“What if I’m telling the truth. I’m serious about this Miss Kim.” Nathan emphasized. Kim Eunji was about to decline him once again but he stopped her as he said, “Give some time to think about it. I’ll give you ’till tomorrow for your answer.”

“Why in a hurry Mr. Johnson?” She suddenly asked him.

“I’m a businessman Miss Kim. And for us, time is important and valuable. I don’t want to waste it. You can establish your terms. All I’m asking is less than a month to be with you. After that, we can severe ties.”

“What would I gain if I’ll agree with you?” Of course, there’s no way Kim Eunji would involve into something that she sure would be in a disadvantage.

She thought Nathan would answer her money, status and fame as he was quite for a while before he answered her.

But to her surprise, the man said, “I’ll bring the sparkle in your eyes during that time. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”

Kim Eunji was silent.

“You’ll get that chance to be happy with me Miss Kim.” He added.

“Mr. Johnson or Master Bai or whatever your name is, you don’t know what my heart had been yearning for. Therefore, you don’t have the right to–” Nathan placed his index finger to Kim Eunji’s lips as he interrupted her.

“Miss Kim, as I said give it a thought. You won’t lose anything. Rest assured, during those days, I won’t touch you uless you say so. I’ll take good care of you.”

Nathan left as soon as he said his piece leaving Kim Eunji in a somehow confused state.

Why would Nathan wanted her to become his woman for less than a month? What show was he cooking with this time? That was what on her thought.

She wanted to get through the bottom of this.

She didn’t want to be used by someone else again if ever she would agree.

Kim Eunji left Nathan’s manor that morning and skipping her breakfast.

With Nathan’s arrangements, she was driven back to her home with Nathan’s butler/chauffeur.

Nathan watched the car until it disappeared in the horizon.

He recalled what he had just proposed to Kim Eunji earlier. He admitted that he had said it out of impulse but he was serious about it. He never joked around.

As he looked at her earlier, he suddenly had the urge to get close to her as he felt the unspoken bond that both of them shared despite of their differences.

He was really eager to get close to her. This was the only way possible that he knew. He just hoped that Kim Eunji would be cooperative enough and would agree to it. Or else, he would make her.

For Nathan, Kim Eunji was a big mystery puzzle to solve and he believed this was the reason why he made that decision earlier.

***

Kim Eunji did not let Nathan’s driver to drove her to her place. She felt that if she did, then the man would definitely knew where she was living and might come at her tomorrow to have her answer to his proposal.

He let the driver to pull over in the entrance of one of the few small communities before hers. It took her a lot of efforts to persuade the man to not get inside the village and dropped her off near the entrance instead.

Good thing the guards didn’t interrupt her therefore her cover was not blown.

They were even polite enough to let her inside the compound which made her to complete her act.

“Domo arigato guzaimasu!” (‘Thank you very much’ in Japanese language) Kim Eunji bowed her head as she expressed her gratitude to them.

They even asked her if she was in trouble and was even willing to call the cops for her.

They thought that her beauty was beyond the standards that’s why someone wanted to coerce her in something she didn’t want to do. They thought that maybe a mafia boss took a fancy of her but she refused him.

As soon as the car drove away, Kim Eunji was then offered a shuttle service going to her residence.

Her house was a bit far from this community. She already decided to hail a cab afterwards but they offered her a free ride instead.

Kim Eunji thought it would be impolite if she would decline them therefore she accepted their offer.

She believed that their offer was out of kindness and she could see that they were sincere when they made the offer.

The car stopped in front of a simple yet modern bungalow house. She then hopped out of the car and waved her goodbye to the young driver. She wanted to invite him for tea but the young man excused himself saying that he’s busy.

Kim Eunji did not find it suspicious therefore she let him go and thanked him one more time.

Little did she knew, as soon as the car drove off on the corner, he then pressed the earpiece in his ear as he said, “Master. Mission accomplished.”

“Good job. Expect your bonus on your pay day.” The man on the other line said which made the young driver ecstatic.

“Thank you Master Johnson.” The young driver then drove back to his post with a smile in his face.

If Kim Eunji found out that the young driver was actually Nathan’s men, she would surely be angered.

It was never in the plan to deceive Kim Eunji. We could say that luck was on Nathan’s side as of all the villages or residences that Kim Eunji decided to be dropped off was owned by him.

Kim Eunji then walked inside the gate and walked towards the main door. She then punched her code on the keypad and heaved a sigh as it unlocked. She then dragged her tired body towards her room and left her bag and suitcase in the living room.

She forced herself to have a nap hoping that she would forget about Nathan’s proposal to her. But to her dismay, it didn’t help at all. The more she tried to think of something else, the more she could hear his masculine voice in his ear and his handsome face to appear in her mind.

Having no choice, she decided to call Kelly as she felt that she had to talk to someone a she thought she would explode out of anxiety.

After a few rings, her call went through and a Kelly’s voice resounded on the other line.”Eunjiyah?” Kelly asked in a worried tone.

“I need help.” Kim Eunji did not beat around the bush.

“Help? What’s wrong?” Kelly’s voice suddenly became alert and her tone became worried. The last time Kim Eunji called her for help was a long-long time ago. And she knew this was not one of those petty problems that Eunji was facing.

Based on her tone, Kim Eunji was greatly troubled by it.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Kim Eunji started.

Kelly frowned on the other line. “Nothing? Eunjiyah, are you by any chance prank calling me?”

“I’m not!” Kim Eunji panicked.

“Oh?”

“It’s just that someone asked me to be his lover. What should I do?” Kim Eunji seriously said. But she did not disclose who the person was and the time span to her.

But to her surprise, the pregnant woman on the other line was laughing so hard as soon as she finished telling her what happened.

“You know what, I think it was a wrong decision ta call you.” Kim Eunji was about to end the call when Kelly yelled on the other line begging her to not drop the call.

“I’m sorry about that Eunji. I just find it hilarious. It’s such a waste that I was not with you. Your face should have been epic at the moment.” Kelly teased her. This was the first time that she called her for topics related to romance. She knew that Kim Eunji was inexperienced when it comes to this that’s why she wanted to tease her.

“Kel, I’m serious.” Kim Eunji reminded Kelly who immediately stopped teasing her after she heard her warning tone.

She then cleared her throat as she started her advice.

“If this man was serious about it, why not give it a go?”

“Are you really my best friend?” Kim Eunji blurted out.

“Eunjiyah, I am still your best friend/sister. Think of the bigger picture, this is a great opportunity for you to experience something like this. To love and to be loved was the most precious feeling every man and woman yearned for in this age. Some were even desperately looking for it. While here you are, someone had presented you this opportunity and you wanted to refuse it?”

Kim Eunji was silent. Therefore, Kelly used this opportunity to persuade her more.

“Yes, there were risk. Eunji, remember that we would never grow if we always stay in the safe side.”

“But…”

“Sure… your past… You can chose not to disclose it to him. Or you can in the future if he’s ready. If he truly loves you, he would stay but if not, let him go. But I’m afraid he would not see the next sunrise if he would do that. He said you can have your terms right? Then use it.” Kim Eunji didn’t know whether she would laugh or cry as she listened to Kelly’s blabbering.

Yes, she considered Kelly’s advice as nonsense but Kelly suddenly blurted this. “Are you comfortable with him? What do you feel when he’s around? If you think he could make you happy as what he promised then go for it.”

That question hit her deep inside. She tried to recall her feelings when he’s around.

“If this relationship turned out to be a failure, then we could look for another one.” Kelly continued.

Kim Eunji was silent, while Kelly was patiently waiting on the other line.

Kim Eunji heaved a huge sigh and then finally spoke, “Alright. I now know what to do. Thank you Kel.”

“No problem Eunjiyah. Call me if you need anything. I’m always here to listen no matter how big or small the matter was. You know I love you right?”

“I know. And I love you, too.”

The call then ended and Kim Eunji decided to get off of her bed as she took another round of shower.

After she’s done, she then took the calling card that Nathan had placed in her bag earlier.

She then punched those digits on her phone and pressed the call button. It only took a single ring and the call was immediately picked up by the other line.

“Mr. Johnson? Meet me at….”