THE BLUE RIVER

THE COMPANY RETREAT OF THE BLUE RIVER

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CHAPTER 5: THE COMPANY RETREAT

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FRIDAY 6:00 PM. GANGWON-DO RESORT.

"Team building," the email said.

"Trust exercises," the HR team said.

"Hell," River and Sena said together.

BlueRiver Tech.

All 200 employees.

3 days. 2 nights.

And only ONE room left for the CEOs.

The hotel manager smiled.

"Sorry CEOs. Overbooked. We have a deluxe suite.

One bed. King size. Very spacious."

Sena: "No."

River: "Absolutely not."

Manager: "The next available room is 40 minutes away."

Sena and River looked at each other.

"Fine," they both said.

At the same time.

The suite was... nice.

Too nice.

King bed.

Living room.

Two bathrooms.

But ONE BED.

River immediately took the couch.

"I’m sleeping here."

Sena looked at the couch.

It was small.

"You’ll break your back."

"I’ve slept in worse places."

Sena didn’t ask.

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PART 2: DRINKS + TRUTH OR DARE

9:00 PM. RESORT BAR.

"CEOs have to play!" the marketing team yelled.

River: "I don’t play."

Sena: "I don’t drink."

30 minutes later:

River: 1 beer.

Sena: 3 soju.

She was giggly.

Dangerous.

Truth or Dare.

Her turn.

"Truth!"

"CEO Han, do you have a crush on anyone in this company?"

Sena, drunk and honest: "No. I have a crush on my enemy."

The whole table went SILENT.

River choked on his water.

"Han."

"What?" Sena said, eyes big. "You’re my enemy. It’s a fact."

Everyone laughed nervously.

Crisis avoided.

Barely.

Later, River pulled her aside.

"You can’t say things like that."

"Why? It’s true," Sena said. "You’re mean. And cold. And you stole my client.

But you also remembered my coffee.

And you defended me.

And you stayed up all night to fix the server."

River stared.

"You’re drunk."

"Maybe," Sena whispered. "But I’m not wrong."

She swayed.

River caught her arm.

"Come on. Bed."

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PART 3: THE CARETAKER

11:00 PM. SUITE.

Sena was a mess.

Shoes off.

Hair in her face.

Mumbling.

River put her on the bed.

Carefully.

"Stay," he said.

"Wanna sleep on the floor," Sena mumbled.

"Tough."

He got her water.

Painkillers.

A blanket.

"You’re bossy," Sena said.

"I’m CEO."

"Of me too?"

"Unfortunately."

Sena rolled over.

Looked at him on the couch.

Too small for him.

His legs hanging off.

"Come here," she said.

"No."

"The bed is big. Promise I won’t bite."

"Last time you said that I got coffee spilled on me."

"That was different."

River sighed.

Stood up.

Laid on the far, FAR edge of the bed.

Back to her.

Rigid.

Sena smiled in the dark.

"Goodnight, CEO Kwon."

"Go to sleep, CEO Han."

5 minutes later:

A small hand grabbed his sleeve.

"River?"

"What."

"Thank you. For tonight."

"Go to sleep."

But he didn’t move his arm away.

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PART 4: MORNING AFTER

7:00 AM

Sena woke up first.

Face down.

Arm over River’s chest.

Leg over his leg.

She froze.

River was awake.

Staring at the ceiling.

Not breathing.

"Morning," Sena whispered.

"Morning," River said. Voice rough.

"How long have I been... like this?"

"An hour."

"Why didn’t you move me?"

"Didn’t want to wake you."

Sena slowly rolled off.

Red-faced.

"I’m so sorry—"

"Don’t," River cut her off. "It’s fine."

Awkward.

So awkward.

Then his phone rang.

Chairman Kwon.

Again.

River answered.

"Father."

"Are you winning yet?"

"It’s a joint acquisition."

"Then win harder. Or I’ll find someone who can."

Click.

Sena saw his face shut down.

The CEO mask back on.

She did something impulsive.

She took his hand.

Just for 3 seconds.

"You’re not him," she said. "You’re better."

River looked at her hand.

Then at her.

"Don’t look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you see me."

He stood up.

Showered.

Back to CEO mode.

But he kept the blanket she’d used.

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PART 5: TRUST FALL

2:00 PM. TEAM ACTIVITY.

Trust falls.

Of course.

HR: "CEO Kwon, catch CEO Han!"

River: "No."

Sena: "I’ll go first."

She climbed up.

Looked down at him.

"Do you trust me?"

River, quiet: "Yes."

She fell back.

He caught her.

Perfect.

Then his turn.

Sena caught him.

Easily.

Even though he was heavier.

Everyone clapped.

"CEOs have good chemistry!" someone yelled.

Sena and River both looked away.

That night, back in the suite:

Two beds.

The hotel had "magically" found another room.

River was relieved.

Sena was... disappointed.

And she hated that she was.

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END OF CHAPTER 5

What happened:

Forced room sharing - One bed, king size

Drunk Sena - "I have a crush on my enemy"

Caretaker River - Water, blanket, couch to bed

Morning cuddle - Arm over chest, 1 hour

Trust fall - "Do you trust me?" "Yes."

From partners → to something softer.

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writed by Omahcbeauty

THE COUCH TO BED UPGRADE!!

Chapter 6 will be: Jealousy arc + rival company flirts with Sena + River gets possessive + "She’s with me"