Chapter 9 — I Have A Boss Who Works Overtime

The great joy that came over me left me choked up, speechless. Project director. This is the highest recognition of my abilities. I looked at the pen in my hand, my eyes began to heat up.

“Thank you…”

“Now,”

He suddenly grabbed my hand that was placed on the table, interrupting my thanks. His hands were dry but warm, carrying a strength that made people feel secure. He looked at me seriously, each word clear: "We've finished talking about public matters, now it's time for personal matters." My heart started pounding again.

“Trinh Tu,”

He looked intently into my eyes, his eyes were so gentle and focused that it made me feel drawn in.

“I like you.”

Even though I vaguely felt it before, when those three words actually came out of his mouth, my mind was still blank.

“From the first time you stood outside the door, panicking and calling me 'daddy', I found you very interesting.”

“After that, through work, I gradually realized your resilience, effort and talent.”

"I'm attracted to you, I can't stop myself from wanting to get close to you, wanting to protect you."

“All of this has nothing to do with our current status.”

“What I like is a genuine Trinh Tu – someone who can go crazy over working overtime, feel sorry for himself when misunderstood, and give his all to achieve his goals.”

Your sincere confession, like the most beautiful love song, beats in my heart. I remember my mother's encouragement, every time he stood up to protect me. All hesitation and insecurity, in that moment, disappeared like smoke. I bravely faced his eyes, my heart pounding. I did not answer him directly, but deliberately asked the opposite with a challenging voice:

"So if you agree, from now on in the company, should you call me General Director Co, or Canh Tham?"

"Still at home... what should I call you? Little brother?"

Co Canh Tham looked at my mischievous smile and also laughed. He stood up, walked to my side, bent down, and leaned close to my ear. Warm breath blew against my ear, making my whole body shiver. He used a low and dark voice, just loud enough for the two of us to hear, whispering:

“At the company, I'm the boss.”

“At home, you are in charge.”

11

Co Canh Tham and I started a secret and discreet love relationship. In the company, he is still the one-spoken General Director, and I am the new Director Trinh. We silently keep distance between superiors and subordinates. But sometimes, when we happened to meet in an empty hallway, his loving eyes looked at me; While in the tea room, he took advantage of pouring water to sneak candy into my hand; or two-person lunches in the office in the name of "work discussion"... Those sweet details, like silently growing vines, can be hidden from outsiders, but cannot be hidden from observant people. The Co Thi Group's annual party is quickly approaching. This was a solemn business meeting, attended by all important relatives of the Co family and major business partners. My mother and I - To Uyen - as Co Minh Thanh's family members, were of course also invited to attend. I feel a little uneasy in my heart. And sure enough, at the party, I saw Co Minh Chau's uncomfortable face. Beside Next to her is a rich lady - Lam Phi Phi - whom I met at the resort last time. The two of them looked at me with eyes as if they wanted to burn me. Obviously, they were still not satisfied with their previous failure, this time preparing in a more formal place to completely humiliate me. In the middle of the party, Co Minh Chau suddenly picked up the microphone and walked onto the stage.

“Dear guests, dear friends, tonight is a joy because we can gather together.”

She started with polite words, then changed the subject, her voice full of meaning.

"Our Co family has always maintained strict family rules. But today's society has degraded morality, and there are some young people who dare to do anything because they want to climb high."

“Even basic morality and ethics are ignored, it really makes people speechless.”

Her words were like a large rock falling into the already peaceful party. All eyes in the hall immediately turned to me and Co Canh Tham. Murmurs echoed everywhere in the hall. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my skin. She wanted to publicly crucify us on a humiliating pole in front of everyone. Lam Phi Phi also took the opportunity to step out. She held a handkerchief and pretended to wipe the corners of her eyes in frustration.

"Miss Co, please don't say that. Maybe... maybe there's just a close relationship between them."

"It's just that last time at the resort, I actually saw Mr. Canh Tham and Ms. Tu being intimate... not like normal sisters..."

Her words sounded like advice, but in fact they added fuel to the fire, making Co Minh Chau's accusation even more authentic. To Uyen and Co Minh Thanh's faces immediately became extremely unsightly. My mother was so angry that her whole body was shaking. She wanted to stand up and argue, but was stopped by Co Minh Thanh with her eyes. I felt like I had been stripped of my clothes, thrown under the spotlight, and had to face the judgment of the whole world. My hands were sweaty, but this time, I didn't back down. I turned to look at Co Canh Tham, he was also looking at me. His eyes were calm and steady, giving me infinite strength. I nodded slightly at him. We will face it together. Co Canh Tham held my hand and calmly stood up amid everyone's gaze. He took my hand, walked step by step onto the stage, and calmly took the microphone from Co Minh Chau's hand. He glanced around the hall, his strong aura made the room suddenly suffocatingly quiet.