Chapter 193 - Eyes Shining Like a Bright Star

Alden Sanches was not in the restaurant when they arrived. He was doing a spot check on their other branches all over Japan. He wanted to finish the spot check as quickly as possible so he could concentrate on the project that he and Koji Hanada was working together.

Therefore, when Ashley and Koji arrived at the restaurant, Koji was handed a note by the General Manager informing him that Alden Sanches was not in the vicinity. After reading the message, Koji wasn't sure if he should be glad or sad. He wanted to go ahead and finalize the collaboration and also introduce Ashley to see what he thinks about her. It seems that Alden wanted to wait for Tanaga to come back, and it disappointed him.

Since it is how it is, he decided just to use the time and enjoy Ashley's company. He quickly teared-up the notes into pcs so no one could read it and thrown it into the garbage nearby.

"Let's go! So' we could eat, my stomach is aching already." He said as he lightly tapped Ashley's shoulder so he could guide her to the private room for THJ Group.

Ashley was quick-witted to move away when she felt his hands touched her shoulder as if a fire burnt her. His face suddenly saddened with her reaction to his touch. He couldn't understand why she's treating him that way. Just a tiny touch, and she was quick to move as if he has leprosy. 

He decided just to let it go and not show Ashley his real feelings. He put on a sweet smile on his face before walking ahead of her and just let her follow.

A moment later, they were seated, and drinks came. Soon the variety of dishes started arriving, and Ashley's eyes were huge, and her mouth was salivating. Koji likes what he was seeing. 

While they were on the way, he already made a call and placed his order, so when they arrive. They would not have to wait a long time for their food. He didn't make a mistake for his advanced thinking, and he could see how happy she sees all the dishes in front of them.

"Shall we begin?" He kindly coaxed her, seeing that she's drooling already but not starting to eat yet.

Since Ashley was hungry, he didn't have to ask twice. She started with the steaming hot soup. She scoops up a spoon full and quickly tastes it. "Ouch!" She promptly spat it back out and began fanning her mouth. 

"Sorry!" She was embarrassed and unable to look at him straight face.

He just smiled and acted like he didn't see anything. He began putting some dishes on Ashley's plate. He was attentive, acting like a boyfriend or a husband. 

Ashley was busy shoving food in her mouth that she didn't pay attention to how attentive the man across the table to her. She didn't even care if he was eating or not; what matters to her was the food right in front of her.

After carefully filling up Ashley's plate. Koji then began scooping food onto his plate and started eating as well.

When Ashley's satisfied, she then put down the spoon and forks. Suddenly, "Burp!" Ashley was so embarrassed that she wasn't able to stop herself from burping. It's so unladylike, and there was nothing she could do. 

"Thank you so much, sir, Hanada! I was so sorry for my unladylike manner a minute ago. I was famished and ate like a pig." Ashley said as she rubbed her stomach in relief.

Koji just smiled and dropped his chopstick. "Did you enjoy the food? Would you like dessert now? How about hot tea? Koji said kindly with a smile.

"No,' thank you! I'm solved already!" Ashley's smile was genuine.

Suddenly she remembered her visa. She thought it was the right time for her to tell Koji that she would no longer come to work the next day. She would be preparing to fly to America. 

She first let out a sigh, before "Sir, Hanada ... I just wanted to let you know that my visa had been approved. So I won't be coming to work starting tomorrow. I'm sorry that I was not much of a helo to you." She said embarrassingly as she looked directly at him.

Koji, on the other hand, was enthralled by the way she was looking straight at him. 'Her eyes so beautiful, it shines when she smiles. What a kissable lips... I wonder what it would taste like to kiss that lips?' He was in a trans that he didn't hear a word that she said.

"Sir Hanada! Sir Hanada! Did you hear everything I said?" Ashley asked, wondering while he just stared at her with blank eyes.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry! What were you saying? I'm sorry that I wasn't paying attention. It was your eyes. It was shining brightly as you speak." He said without realizing what was coming out of his mouth.

"Sir?" Ashley wonders while in deep thought. 'What do my eyes have to do with what I'm saying?' She's at lost and stared straight at Koji, trying to decipher what he just said. However, no matter how hard she tries, she still couldn't comprehend what he meant by that?

Ashley has no experience with the opposite s.e.x, except her for husband and, of course, her brief acquaintance with Alden. She is clueless when it comes to a man giving flattery to the woman he likes. That's why she didn't understand what Koji was implying.

"Sir Hanada, do you mind repeating what you had said a minute ago? Yo said... " She repeated word for word what he said, and it embarrassed Koji after hearing it coming out of her mouth. 

When she finished reciting word for word, she noticed that his face suddenly saddened and become somber. That's when it hit her, and she was so stupid not to realize that the man in front of her has some kind of feeling towards her. 'Koji likes her.'

If her hunch were correct, there would be a problem when the time comes that Tanaga introduces her as Mrs. Jones. Would he be able to accept it just like that?  It will be a while before Koji would find out that the woman his interested, now belongs to his cousin. ' CEO Jones.'

When that happens could he still honestly say, he's not interested to take something that belongs to his cousin? Or would he become just like his brother and father, covet what belongs to Tanaga?

~Scrool to the next chapter to find out~