I whipped my head in Taehyung's direction.

"What?"

The man didn't notice my shock though. He was too wrapped up in his own, eyes glued to the woman who's made the biggest declaration I've ever heard.

Silver hair, like soft wire, trailed down to her shoulders. Her face, although was a little wrinkled, didn't look a year over 50. Her eyes were narrowed, her painted mouth a thin, cruel line.

She was covered in golden brown fur, from her neck all the way down to her heeled boots.

I bit my lip. The old woman looked more glorious than any young girls here. Including me.

Seeing her son's appalled expression had her chuckling. "Don't look so shocked. This face got passed down to you in the end."

Taehyung didn't retort back, to my astonishment. Just stared at his mom as if he's seen a ghost.

The woman scoffed, shuffling through her bag. "Don't just stand there gawking, boy. I want to speak to you."

He didn't listen. Didn't look like he'd comprehended the words that just left her mouth.

All of a sudden, his head snapped to the workers, watching the scene with wide eyes and subtle grins.

"Get...get back to work," Taehyung started, flicking his fingers in dismissal.

The audience hesitated, not making a move. Busybodies.

"Did you not hear me?"

A finger pointing ahead, the millionaire's face screwed up in anger. "I said get back to work!"

Instantly the men and women hurried to their normal positions, probably shitting themselves over his abrupt mood change.

"Argh," he groaned out, his fingers now working at his temple, trying to calm down.

I itched to give his hand a reassuring squeeze, but the way his mom assessed the distanced between us refrained me from doing anything.

"I always thought you were bipolar, Taehyung," she drawled out, picking at her beige acrylics.

"What do you want?" he snapped, all mocking tone and witty comebacks gone.

"My God, not even going to ask your dear mother how she is? How she's held up these couple of years?"

The look on her son's face was enough to click her tongue. "Better not answer that."

"Get to the point, mom," Taehyung snapped, his hands now fisted at his sides.

"Patience, grasshopper," she jeered, her plum coloured lips spreading into a perfect smile.

"I came here for many reasons in which I'll discuss with you in your office."

Taehyung scoffed. "I don't think so-"

She pivoted around, looking over her shoulder. "Be up in five minutes. Bring the girl too."

With that, she strolled to the lift and went inside.

I gasped at her as she made her way. What the-

"Lord have mercy," Taehyung muttered, closing his eyes as he let out a sigh filled with agitation and fatigue, exhaustion of his mom, himself and the whole world.

"That's your mom?"

A look thrown my way. "Isn't she the sweetest apple in the basket?"

"I'd rather have the oranges," I said, eyes not leaving that lift.

I turned towards the man at my side. "Are we seriously gonna follow her?"

Taehyung quirked his mouth in thought. "I don't want to either, but I know my mom very well. She doesn't just arrive at your headquarters without warning for no reason."

"Fine then," I declared, starting into a walk, "Let's see what's she's got to say."

"Just a warning though, sweetheart," the man said. "My mom...she's...she gets into people's heads and plays with them. It's a horrific trait, but it's her personality in a nutshell. So whatever she says to you, don't let it get to your head."

"Don't worry about me," I waved him off, "I'll be fine. What's the worst she can do?"

Taehyung and I followed his mother's direction, up the lift and towards his office, where he spotted the old woman arguing with the secretary.

"Look, ma'am, I get you're the boy's mother but he hasn't mentioned meeting you-"

"Ah, Miss Song!" Taehyung said, walking up to the desk. "It's fine, we're due to have some private business together."

The secretary cocked a brow, but answered, "Alright, Mr. Kim."

Nodding, Taehyung opened the door, leaving it out for me and snapping it shut just as his mother entered.

She caught the handle before it hit her in the face. "You're being awfully childish, boy."

He only went up to his desk, sitting behind it as he beheld his incoming mother. "I'm not a boy anymore."

"Whatever you say, child." the woman sat stood behind the black leather chair, gripping the head. "But you'll always stay the same little boy to me."

Taehyung's jaw flickered, ever so slightly. "Get to the point," he snapped as I settled down on the guest chair next to the same black one. "Unless you're here to piss me off all day."

"Watch it, Taehyung," Mrs. Kim snarled, sitting down, "And I'm not exactly here for you."

That's when she turned to me.

"I'm here for you."

I blinked. "Me?" I asked, pointing to myself.

"Do you see any other girl here I'd say to?" she remarked, catching the sarcasm dry in her voice.

My brows furrowed. "Why though? I don't even know you."

"Oh, but the entirety of South Korea does," she countered.

Mrs. Kim then folded her leg over the other, locking her hands over her knee. "I'm not kidding when I say that every man and woman saw Suga's Show that night."

Oh God, here we go again.

"And I saw you, embarrassing yourself on live TV, confessing all that nonsense-"

"It wasn't nonsense, Mrs. Kim," I muttered. "Those were my true feelings towards your son."

The old woman snorted. "Even I felt the humiliation, Sora dear. Really shows how much you outdid yourself on that stage."

I gritted my teeth. The old hag was starting to get on my nerves.

"Oh, so you came here to make fun of Sora, then?" Taehyung accused. "I'm sorry, but that nonsense was what slapped me into reality and get her back."

"Oh don't worry," she trilled, "Mama knows how much that satisfied your ego."

"Now listen here-" I started.

"No. You listen here."

Mrs. Kim set me a stare, so intense and dark that it felt like being pinned down by an angry bull.

"I don't know who you really are, but I've seen enough of your kind to know your true intentions."

Not this again- "I've already talked this out with Taehyung-"

"Let me take a guess," Mrs. Kim crowed. "After a little cry you both fucked your worries away."

I gasped. "What the fuck-"

A chortle rumbled through the woman. "I know a gold digger when I see one, Sora," she said. "And you look like you'd marry a guy triple your age for his inheritance."

My eyes widened. That bitch-

"Mom!"

Taehyung shot up from his seat. "What the fuck was that?!"

"Watch your fucking language," his mom bit back. "And sit your ass down."

Taehyung blinked.

Sat down in his seat.

I glared at him, shocked. Do something, you stupid shit!

Mrs. Kim turned to me again, her glare branding me like a hot poker. "And you say what? That you love him?"

"More than anything," I said, head held a little high. That was a statement I was damn proud of.

"Alright then," the woman said, crossing her arms. "Tell me something about him. What's his favourite food?"

I knitted my brows. "What-"

"Just answer the question. What's his favourite food?"

Fucking hell-

My mind scrambled for his preferred dish, recalling anything that could give me a clue.

Seeing my desperation made the old bitch smile. "Next question. What is his favourite city?"

"...Paris?"

Taehyung sighed out. Mrs. Kim answered, "Daegu. Where he was born. Or did you not know that too?"

"I knew that!" I shouted, looking away.

"See? You don't even know the little things about my son."

"But that shit didn't matter!" I exclaimed. "Who even cares which city is your favourite? Who cares about the food you want to eat the most?"

Mrs. Kim tsked, loud enough for me to get irritated. "Now that's the problem with you, Sora darling. These are important.

"What if Taehyung comes home one day, tired and hungry, and he's expecting his lover, his darling, his most precious significant other to make his favourite food, only to find a box of microwavable ramen sitting on the table?

"What would make him happier, Sora? To see his face light up with the sight of japchae sitting in front of him, or some half assed instant noodles?"

The woman's gaze darkened. "It may not seem much to you, but it's the little things that keep a relationship. And girls like you would never know how to keep one."

I flinched.

Girls like you would never know how to keep one.

I tried to scream at her. Tried to take off my shoe and do something I'd probably regret.

Or not.

But I couldn't. I stayed rooted to the spot, staring at her with this horrified expression on my face.

It was a compete contrast to the victorious beaming of the old hag's face. "I better book a hotel room, Taehyung," she mused. "But I'll be back tomorrow. You and I have a lot of catching up to do."

The man didn't say anything either. Just gave a look of pure hatred, but that didn't bother his mother one bit.

She stood up from her seat, picking up her bag.

I felt her eyes on me. "I hope you'll learn from what I've told you, Sora," she said.

The sound of heels clicking against the floor filled the glass office.

It was the only sound in the awkward silence when I spoke.

"Wait."

The clicking stopped.

I stood up.

Taehyung's eyes instantly locked with mine.

He probably guessed what I was about to do because his mouth suddenly parted.

"Sora, no-"

I ignored him, turning around to face his mother instead, looking at me with no small amount of impatience.

"What is it?" she demanded.

I took in a deep breath.

"A week," I said.

The woman gave me an irritated glare. "For what?"

"I'll prove it to you that I deserve Taehyung more than any woman living in this country," I declared. "Screw that, the whole fucking planet."

Mrs. Kim pursed her lips. "And just how you going to do that?"

"You wait and see," I only said. "Just give me the bloody week."

I heard Taehyung's nervous shuffling behind me.

"Sora, don't-"

The moment those words left Taehyung's mouth, Mrs. Kim snaked a beautiful smile upon her lips.

A smile a lover would give before going out to cheat. A smile an enemy would give before ending you right there and then.

"Fine," she said. "You've got a week to convince me. If you win, you have my blessing. If you lose, you leave my boy."

My voice was clear and unnerving, despite the chaos that erupted within me inside.

"Deal."

-

Hey guys!

Not the best chapter, but I'm hoping things will get more exciting from here on! Haven't got any solid plans, but I've got fluff, kinkyness and drama thought out ;))))

KAY Y'ALL THANKS FOR OVER 75K FUCK THAT MEANS 3/4 WAY TO 100K F U C K

Also, just a heads up, I've changed Camille's appearance into a darker skinned woman with black hair. It may be irrelevant now but due to a special gift I'm giving someone ( ;) ) this is quite necessary.

Anyway, please do vote y'all and tell me your thoughts on this chapter. I love hearing my readers' opinions :)