MY CEO LOVES ME

FRIENDS,DRINKS,AND SECRETS

Chapter Four:

While Sia navigated the pressures of her new job and the complex tension with Ryu Han, there was another side to his life that few ever saw. Ryu wasn’t just the cold, intimidating CEO; he had friends who understood the pressures of wealth and influence, even if their own families’ fortunes were less secure.

Twice a month, Ryu met with his closest friends, Minho and Jae, in a discreet rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline. Both came from families with social standing, but fragile empires—houses built on appearances and tenuous connections rather than enduring wealth.

Minho, with his quick wit and irrepressible humor, could always coax a laugh out of Ryu, even on the hardest days. Jae, quieter and more calculating, often served as the voice of reason, balancing Minho’s teasing with measured insight.

On this particular evening, the three settled into their usual spot, glasses of amber whiskey catching the glow of the city lights.

“Another week, another pile of disasters,” Minho joked, swirling his drink. “You look like you’ve been chasing ghosts, Ryu.”

Ryu smirked slightly, though his dark eyes betrayed fatigue. “Sometimes it feels like I’m haunted by them,” he admitted. “Family pressure, work, expectations… all of it. And some days, the ghosts are all too real.”

Jae nodded knowingly. “You carry too much on your own. That’s why these meetings exist. To remind you you’re not alone.”

Minho leaned back, grin wide. “And to remind you I’m smarter than you. Don’t forget that part.”

Despite the humor, there was a comfort in this ritual. Here, Ryu could drop the armor he wore at the office, speak openly about his fears and frustrations, and even reveal the vulnerability he had buried deep after his first heartbreak. Long ago, before the CEO title, Ryu had loved someone with all the recklessness of youth. She had been everything he wanted, but betrayal and circumstances had left him wounded. That pain had shaped the man he had become—distant, commanding, unapproachable. And yet, in the company of Minho and Jae, the weight lifted, if only slightly.

Meanwhile, Sia had her own support system. Arya, her best friend since high school, came from a wealthy home and carried a personality that was both infectious and mischievous. Arya had a knack for making life lighter, teasing Sia mercilessly about everything—from her wardrobe to her growing distraction at work. Yet, beneath the laughter and playful nudges, Arya had always been loyal, protective, and perceptive.

On a quiet Saturday evening, Sia and Arya sat on Arya’s apartment balcony, sharing a bottle of wine. The city glittered below, but their conversation was all about them.

“You’re distracted,” Arya said, nudging Sia with an elbow. “Don’t tell me it’s the CEO. That man is trouble wrapped in designer suits.”

Sia flushed, looking down at her glass. “I don’t know… he’s…” She trailed off, unsure how to explain the mix of fear, respect, and something else she couldn’t name.

“Something else, huh?” Arya teased, a grin spreading. “Oh, this is going to be fun. I see the way you get flustered around him. Admit it, he’s got your attention.”

Sia groaned but laughed softly. “It’s not like that. I just… I don’t understand him. He’s so…” She waved a hand helplessly. “Closed off. And yet—sometimes, I feel like there’s more beneath the surface.”

Arya leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’ve got a thing for mysteries, apparently. Maybe that’s why he intrigues you.”

“Maybe,” Sia murmured, letting the thought linger. But then her expression sobered. “I just… I can’t let my feelings interfere with work. Not when my family depends on me.”

Arya reached out, squeezing her hand gently. “Sia, you’re strong. You’ve been through worse than a difficult CEO. Don’t let anyone, not even Ryu Han, make you forget that.”

Back on the rooftop, Ryu took a slow sip of his drink, eyes drifting to the city lights below. He thought of Sia—the way she carried herself, her dedication, the quiet strength he had noticed during their interactions. She was different from anyone he had met in his controlled, high-pressure world. Her resilience mirrored his own, though shaped by hardship rather than wealth. It unsettled him in ways he didn’t understand, stirring feelings he had long buried beneath duty, pride, and fear.

“I suppose it’s inevitable,” Minho said, breaking the silence. “You’ll find someone who challenges you. Even Ryu Han isn’t untouchable.”

Ryu’s jaw tightened. “I’m not ready for that. Not after…” He trailed off, thoughts drifting to the past—the heartbreak that had taught him to guard his heart fiercely. “Not yet.”

“Then keep drinking,” Jae said quietly, “and let the world figure itself out.”

The three friends laughed, clinking glasses. For Ryu, these monthly gatherings were more than a ritual; they were a lifeline, a rare space where he could simply be Ryu—not the CEO, not the heir, not the unapproachable man everyone feared.

And somewhere across the city, Sia and Arya shared laughter, secrets, and dreams over wine and moonlight. Their bond, forged through years of friendship, was unwavering, offering Sia strength, perspective, and the occasional gentle nudge toward joy even amidst her struggles.

Though their worlds were different—one of wealth and expectation, the other of perseverance and responsibility—both Sia and Ryu were surrounded by people who understood them, even if no one else did. Friends, laughter, and the quiet moments between chaos reminded them that life was more than duty, reputation, or heartbreak.

Little did they know, these separate threads—the rooftop camaraderie of Ryu and his friends, the balcony conversations with Arya—would soon converge, intertwining their lives in ways neither could have imagined.