After I saw my mother—mostly because of her stubbornness—I couldn't bring myself to decline and after thinking all night—since sleep seemed to be offended by me—I don't have a choice but to think of a way.
Since now I knew why Alina wanted to marry—stay married to me?— I, for a moment, thought of getting along with that.
I didn't actually care about love, so if a loveless marriage was to give me recognition, then I would have done that in a heartbeat. That was how I used to think about marriage until I met Angelica.
But now that it got spoiled, I started to have that thought again and thought of Alina's offer.
But that didn't last long.
I looked at Alina, who, after hearing me, frowned for a moment without giving me an answer and then—as if understood of what I wanted to say—smiled.
"Why? Am I not allowed to?"
She asked instead, with her serious voice starting to become softer.
"Yes, you are..." I replied, maintaining my own expression and not trying to be swayed by her.
"...but you are also the Ceo of our company, so you don't need to go by yourself, as there are many hired employees for that."
After thinking about what happened last time, I felt like I gave in a little too easily. Maybe if I had pressed further, then I might have been able to shorten the days or at least set a time frame for her to use her days in.
"I want to check our lab processing myself."
A happy smile was playing on her lips now. Before, something was telling me that she wanted to tag along just to torment me, but that...also made sense.
"At least for the first time, and while I am there...."
As she said that, she started to stand up.
'Please don't stand up.'
I secretly plead, but when did she ever do as I wished? And much to my expectations, she started walking towards me.
"...you should introduce them to their new boss."
Me?
That was the problem actually. I didn't care if she were to go to lab or to hell, but why did I have to accompany her?
"Why me?"
I asked while readying myself to back away if she were to do something.
"Why not you?"
But she didn't do such a thing and just stood in front of me...for now.
"I have already given that task to someone else."
Without avoiding her warm gaze, I said in my own serious voice. She stood there for a moment and then replied with her own question.
"And?"
We were both standing now, again, and she was standing too close to me, not minding my own personal space, but if she stood up because I too was, then she should have asked me to sit—that was how things normally happened, right?
"They will introduce them to their new boss."
She let out a laugh. I didn't know what she found funny to make her laugh, but her look changed. And I had a bad feeling about that.
"And why would I want someone else if I can have my own wife?"
Somehow, her smile or her words didn't feel as uncomfortable as they did before. Maybe it was touch?
Anyway, I frowned at that. She wasn't the one to waste her time—though it didn't seem to work when I—her wife—was involved, and because of how meticulous she was, she probably wanted to inspect the material for herself because of that. But was she?
"Will it be our second day?"
This might also be a possibility, like if she had someone there she wanted to show—well, me off.
"No,"
But she denied it, and what she said next was as outrageous as my decision to marry her.
"But I am thinking of having a date after."
My face crunched up as the word "date" fell into my ears.
And why would I go on a date with her? As if she hadn't taken much of my time as it was.
"You seriously have a way to turn the mood off."
Huh?
She smiled and then covered her face up with a palm, and also her voice seemed different. I was familiar with that voice. Whenever I declined someone else's confession, they sounded like that.
I was stunned as my mind stopped working, and I just stared at her, laughing.
"Anyway, whether you want to go on a date or not, you need to go to the lab with me."
Since she outranked me, I needed to escort her wherever she wanted to go in my department. But because of our complicated relationship, I wanted to avoid it since it would be only me and her.
She had now gone back to her usual self, but that reaction of hers was still replaying to me again and again.
Why did she want to go on a date with me? I think I missed my chance to ask her that question.
"Is that all?"
I stared at her, trying to read her, but I couldn't. I shook off those strange thoughts away. There was no telling what she had been thinking, so I couldn't tell what was what, and besides, I promised myself to not be impulsive and stick with what I came here for.
Wait? Just then, I actually find the solution to my problem.
Up until now, I was thinking, how could I convince her to meet my mother, as I was afraid she would ask me for the price, but what if she was the one who needed to pay it instead?
For my mother, sure, I could go on a date with her.
"Alright, I will go with you on that date..."
Before it got too late, I said that to her, and her brows jumped up, but unbeknownst to me, when she realized that I wasn't finished, the corner of her lips curled upward.
"...but you have to do me a favor in return."
Her smile again gained warmth in it as she nodded her head slowly.
"Okay, what is it?"
Hmm? She was agreeing without asking more? That was usual...or maybe an opportunity?
Thinking that, I quickly spoke.
"Come with me to my house tonight."
I thought she wouldn't agree with me right away, so I decided to exaggerate my favor like this so that when we negotiated, I actually gained something this time, but what was this?
Wait, what did I just say? It wasn't only me, but Alina's face was also stunned.
"N—no, l—let me finish, i—it's just that my mom is actually asking to meet you and...."
Fortunately, Alina didn't do anything repulsive and just stared at me with a shocked expression, and as for me, my face turned red due to embarrassment, and I quickly tried to redeem what I had done.
"It's just a slip of my tongue..."
Argh! Now, it felt like I really had said that with the intention. Ahh, whatever.
Despite my embarrassment, I didn't forget to take advantage of the situation...where Alina was just watching me without doing anything for once. Though I didn't know why but I was glad.
"We have a deal I believe, so make sure to come to my home after the work."
I hastily concluded the conversation without saying anything else and without waiting for Alina's response, I quickly turned around to leave.
"Anyway, I should go back—they must be waiting for me."
Saying that, I stepped out of her office, only to halt for a moment at the door and glance back at her.
What had gotten into her? Was she actually that surprised that she couldn't form a single word? She was still standing there, completely still, her gaze lingering on me in a way I couldn't read. There was something unusual in her eyes, but I didn't stay long enough to figure it out. I turned away and left.
I didn't want to slow down or stop anywhere and headed straight toward the conference room, though my face stubbornly stayed red.
While I was walking down the hallway, my phone suddenly vibrated with a new message.
When I checked it, I saw it was from the contact saved as President.
We had exchanged numbers last time so she could inform me if she suddenly needed me to act as her wife. I wasn't sure how helpful it would actually be, but it was definitely better than being greeted as darling.
–Let's leave on time today.
–I heard you didn't bring your car.
–I'll drive you.
For the past several days, we had been working overtime, and only today did the workload somewhat diminish such that I could leave on time. But...
How the hell did she know I didn't bring my car? Was she stalking me? I wasn't exactly eager to ride with her, but maybe it would be better if I did, right? Before I could think more, another message came through.
–Next time, please start with the reason.
–You got me all excited there.
I flinched, and my thumb, without my permission, pressed the power button and shut the screen off.
"I should really make a quick stop at the bathroom."