Act One Begins

For over three days since we signed the contract, everything went back to the way it was. Soohyun returned to his position as the CEO of Kim Corp and takings back into control. Gray had done a great job of acting as a CEO while Soohyun plays undercover as Byung Joon, without the press even knowing about it. And also, during those three days, Soohyun kept Gray up to speed about the deal made between him and JiU. However, Soohyun isn't the only one becoming the receiving end of his best friend's reaction. JiU also shared her secret about the secret contract with Tiffany. Both their best friends aren't approving such a relationship, but they can't do much about it since it's too late.

Also, through those three days, JiU and Soohyun spent time together to get to know each other, but not the way people might think. They exchanged notes about each other's interests and disinterests to make things more believable when meeting their respective parents. And somewhere along those three days, Soohyun tried to get personal with JiU but was coldly turned down.

"Let's get this straight, Soohyun-ssi," JiU had said in one of those meetings that they had, "We are fake dating, and that's all there is to it. We are merely professionals doing what is necessary to gain both our interests. I have no intentions to go further than that, do you understand?"

"Alright, nothing personal," Soohyun had replied, but that is far off from his real intentions. He wants to get to know this lady first hand, making it very hard for him to do so. A challenge he isn't willing to surrender on the first day. To Soohyun, JiU is a very different and unique woman who bothers him through her antiques and stern character. He finds himself getting attracted to her in those three days spent getting to know her. He looks forward to seeing her for the whole duration of this contract.

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"Just be normal and keep yourself composed," JiU said at the end of the phone call after Soohyun had informed her that he just arrived in front of her Mansion's gate.

"Yes, ma'am," Soohyun said in a soldier-like tone.

Soohyun parked his car at the spot the Mansion's bodyguards had directed him to. Checking himself in the mirror one last time to make sure he is presentable, then grabbing a bouquet of JiU's favorite flowers. Though JiU never agreed to it, Soohyun still chooses to mess with the hornet's nest. It somehow amuses him to see how she will react to the flowers he brought for her.

One of the housemaids opened the door for him and welcomed him in. The maid is a young lady at least a year or two younger than Soohyun. Quite surprised at how young she is, he just smiled and winked at her, making her blush. As the maid leaves to continue her task, Soohyun had the spare time to take a good look around the luxurious Mansion. He nods in approval at the gorgeous interior design and how each color complimented the interior look of the Mansion. While enjoying the scenery, the sound of someone coming down the stairs caught Soohyun's attention. His eyes widen in surprise as Chungha heads down the stairs, and the same look is mirrored by the latter as she exchanges a look with Soohyun.

"Heol, daebak," Soohyun stands with his mouth slightly agape with his finger pointing at the equally shocked Chungha.

"What are you doing here, Oppa?" Chungha rushes to stand in front of Soohyun in a hushed tone.

"The question is," Soohyun counters as he replies in an equally hushed tone, "What are you doing here?"

"I live here, Oppa," Chungha stated as if it was the most common knowledge around.

"Live here?" Soohyun's eyes once more widen as she looks at her, "You're JiU's sister?"

"Yes, I am," Chungha replies with an ever-changing expression as she too realizes something. "Are you here to see my sister?"

"Chungha-yah," a slightly high playful toned voice called out from the second floor.

"Oppa, don't you breathe a word about me to my sister, okay?" Chungha clasps her hands in a pleading motion towards Soohyun, "Please?"

"So, she doesn't know at all?" Soohyun asked, surprised, "It's been a year already."

"I know, but please?" Chungha keeps pleading as the footsteps became louder coming from the second floor.

"Alright, fine," Soohyun agrees as his eyes focus on the beautiful lady coming down the stairs with a simple blue summer dress and hair loose.

"Chungha-yah," JiU kept her playful tone while descending the stairs and fixing her dress, not aware of Soohyun yet.

Soohyun finds her simple getup and playful, very attractive. He never thought that under all that charismatic and intimidating aura is quite a feminine character. Once again, JiU had shown a side of her that Soohyun finds even more attractive as he spends time around her.

With her head still looking on the floor while she tries to tie the bow on her dress, "Chungha-yah, I want you to..." her voice trailed off the moment her eyes met Soohyun's. JiU is quite shocked at first, but she quickly brushed it off as it turns into a big and bright smile.

"Chungha-yah," her tone stays the same, light and playful, as she moves to Soohyun's side to hug his free arm, "This is my boyfriend, Kim Soohyun."

This time, it is Chungha's turn to be surprised beyond reason to see her truth. Her eyes are as wide as an owl's, and her jaw hitting the floor. JiU, who noticed the sudden pause, snapped her fingers in front of Chungha's face.

"Yah..." JiU signaled so Chungha can snap out of it.

"Oh, wow... Mianhe-yo, unnie," Chungha snapped out her brief trance and smiles just like her sister. "Annyeong haseyo!" she bows her head once, "I'm my sister's beautiful little sister, nice to meet you."

She extends her hand to shake with Soohyun's. "Nice to meet you, Chungha-ssi," Soohyun replied in kind, but deep down, finding it weird since this isn't the first time he met her. She had already become a familiar face in the last one year.

"Chungha-yah, why don't you tell eomma, we'll join her soon," JiU requests, "I want to take him to see abeoji."

"Neh, unnie," Chungha nodded almost instantly and beamed, "See you later, Oppa."

Chungha waves goodbye and left the couple by themselves. And as soon as Chungha is out of sight, JiU releases her arms off from Soohyun. Fixing her dress and tucking her hair behind her ear, her once playful look turns into the usual demeanor he's accustomed to seeing for these past few days.

"Ah, there she is," Soohyun says as he hands her the bouquet, "For you."

For a split second, JiU becomes speechless at the gift of her favorite flowers, lilies. "What's this for?" JiU asked in a rather flat tone.

"Well, it's just a simple gesture to make things a little more believable," Soohyun was slightly taken aback at her flat response but chose to ignore it.

"Kamsahamnida," she thanked him in such a formal tone and threw the bouquet on a nearby shelf as she walks on the head. "Please, come with me," JiU didn't even look back to Soohyun and continues ahead.

All Soohyun could do was stare at the flower; he took time to find on a shelf. The small wooden compartment is about Soohyun's belly and located under a big portrait of JiU's family. An elderly couple is sitting on chairs with two beautiful young women standing behind them with their hands placed on each of the couple's shoulders. Soohyun notices the elderly male as he too exudes the charismatic and intimidating features like JiU.

"Like father, like daughter," Soohyun mouths as he looks at the family photo.

JiU clears her throat to grab Soohyun's attention, "Soohyun-ssi?"

"Neh?" Soohyun responds without looking at her since his eyes focused on the portrait.

"Are you done?" JiU's tone starts to change into an urging one.

"Oh... Yeah sure," Soohyun bolted to her side the moment he notices the change.

He follows her as she walks ahead through an art decorated hallway. Paintings upon paintings of a masterpiece graced the walls of the Mansion. Soohyun nods in approval at the taste the family requires for their art. Then JiU stopped in front of the two-door room.

"Behave like we agreed on," JiU looks back at Soohyun, "You're about to meet my father."

Soohyun nods with a smile before JiU knocks on the door. "Come in," an old but stern voice answers from the other side of the door. The two doors opened by themselves to Soohyun's surprise, thinking it was an automatic setting. But it was soon appeased when he sees two men in a set of matching tuxedo holding the door open.