Alessa set the pen down and exhaled, she looked up.

“It’s final then.” Chanyeol said as the other directors followed them, she nodded and leaned back on her seat.

“There will be a lot of press events, for example the ground breaking ceremony and the party scheduled by the mayor’s office.”

“I heard about that, director.” Alessandra faced the Lotte director.

“They will be expecting your attendance then,” Chanyeol said lightly, the people on his side froze, he was joking with the WongShen lady.

Alessa’s secretary looked on, praising the male’s bravery.

“I’ll try to appear then.” Alessa nodded before shrugging, she looked around her. She felt her phone vibrate in her purse, she discreetly took it out.

The other directors started to discuss amongst themselves, the girl turned to her secretary.

“What is this about ShunQi?” She spoke in Mandarin.

“Did something happen, vice president?”

Alessa’s forehead creased and she handed her phone to him, he paused as he read the text.

“Fix it. I already told them that it would not push through.” She said quietly before turning her chair away from him.

“Then, lunch?” Chanyeol spoke to her, Alessa nodded back, she looked at the other executives in the room, she was confused they were all starting to leave.

“Are they heading out first?”

“No, it’s just us. Come on.” Chanyeol stood up from his seat and gestured for him to follow her.

Alessa’s secretary almost fell over, while his boss puffed her cheeks and unwillingly left her seat.

“Really?” Kai was amused as Jaehyun and Lucas continued to talk. The young Samsung heir had spotted the two youngsters having lunch right across his office and he decided to join them.

“I heard from hyung’s assistant, while the other directors tiptoe around her, hyung…hyung talks to her casually, occasionally joking too.” Jaehyun nodded, Lucas paused and grinned to himself.

“He jokes around Alessandra? How is he still breathing?” Kai mused as he leaned back on his seat.

“He must have a special skill then.” Jaehyun nodded back.

“Or something else.” Lucas said to himself, Kai glanced at him.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, hyung. It must be because noona knows that this project is important to our father, that’s why she’s being nice to Chanyeol hyung.” He said smoothly, Kai chuckled.

“Alessandra, nice?”

“I know, it’s a new concept. But it’s possible.” Lucas chuckled as he continued to eat.

“Well, hyung has a way with people, we know that.” Jaehyun murmured.

“Still, Seolah’s back in town. He’s..disturbed by it, talk to your cousin.” Kai said to the younger male, Jaehyun winced.

“Hyung, I don’t want him to marry that girl. Who knows what she’ll do to him?”

“Jaehyun-ah,”

“Just not her, hyung. It can’t be her.”

“I asked the chef to lessen the level of spiciness, I hope you’ll like it.” Chanyeol said as their food arrived.

“Ah, I’m trying to adjust with the food here..again.” She said as she picked up her chopsticks.

“They’re scheduling the ceremony next week, it’s just here in downtown Seoul. What do you think?” He asked as he started to mix his stone bibimbap, Alessa looked around them. They were at a trendy Korean restaurant in the Garusogil area.

“I just messaged Lucas if he could come with me, I mean…some exposure would do him well. I can’t really stay in Korea for a long time.”

“Your family’s in China, of course.” He nodded before eating.

“Actually, no, my parents are in New York. Lucas is here. So, I’m the only one in China.” She corrected him before taking a small sip from her soda. Chanyeol paused, his eyes went to the girl’s ring again.

“And, I really have to ask,” She spoke, Chanyeol met her gaze.

“What?”

“Who told you that I was married?”

Chanyeol almost choked on his food, Alessa unthinkingly pushed her glass of cola to her quickly, he picked up the glass and finished it one go.

I should stop offering my drinks to strangers.

Well, I guess he’s not exactly a stranger.

Was that a ing indirect kiss?

Oh my god, Alessandra, you weren’t raised to be like this!

“Please tell me I didn’t do it again.” He pleaded as he dabbed his lips with a napkin.

“What?”

“I assumed you had a child, and now, you’re~”

“I’m not married, that’s why I couldn’t give an advice on anything.” She said, Chanyeol sighed and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Lucas..Well, Lucas said you were kind of~”

“Wong Yukhei always claims that I’m married to WongShen. Work.” She explained carefully, she was eyeing her glass. She had accidentally chewed on a very spicy piece of beef and she needed soda to calm her tongue.

“Ah,” Now it was Chanyeol’s turn to be flustered.

Alessa drank her water instead.

“I—I really am sorry, I wanted to ask you but it seemed~”

“A little awkward, yes. Can we let it go now?” She asked while wincing, Chanyeol agreed.

“What are friends for, right?” He said as he returned her glass of soda to her.

“Yeah, sure.” Alessa smiled.

“Bro.” Chanyeol finished for her in his usual teasing tone.

Alessa wanted the floor to swallow her up.

“How about I pretend to get cold feet?” Chanyeol spoke as they exited the restaurant.

“On the day of the wedding?” Alessa asked him, he nodded.

“So, you’ll let people around you prepare a lot, use your family’s money, just to waste their efforts after?” She recounted, Chanyeol exhaled and pursed his lips together. Alessa smiled to herself and shook her head.

“Then,” He hummed as they went down the steps, Alessa felt his palm on the small of her back again.

“I tell Seolah that I’m sick and~”

“If that actually will work, tell me so that I can take notes.” She cut him off, now Chanyeol’s pout grew bigger. She chuckled heartily.

“Ya, you’re supposed to be on my side.” He nagged as they walked towards her car.

“Chanyeol, the only way out of this is to actually tell the truth. Tell the elders that you can’t do it. It’s against your..principles or whatever.” She shrugged at him.

“It’s annoying how right you are.” He muttered under his breath, Alessa nodded at him.

“You used to be okay about it, and now you complain. It will be confusing for them too.” She said to him as she took out her car keys.

“I saw her in bed with another man, Alessa.”

She stopped walking abruptly that she almost tripped on the pavement, Chanyeol caught her arm before she could sprain her ankle again.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry.” She blurted out.

“We seem to like apologizing to each other a lot.” He said lightly as he wrapped her arm around his. Alessa mentally panicked.

What are you doing?

Why are you like this?

All chummy and friendly. Blech.

“It..It wasn’t exactly that bad for me, I just…Our engagement was announced to days prior to that incident, and I just..didn’t expect…expect seeing that.”

“Chanyeol, no one really expects for something like that to happen.” She said carefully, he smiled to himself and shook his head.

“It’s complicated, huh?” He glanced at her, Alessa blinked back at him, a little unnerved by the intensity of his gaze.

I’m kind of not your best friend, you know.

“It’s a bit…yeah.” She gave up, he chuckled at her.

“Maybe you’re right, there is no escape.” He said quietly, Alessa chewed on her lower lip and looked at him.

“Can I tell you something?”

He gave her a small nod.

“You asked her out to dinner, right? That other time.”

“I did.”

“And yet, you ditched her last minute, mister Park. That was kind..well, that was really rude of you.”

Chanyeol was stunned, he started to feel cornered.

“You were hiding from her because you couldn’t tell her how you feel about this arrangement. But still, you shouldn’t do that to a lady.” She said to him, Chanyeol bit the insides of his cheeks.

“So, how about you call her again and you two talk.” She suggested as she gently removed her arm from his, they had already reached her car.

“But it’s uncomfortable.” He said to her.

Ya, I put up with you even it gives me stomachaches!

“Then, go let her find you in bed with another woman.” She said to him, Chanyeol flinched.

“Okay, that was harsh. But your point was well made.” He said to her as he opened the car’s door for the girl.

“Anyway, I had fun, thanks for lunch.” She said to him, Chanyeol smiled at her.

“Me too, I might as well follow your advice.”

“What? Don’t!” Alessandra balked, Chanyeol chuckled upon seeing her reaction.

“I didn’t mean the bed part, I’m going to ask her to dinner again.”

“G—Good.” She stuttered, Chanyeol gestured for her to get inside the car.

“See you next week.” He scrunched his nose at her before carefully closing the door. Alessa gave him a small wave before starting the car.

See, that wasn’t so bad.

You survived lunch with him, you’re good.

Alessa leaned back on her seat, she took out her phone to check her schedule and her eyes widened as she realized something.

“Two weeks. Wow, that’s a new record.” She muttered darkly before tossing her phone away from her.

I must be sick. It’s been more than two weeks.

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