There are still conditions to be ironed out, of course, between the two CEOs. Jeong-Hyeok and Se-ri size each other up, while office life goes on around the walls of the fishbowl. Jeong-Hyeok is the first to speak.
"My interview will only be published after our break-up," he says, crossing his broad arms. His muscles strain against the black cloth of his blazer. This is his trademark CEO pose.
Se-ri eyes him, as if calculating all the ways that this could go wrong. She eventually shrugs.
"We can publish the article after the break-up, but the interviews have to go in before. Five interviews, one for each week of our relationship, one hour each. Take it or leave it."
Jeong-Hyeok sighs. "Fine. You have to meet my parents at some point before we're 'engaged'. Also, there might be a few fundraisers and other events for you to attend."
"Done."
"And there are certain topics you can't ask about in the interview."
"Such as?"
"My brother."
Se-ri meets his gaze for a fraction of a second, and then looks away towards one of his potted plants. Even if she wasn't in media, she would have known the story that had taken up all the headlines four years ago, on a sunny day in May.
It was May 31st, to be exact – the day that Ri Mu-Hyeok, heir to the Vast Group, was killed instantly in a brutal car accident on Jeju Island.
"Fine," Se-ri agrees quietly. "No brother. What other topics?"
"My ex-fiancée, or my love life in general."
Se-ri looks at him desperately. Ah, apparently that's a tough one to stomach.
"I thought you said you weren't like tabloids?" he questions wryly.
"We're not!" she protests, "But, I mean – you have to have some human interest in the story." Ri Jeong-Hyeok just looks at her silently. Se-ri sighs after a few moments.
"I won't ask about it," she sulks. "But if it comes up, it comes up. It won't be off the record."
"Neither of us can tell anyone that our arrangement is fake," he posits next.
"Done. And – all physical affection must be agreed to beforehand. No kissing." She says this last part very deliberately, narrowing her eyebrows at him.
Jeong-Hyeok looks to the side as if he can't believe her and scoffs.
"I kiss like your aged grandmother anyway," he mutters to the wall, "so what's the big deal?"
"What?" questions Se-ri, leaning towards him so that her crystal earrings dangle. Instead of repeating the comment, Jeong-Hyeok just twists his mouth.
"That won't be a problem." he says gruffly. "And, for the record, I have no desire to initiate physical affection with you."
"For the record, neither do I." Se-ri gets up in a huff, signaling that the meeting is over.
Wasn't she the one who had suggested that physical contact clause? Why does she seem annoyed? Jeong-Hyeok sighs and gets up, deciding that he's had enough of women for one day.
***
About an hour later, Se-ri alights out of her red Range Rover in front of the four-story yellow brick building which houses the offices of Se-ri's Choice.
Several food shops line the ground floor of the building, giving off mouth-watering smells of street food – Tteokbokki and steamed pork buns and more. The aromas regularly tempt her to eat lunch much earlier than she's used to.
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Fanfiction"Jeong-Hyeok," his father says in a tired voice, "This is how it's going to be. The general shareholder meeting is in five weeks from now. If you are not firmly engaged by then - I am going to recommend that the board make someone else the Chairman...
