Forbidden Desire of the CEO

I was still euphoric, despite the thirty-hour journey from Brazil to Korea. Everything was new to me and I hadn't been able to sleep for a minute. I had never been on a plane or even traveled anywhere, and the first time I did it was on a long trip that would change my whole life. I look once again at my sketchbook, admiring the portfolio that got me a scholarship at one of Korea's most renowned colleges, still not believing that I was really here. I grew up with my grandmother who had recently passed away because I lost my parents when I was a child.

When I lost my grandmother, I was totally alone in Brazil and didn't see any point in staying there. My aunt has lived and worked in Korea for over twenty years and always wanted me to come here, but it would be very difficult to get a work visa for someone with no qualifications, so when I readed about the Global Korean Scholarship,, I saw a chance to get a visa and be able to study and work in Korea.

My aunt had been working for the Park family for fifteen years and was now working for the family's eldest son, so when she recommended me to his wife she didn't hesitate to hire me. Everything was perfect, because this job required me to live there and that would guarantee that, as well as a salary, I would also have a home and food. My aunt is very discreet and didn't tell me much about the couple I would be working for. She just made me promise that I wouldn't fall in love with the owner of the house because, according to her, he was very handsome. I've always been very integrated and even if he was handsome, I would never get involved with a married man, so I'm sure that won't be a problem.

I got off the plane and was finally on Korean soil. I was excited to see my aunt after all this time. After all, she was the only family I had. I picked up my bags and after passing through immigration, I went out the main gate trying to find the exit. Everything was so modern and clean that I was sure I was a long way from Brazil. I'd been studying Korean for over a year on my own, and I was still struggling to read Hangul. I was trying to locate myself until I heard a voice that I'd only heard on the phone.

- Jane, my daughter, you're huge! So beautiful! Come here!

She hugged me warmly, and I couldn't help crying as I felt I had a family again.

- Aunt Amelia! I thought you wouldn't be able to pick me up, you said you'd be busy...

- I thought I would be too, but Mrs. Park was so excited about your arrival that she gave me the rest of the day off and had the driver bring me here to pick you up.

- What a wonderful boss! I don't even know her and I already love her!

- Yeah...

Her smile seemed to fade a little, and I was surprised.

- What's the matter, auntie? Isn't she wonderful?

- No, she is... I don't have any complaints about her. On the contrary, she's very nice to all the staff, but she's not so nice to Mr. Park. Park.

- Huh? Her own husband? Why is that?

- She was forced into marriage by her parents and never liked Mr. Park. Park, she's very cold towards him even though he's very silly with her.

- Well, that's between them, isn't it? If she's nice to the staff, that's all that matters.

- Yes, I'm glad you think so. I'm just a bit worried about all this attention she's giving you, you know. She asked some strange questions.

- What questions?

- If you were pretty, if you were single... She seemed a bit too interested for my taste.

- She may have been jealous of her husband.

- I don't know... Like I said, she doesn't like him, so I'm probably just imagining things.

- Yeah, never mind! The important thing now is that I'm going to be close to you, I'm going to study art, which is what I love, and soon I'll be a famous artist!

- Yes, my child! Never give up on your dreams!

- Never auntie!

- Now let's go! You must be tired and hungry. I've prepared some Brazilian food from Minas Gerais that was your grandmother's recipe!

- How delicious! It's all I need!

She helped me with my bags, and we left in the direction of the car that would take us to the Park mansion.

- Jane, this is Jinwoo, he's the mansion's chauffeur, and he's the baby of the house.

- Aigooo! Don't talk like that or the girl will think I'm spoiled.

- Aren't you?

- Aish... It's nice to meet you Jane! Welcome to Korea! You can call me Jin!

- Thank you, Jin, it's my pleasure!

He seemed very nice, and I could tell that my aunt seemed to love him like a son and I liked him right away. I stared out of the window as the beautiful Seoul scenery took my attention away from what my aunt was saying. I could hardly believe I was here after working so hard in Brazil to save money for my ticket. I'd always worked in a family home from a very young age, so this kind of work was nothing new to me. When we got a little further away from the busiest areas, we passed a large automatic gate that soon opened as soon as Jin pressed a button while still in the car. When we entered the property and I caught a glimpse of the mansion, I almost fell backwards. The place was huge, and the landscape was beautiful.

- Wow, what a beautiful house! How can it be so big?

- You haven't seen anything. There are two swimming pools, one outside and one inside which is heated, a sauna, a hot tub, six bedrooms, a party area, a movie theater, and that's not even counting the servants' bedrooms which are in a less busy area of the house.

- Oh my God, how do you manage all this?

- Oh, it's not just me, there's a gardener, a pool attendant, a cook and some maids who come during the day and leave at night.

- So of all the employees, only the two of us will be living in the mansion?

- Yes! It used to be just me, but when I explained the situation to Mrs. Park she was more than happy to welcome you home.

- She sounds nice.

- Nice? The woman is the devil!

- Watch your mouth, boy!

- I'm sorry, Mrs. Amelia, but I can't like her because of what she does to Mr. Park.

- Keep quiet, it's none of your business!

- But everyone sees that...

- Shh! You didn't see anything! First lesson in working in other people's homes... Jane, you have to pretend you don't see anything wrong with what your bosses do.

- Me? As long as they pay my salary to me, she can do what she wants with her life.

- That's right, my child! We stay out of the boss's business. Now let's get inside! Jin helps with the bags.

He takes one of my suitcases and I take the other. We soon entered the mansion through the back door and I could already smell the wonderful aroma coming from the kitchen.

- My God, auntie, is that the smell of chicken with okra?

- Could it be anything else?

My mouth filled with water as I remembered my grandmother's favorite food.

- Oh my God, I want some!

- Then sit down to eat, my child! Jin go take her bags to the room next to mine and come back for some food too!

- Yay!

He left almost running, taking my bags with him, and I sat down at the kitchen table while my aunt filled my plate with food, which I quickly savored.

- Yumi, just like Grandma used to make!

- Who do you think I learned it from?

Jin came back, and soon she was serving him a plate too, and he was very excited.

- Are you starting college tomorrow?

- Yes! Tomorrow is my first day at the Korean Arts College!

I say excitedly and Jin looks even more excited.

- I can't believe it! My brother Eunji is studying there too! I'll introduce you tomorrow and ask him to help you there, so you won't feel so lost anymore!

- Really? If it's not too much trouble, I'd love to, because I was already imagining myself lost and alone there tomorrow!

- It's no trouble at all! I'm sure my brother would love to meet such a beautiful girl.

- If your bride hears you talking like that, she'll kick your ass.

- But I said with all due respect, I'm engaged, but my brother is single, it was no big deal!

- Oh my God, the girl has barely arrived, and you're already trying to find her a boyfriend! She's too young for that, she's only twenty and has to think about studying, not dating.

- Aish, Mrs. Amelia, I didn't mean that way.

- Yes, auntie, you can relax. The last thing on my mind is dating. I want to focus on my studies, but I do agree to meet your brother because it would be great to have an acquaintance at college.

- All right then, tomorrow before class I'll ask him to come and pick you up!

- Thank you so much!