When Two Men Met

"Hello. I'm Director Mike and this is my CEO, Miss Rose Smith," Mike introduced their client, Mr Park Ji Myung to Rose. Mr Park Ji Myung stood and bowed slightly to her and she too bowed her head in respect. The way she carried herself made her gained a favourable impression from the Korean tycoon.

" Nice to see you, " she greeted and smiled diplomatically, showing off her powerful aura as a CEO that should not be underestimated.

"Nice to see you too. Please, sit," Mr Park gently gestured her to take a seat across him as Mike pulled a chair for her to sit. After she thanked them, they began their business discussion. The discussion between them went so smooth that they came to the final decision to sign the contract on the next day. Once they had finalised everything, the two CEO shook their hands, a sign of agreement and mutual respect.

"I've yet to see a young lady as knowledgeable as you in a field of business constructs. You are sure born a leader and will be successful in the near future," Mr Park complimented her and gave her a toast. Rose smirked.

"You are too generous with your compliment, Mr Park. I still have lots to learn and master in this field." She answered him humbly and took a sip of her wine. Mike who listened to them, smiled.

"I've told you before, Mr Park, my CEO indeed is a remarkable businesswoman. You will be very pleased with the outcome when everything is done." He chimed in.

After a while, Mr Park Ji Myung excused himself, leaving the two of them alone.

Rose sighed in relief. At least the project that she really hope to be able to execute already in her grasp. She turned to Mike next to her, beaming contently.

"Thank you for the wonderful proposal that you have provided. I guess it won't be wrong if we could have our late lunch here. What say you?" Mike was taken aback slightly with her sudden invitation to have a late lunch together.

"I don't see why not," he agreed readily with her while poured some wine into her wine glass and himself as well. Rose gestured to a waitress who stood not far away from them and placed her orders as well Mike's.

"How long have you been with Smith Corporation?" she asked him while twirled her wine glass. Mike smirked before reaching out for his wine glass while Rose eyed his every little action. She could feel something was off with his characteristics but she couldn't put her finger on it. She quickly shook off her thoughts and focused on the man in front of her.

"Six years ago. I was a special recruit from your father back then." He replied nonchalantly. He leisurely sipped his wine. Rose had her brow raised into an arch. She had heard about the special recruit but never gave it a serious thought, hence, she didn't know that he was the special recruitment. Then the two of them having their late lunch in harmony as they talked some other stuff from time to time.

"Where are we going after this?" Mike asked her as he opened the car door for her. Once she settled in the car, she answered, "Please drop me at the Spring Lake." Mike nodded his head and closed the door before he went to the other side and climbed into the driver's seat.

Spring Lake.

Rose and Mike walked side by side, strolling by the lakeside, leisurely. Rose inhaled deeply the fresh air surrounded her and slowly let it out. At the least, she felt at ease by coming close to nature. There were not so many people and those who came were couples, be it married or the unmarried. It was such a feast to the eyes looking at them, professing their feelings and whatnot. Rose smiled foolishly watching them without realising a pair of sharp eyes watching her expression by her side.

Up close, Rose was no different from the other girls. From the way she smiled foolishly as if she was in love was the evidence. She had those dreamy eyes and her cheeks inadvertently tinted with pink blushes whenever she watched a few couples openly displaying their affections that made her appeared extra beautiful and his heart thumping ever so loud that he practically could hear his own heartbeat. Was that why Jude Townshend fall for this young lady? He frowned when he thought of Jude Townshend. The bastard! He has unknowingly clenched his fists.

When they reached to a bench that facing the azure blue lake, Rose casually took a seat and patted the empty space next to her to invite Mike to have a seat as well which Mike gladly to comply.

"Do you know that I love to come here whenever I feel suffocated sitting in the big office," she mumbled softly as she looked up to the vast blue sky with a content smile on her face.

To be honest, when she was smiling, she was thinking of Jude Townshend. Ah... It's has been days since the last time I saw him. Did he really understand what I'm thinking at that moment? Jude... Jude... If only he was the one who accompanied her here, right now, right at the moment. Will they too, kissing under the open clear blue sky? Unfortunately, the man next to her right now wasn't Jude Townshend. She sighed internally.

"Anyway, do you have a girlfriend, Director Mike?" she suddenly questioned him and this totally caught him off guard. He looked at his lady boss and began to curious. As he recalled her conversation with Paul earlier that day, she was asking the same question too. What was her problem? Wasn't she dating Jude Townshend as the rumour claimed it to be? Then what was this question?

Mike sighed before he cleared his throat and glanced at the young lady next to him. "No one would like to be my girlfriend," he answered. Rose burst into a laugh, shaking her head helplessly.

"No way! You are such a gentleman, suave and based on your appearance alone should get you tons and tons of lady if not hundreds of them!" she exclaimed. Mike scoffed.

"What? Am I wrong Director Mike?" she questioned him with her brow arched upward.

"My dear Miss CEO. You are wrong."

"Oh... Tell me, where did I get it wrong?" she had a playful grin on her face that sparked his heart into life. He who had never had close contact with a lady felt his heart was racing frantically as if he was just finishing a hundred-metres run. He was momentarily stunned before he regained his senses.

"Most of the ladies prefer to swarm to a man with everything: looks and wealth. Like Jude Townshend." He deliberately emphasised on Jude Townshend's name.

"Really? But still, I find you're interesting. You know, you have your own charms. Maybe someday you'll find your dream girl," she casually patted on his shoulder as if they were close friends. She then stood and walked towards the edge of the lake. She bent a little to pick up a stone before threw it into the water that caused ripples on the surface.

Mike who watched her was deeply mesmerised by her curves. He could see her slender waist and the swell of her hips that he began to have wild thoughts in his brain. While he was in his daze, suddenly a man charged towards the oblivious Rose and shove her into the lake before he ran away with her handbag in his hand.

Mike cursed aloud. He didn't think twice and jumped into the lake to save Rose. He grabbed hold her waist from her back and dragged her to the edge of the lake. Both of them panted and wet. Rose inhaled deeply and exhaled through her soft red-lips, still shocking with the event just transpired.

"Are you okay?" he asked her with his hand on her shoulders. Rose could only nod her head in a daze. Damn! What had just happened?

She looked at her current sorry state and instinctively covered her chest with both her hands. Damn! Her lacy black bra was so obvious and even her swell of breast. Her hair was dishevelled. Luckily she was wearing her black skirt that day, or else, she couldn't imagine what would be the worst case.

Mike who had noticed her little black lacy bra was in a daze. It was obviously outlined underneath her wet chiffon blouse that made his ears tinted with red. He quickly took off his drenched blazer and put it on top of her fully drenched blouse. Damn! It was so enticing that he could feel his groin throbbed. He cursed inwardly for the sudden psychological assault from his lady boss.

"I think we need to go to the police and lodge a report." Rose stammered. She was a bit embarrassed due to her sorry state. "He took my handbag and my mobile phone is in there," She added.

Mike took a deep breath, trying hard to calm down his inner beast. What is wrong with him? It was not like he has never seen a naked woman before. But the lady in front of him right now indeed tempting and enticing. Her alluring body curves carved right into his head that he found it hard to resist to fantasized her. Damn! Damn! Damn! He cursed over and over inwardly.

Rose who was oblivious to his peculiar gaze starting to walk away. She hugged her body tightly until she could felt warm arms around her. She looked up and met the familiar gaze. She blinked her eyes numerous times before spread wide her arms and hugged the man.

Jude was frowned upon looking at the way she was earlier and how his expression darkened when he saw a man looked at her in a way only men knew the meaning of those gazes. He was about to lecture her but when she wrapped her arms around his waist, his jealousy diminished into nothingness.

"I missed you," her voice shook. Jude sighed. He gently planted a kiss on her forehead.

"What happened? Why did you wet all over?" He worriedly asked her.

"Uh, someone pushed me into the lake and he got my handbag."She muttered softly.

She glanced at him and questioned him, "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you." Simple and direct. He then turned to the man that walked towards them. His brow furrowed.

"Mike Willis." his voice was not friendly and Rose noticed it. She curiously looked at him. Mike chuckled.

"Long time no see, Captain Jude Townshend," he acknowledged him.