Dedicated to @Margie__09

"Where are you leaving at this early hour??" Amber yawned, still in her pajamas.

"Duffer! It's 10 in the morning!" Key yelled at her and her mouth formed an O shape.

"I have to meet Taemin...you know...it's one big story and I'll tell it you later! Bye for now!"
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"Why would Mr.Lee want to meet me?" she muttered for the nth time when she sat on the cab.

"Maybe Taemin would've been angry and blamed me as the cause? Or.....He came to know about the charity event which I attended with Taemin? Or.." her mind was thinking about all the possible connections.

She checked the time. It was 10:15AM sharp. And she was getting restless as she was determined to apologize Taemin today. She has already told him that she'll be meeting him in his office and she secretly knew that he'd be awaiting for her arrival.

But because of this unpredicted appointment with Mr. Lee, she thought she would first finish off this and then meet him freely.

"Can you drive a little faster?"

The skyscraper looked humongous and the elevation looked beautiful when she stepped inside it. The ambience was really calm and professional. She was stammering cause she's totally an alien to this place.

"Ah...Excuse me, you're Jung Haneul I guess" a woman approached her and she nodded fast in relief.

"This way, please" they started walking.

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She sat upright and there was an awkward silence soon after they introduced themselves.

Mr.Lee looked young. In fact, too young for his age, like he's in his mid 30s. And she could clearly see Taemin's features in him. The same perfect jaw line and full lips. He was too fit and his eyes were sharp...like he has a lot of secrets suppressed in him.

But for her, Mr.Lee looked different from what she had imagined. She portrayed him as an arrogant, strict and over dominant father but...He looked totally different. Calm, patient but not kind.

She now knew from where Taemin inherited his visuals.

Bless the Lee DNA!

"So...Miss Jung Haneul, what brings you here to Alaska?" He spoke up and that woke her up.

"Ah...I just came here with my friends Sir..for vacation" she partly lied and her fingers were fidgeting on its own.

"But I believe you're here to see Taemin" he smiled one side and that made her a little more nervous.

"So...you both went to the same high school?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Y-Yes Sir"

"You know...He told he's pursuing his business study but he was fooling around all the while"

She didn't know what to reply. Maybe tell him that he is disinterested in his current job or his love for dance? She knew that she'd be kicked out if she speaks about that but she really wished to tell him how his son is extraordinarily talented in music and dance.

"So...you like him?"

She felt really awkward because of the direct question. And her face suddenly started to turn a little red because Taemin is really far ahead from the "liking" stage.

"Like? Tsk..I'm deeply and madly in love with him! You have no idea how I'm insanely addicted to him. In short I can't imagine a future without him" she so badly wanted to tell him but gulped everything in and nodded shyly.

"He's a great dancer Sir...." she couldn't resist/control herself and she had no idea why she suddenly said that but she didn't regret telling.

Mr.Lee raised his eyebrows but that didn't stop Haneul from praising Taemin.

"He was the best singer in the whole campus. Every soul goes crazy when he plays the piano. He's really a prodigy..Sir" Her face started to turn bright.

Mr.Lee looked a little surprised by her sudden change in reaction.

"Continue" he said short.

Haneul took the chance and explained him about how he dances, in what genre he specializes etc...etc..

Mr.Lee was infact carefully studying her actions. He was busy looking at her actions, hand movements, how she has already got up from the chair totally looking enthusiastic, her eyes which turned wide every time she describes him and the sparkle as she reminisces his dance moves. Forget not the smile, which was plastered on her face from the beginning of their conversation about Taemin.

"So he really likes his music career?" Mr.Lee pretended to be innocent.

"Definitely Sir. He loves it. You know? He won a loads of dance competitions in his primary schools and he never told you anything because he was afraid that you may not like it"

"Well..I'm getting a little curious. I now want to know more about my son from your point of view"

Haneul didn't realize that she's digging her own grave.

"He doesn't like this work Sir. But he's doing it only for you. He likes you so much sir. But please consider his love for Arts. You know..he's too hesitant to tell what he feels, to you. Please let him choose the career which he thinks is the best for him I know I don't have any rights to tell you this but I don't think I'll never have an opportunity again to convey this to you....."

"So what does he want to become then?"

"A dancer sir...An idol particularly.." she had the widest grin.

Mr.Lee smiled.

"Fine then..let's keep it this way. If he becomes an idol, a famous one, will his reputation be perfect if he has a girlfriend?" He spoke up with a wicked smirk on his face.

Haneul was taken aback. She sat still, blinking her eyes.

"Thanks for letting me know more about my son. But my reason to summon you here is totally different" his look changed. Not the calm one anymore.

He took a pile of newspapers from the table and threw it on the desk.

"Mr.Lee Taemin's lady love! $150000 worth dance! Are they engaged?!!"

"The love triangle which led to a..... fist fight?!!"

"Mr.Taemin Lee and Mr.Jongin Kim were involved in a fierce fight! Will their fight affect the ties between their groups?"

"Stock Market heavily slumped because of the misunderstandings. Whom to blame? The heirs?!"

She stared at the papers blankly. She never realized that the auction dance would be in the papers, turning her speechless. Her eyes were wide carefully scanning the contents.

"Do you know what damage your stupid love has caused to our company? More than billions.. He was alright for a year and suddenly you're back. Just what do you want? Money? Or fame?"

Her vision already blurred and her lips were parted. She felt a sharp pang that hurted her.

"Sir, T-Taemin loves me....and I love h-him too...I-I just love him for what he is...n-not his back ground" she managed to blink back her tears.

"I will pay you as much as you want. Just leave him" he gave her a disgusted look.

She looked at him agape, in disbelief. He has tested her patience and took her for granted, making rise up to her feet with her fists balled up. Her fierce eyes directed at Mr.Lee.

"Leave him? I'm afraid I can't. Money? Tsk..Do you think I'm that cheap? I yearn for one thing and that's Taemin's love. He's my biggest gift and I don't want anything or anyone other than him. I've realized a lot of things in this one year gap and I figured out that my life is impossible without him. And I can't let him suffer alone again. I will provide the love which he hasn't received all these years from you. And that's how I love him and he's my everything. And Sir, do you think that we'll be separated just because of....money? I bet we won't get separated again" Her jaw tightened as she wiped her tears.

For a minute, he was taken aback. Mr.Lee carefully looked at her, trying to study her expression. He never expected such a reply from her. A bold reply. All he knew about her was that she's shy and timid. But she's different now. Anger. Was all evident in her looks.

But he didn't want the conversation to just end like this and he couldn't possibly imagine, a nobody like her, her winning the conversation.

A nefarious smile appeared on his face.

"But what if I tell you that...I'll let him pursue his music career if you disappear from his life?"
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Haneul froze on the spot. That was a hard blow. All her inbuilt courage till now, shattered into pieces. She couldn't react and tears whelmed in her eyes once again. She looked at him with her painful eyes. Her mind recalled various things at the moment.. L-Leave h-him..?

"With you each and every day feels like Valentine's day.."

"I always wanted to be your only one"

"I'm crazily addicted to this feeling I get whenever I'm with you.."

"You're just too beautiful for me to resist"

"I would rather pay a billion that seeing you dance with another man"

"You're the first ever person to enter in my life and be able to make me a mess"

"I love you so much Haneul....just don't leave me.."

"I feel like I'm sacrificing my dreams...You know how badly I wanted to be a singer right? But this business profession is the last thing I would ever want to do..."

She felt suffocated as she gripped on the chair. She never knew that she was crying loud. Her mind was thinking all about Taemin. And that broke her down. Her body was convulsing and it was almost impossible for her to stand. The pain was too much for her to handle.

"P-Please...Please d-don't do this....." she sat on her knees, crying louder and louder as each minute passes by.

"Listen. I don't have time for this melodrama. I want you to decide soon. It's either you or his dreams"

She looked at him with her pleading eyes. She felt like she's just an ordinary girl who has no right to take away or put an end stop to his dreams. His happiness..is all what she wanted. She can't be selfish. She cried more and more to the point her head felt dizzy.

Images if Taemin flashed in her head.

"You can't be selfish, Haneul..." she reminded herself.

She wiped her tears, rubbed her face and stood up.

"Promise me that you'll allow him to pursue his dreams if I disappear from his life"

"I promise"

The most unpredicted and dreadful words came from her mouth which she never thought she'll utter ever in her life. The words which sounded so painful just for her to imagine, turned to reality.

"I'll leave Taemin"

"Good"

"Can I tell one thing, Mr.Lee" her eyes turned blurry again.

"Yes"

"You're the most cruel person I've ever seen"

"Thanks. You may go now" he smiled.

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By the way, I know...it turned out to be a regular kdrama scenario. But........you don't know what I'm planning..*smirks like Taemin*
You know right guys? I hate clichés like this....so expect something different in the upcoming chapters! ;)

Andddddddd...Guys...Thanks a lot for your encouraging comments in the previous chapter. I never thought that this story meant so much to you guys...so i won't disappoint you.

HAPPY DIWALI TO MY INDIAN READERS!!!! BURST CRACKERS AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!