The CEO Who Hates Me

"What? For one month?" Mr. Ming blurted out.

Denise smiled as she bit her lip.

Arya had called and told Denise to ask her father for permission to stay with Arya for a month while Ryu and Shawn are away, so she could spend time with the Kens.

This would really make life easier because she was missing Shawn too much and didn't know how to spend her time without him…

It was Elder Ken's idea in the first place for Denise to come and stay with them, she is the eldest daughter-in-law after all.

"Yeah… I already told you how much Arya and Bro Ryu helped me during the Mediterranean cruise trip. They are secretly married and sis is feeling very lonely right now since bro Ryu is in the show. She called me and sounded very depressed, so I offered that I would go and stay with her while bro Ryu is still away. I will stay with her for maximum one month but as soon as bro Ryu is out, I'll be back." Denise said, trying to convince her dad.

Mr. Ming's eyebrow arched and said, "Ryu or you mean you'll be back as soon as Shawn is out?"

Denise chuckled and answered, "Of course, as soon as Shawn is out, I'll return immediately…"

Mr. Ming sighed and said, "Alright, you're all grown up now and can decide on your own. Go and have a vacation at the Kens then,"

Denise happily jumped and hugged her dad.

She was really excited as well as nervous to meet all the Kens especially Shawn's parents and to spend time with them.

She could easily spend her time with Kens as Arya's best friend, without making the Old Man Skull suspicious about anything because he knew Arya was Ryu's wife and Denise was very close with Arya.

......

Denise arrived early next morning at Kens Mansion and she was given a warm welcome by Cecile who hugged her tightly.

"Oh God, Arya told me about you and I'm so relieved that my son has someone like you by his side. Please stay with him and…" Cecile paused when Karl squeezed her shoulder.

"Hon, don't scare our daughter-in-law by burdening her like this, she has just arrived… Let her settle first, let us show her the house and take her inside then afterwards, we will start bothering her." Karl said smiling.

Cecile smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry dear. Come inside and meet everyone, later I will show you your room."

Denise followed her and came inside. Everyone gave a very warm welcome to Denise. After formal greetings with everyone, Cecile took her to show her the house and then to her room.

Denise followed and she was very surprised to see that the room was quite big and lavishly decorated.

There was a huge bed in the center of the room made of teakwood with exquisite carving on the headboard giving it a royal look, side tables that were the same as the bed with carving on their legs.

There was a big sofa that was similar in design with the bed and looked like a set with the bed was kept on a corner of the room. Other decorations also were done, keeping in mind the elegance and lavish look at the same time.

The walls were painted in a pastel colour with elegant and beautiful work on the ceiling which was highlighted with golden and light pink colours.

The room had a huge attached changing room where huge wardrobes were built leading to a huge bathroom equipped with all the modern bath fittings and a huge Jacuzzi in it.

Denise was amazed to see the thoughtfulness of Shawn's parents and her heart felt warm with the love and care that exuded from all the gestures.

"Do you think Shawn will like this too," Cecile whispered, she asked smiling with her teary eyes.

Denise could feel the longing Cecile was harboring for his son, it was clearly visible in her voice and eyes, the regret of not being able to nurture and take care of Shawn was written everywhere in her demeanor.

"I arranged it all in advance, so once he returns and decides to stay with to us, everything is ready…" Shawn's mom murmured with a garble voice.

Denise felt her eyes sting and she hugged Cecile unconsciously and the tears Shawn's mom was suppressing burst out.

""Don't worry auntie, I'm sure Shawn will return soon and all those years that you've lost will be replaced by longer years that you'll have with him."  Denise said as she patted Cecile's shoulders.

"Hey! What is with this uncle and auntie? Please call me mom now and you call Karl dad. We're now family and we are welcoming you with arms wide open," Cecile said as she gently pushed her and smiled.

"Arya and Rita are quite busy with their trainings and I think father will have you under training too while you stay here." Cecile added.

"Yes, Arya already told me mom and it's alright with me." Denise answered.

It was dinner time and Denise had the chance to meet everyone including Dean's parents and Rita.

It was the first time when Denise and Rita had formally met. Denise could sense that Rita was slightly embarrassed in front of her.

Rita felt uncomfortable because Denise was the woman she misunderstood having an affair with Dean, when she saw them both together the last time.

Denise smiled at Rita genuinely and she did the same. She was actually shocked when she found out that Denise and Shawn were married already but she was happy for her brother at the same time.

"Denise, we welcome you in the family." Elder Ken said as he looked at her.

She smiled. The Ken Family was amazing, she instantly felt at home and comfortable.

"Oh Butler Omni, how come you're left behind? Soon these Ken boys will have little Kens and don't tell me that you'll be still single by that time?" Dean's mom commented.

Butler Omni crumpled his face and answered, "We have a new member between us tonight, please spare me the horror of discussing my loveless life in front of the new daughter-in-law."

Elder Ken laughed then shifted his gaze towards Denise, "Hmm Omni is right… so Denise tell us. What are your positive points and what do you feel are your lacking points. As a granddaughter-in-law of mine, I expect you to be able to take care of the household as well as be strong enough to protect yourself enough in case of an emergency. How is your fighting skill and how well do you think you can take care of an entire household?"

Elder Ken paused and looked at Arya and Rita and spoke, "You know Arya here is good with the handling of the entire house and all the chores and duties that needs attention and how, she knows them all and understands these things very well but she lacks in skills for self-defense so she's been training on that aspect of hers for a month. While Rita here is good in fighting and self-defense but lacks the ability on simple things about how to maintain the house like cooking, taking care of the entire household monitoring the house-helps, what to buy for home and how to manage the resources of the household etc."

Denise bit her lips as she looked at Arya and Rita simultaneously. They were both smiling at her with mischief in their eyes.

She felt like she was in a very tight and hot spot right now.

"So dear, I want to know this as soon as possible so that we know what we would need to improve in you and start with the training of that skill so you could help Shawn along the way. But of course, just being beside my grandson alone, giving him comfort and making him feel loved and cared, we are already grateful to you and happy to see you both together. But being a part of this family, I just want to make sure that everyone could learn more things so you could be your partner's strength in any given situation of life." Elder Ken added

Her in laws were ready to burn her alive on the spot.

For the first time, Denise felt embarrassed for not listening to her mom, to study things that could help her to be a good housewife like cooking and looking after and monitoring the house and maids etc.

For the first time, she regretted her refusal whenever her dad would ask her to study martial arts and other fighting skill lessons together with her brothers.

Elder Ken smiled as he waited for her answer.

'Oh shoot! I'm so dead!' She thought helplessly because she did not know anything at all except for bartending and her bar businesses.

"Uhm grandpa, I think you'll need two months to train this ignorant woman. I'm really sorry but I'm so lacking. The only thing I'm good at is in mixing up alcohols and making cocktails." Denise whispered as she scratched her head and added, "Do you want to try? I'll make you an amazing cocktail that's only my specialty."

Elder Ken laughed, "Alright, I like your honesty child. Let us try your mixing skill later and celebrate your coming in here. Don't worry I will put more efforts for your training to make sure you will improve within a span of a month…"

Denise almost choked…

And she could see the teasing smile from Arya and Rita, their grin widening as if saying, "Good luck girl, that's the actual welcome to the Kens world… hahaha!"