CHAPTER 56: PREPARING FOR A DATE, THOUGH NOT A DATE

Timothy just finished his business in Raffles Place. And it seemed as though he had gotten himself a date with his new personal secretary. Who would have thought that the lady who bumped into him was his future secretary.

Still, he reminded himself, this wasn’t a date. Not in the romantic sense, anyway. It was business. A dinner discussion with his soon-to-be secretary was necessary, she needed to understand what she was walking into, the expectations he had for her, and maybe even the quirks he didn’t know he had until someone pointed them out. If they were going to work closely, better to set the tone early.

He pulled out his phone, thumb scrolling quickly through restaurant listings. If he was going to do this, he might as well make an impression. A secretary wasn’t just another employee, she would be his shield against chaos, the one person who knew his schedule better than he did. If she saw him as sloppy or careless, it would set the wrong tone.

"Luxurious, but not overbearing," Timothy muttered under his breath, scanning through options. "Somewhere with ambience."

He paused at one listing: Spago Dining Room by Wolfgang Puck. Located at the top of Marina Bay Sands, the restaurant offered sweeping views of Singapore’s skyline. Private, elegant, expensive enough to be impressive without being tacky.

Perfect.

He sent a quick reservation request for two and then once the reservation was confirmed, he sent the details to Hana’s email. Moments later, she read the email and acknowledged it.

With the restaurant confirmed, Timothy now had to dress the part. A CEO couldn’t just show up in the same suit he’d been wearing since morning. Dinner at Spago demanded something sharper, something that projected both elegance and authority.

He pulled up Google Maps and searched for high-end boutiques near Marina Bay Sands. One caught his attention immediately: Hugo Boss at The Shoppes, a short walk away. Perfect.

So he went there.

The polished interior of the boutique greeted him with soft lighting, polished marble floors, and racks of suits arranged like pieces of art. A sales associate in a crisp black uniform approached him with a practiced smile.

"Good evening, sir. Looking for something special tonight?"

"Yes," Timothy replied without hesitation. "A suit. Something fit for a dinner meeting. I need it tailored to fit properly."

The associate’s eyes lit up. "Of course, sir. Please, follow me."

They guided him toward a section displaying Hugo Boss’ latest collection. Timothy’s eyes scanned over dark grays, navy blues, and sleek black ensembles. One in particular caught his attention: a Hugo Boss navy slim-fit wool suit, paired with a crisp white shirt and a deep burgundy silk tie.

He slipped into the fitting room, changed, and when he looked into the mirror—he almost didn’t recognize himself. The lines of the suit hugged his shoulders perfectly, slimming his frame while giving him the presence of someone far older and more experienced than a 20-something who had just started a company.

"This," Timothy said under his breath. "This is what a CEO looks like."

The associate smiled approvingly when he stepped out. "Excellent choice, sir. That suit is from our premium line. The jacket and trousers together retail at 1,580 Singapore dollars, the shirt at 220 dollars, and the tie at 160 dollars. Shall I prepare the set for you?"

Timothy didn’t even blink. "Yes. I’ll take all three."

Moments later, he handed over his card, the total flashing on the machine: 1,960 SGD.

***

Later in the evening, 7 o’clock, at the rooftop, Timothy was already seated inside Spago Dining Room by Wolfgang Puck. The city stretched endlessly beneath the glass walls, Marina Bay’s shimmering skyline painting the night with gold and blue. Soft jazz played in the background brought such a nice vibe that he was on a luxurious restaurant.

Timothy adjusted his cufflinks, his new Hugo Boss suit fitting him like armor. He exhaled slowly, trying to settle the nervous energy in his chest. This was supposed to be business, just business. But a part of him couldn’t help but feel the weight of expectation.

Then the maître d’ turned toward the entrance, and Timothy followed his gaze.

There she was.

Seo Hana stepped into the restaurant, and for a moment, Timothy forgot to breathe. She wore a cream-and-black ensemble her cropped tweed jacket paired with a ruffled black skirt and patterned tights, a beret perched lightly atop her flowing hair. small designer bag hung from her shoulder, understated yet elegant.

The lighting caught her just right, highlighting the softness of her features, the confidence in the way she carried herself. She didn’t look like a secretary reporting for her first job, she looked like she belonged here.

Timothy’s heart skipped once, twice. Beautiful doesn’t even cover it.

Hana scanned the room, and when her eyes found him, a smile curved across her lips, warm, polite, but enough to make Timothy’s chest tighten.

He quickly stood, pulling out her chair as she approached. "Ms. Seo. Right on time."

"Mr. Guerrero," she replied lightly, her voice carrying that same calm tone, though he thought he caught the faintest nervous flutter beneath it. "I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long."

Timothy shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. "Not at all. I was just... taking in the view."

He wasn’t lying. But the view he meant wasn’t the skyline anymore, it was her.

Hana sat on the chair and then after that, Timothy returned to his chair and sat across from her. His eyes were on her and her outfit.

Do Koreans always dress that nice? She has a great fashion taste.

"How about we take our order first so we can proceed with the discussion," Timothy suggested.

Hana simply nodded with a smile. "No problem."

Timothy hailed the waiter, who approached promptly with menus in hand. The leather-bound book was placed gently before each of them.

Timothy opened his and skimmed through the options. The menu was full of dishes he’d only heard about in passing—grilled Iberico pork chops, Japanese sea bream sashimi, and signature dishes designed to impress.

He looked up at Hana, who was politely scanning the menu with careful restraint. She seemed hesitant, as though worried about appearing excessive. Timothy noticed the way her eyes lingered on a few items, then moved away too quickly.

"Don’t hold back," Timothy said, his tone steady but reassuring. "I was the one who suggested this dinner. I’ll be covering the bill, so order whatever you’d like."

Hana’s lips parted slightly, surprise flickering in her expression before she smiled softly.

"That’s very kind of you, Mr. Guerrero. In that case, I’ll try something I haven’t before."

The waiter stood at attention, pen poised.

"For me," Timothy said, "I’ll have the Snake River Wagyu ribeye, medium rare. And a glass of red wine."

Hana closed her menu gracefully and handed it back. "I’ll have the Japanese sea bream sashimi to start, followed by the Maine lobster with Singapore-style chili sauce. And just sparkling water, please."

"Excellent choices," the waiter said before gliding away.

Timothy leaned back in his chair, watching her. She carried herself with elegance, unshaken by the luxury surrounding them. Definitely not just any secretary, he thought.