Chapter 9: Daniel Cho's Sex Appeal

The next day.

Samantha lives in an exclusive residential area called Sapphire Gardens. She had called her best friend Hannah over to help her decide what she should do next.

"You're not kidding me, are you?" Hannah exclaimed after Samantha told her about Daniel Cho.

"C'mon Han, why would I make up a story like this? I'm not that bored. Am I that unbelievable?"

"I didn't say that, S! It's just... It's Daniel Cho! It's Daniel freakin' Cho!"

"Wow, you sure are excited about this." Samantha sneered playfully as she finished her warm cocoa.

"Ugh, Hello? Where have you been living all your life? It seems like you aren't aware how big of a deal this is, Samantha!"

"What? I don't see why that is," she said as she stood up and placed the mug on the coffee table. "Sure he's a Cho. Their family's famous and rich but so what? It's not like I'm in need of money, Han."

"S! It's not just because he's rich. Although he's filthy rich, by the way!" Rolling her eyes at her best friend's response, she continued, "He's the most eligible bachelor! Every woman in City M wants a piece of him, but he's so unreachable and it makes the ladies want him even more!"

"That's such an exaggeration, Hannah."

"I'm not! Haven't you been reading the news? Daniel didn't have any rumored girlfriends ever since he became the CEO five years ago. Although he's popular, there isn't really a lot of personal information about him online.

"He doesn't like to be involved in any scandals, he is very influential but he's a private person.

"And S, he chose to date you! How special is that? You're the only exception among thousands of women who are dying to get near him. He offers himself to you in a silver platter and yet you still have to consider?

"Sorry to say this, but you even dated Andrew who's... who's... a total jerk. And this is Daniel effin Cho we're talking about!"

Considering everything that her best friend said, she pondered to herself, 'Am being a coward? Clearly, he's a big catch. Aren't I supposed to be jumping for joy?'

After thinking about it, she nodded. "Okay, let's say I'm a little more convinced by what you have just said... Isn't this just an agreement? He even prepared this paper. Isn't this a bit too, businessy? Why would I want that?"

"What's wrong with that? It's not like you're bargaining for money or something." Hannah sat beside Samantha and added, "Also, he said it himself that it's not a contract. It's just a list of things that the two of you should agree on. You can compromise with him if you have conditions too. It's pretty much just like a normal relationship, S."

"How is it like a normal relationship? You don't go and just sign a contract or an agreement on a paper when you want to date someone. It's just bizarre, it feels like work." She recalled how she felt about it yesterday as she told herself that she was okay with him being transparent like this. But after sleeping on it and actually seeing the paper in her hand, she had to think twice.

"Okay. How shall I say it to make you understand? Gosh, I thought you were the smart one between us two, why do I feel like I'm way smarter than you now?"

Samantha threw a pillow at Hannah, "Screw you! Maybe just a tad bit." she and Hannah guffawed.

"Think about it like this... When you agree to date someone... although you don't proactively say some ground rules, it's like common knowledge that you can and can't do things while you're dating, right?"

Samantha nodded in response and Hannah continued, "Of course, I'm sure that there are others who want to be clear about it so they would verbally agree on things.

"Now, Daniel Cho gave you this paper just so that both you and him are much clearer on things before you agree to date each other since you are not really starting your relationship like usual couples do.

"You'll basically start with getting to know each other. But since it involves both your moms, it's better to be crystal clear about what each party wants. So what better way than to write it on paper?" Hannah explained like her life depended on it.

Samantha sighed when she understood what Hannah was trying to say. "I guess so."

"Come on, be more enthusiastic about it. Don't you find him attractive at all?"

"Well yeah... he does look attractive."

Hannah gave her a face that said, 'Yeah, right. I'm sure your insides twisted upon seeing him.'

"Ugh! Don't look at me like that. Fine, he's such a looker, okay?"

"What a generic thing to say. I don't believe you. The man is oozing with sex appeal, I'm sure just hearing his voice would make you cream your panties." Hannah smirked.

"He's gorgeous! He's a beautiful man!" Samantha exclaimed with her hands in the air, "How is that even possible for him to exist in the mortal world?"

Samantha blushed deep red when she recalled what happened last night when Daniel Cho whispered in her ear. She looked like a tomato — she could explode any minute now.

Hannah gaped seeing Samantha's expression, "Oh my! What is that blush, Samantha Kim? Did something happen? You have got to tell me!"

"What? No! Stop it okay? Jeez!" Samantha complained while touching her face with both hands.

Hannah chortled at her friend's reaction, it is the first time that she had seen her so flushed like this.

...

Later that evening, Samantha was preparing to go to bed when she received a text message.

Daniel: [ Have you decided yet? ]

Samantha: [ Working on it. ]

Daniel: [ Do you find me repulsive? ]

Samantha: [ What? No! Of course not. ]

Daniel: [ Then why are you having such a hard time deciding? ]

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Samantha: [ I just want to be sure of my actions. ]

Daniel: [ Nothing is sure in life. Sometimes, you have to go through the unknown to see the beauty of it. ]

Samantha pondered upon Daniel's last message and reminisced that night at the gazebo. And while her thoughts ran about, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

...

The next day at Cho Corporation's meeting room.

The room's temperature had dropped a few degrees when Daniel was not satisfied with his employee's performance. "Is this all you got? Am I paying all of you to produce such subpar results?" he yelled.

One brave soul attempted to reason, "President, with all due respect. We've been pulling all-nighters already and juggling between projects but-"

"Is that an excuse? Are you saying that I'm making you do unnecessary overtime work?"

"No, sir... I didn't mean to-"

"First, I'm not preventing you to do overtime work but I'm not encouraging you either. You are responsible for your own time.

"Second, opportunities are given to you. We support you to further and broaden your knowledge so that you can do better at your jobs and the company rewards your efforts and achievements.

"Lastly, I refuse to believe that my people lack skill! Now, revise what needs to be revised and be ready to present it again by the end of the week."

Everyone in the meeting room fell silent and guilty, perhaps they haven't done their best and they feel bad for making the president angry because of their inefficiency.

The silence in the meeting room was interrupted by the ringing of Daniel's phone.

Everyone turned to look at him, his eyes were closed as he was trying to calm himself. After a few moments, he glanced at his phone and saw the caller ID. His gaze suddenly turned gentle making everyone curious what made his expression change.

Picking up his phone, Daniel answered with a kind voice, "Hello~"

"Hi... Daniel.. um... Are you busy? Sorry for calling so suddenly. I hope I didn't disturb you," Samantha spoke on the other line.

Hearing her voice, the anger died down and he was feeling so much better. "It's okay, you didn't. I wasn't doing anything important."

Daniel's employees looked at each other when they hear their boss' answer. They all had the same expression in their face and shared the same thought, 'We.. aren't? But.. isn't this top priority?'

"I see. I was wondering if I could meet with you... if you are free? Are you in your office?"

Feeling the gaze of the people in the meeting room, he did not want the phone call to end so he tried to control the smile that was about to form on his face but the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly — just enough for them to notice, "Yes, I am. Sure, I'm free this afternoon. Where are you? I'll come to pick you up."

'Did the boss just smile?' Their eyes grew wider.

"It's okay, I'll go to you. I'll probably arrive in twenty," she replied.

"All right. I'll send my assistant to meet you downstairs." When the call ended, Daniel turned to Assistant Ahn, "Cancel all my meetings this afternoon until further notice."

"Yes, boss."

He then turned to everyone in the room, a cold expression replaced his previous one "That's all for today. You are all dismissed." he said coldly before he hurriedly left the room.

Everyone left behind were too dumbfounded by what they've witnessed. "I wonder who called the boss, that person seemed important. Did you see that he suddenly went from mad to gentle in a heartbeat? He even cleared his schedule." one of them said.

"Yeah, do you think it was his girlfriend? I've never seen the boss talk to anyone like that, not even to-" the employee didn't finish his sentence but they all looked at Director Tan.

Leah felt uncomfortable, she didn't like how caring Daniel sounded to the caller. Does he really have a girlfriend? Her face turned sour.

...

From her office, Samantha rode a taxi going to Cho Corporation as she was too lazy to drive that day and just left her car at home. Wearing boyfriend jeans, white Stan Smith and a plain black shirt, she looked very casual. And like always, she wore black sunnies and a face mask to cover her face as she didn't want people to gossip if they would recognize her. Especially that she going to look for Daniel Cho.

When she arrived at the company, she was ushered by Assistant Ahn and was able to smoothly enter Daniel's office. There were some people who noticed her presence and they were very curious who was visiting the president, mainly because she looked kind of plain and mysterious.

*knock knock*

"Come in."

Samantha entered Daniel's office and he gestured for her to sit on the sofa.

Removing her sunglasses and facemask, she placed it on the table before facing him to talk. He was pleased to see the face beneath the disguise.

"Do you want something? Coffee maybe?"

Samantha shook her head, "No, thanks. I'm good."

"So what brings you here, Samantha? Are you here to tell me your decision?"

"Yes... I agree to your proposal, let's date."

Smiling at her answer, he was happy to hear that she wanted to give it a try.. But before he could reply, she added, "But I have conditions."

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