi," her mom said, "Now don't change the topic. Answer me,"

"I don't want to," she replied back like a rebellious teenager. "I have a meeting. Gotta go,"

"Kang Hyemi." Her mom's stern voice pierced through her heart.

She stood, picking up her phone. "I'll go to the blind date. Just send me the time and address," she said, swallowing hard before walking away. As much as she hated that her mom had to witness how disastrous her personal life was—bad enough that there was an article linking her to a chaebol of this generation—there was no way she'd agree to pretend with Yeonjun.

It entirely wasn't a bad idea, but she was more afraid of lying to herself. Forgetting where the line starts and ends, blurring her emotions for him—if she ever has them to start with. She had read countless fake dating trope books and it always ended with them falling for each other. And she was no different. She has to keep herself safe.

(she is me, I am her)

As Hyemi pulls herself up for the meeting with Yeonjun and his team, she notices how carefully Yejin moves around the boardroom and places the proposal file. Unlike her usual self who is always loud and yapping about something, Yejin was unexpectedly quiet. It was not a mystery that she liked Taehyun, but she never confessed to him either. It was just a crush on your best friend's brother. She always was making attempts to speak with him, except today.

Hyemi scanned her cousin's face, she couldn't quite figure out with his poker expression either, but he was fidgeting with the pen in his hand.

"Where were you two last night?" she asked crossing her legs. The question had changed the dynamics in the room, the professional titles no longer existed, it was personal now. Taehyun cleared his throat and sat upright, "Just strolled around the neighborhood."

"Till 3 AM?"

Yejin bit her lip. Taehyun scratched his neck; either his eczema or his nervousness. Before Hyemi could ask more questions the two new interns walked into the room laughing about something. They cheerfully greeted their seniors and quietly sat down.

Minji breathed, "I hope they like the proposal,"

"Right! I hope that too!" Yejin squeaked in a too-excited voice.

Hyemi shook her head and focused back on revising the proposal to present in a few minutes. Yeonjun walked into the room, with his assistant and a few members of the organizing team he had briefed about at the dinner.

They exchanged bows and took their place. Nervous, Hyemi walked to the front, their eyes on her as Minji connected the projector. She took a deep breath trying to ignore the piercing gaze right in front of her, sitting leg crossed and rolling a pen between his fingers──the same habit as Taehyun.

Hyemi tried her best not to look at Yeonjun in the eye, already embarrassed by the scandal. And trauma dumping on him—she was high on his pastries. Nonetheless, she caught him grinning a few times and nodding his head to his team, a feeling of victory and adrenaline took over her, and she slowly got comfortable by the end of the presentation.

Followed by a few applauses, Yeonjun's team then turned to speak in whispers about their opinions. His assistant—Hueningkai, she read his name tag— was rather enthusiastic in sharing his ideas. Among his colleagues, Yeonjun shined in a different light, he was considering every suggestion, and also keeping his demeanor as the CEO. But Hyemi noticed how little he smiled unlike when he was with them, always had an annoying smirk or that bright smile blinding her.

He cleared his throat and spoke up, "We all love this theme. I don't think anything else can top this," his eyes danced from Hyemi to Taehyun, "Let's close the deal shall we, brother?" the grin was back.

Taehyun smiled genuinely and stamped in his signature and the files crossed across the room. Yeonjun's hand lingered over the page. He looked up to him, "One more condition."

The audible sighs from the interns could be heard. Hyemi tried not to lose her balance with those heels and hoped for the deal to go smoothly. Her first client as a team leader. She felt giddy thinking about this. But with her potential media fantasized fiance, it was going to be crazy.

"We will have a trial trip to the venues!"

As the condition set down, Minji broke into a slow awkward laugh, "Oh you mean a business trip,"

"Yes! In that period clients can come for a tour too. It'll be easier for us also instead of going there every other day," Hueningkai joined in with his ecstatic voice—this was definitely his idea by how pleased he seemed.

"How do you feel about this, Team Leader Kang Hyemi?" Taehyun tossed the question over to her. The title rather felt like a crown and different than always being called 'director Kang'. She smiled and nodded.

Yeonjun stamped his signature. As the two CEO's shook hands and posed for a little PR article to be posted and clear off the ongoing scandal, it was a little beginning to reaching another agreement. They might deny it as much as they want, but the universe was surely leading them to one fate.

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"Was I too obvious?" Yejin whispered closing the door behind her.

Taehyun walked over to the couch and threw open his coat. "You looked like you had constipation," he remarked. "At this rate, she'll catch us,"

Yejin groaned and sank onto the couch. "Why are we hiding it from her?"

"She'll keep spectating us," he says and then a smirk takes over, "And isn't it more thrilling to be dating in secret," he whispers walking closer and placing his hands on either side of her shoulder.

Yejin rolls her eyes, her fingers grazing his jaw slightly, "She'll kill us the day she finds out,"

"It has not even been a day. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about you," he leaned closer placing a peck on her cheek.

"Yejin are you in—" Hyemi bursts into the room to find Taehyun lying on the floor and Hyemi dangling on the armrest of the couch. "What the heck are you two doing?" 

೯⠀⁺ ⠀ 𖥻 06 ⠀ᰋ as always don't forget to vote and leave down comments to show ur support!! I know the chapters are getting short but imma feed yall as much as i can huhuu