After sending Arian to jail, the CEO's company workload had doubled. Ria, the CEO, and Adis— the three of them—were now buried under piles of office files.
The Mountain of Work and Groans
It was 11 PM. The office AC was running, but the trio was sweating bullets. The table was cluttered with laptops, coffee cups, and heaps of files.
Adis: (throwing a file onto the floor and flopping down) "I can't take this anymore! Ria, you said once we escaped Arian, we'd have peace. Is this peace? This is hard labor! Can a human even handle this much work?"
Ria: (typing furiously, dark circles under her eyes) "Shut up, Adis! This project must be submitted by tomorrow, or the company will suffer a huge loss. And you claimed you're an 'IT expert', so why aren't you organizing the files?"
CEO: (leaning back on the sofa, loosening his familiar tie) "Truly, Ria... I've never handled this much work at once in my life. Are you sure, while we escaped, we accidentally brought along this whole mountain of work?"
Ria paused her work and looked at both of them. She saw the office's strongest man and her most mischievous friend—both completely exhausted. She burst into laughter.
Ria: "Okay, enough! We're not working anymore."
CEO: (surprised) "What do you mean? If we don't finish this, there'll be a loss in tomorrow's meeting!"
Ria: "To hell with the loss! Is life only for work? Adis, play some music! And sir, close that serious file of yours. We're having a party right here in the office!"
Adis leapt up. He turned his laptop up to full volume and started blasting a dance track. The CEO hesitated at first, but when Ria grabbed his hand and pulled him to the middle of the office, he forgot everything and started dancing.
The silent office, once suffocating with work stress, transformed into a lively dance floor. Adis drummed on a file like a tabla, while Ria and the CEO twirled in awkward dance steps. It was an office-turned-DJ party!
Adis even rolled up a file, held it like a mic, and sang along. The CEO spun Ria in a clumsy yet charming dance move.
Suddenly, a heavy cough echoed from the door.
"Hmmph!"
The trio froze as if struck by lightning. The music still blared—"Baby, come down, down…"—when they realized who had entered. Mr. Chowdhury (Ria's father) stood at the door, flanked by two bodyguards, his expression as stone-cold as ever.
Mr. Chowdhury: "So… are we working here, or have you opened a nightclub?"
The CEO hurriedly tried to straighten his tie, mumbling, "Well… uncle… we were exhausted, so thanks to Ria's quick thinking, we just..."
Ria: (puffing up her chest at her father) "Yes, father, I told them. We've been working all day without food. We're not robots!"
Adis tried to hide under the table. Mr. Chowdhury walked over slowly, inspecting the towering piles of files. Then, he pulled out his phone.
Mr. Chowdhury: "Bodyguards! Go to the restaurant downstairs and bring the city's best biryani and cold drinks."
The trio was stunned. Mr. Chowdhury then placed a hand on Ria's head.
Mr. Chowdhury: "When I was young, if I got exhausted from work, I'd dance like this with your mother. Work goes well only when the heart is happy. Today, no work. Today, we dine together!"
Adis cheered, "Yes! Long live father-in-law!"
He quickly corrected himself when Mr. Chowdhury glared, "Sorry, uncle! Long live uncle!"
The CEO exhaled in relief. Ria hugged her father. The once suffocating office had transformed into a warm family drawing room. The aroma of biryani filled the air. The four of them sat around the table, chatting joyfully. Adis gobbled down his piece of biryani.
Suddenly, Mr. Chowdhury fixed his serious gaze on Ria.
Mr. Chowdhury: "Okay Ria, tell me something—what's your exact height?"
Ria, mouth full of kebab, looked surprised. Why is dad suddenly asking about height?
Ria: "Why, father? I'm 6'3". Why?"
Mr. Chowdhury then looked at the CEO, who was eating neatly.
Mr. Chowdhury: "And you, young man? Your height?"
CEO: (slightly flustered) "6'5", uncle."
Then he turned to Adis, who was gnawing on a bone.
Adis: "A bit shorter… 6'4", uncle!"
Mr. Chowdhury paused, sighed, and said:
Mr. Chowdhury: "Hmm. Ria 6'3", Adis 6'4', CEO 6'5'. That means each of you is like a tall tree! I wonder, if all three were to fit in a small car together, would the roof break?"
The trio burst out laughing.
Adis: "No, uncle! The Jeep can fit us. But judging by our heights, poor Arian would've shrunk by half—he was barely 5-foot-something!"
Mr. Chowdhury chuckled.
Mr. Chowdhury: "I was thinking differently. If Ria and the CEO marry, we'll need a 10-foot-high ceiling for the wedding pavilion! And Adis will be perfect for checking the decoration on the upper deck."
Ria blushed. The CEO gave a sly smile. Next to his 6'5" height, Ria looked like a royal match.
Adis, still chewing biryani, added:
Adis: "Uncle, don't worry. When Ria wears high heels, she'll surpass the CEO! You'll see two long shadows dancing on the floor!"
Adis picked up a cold drink and went next to the CEO's chair.
Adis: "Sir, can I ask something? How's the air up there? Does it reach you properly, or is it slightly less than us shorter folks?"
CEO: "Adis, at 6'4" you're joking about my 6'5", aren't you? You're not short either!"
Adis: "1 inch matters! Imagine Ria at 6'3" walking beside you. People would think two mobile towers are walking together. But the problem is for the wedding! Uncle, will you customize the bed, or will your legs hang out of the window?"
Ria laughed, tossing a tissue at Adis.
Ria: "Adis! Will you ever stop?"
Adis: "And if Ria gets angry after marriage, she's already 6'3"! If she tries to grab your collar while talking, her neck will hurt from looking up!"
Mr. Chowdhury couldn't hold back his laughter. Adis went next to the CEO, measuring his height.
Adis: "Sir, stand straight! I want to see if my hand reaches your hair. Uncle, I won't tell Ria, but I really want to give the tall CEO a piggyback ride—6'5" plus 6'4"! We'd be taller than a two-story bus!"
The CEO laughed, hugging Adis' neck.
CEO: "Adis, whatever you've started, I think we need a 15-foot-high wedding pavilion, or else we'll both hit our heads!"
Ria rested her head on her father's shoulder, laughing:
Ria: "Father, I think Adis should be our wedding 'Height Management Officer'."
Adis' antics made the CEO chuckle. His sharp Korean drama-style gaze and royal smile left Ria mesmerized.
Ria: "Father, just look at the height—my CEO's name too—Lee Min Ho! Tall, dashing look, perfect."
Adis, finishing the last bite of biryani, exclaimed:
Adis: "Oh! Lee Min Ho? I thought some Korean prince came straight from Seoul! Sir, any secrets behind your 6'5" body? Do you eat iron for breakfast? Being this tall and handsome is illegal!"
Lee Min Ho (CEO): (smiling gravely) "Adis, my father gave me this name as a whim. But your piggyback ride wish will remain unfulfilled. Even at 6'5", only Ria has permission on my back!"
Ria hid her face in the biryani plate, blushing. Mr. Chowdhury laughed heartily.
Adis got up, striking a pose next to the CEO.
Adis: "Uncle, look! When we walk on the street, people will think a drama shoot is happening. I'll be his bodyguard. Only problem: when Ria, at 6'3", wears heels, she'll surpass Sir Lee Min Ho. Then will you tell him to wear tall shoes?"
Lee Min Ho (CEO): (winking at Ria) "If Ria grows taller than me, I'll lower my head. In love, height doesn't matter; only the heart does."
Ria couldn't resist; she grabbed Adis' ear and sat him down.
Ria: "Adis! Are you going to eat or do a PhD on height and Lee Min Ho's name all night? Eat quietly!"
Later in the Afternoon: Street Scene
Ria walked through the busy city streets, wearing a stylish linen coat and carrying a branded handbag. At 6'3", she looked like a runway model. People couldn't help but stare at her presence.
A very serious female bodyguard followed closely behind. She was tall, in a black suit, sunglasses on, and an earpiece in her ear. After the Arian incident, Lee Min Ho and Ria's father had arranged this strict security.
Ria walked confidently, but the bodyguard's strict vigilance made her uneasy. Whenever she glanced at a shop, the bodyguard immediately adjusted position and scanned the area.
Ria: (looking back) "Hey, ma'am, relax! I'm just buying ice cream. Nobody's going to shoot me."
Bodyguard: (robotic tone) "Sorry, ma'am. Sir Lee Min Ho ordered that no suspicious person may come within five feet. Your safety is my responsibility."
Suddenly, a bike roared past from the opposite side. The bodyguard instantly blocked Ria and gave a strict warning.
Bodyguard: "Maintain distance!"
Ria facepalmed. She realized she might never eat fuchka in peace like this.
At the corner, a luxurious black car stopped. The window rolled down to reveal the familiar handsome face—Lee Min Ho.
Lee Min Ho: "Hello, Miss Ria. How's my security arrangement? Is the bodyguard bothering you?"
Ria approached the car. At 6'3", she didn't need to bend.
Ria: "Your bodyguard won't even let me walk! People think I'm some Prime Minister."
Lee Min Ho: "Not a Prime Minister—you're my future queen. And queens deserve protection. Now, let the bodyguard have a break. Get in the car. Today, we're surprising Adis at his house."
The bodyguard nodded, bowing slightly. Ria got in, thinking that with Adis involved, there was bound to be some chaos.