Chapter 167 - Assisting Koji Hanada

The night before:

"Teach her all the aspects of the company. She must be well-trained before coming here to help me. If you have things to report to me, I want you to give it to her, and she would report it to me in return. Do you understand?" Said Tanaga seriously and sarcastically.

"Yes, sir! Loud and clear. Don't worry; I'll teach her everything she needs to know as an assistant to the CEO, alright!" Koji also seriously replied to his cousin, however, it's with respect.

After that conversation, Koji couldn't sleep any longer. His mind was running a marathon thinking and planning what he would teach Ashley. He wanted to make sure that she would enjoy assisting him and to do that, making sure she's not bored.

By the time he realizes the time, it was already morning and time to get ready for work. He quickly took a shower and made sure that he looks spectacular. He wanted to do everything in his power to empress Ashley no matter what it takes. 

Koji was so excited to work with Ashley that he arrived in the office before 7:00 a.m. He was running around his office like a chicken without a head, wanting to make sure that he has everything he needed before Ashley arrives.

His secretary arrives and saw what he's doing. However, she used to Koji coming to the office early and leaving late. Therefore, she just took it as if it's like a typical day.

When Koji heard that someone was outside, he immediately stood up to ask the secretary to call Ashley to come to his office. Koji's biggest surprise was that it was Ashley who walked in and was not his secretary.

"Good morning COO Hanada!" Ashley bowed her head as a salute.

Koji didn't even know how to greet Ashley. "Good morning to you too!" Koji replied with a beautiful smile on his lips.

"Come in-come in! I will explain to you what your job is going to be. Right now, I have a business proposal. It's a collaboration with one of the biggest companies in your country. 

"I'm thinking of asking you if we could visit the headquarters of the company. Since CEO Jones is currently out of the country, and it will be a while before you follow him to America. Why don't you accompany me and give me a tour of the Philippines." The excitement was visible in his eyes.

"Lastly, after our business trip concluded, we could stay for a day or two, so you can visit your family too. What do you think of that? "Asks Koji excitedly as the smile reached his ear. He thought Ashley would be happy to see the family.

Meanwhile, Ashley didn't know how to react. Before she answers Koji, made sure that what she was saying was not apparent that she had a different relationship with Tanaga beside her boss and assistant. Ashley stood up straight and smiled before answering.

"Sir, Hanada ... How did you know I could never go to America? Who told you? The reason I asked is that sir Jones said that the legal department was preparing my visa? " Ashley said she was still smiling so he couldn't tell that she feels dismayed.

"Ah! I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. What I mean was, because you are still waiting for your visa. Why don't you join me in the Philippines? You could kill two birds with one stone. What do you think? Didn't you miss your family? " Koji even repeated the story of Ashley's family to make her come with him.

"Of course! However, my family understands that I have a job, and my contract was for a whole year. Before I left the Philippines, my family and I had prepared ourselves not to see each other for a while. Therefore, we just temporarily do facetime-facetime," She proudly said with a sweet smile on her face.

Koji was visibly disappointed in Ashley's response, but he didn't express it because he was afraid that Ashley might change her mind and stop assisting him. Instead, he decided to just show and explain to her what he needed help with.

"Come and let me show you what you be doing." Koji invited while still having a 'strained' smile on his lips.

Ashley followed suit to end their discussion about her accompanying him to the Philippines. 

Koji's office is excellent. It has simple decoration, unlike Tanaga's office. It's immaculate, and no clatter of paperwork can be seen on the desk. She then noticed something; to the right is a table near Koji's desk.

"This will be your desk as you assist me. Hahaha! Actually, the maintenance crew just brought it here. You know I don't have an assistant, and now I will." Koji explained to Ashley, who was surprised because there was still plastic wrapped around the table and chair.

"Sir, what computer should I use?" Ashley asked as there was not even a piece of equipment on the table.

Koji's scratches his head because he forgot all about the computer. When he arrived that morning, he first called on the maintenance crew to bring the table and chairs. He had forgotten that Ashley would need a computer too. His face suddenly reddened in embarrassment.

"Apology, I was so excited when Sir Jones agreed to let you help me first while he's out of the country; therefore, I was out of my mind and forgot all about the computer." Said Koji embarrassingly and can't look at her straight face.

Ashley, on the other hand, can't believe that Koji is acting like a teenager with a crush on her. 'Does he like me? Why is his face beet-red, and he can't look at me straight in the eyes? 

'Gosh, I hope not. I don't want to be the reason for the two cousins to have ill feelings to each other.' She was thinking while she was also wondering what Koji would do next.

"Ashley, excuse me for a moment; I will be right back." Koji quickly turned around and went to his desk to call the supply department. He Immediately ordered to bring whatever supplies she would be needing. 

"I need them asap, do you understand!" Ashley heard him say before he hangs up right away after giving the order. When he finished, he was smiling as he approaches her.

"Okay! It's settled; they'll be bringing supplies for you. In the meantime, how about having a coffee first. Do you drink coffee?" Koji asked, looking like he was going to do it.

"Yes! And I'm also good at making coffee. What's your blend, sir?" She asks to let him know that she'll do it.

"It's okay! I'll just ask my secretary. How do you like your coffee?" Koji asked as he started walking out of the office.

"With Five sugar and Three creams, please!" Ashley shyly said, but she couldn't do anything because she didn't know the layout of Koji's office. She decided to follow Koji to find out where the coffee is being made.

Ashley was pleasantly surprised to find that Koji made their coffee instead of asking his secretary to do it. As she was about to come closer to try and help him, Koji's secretary suddenly came in carrying a bento and was about to put it in the fridge. She stopped and greeted him first.

"Ohayōgozaimasu, sir, Hanada!" [Good morning sir, Hanada] Said Koji's secretary before slightly bowing to pay respect.

"Ohayōgozaimasu," Koji replied without stopping what he was doing. 

The secretary quickly put the bento into the refrigerator and was about to go to her office when she saw Ashley standing still by the door of the break room. She stopped curiously, looking at Ashley.

Just in time that Koji was finishing making the coffee and was ready to return to his office. He saw his secretary was standing still and looking towards the door.

"Oh' that's Miss Gusman, CEO Jones assistant. She will be assisting me while he's overseas. Treat her as you treat me, do you understand?" Koji said seriously to his secretary.

"Hello!" The secretary said as she approached Ashley with a smile on her face. "Good morning to you as well, Miss Gusman, and welcome!" 

"Good morning to you too." Replied Ashley when she suddenly remembers her 'bento that Inday had given her that morning. She quickly apologized to Koji.

"Sir, excuse me for just a moment; I had forgotten something. I'll be right back." Ashley said as she hurried out of the breakroom to pick up the bento she had left in Koji's office.

Koji and Ashley meet in the hallway as Ashley returns to the office's mini kitchen. Koji saw that Ashley have a 'bento,' and it made him sad.

He was kind of hoping to persuade her to have lunch with him at the restaurant owned by Alden Sanches's family so he can introduce her.

Little did Koji know that Ashley and Alden had known each other a long time ago, in which he would soon find out.