The blind date

The flaming sun of the noon sky was shooting its ray right on my body. I fixed my composure and tilted my head upwards to face the sky as I squeezed my eyes shut to let out a deep breath,

"Irene, what're you doing? These are useless now. I need to live a life for myself so let's focus on the present situation and escape from all these." That was my prime purpose from the beginning.

I straightened my head and opened my eyes to see the empty black road, "That's right! There's no one." I said as I slicked back my hair and put it in a bun. Some hair strands slid down my nape as I walked towards my destination.

__________

I pulled the door of the instructed restaurant to see Its fancy decor inside. My Lavender cocktail dress and long hair fluttered as I walked inside with my chin up. I glimpsed at the corner to a man waiting for someone in a grey suit under the three lily lamps and stepped towards him.

"Did I make you wait long?"

"Of c- Ms Irene?"

Hearing the voice, I looked at him to see Noah staring at me with his slacked jaw.

"Team leader?" My mind froze to calculate the situation as I saw him reacting the same way as me.

Noah spoke first to break the silence and awkward situation between us, "So...You're the director's daughter?

"Sadly, yes. May I ask why you're on a blind date?"

"For the same reason you did." He looked at me while spinning his wine glass.

"Typical, huh?" Giving a slight smirk, I closed my eyes to push back my hair strands behind my ear.

"Can I know why you hate your father that much?"

"Does it seem that way?" I squinted my eyes to see him shrugging at my question.

"I don't hate him...you could say that I hold a grudge against him."

"I see. I can feel you. You see, your ex b-CEO Marc....He's my biological cousin."

I glanced at him while raising my brows, thinking about whatever the minced noodles happening in this mixed-up connection.

"I'm kind of jealous of him since my dad adopted him after uncle died and he was always in the spotlight. I'm their son, yet I was being ignored." His golden lashes drooped as he talked in a low voice with that slight smile. Slamming on the table, I leaned closer to him, "Let's drink to our heart's content today. What do you say, my buddy?"

He flinched as his jade-like green eyes widened from my sudden response.

He shook his head and grinned, "Let's do it!"

After a couple of shots, my stomach felt as if it was inflamed but that couldn't stop me. I reached out for another bottle but Noah's hand grabbed me, "I should've known you're not a drinker. Stop Irene!"

"Let go! I'm strong, it's nothing but child's play." Shoving his hand away, I kept gulping the bottle.

"Hey!... Sigh....Fine, have it your way." He took another bottle and finished it to lean towards me,

"...Can I call or text you sometimes, Irene?"

"Sure, do whatever you want. We're buddies anyway." I grabbed his arm, the one holding a soju bottle and clanged with mine.

"Buddies? Well....I don't know about that." He mumbled calmly, and I wasn't in my right mind to ask what he meant.

__________

I felt a large and firm hand on my forehead and cheeks. The smell of cologne made me open my eyes, but everything seemed unclear as my mind was fuzzy. It appeared I was in someone's arms as I felt like being carried inside a car.

His smell was comforting, and at the same time, it calmed me down.

Before I could know more, my mind went blank.

Being asleep for ten hours, I opened my eyes the next morning to see myself covered with a blanket in my room.

"Gasp...How did I get home last night?" I sprang up and checked my phone to see Noah's text, "Are you feeling okay now?"

"Ahh...So Noah brought me home. How embarrassing! He had to see the messy side of me. Who knows what I did yesterday." I rubbed my forehead with my fingers with guilt.

"I'll apologize to him tomorrow." I slipped out of bed to wash out both dirt and anxiety from myself.

"So...How was your blind date, Ms Irene?" As soon as we were alone in the elevator, I heard the CEO asking me this question as I stared at his wide back from behind.

"Sir, I'd prefer it if you don't ask me any personal questions!" Clenching the papers I was holding, I spoke in my cold voice.

"Hmm...Is that so? But I don't like my questions getting ignored." He glared at me with his brown eyes from his right shoulder.

"It Went well... The person was better than expected. If it continues, we might have something in near future!" I shifted my gaze to the elevator number to check which floor that was.

"I see...But Ms Irene, no one can predict what will happen in future, can we?" He walked out of the elevator with that provoking smirk once again!

I silently walked behind him like an obedient secretary.

In the middle of the hallway, we crossed paths with Noah as he stopped to greet me, "Good morning, Ms Irene."

I smiled softly and greeted him back.

"Does team leader Noah has too many times on his hand?" Ethan coldly glared at Noah as Noah frowned at him, "I get you're the CEO. That doesn't give you the right to disrespect your seniors, sir." An unsettling atmosphere encircled the hallway as I stood in the middle of them, feeling my hands getting sweaty.

"Team leader! I was looking for you," I swung my head in utmost respect to see Sophia coming our way. Sophia halted seeing him there,

"Ah! Good morning, CEO Marc."

Ethan only nodded and walked towards his office when I tagged along.

Just after entering his office, like the speed of lightning, I felt myself getting slammed by the wall as I squeezed my eyes shut from shock.

"What is your relationship with Noah?"

I opened my eyes to see myself trapped between Ethan's arms as he closed the door with his foot.

"W-what do you mean, sir? Besides, this is none of your concern. Will you please move?" I grabbed one of his arms to shove him away, but he was far stronger than me.

"Irene, I think I said just a while ago, I don't like my questions getting ignored." He leaned closer to me, and I got the familiar feeling.

"Your cologne...!" A mild breeze went by, spreading that smell into the air as I looked at his eyes that were glaring at me,

"Was it you that night...Ethan?"