"ARE YOU READY?"

Screams echoed through the hall.

"I SAID, ARE YOU READY??"

The screams got louder.

"Then I am happy to present to you, for the first time live.... ATEEZ!!!!"

Screams continued as eight boys came out on stage before taking their places for their first song...

---

Ateez had become an internet sensation within weeks. Their music videos topped all the charts and their few shows had sold out instantly. Their charisma on stage captured the hearts of their audiences.

They loved every second of it.

The eight boys had ended up dropping out of college. The only reason they were there was to work on their dancing and try to get their names out there, which they were now doing.

Their manager had provided them with a bigger house, equipped with its own studio for them to practice in, and he often came to visit them and critique their work.

They threw everything they had at their work, sometimes practicing for almost 24 hours straight.

Wooyoung and Yunho worked well together, designing new choreography all the time. It kept their minds off other matters.

One night, while taking a short break, Wooyoung was surprised to hear his phone ringing from his bag. He answered it without looking at the caller id and wished he had.

"Hello, Son."

Wooyoung dragged his hand over his face, trying to keep himself from moaning in disgust.

"Dad."

"How are you?"

"Good. How are you?"

"I miss you. I was wondering if you wanted to meet me for dinner Friday night? I'd love to catch up, and I have a business proposition for you."

"I'm not joining the family business, Dad. I have a career now, and it's what I've always wanted. You can't change that."

Yunho glanced at his friend, hearing the angry tone in his voice. It was never pleasant when his father called.

"Please, Son. It's been years since I've seen you, and I think you'd be surprised by what I have to offer."

Wooyoung held his phone away from his face and groaned. "Fine. Where do you want me to meet you."

His father recited an address. "Oh, and bring your friend, San was it? He is always good for a laugh."

"Sure, sure." Wooyoung nodded. Even though San could be childish sometimes, he always knew when to be serious, and his father had always liked the boy. He was also glad he'd have some support if things got tense. San was the only one who could calm him down sometimes.

"Friday, 8 o'clock."

"Friday." Wooyoung said before hanging up.

"What's going on?" Yunho asked, placing a hand on the others shoulder.

"My dad wants to meet for a 'business' dinner on Friday. He wants me to bring San, so we will need the night off..."

"I don't see that being a problem, we could all use a night off, so this will be a good excuse."

"Just be happy you will be having more fun than we will." The shorter laughed, patting the hand on his shoulder.

---

When Friday came, Wooyoung became a nervous wreck. San watched him pacing back and forth in his room, smiling slightly.

His father had always been intimidating, but San never let that get to him. He was a man with power, and he liked to flaunt it, even though the way he made his money wasn't always legal.

"What if he wants me to leave the group."

"Tell him no."

"What if he wants me to move back home."

"Tell him no."

"What if he..."

"Tell him no." San smirked, cutting off his friend.

Wooyoung sat next to him on the bed and San wrapped his arms around the others waist. "We haven't spoken in years, and now that I'm making a name for myself, he suddenly shows up. I don't like it."

"I know, Youngie, but he is your dad. And I'll be there to help you."

"Thank you, Sannie."

When they were both dressed in slacks and a nice button-down shirt with a tie, the couple made their way to the location given by the younger's dad.

"Really, Dad?" Wooyoung groaned seeing that it was a strip club. "He never ceases to try and embarrass me..."

"Come on," San said softly, taking his hand and pulling him inside.

The place was dark, and it smelled awful. A stage stood in the center with several girls, and even a few guys, dancing around poles. Men crowded around the stage offering money to their favorite dancers, cat-calling and begging for them to come closer.

The boys rolled their eyes as they walked to a large, curved booth in the corner. Wooyoung's father had a girl sitting on his lap, caressing her thigh.

"Ah! Son, I'm glad you could make it." He motioned for the girl to leave, slapping her ass once and laughing when she let out a tiny yelp. "Sit, sit. Have a drink. We are celebrating!" It was obvious he had a few drinks in him already.

When a scantily clad waitress came over to them, she winked at Wooyoung and said, "What can I get you, handsome?"

"Whatever the best beer on tap is." He said, not really looking at the girl in front of him. San ordered the same and took his friend's hand under the table.

"What are we celebrating, Sir?" He asked politely.

"You boys, of course! Ateez. BIG accomplishment. You and your friends are making quite a name for yourselves. I'm sure the ladies love you too." He reached over and patted his son's back so hard he jolted into the table.

San fussed over him for a second, straightening out his shirt and making sure he was ok.

"Thank you, Dad. I... I didn't think you would be happy about that if I'm being honest."

"Naaaah, that argument is in the past. I actually wanted to talk to you about my company sponsoring your group so we could spread your name across the country." Wooyoung rose his eyebrow, waiting for the catch, but the waitress came back.

She placed the drinks down and moved to sit on Wooyoung's lap. His father chuckled and then turned to watch the performers on stage.

The silver-haired boy cringed and tried to push her off his lap, not really wanting to partake in what went on here. She pouted and ran her hands through his hair, trying to change his mind.

"Enjoy, Son." His father said, growling a little bit.

Not wanting to upset the man, Wooyoung submitted, letting the girl fawn all over him. She placed kisses against his neck and moved her hips slightly.

San did his best to look anywhere but at his friend while inching his foot over to nudge him, hoping it would reassure him a little bit.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, before an announcer came over the speakers, cutting the music off. "Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for coming to join us, we have a special show for you tonight. Jung Industries has helped finance it, so please give the man of honor a round of applause!" A spotlight turned on, flooding the group with light.

Wooyoung glanced at his father as he stood and bowed slightly, waving at the people in front of him. He then sat and said, "I'm making a name for myself as well. I hope you let me support you."

His son clenched his teeth as the girl on his lap giggled and moved to straddle him. Oh, come on...

He shot a glare at San, who was doing nothing to help.

"Now, as a special treat, we are going to slow things down a little bit. We know you love her for her moves, you love her for her voice, let me present our precious Flower!"

The crowd started cheering, louder than before, as the room went dark.

A single spot fixed on the stage, revealing a brown-haired girl, clad in a red lace bra, matching panties, black fishnet stockings, and high heels that made her legs look sexier than they already were. She was facing away from the audience as the music started.

Wooyoung tried not to focus anything, but there was something about her...

The girl on his lap started kissing his neck again, turning his head away from the stage. He growled slightly, but that only made her do it more. She grabbed his hands and made him place them on her hips.

He glanced at San again, he was staring at the stage, his mouth open slightly.

"San?" he hissed, trying to pull his head away from the girls' lips.

"Youngie..." San couldn't even get the words out.

Then he didn't need to know what his friend was going to say. His gut flipped when the girl on stage started to sing.