The place Juho took Kaija to was a grand mansion beyond the limits of Z City, standing alone atop a quiet hill.
At first glance, the mansion appeared abandoned. When Juho pulled up to the gate, he had to stop, step out, and unlock a massive antique lock sealing the iron bars. Inside, however, the walls and furnishings were in pristine condition, as though the place had been thoroughly cleaned that very morning.
"Is this some kind of vacation house of yours?" Kaija asked, her mouth falling open as she took in the oil paintings lining the walls.
"Not exactly a vacation house," Juho said, watching the fascination on Kaija’s face with delight. "My father gave me this place out of the many estates our family owned, so it’s essentially just my house."
Kaija blinked at him, then her attention returned to admiring the interior. The interior here shared the same luxurious vintage architectural style as the gorgeous mansion she’d stayed in, where she was once held captive.
No wonder Juho had demanded a place of the same living standard as Charles’s when he negotiated the protection deal. With Juho always wearing simple clothes, doing mundane jobs, driving the same modest black sedan, Kaija sometimes forgot he was still the Young Master of a drug dynasty, and probably just as filthy rich as Charles.
"Why take me to your private estate just for lunch?" Kaija asked. "We could just have lunch somewhere in the city, and you’ve been very keen on keeping your secrets. Are you sure it’s a good idea taking me to such a... top-secret place?" He didn’t even make her wear any eye mask on the way here.
"I wouldn’t have taken you if it wasn’t alright with me," Juho replied with a soft smile.
Not to mention, his list of tasks he needed done was still very long. Changing her impression of him, making her more flustered around him, getting her to care about him beyond their assumed professional cooperation...
He’d better start working on it from now. When the deal with Charles Kosonen hit the deadline, he’d be entering the protection program and lose half the freedom he had now.
"Come to the dining room with me, will you?" Juho invited. "Our lunch might get cold soon."
Kaija’s stomach agreed at once, and the two of them made their way to the dining room.
On the long grand table in the middle of a room that looked more like a palace’s grand hall than a dining room, plates were readily set along with the cutlery, glasses, and a bottle of white wine.
"I hope you don’t mind having wine for lunch," Juho said, opening the bottle. "This one goes perfectly with the salmon we’re having today. Well, maybe not as perfect as boba tea to you."
"I don’t mind anything. I could drink that whole bottle too if you let me. I’m starving."
Juho’s laughter broke out. "You won’t get to drink that much. I need you conscious for another shoot later on."
"Another shoot?" Kaija’s brow shot up. "What shoot?"
"Just a normal shoot, for the sake of my hobby. No training, no magazine. Just something I’d keep for... my personal art study. Could you be my model for that?"
A glass was handed to Kaija. She took it from Juho, sipping slowly as she considered his request.
Not that she minded modeling for him. She’d grown far too used to that by now. What was bothering her was how Juho was acting very strange today.
Juho had already acted strange during the shoot, being overly sensitive about how she perceived him, insisting she should care about him personally.
Then, he’d taken her to his private estate for lunch, which was obviously hastily prepared by his servants while they were on their way here. Now, he was asking for a personal photoshoot?
No matter how differently she tried to see it, this lunch was starting to feel a lot more like a date than just a normal lunch between colleagues. No, maybe not a date, but more like...
"Juho, answer me this honestly," Kaija said, placing her glass down carefully. "Are you trying to make me sleep with you?"
The question, so bluntly spoken, made Juho almost choke on the fine wine he was sipping.
"Kaija," he said, placing his glass down as well.
The warm smile was still there, but every single word came out with emphasis on each syllable.
"I am not trying to have you sleep with me, so don’t ever have that thought in your mind, ever again."
Kaija blinked, weighing his words along with that practiced smile.
"Sorry if I took it the wrong way then," she replied evenly, still very much suspicious, but she picked up the glass again and sipped away the awkwardness filling the air.
Having wine on an empty stomach was a terrible idea, she learned that right then and there. Her mind was already spinning before she even got to touch the food.
"Are you sure you don’t need me to feed you?" Juho asked, concerned.
Kaija was clutching her head now, voice turning sluggish. "No... I... can eat on... my own."
Sighing, Juho moved his plate from opposite hers to right beside her.
"Have your seat, Kaija. I’ll feed you," he said. He quietly made a note that her drinking limit was far lighter than his, his hand conveniently removing the glass away from hers.
The plate cover was removed, revealing two portions of salmon rice. Throughout the meal, Kaija wasn’t sure whether she should be grateful for how attentive Juho was at feeding her, or be terrified, for his gentle attentiveness reminded her of the time when he’d applied balm over her bruises three times a day.
"You’re strangely gentle for someone who could incapacitate another person within seconds, Juho," Kaija said, mouth opening wide for another scoop. "Your girlfriends must have been treated like princesses."
The spoon suddenly paused before it reached Kaija’s mouth.
She glanced up at Juho, her mouth still wide open, wondering whether she’d just said something wrong again.
"What made you think I’ve treated my girlfriends well?" Juho asked. Irritation had slipped into his tone, and he was still not letting her have the food.
"Erm... I mean, I’m just a mere colleague, and yet you’re being so nice to me. I bet you must have treated your girlfriends even better than this."
The spoon landed back onto the plate with a sharp clink.
"Turns out there are still so many things I need to correct for you, Kaija Sepala," Juho said, trying to keep his voice as soft and calm as possible. "Listen well. No matter how many girls I’ve slept with, I have never had a girlfriend."
Kaija’s eyes flew wide with shock, but then some vague memories surfaced, and she barely held back from hitting herself in the head.
"What does it feel like to have feelings for someone?"
This twenty-five-year-old Juho had once asked her that, while she was drugged out of her mind in the backseat of his sedan.
"Ahem," Kaija cleared her throat, her cheeks burning pink out of embarrassment. "Sorry again, then. I will... I will try to keep that in mind."
Thankfully, the spoon was picked up again as Juho continued feeding her, though his face still seemed stormy. Just as she was chewing the delicious mouthful, Juho spoke again, his voice even softer than before.
"What do you think about being my first, Kaija?"
At once, Kaija nearly choked on the spot, the way she’d done to Juho earlier.