Stupid meeting

They knew they had to be on the top floor, waiting for the CEO before his arrival.

As soon as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open on the top floor, they hurriedly stepped forward towards the exit, where the CEO would soon emerge.

Sweat poured down their faces, but they had no choice. They couldn't afford to have their "stinking asses," as the CEO had put it, fired.

But now, they wondered if their asses really did stink.

They would find out once they returned home later in the evening.

The CEO's elevator dinged as it reached the top floor.

The doors slid open, revealing the ever-gracious CEO, his intimidating aura enveloping him.

The middle management bowed their heads and quickly made way for him and his personal assistant.

As the CEO briskly walked towards his brother's office, the managers trailed closely behind him like timid cats.

He paused when he reached the door leading to his brother's office.

Turning back, he faced the middle management.

They quickly bowed their heads.

He gazed at them expressionlessly. "You may proceed with your meeting. My personal assistant will attend in my stead."

'What?' Noah couldn't believe his ears.

So, his boss had come all the way to EWEI just to make Noah represent him...

'Who does that?' Noah thought miserably.

Now, he would have to endure a dull meeting. Ugh!

'Sir, please don't do this to me. This is the worst punishment ever. Please...' Noah inwardly cried.

Joel smirked and added, "My brother won't be attending either."

"Yes, Sir," the middle management replied, bowing their heads.

Joel nodded curtly, turned the doorknob, and took long strides into his brother's office.

Once the door closed behind him, his cold aura vanished instantly.

Michael was engrossed in his work, oblivious to his brother's entrance. Joel silently observed his hard-working brother for a while before settling into an armchair.

"Annyeong, Hyung," Joel greeted, waving his hand at his brother.

(A/N: Hello, brother)

"Wow! The CEO is here," Michael teased, looking up as soon as he heard Joel's voice.

"What brings you here?" he asked, leaning back in his office chair and rocking it gently. "You're not here for the meeting, are you?"

"Boring meeting," Joel sneered.

"I knew you'd never attend the meeting. So... why are you here?" Michael raised an eyebrow.

Joel grinned at his brother. "I just came to say hi to you."

Michael scoffed and shook his head. Joel never visited the industry without a reason.

Glancing at the wall clock in his office, Michael realized that time had flown by. He had been so engrossed in his work that he hadn't noticed the passing hours.

He retrieved the lunchbox Emily had given him and prepared to eat. He was famished.

Something flickered in Joel's eyes as he caught sight of the lunchbox. He craned his neck to get a better view from where he sat.

Michael opened the lunchbox.

A pleasant aroma wafted from the egg roll-ups, capturing his senses.

He couldn't help but smile as he savored the taste, closing his eyes in satisfaction.

It had been a long time since he last enjoyed homemade egg rolls, and Joel too.

Ever since their mother passed away, they had never tasted them again.

But as Michael relished the roll-ups, memories of his late mother flooded back.

Emily's egg rolls tasted just like their mother's.

Michael glanced up at his brother, unaware that the man was eying his lunch.

"We saw each other last night," he said, taking another bite of his roll-up.

Joel still hadn't explained why he was there.

"The office was boring, so I came," Joel replied absentmindedly, his gaze fixated on the lunchbox.

"Okay," Michael nodded, continuing to munch on his roll-up.

"Hyung," Joel swallowed and watched his brother eat. "Yeah?" Michael looked up at him.

"What are you eating?" Joel asked, sounding a bit foolish.

It was obvious that Michael was eating egg roll-ups, but he didn't know what else to say.

"Egg roll-ups," Michael replied, still chewing.

"Oh, are they good?" Joel asked, once again sounding clueless.

If they weren't good, would Michael be eating them?

"Yeah, they're good," Michael nodded.

Joel watched silently but with a weary expression as his brother finished the roll-ups.

After a while, Michael noticed his brother's intense gaze on him.

"Um, do you want some?" he asked tentatively.

Without replying, Joel jumped up and rushed toward Michael's desk. He reached into the lunchbox, grabbed a roll-up, and threw it into his mouth with a smile.

"Mmm, these are delicious," he said, savoring the taste.

Before Michael knew it, Joel had already devoured five roll-ups.

Shaking his head, Michael picked up the chopsticks he had dropped. As he tried to pick up another roll-up, Joel pushed the chopsticks away with his hand.

Michael attempted again, but Joel repeated the action.

Angrily, Michael stared at his brother. "Hey!"

"What?" Joel sneered, puffing himself up. "You've already eaten enough."

Joel then took the lunchbox from the desk and walked toward the armchair.

"Hey!" Michael stood up and trailed after him.

Joel trotted around the office, clutching the lunchbox in his hands.

"Hey, that's mine, you know," Michael scolded his thieving brother, chasing after him.

The two brothers playfully ran after each other, revealing a mischievous side to their relationship.

🏘️🏛️🏘️

Emily frustratedly scratched her head as she searched for her bag. "Where did I put it?"

"Aishhh! I forgot it in the car," she muttered, slapping her palm against her forehead.

Now, she wouldn't be able to take a bath until her handsome god returned.

She realized she didn't even have a phone to call him.

"Aishhh!" she exclaimed, ruffling her hair in frustration.

She went back to her room and fell asleep.

🌇🌇🌇

The honking of a car's horn jolted Emily awake.

Her eyes darted to the wall clock, and she rushed out of the room.

Her beloved was back.

She stretched her arms wide as she hurried out of the lounge. "My darling!"

Little Pumpkin got out of the car and ran toward the beautiful "noona."

"Ah," Emily exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him.

She carried him in her arms and headed toward the door. "How was school today? Did you do well?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Wow, I knew I could count on you, Little Pumpkin," she grinned widely, playfully ruffling his hair as they walked through the door.

She took him straight to his room, undressed him, bathed him, dressed him in comfortable housewear, and brought him to the dining room for lunch.

Emily smiled quietly

as she watched Little Pumpkin eat. "Eat as much as you want, okay, Little Pumpkin?"

"Okay, noona," he squeaked happily, eating to his heart's content.

Emily was hungry too, but she was afraid to eat before her handsome god returned. Who knew what he might do to her?

But then, she realized she still didn't know who the man was or what he did. All she knew was that he and his brother usually left the villa for work. But what kind of work was it?

"Um, Little Pumpkin..." she began softly.

The little boy stopped eating and looked up at her. "Yes?"

"What does your..." she was interrupted by Joel, who walked in through the front door. "Hey, kiddo, I'm back."

Little Pumpkin climbed down from the chair and ran swiftly toward his uncle. "Huh? Uncle J-J is back."

"Hello," Joel grinned, sweeping his little nephew off his feet.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, settling down on one of the sofas with Little Pumpkin on his lap.

"I was eating when you came in," Little Pumpkin replied with a grin.

"Hmm, then go ahead," Joel said, ruffling his hair. "Hey!" Michael rolled his eyes as he watched the pair.

"I'm back too, did you not see me?" he asked, sneering.

Little Pumpkin shrugged and jumped down from his uncle's lap, scampering back to the dining area.

"This child..." Michael mused.

"Hyungnim, leave the boy alone," Joel stood up and headed toward the stairs, casting a sideways glance at Emily as he walked away.

"Little Pumpkin, eat well, okay?" Michael groaned and walked toward his room.

The brothers took their showers and headed to the dining room, where Emily was impatiently waiting for them. She was starving.

Once Little Pumpkin finished eating, he fell asleep, and Emily carried him to his room before returning to the dining room.

Michael smiled and took a seat at the dining table. "Emily, how are you?"

"I'm fine," she replied, her mouth curving into a cute smile.

"Thank you for the roll-ups," he said, smiling at her.

"Oh, it was nothing," she replied, blushing.

"Kumawo, I'm grateful. Although I didn't get to eat the roll-ups to my satisfaction, thanks to a certain person," Michael smirked, glancing in Joel's direction.

"Hmm," Joel cleared his throat.

"Oh, Oppa, it was nothing," Emily giggled, unaware of what had transpired.

'Oppa!? She hasn't called me Oppa since I met her,' Joel had a mixed feeling of confusion and amusement.