You're Different...

The crowd hushed down upon hearing their previous CEO's words. Everyone whispered to each other, stunned by his speech. Only then they realised who was Rose Smith.

"Gosh! So she is Queenie's owner?"

"No wonder I felt like I have seen her before. I saw her when I accompanied my sister for her wedding planning. That's her alright."

"Talking about the wedding planner, you should try to get her service. It was fantastic!" another girl exclaimed excitedly. All those around her looked at her interestedly.

"Oh well, my brother and his wife used her service to plan their dreamy wedding a month ago. When I said dreamy wedding, you should know what I meant by it. It was really dreamy that I would grab a man and married at that point!" she mumbled dreamily.

"So what? She's still young to bring our company forward." The black-dressed lady fumed, dissatisfied. The rest looked askance at her for the second time that night. "Mark my word, she will fail us all." She added and gulped down her wine while watching Rose went around and greeting everyone. The way she talked, the way she smiled, the way she chuckled... Argh! It was totally irked her, especially seeing the dashing male God next to her.

"Forget about that. The real question here is, why does Jude Townshend appeared at our company gathering tonight?" a male employee questioned in bewilderment. All of them exchanged glances.

"Could it be that the rumours about them true?"

On the other side of the venue, the reporters swarmed to the pair as they were moved around to greet those present.

"Miss Smith, can you tell us if the rumours that went around before is true?" Rose arched her left brow in a perfect curve and her smile blossomed like a sun-touched flower that caused the reporters to be stunned silly and gaped. Who would have thought that newly appointed CEO of Smith Corporation to be so breathtakingly attractive. Jude who realised the way the reporters and the men on the venue looked at his darling swiftly wrapped his hand on her slender waist, staking his claim over the beauty.

"Part of it true part of it –" she glanced at Jude next to her. "Well, let's just say we are in a process to get to know each other." She answered. Then reporters turned to Jude and asked him "Mr Townshend, what about you? What do you think of the newly appointed CEO of Smith Corporation?"

"Well, she's smart. Definitely a beauty with a brain. I believe she can be the most successful lady CEO in the business world."

"Do you mind to comment about the rumours between the two of you, Mr Townshend? It had been days go in a circle and we believe that there might be more to it." The reporter asked him.

"I respect her and her decision. If fate has it, then, I'll be honoured to have her as my better half." He replied, half-joking, half meant it. Rose chuckled while she nudged him slightly and this caught sight of the reporters and they swiftly captured a few of their interactions.

"Well then, Mr Townshend. I'll be waiting for your ring," she jokingly told him and smiled flirtatiously at him. Jude could feel his adrenaline rushed to all his body and he was practically on the verge of needing to wrapped her in his arms and kissed her hard, right there and then so that other men could forget about their intention to woo her.

"Miss Smith sure knows how to liven up the atmosphere," the reporters commented while took the chance to capture few more of her photos.

"Then, may we have the courtesy to ask for some pose from you? Who knows fate might really have it the two of you will indeed become a lawful couple. We can see the chemistry between the two of you." One of the reporters spoke and looked expectantly at them. Rose stunned. Uh, chemistry? What chemistry? She glanced at Jude who was all smiles. She then relented and posed some photos with Jude by her side.

"Gosh! Look at them. They are a match made in heaven!" the pink dresses lady exclaimed excitedly while the rest looked on.

"You right. Hey, imagine that if the two of them got married, what might happen to our company?"

"What do you mean? Townshend and Smith are focusing on different prospects. At most, we will be a partner in certain areas." The male employee answered.

"Rose, meet Miss Katherine. She is one of our Financial Directors." Mr James introduced Miss Katherine. Rose shook hands with her and smiled politely.

"Hello. You are so beautiful tonight." She said. Rose was dumbstruck when she heard her voice. Why was it so familiar? She quickly shook off the weird thoughts that suddenly gushed into her head. The voice... I've heard it somewhere. Uh... Maybe I'm just overthinking. She shrugged.

"Thanks. You too." She talked for a while with a few more of the directors, to get to know them as part of the formality. She glanced around her and spotted Jude with his wine glass, talked to other gentlemen. She didn't know why but she felt so contented by looking at him. It felt so – complete.

She recalled back the earlier scenes when she posed for the reporters and how Jude looked at her. Ah... the feeling of being love was definitely marvellous. She knew he really meant it, but she was scared. God! Please guide me... she prayed.

"Miss CEO, may I ask?" she was snapped back into the reality and looked at Paul who stood next to her.

"What is it, Paul? And please don't call me Miss CEO next time. Miss will do. " She reminded him.

"Sure." He paused and glanced at his lady boss. "what is your plan for tomorrow?" he asked.

"I'm going to my gallery first thing in the morning. And be back to the company after lunch. I need to settle one of my client's request. Anything important for tomorrow?" she asked him back.

"So far no. Alright, then Miss. Please excuse me." He then scurried away. Rose eyed his weird behaviour and shrugged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometime later...

Rose opened the door to her penthouse while singing some random songs that made Jude frowned. He was afraid she might wake her neighbours if she sang too loud. She flirtatiously glanced at the frowning Jude and tugged his sleeve.

"Don't you want to come in?" She asked him with a pouted lips. Jude didn't know whether to laugh or to just get mad with her at the moment, seeing her being so recklessly. Without answering her, Jude simply swept her up in his arms and carried her into the house. Rose snuggled into his embrace and inhaled his scent that made her nerves relaxed and calming her senses. Oh, she might have a little too much wine during the company gathering, but it doesn't matter. What's matter most was, the man in front of her.

"Oh, I think we need to have another round of wine, what say you?" she didn't wait for his answer and scurried away to her minibar. She gestured to him to follow her to the balcony. Her cheeks were already flushed, yet she still had the gut to have another round of wine? Jude pinched his forehead, feeling helpless looking at the way she was. It was lucky that they were at home. Or else, he really didn't know how to help her.

The wind grazing her exposed skin sending a chill down her spine despite a large amount of wine that she had consumed earlier. Looking at how she shivered in cold, Jude hugged her from behind before he sighed.

"It's late. Go, sleep." He whispered to her ear. Rose tilted her head and chuckled. She pinched his cheeks with her slender fingers and looking the way he grimaced, she laughed.

"I'm sorry. Did anyone ever tell you that you are damn dashing, handsome and, oh masculine man?" she placed her hands on his shoulders and inched closer to his lips, inhaled the same air as his. "And your lips are damn sexy that I couldn't help but to look at it and imagine to kiss it," she didn't know each word that came out of her lips caused turbulence within his being. His lips curved upward before he whispered, "do you want to have a taste?"

Instead of answering him, Rose looked at him with her dreamy eyes, gulped her saliva before she abruptly turned away and drank her wine in one go.

"Anyway, let's chat. Shall we?" she smiled at him and sat with her legs stretched on the floor while her two hands support her as she leaned backwards, watching the starry skies. The scene was beautiful that Jude didn't want to let go of the chance and sneakily took a few pictures of hers and sent the instruction to Tony before he settled down next to her.

"Do all men the same? I mean they always have this kind of look whenever I came in contact with them. It's so disgusting." She muttered all of sudden. Jude who listened to her, stunned. He blinked his eyes, feeling taken aback, not slightly, but a lot with the accusation made by her. His lips literally became a thin line.

But before he could refute, Rose had already flipped over and landed on top of him. "But you're different. I like you. I like the way you smile. I like the way you talk. I like the way you moved. I simply like you. What do you think of me? I mean what is your motive to come closer to me? Is it because of me? Or is it because of the Smith's vast assets? Or is it because of my body?" she chuckled after she mentioned body.

"Ah... most men have the same thinking anyway. To get the body. Well, I get that. Do you know that I used to label as sex bomb back in high school? I think it was a huge disgrace to my dignity." This time her voice sounded so melancholic that it clenched Jude's heart. No wonder she was so innocent. She had gone through hell. Jude put his hands around her waist, gazed into her hazel brown eyes.

"I love you for who you are, not for what you are. You need to remember that," he said solemnly.

"Then, what are we now? Friend with benefits?" Jude was aghast with her perception of their relation. Goodness! What friend with benefits. Goodness dear...

"Does friend know how each other taste?" he asked her back. Rose bit her lower lip flirtatiously and teased him, "That's what friend with benefits are for." She kissed him hard before went to his ear and whispered, "you got me hook in a dangerous game, Mr Towshend."