BOOK 1: The Heir Series; Choi Seungcheol

12: CALL OFF

Taerin has been staring at her cold coffee since she sat down in front of Choi Seungcheol. Her coffee turns cold as time goes by – just like her heart.

She might not be seeing Seungcheol but she can feel his stares as if they are piercing her. Choi Seungcheol – the man she didn't expect to see after four long years. The man she almost married.

She can feel like everyone knew her fiancé was the oldest heir of the Carat Empire. Sooner or later, news and articles about them will spread. She can't help but throw a bitter smile thinking about the media.

Now they have new targets to feast with.

"Excuse me, Ma'am, Sir?" A waiter came by their table, breaking the silence for them. "Are you ready to order?" He politely asked.

"Just a new cup of this." She heard Seungcheol say which is referring to his cup of coffee. "What would you like to have?"

Taerin looked up at the waiter. "I'll have water." She answered looking at the waiter. She knew that Seungcheol's last question was directed at her.

The waiter nodded toward Seungcheol and sends her a short smile. She followed him when he walked away, sending him off before turning to Seungcheol, which she eventually regretted when she was welcomed with his dark unreadable pair of eyes.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard your conversation with your secretary when I came." Taerin directly said to him. She didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, especially when she was facing the oldest heir of Carat Empire who is capable to do so many things.

"You we're strongly against this whole engagement thing. May I know why?" Her voice is so calm and cool that everyone would think she was already okay, but they would never know how her heart is beating erratically.

"It's personal," Seungcheol said staring at her intently.

The sides of her lips twitched up. "Really?" How personal could it be that she can't tell her?

Well in the first place, who is she that he should tell her about it? "Honestly speaking, I didn't expect that you're the son of my parent's closest friend. I'm a little bit. . . disappointed."

His jaw clenched but he stayed silent.

"I can't hold you upon your decision. I will not make it hard for you. Since you're not ready to settle down, I deeply understand." She continued. "We can call it off. Since both of us are against this."

She felt like his stare could tear her all over. His face darkened and his eyes turned cold. "Really?" She knew he was referring to what she said first – that she was disappointed.

"We may not share a blissful history but the fact will forever remain there – that Taerin Dominique Kim once fell in love with me." He said, in a factly tone.

Her hands balled into fists and her eyes turned colder. If looks could kill, Seungcheol would be on the cold ground since before.

How can he say that to her face?! Isn't hearing him all against this engagement enough? Did he really have to run her only mistake from the past?

She saw how his eyebrows move, waiting for her reply.

"A fact that I deeply buried four years ago, a mistake I regretted for a very long time. But as everyone says, it's been on history – past is past. You shouldn't be reminding me about it because I don't find it amusing." She said gritting her teeth.

She can sense her anger eating her system up but she controlled it and tried staying calm. "I don't even see any reason why are we still putting up with this conversation I can't see any problem. You're against this engagement and as you see, I'm all against you. Now that we settl----"

"You are against me?" Seungcheol cut her off but she disregards him and continued.

"We only came to one resort." She crossed her arms on her chest. "No engagement will happen. Are we settled then?"

Seungcheol sat properly, now it was his time to cross his arms on his chest. Then he tilts his head. "Didn't you remember your Mom and Aunt need help?" he asked. That question lit the fire of anger inside of her. "If I call this engagement off, then I'm afraid your family empire might sink down."

The fear inside her swelled. His right. He knew about their company and the roots of this whole engagement. If this engagement falls off, so as their businesses.

She kept her face straight. She can't let him win over her.

The waiter came at the perfect timing with Seungcheol's coffee but then left directly after sensing the tension surrounding the two of them.

"It would be easy." She said almost smiling. "It's not that you're the only man who asked my hand for marriage. I know several men who are very willing to protect my family's business just to marry me. So I don't have a bargain if we call this engagement off. I can help Mom and Aunt in many ways even if I turn this down."

His brow raises. His fingers tapping the table as if he's thinking. Then he spoke. "As far as I remember, I didn't ask for your hand or anybody's hand either."

She is about to speak when he beat her to it and continued.

"Do you think Aunt Dominique and Uncle Roberto will be grateful? Your father – Uncle Eunwoo, only trusts me and my Dad on running your business. Are you that confident that your Mom and Aunt Dominique will trust those men of yours?"

She gritted her teeth, anger slowly engulfing her. He is taunting her.

"My Mom and Aunt will have no choice." Taerin surely sat properly, not letting her confidence fall back.

"They need my help. And marriage is the only way to help them. And what about your Dad and you that they trust? You and I both knew no such thing as marriage would happen. You even said it yourself." She raised her head a bit, slowly finding confidence. "You don't want to marry anyone else, even me. So that's what it takes to call this off. Mom and Aunt need to hear the truth and we're done."

His jaw clenched. He was ticked.

His eyes spat fire while hers could freeze an ocean. Her lips lifted triumphantly.

"I can tell them about it alone." She said. "Anyway, they will understand. They won't force me to marry someone just for the company. Yes, they both love the company more than anything but they can't lose me, because I'm the only family they have." And they are also the only family she has. They only have each other. And if they would be gone, she'd be alone.

She felt that familiar pain at the back of her throat. She sighed and immediately stood up.

She wanted to leave this place as fast as she could. She can't burst out anything. Not when she's in front of Seungcheol.

"This conversation is done. I'll return to my room." She hurled her bag on her shoulder and turned away fast.

"Taerin. . " she heard Seungcheol's voice when she was already waiting for the elevator. She turned to him.

Seungcheol stood a few inches away from her. He didn't even say anything yet but Taerin already knew what he is going to say. The sorrow and grief in his eyes tell it all.

"I heard about your Dad. I'm sorry." He said which made her chest tighten more. The pain slowly stabbed her.

Sorry? Why would he be sorry? It was not like he caused the accident.

People like him don't even know how her Dad died. They have no idea what she'd been through. And yet they tell her they're sorry? Their sorry can't bring back her father that's why she doesn't need their sorry, especially the man who left him during that time.

She heard the elevator door open and she entered silently. But before the elevator door closes, she could still see Seungcheol there, looking at her.

"You're too late. Four years late." She softly said to him before the door closes.