Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 02

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"I wasn't gambling, I was there to visit my sister. Anything else?" CEO Jung answered rather rabidly to the reporter.

One would think that was a rather brief yet sufficient explanation but his statement did not seem to be enough for the said reporters as they continued to bombard him with questions.

"Who is this sister you're saying? Can we know any other details about her?"

"You're an only son, how is it possible for you to have a sister?"

"Is she your mother's rumored love-child with Chef Manoban?"

Joshua saw how his boss rolled his eyes before putting his sunglasses back on and resume walking straight towards the building. The other bodyguards did their jobs tremendously. Not a single reporter slipping into the company premise.

"Media. You do what they want yet they still ask for more. I can't with them anymore," his boss muttered.

The two of them made their way towards the elevator with every employee they pass by bowing. Mr. Jung may be young but he was truly amazing at his job. Aside from he was well trained by his mother in the line of business, he graduated with an MBA at Harvard. Not to mention that his way of running the company wasn't dictatorship like most companies but rather a democratic and liberal one. He treats all his employees as colleagues rather than payed help. Even the building's night shift janitor, he knows his name. So, seeing the news about him embezzling funds and whatnot, was truly shocking.

But not once did he ever mention anything about having a sister in his five years working in JHS. Nor from his other colleagues.

As soon as they entered the metal box, Asher Jung let out a sigh. Then, like always, he forced out a smile.

"Well at least now I'll have a valid excuse to leave the company, right?"

That caught him off-guard. Leaving?

"Sir?"

Asher put his arm around the young secretary and patted his shoulder lightly.

"I'll be heading back to New York next week," he says and the elevator doors opened. They both step out and headed straight to his office. "I'm not sure when I'll be back so someone very dear to me will temporarily sit as the CEO in my place."

Joshua's forehead creased as he followed his boss into his gigantic office. The latter stood in front of the full-sized window overlooking the busy city. He spoke.

"If I may ask, CEO Jung, but isn't this rather... abrupt?"

The CEO smiled and turned to him.

"Why yes. Yes, it is," the guy answered before turning back towards the view. He walked closer to him and faced the unparalleled skyline of Seoul. "But everyone is entitled to have their spontaneous moments, right Secretary Jeon?"

"Sir..."

"I'm dying, Joshua. Osteosarcoma," Asher said shocking the younger man. "I've known about it since a couple of months ago but I didn't want to go through those treatments and all that s**t. I just wanted to live life normally and be with my family 'til... 'Til I can."

Joshua stood frozen on his feet, facing his boss' side. The man did not look sick at all. He looked the same way he first met him. But he did have those days when he'd complain about his legs. He did buy him a few pain relievers during those times.

"H... How are you now?" he asked but immediately regretted. Who asks that to someone dying? Like, what the actual f**k?

Asher Jung turned to him and smiled.

"I'm sorry CEO Jung--"

"It's fine, Josh," he said patting his shoulder. "I'm fine. I will be, hopefully. As opposed to what I have initially planned, I'm heading to New York to get myself treated and all that shit."

Curious, Joshua wanted to ask why. What pushed him to do the treatments? What gave him hope? Or who? Who was worth living for?

But he can't do just do that. They have boundaries he couldn't just cross like that and he--of all people, should respect his boss' privacy.

"They say when you love someone, you'd be willing to die for them," his boss suddenly said. "But I guess that's just for the movies. 'Coz real love is when you're willing to live for them."

Joshua couldn't help but smile. So, his boss is in love. And he's doing all of this for that special person. How lucky—whoever she is.

"My sister will be the one to temporarily sit in my position 'til I get back and I want you to help her with everything," the guy said putting both hands inside his pocket. "Technically, she's my half-sister. He's Marco and my mom's daughter. And no, she isn't a bastard. My mom was already married to Chef Manoban when they had Astrid."

One can see the sparkle inside his boss' eyes when he spoke about his sister. He knew that the CEO would be that kind of big brother. He already was like that with Serena and all other artists of the company. What more to someone related by blood? He smiled.

"Of course, CEO Jung. You can count on me—"

"But she's not like me, Joshua," Asher said with all seriousness wrapped around his words.

"She's... she's a lot of work. But she has her reasons. I love her to bits and trust me when I say that she's worth it. I just... please be patient with her, okay?"

Joshua couldn't help but be wary. What did his boss mean when he said she's a lot of work? Is she a troublemaker or something?

"I will do my best, CEO Jung," was all that he could say before bowing 90 degrees. "And I truly wish you a fast recovery."

"That I will, Joshua," Asher said with a wide grin. "Who else would rescue you from her?"

What's the worst thing that could happen?

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