[2] Mr. Tycoon's Woman

Chapter 281: My Youth

"Rosè, come and accompany me to our table." Ha Neul did not wait for her granddaughter to reply. She grabbed Rose Yang's hand, pulling her away from Park Jimin for the third time today.

Unlike many of the grandmothers eyeing the young man in hopes of introducing their granddaughters, Ha Neul did not like Park Jimin a bit. A relationship with that man would be simply too dangerous — she knew of his background. Ruling over the Bang's from behind the curtains was none other than this Matriarch, who refused to let anything come in harm's way of her grandchildren — especially Rose Yang.

"Halmeoni, where is Park Jimin going to sit?" Rosè Yang questioned upon realizing the chair beside her was occupied. That was strange. She had informed her grandmother in advance that Park Jimin would be coming. How come there was not a seat reserved for him? Unless, she did not like him even before the meeting...

"Oh him? He can sit at the table in the corner." And far away from you. Ha Neul thought to herself, hiding the smile on her face.

She ignored the chilly air from behind her, turning summer into winter. She was not daft. He was a Park and any inch of disrespect towards them would not be tolerated — no matter who they were, unless, it was Rosè Yang. For her, Park Jimin was willing to bend all sorts of rules as long as she could remain nestled in his arms and within his reach. She seated him in a place that was far from the main table, but still in a respectable area surrounded by esteemed guests.

"Halmeoni." Rosè Yang squeezed Ha Neul's hand to grab her attention when she was seated down. "Who is sitting beside me?"

"You'll find out soon enough." Ha Neul gently stroked Rose Yang's cheek before she allowed herself to be whisked away by the other guests.

Park Jimin placed his hand behind Rosè Yang's chair, standing in front of her. "She does not like me."

Rosè Yang strained her smile as she grabbed the one hand resting on his side. His rough, calloused skin met hers and she gripped his hand tighter. "Just a bit, but she'll warm up to you. Don't be angry."

Park Jimin's thumb brushed her chin, stroking her soft skin. He was irked and displeased at the old woman's treatment towards him. No one was that audacious and bold to blatantly disrespect him. He could see where Rose Yang got her behavior from, combined from the one she learned from Yang Marco, Rosè Yang was quite a fearless little thing.

Captivated by her eyes, with lightened hues because of the crystal chandelier above her and her skin that glistened in a healthy glow, he could see the love she had for him tucked between the folds of her eyes. He was at a loss for words.

She loosely wrapped her arms around him, resting her head upon his body. She could feel her grandmother's dissatisfied stares, combined with the envious and scheming ones of others. She did not pay attention to the latter.

Park Jimin's heart melted at her gesture. He caressed her hair before he nodded his head. In a mellow and calm voice, he whispered, "Alright, my love." He bent down and kissed the top of her head, gave the area a pat, and then stood to his full height to play with her hair. He was mindful of the people's curious and nosy eyes upon him, but as long as she did not care, he did not either.

- - - - -

The dinner had started.

Rosè Yang sat down on her chair with the desire of personally speaking to her grandmother, but the minute she sat down, the gossiping aunties struck up a conversation with her. She was placed just one seat away from her grandmother, but with how talkative these women were, she knew she would have no way into the conversation.

The seat beside her was pulled out and down sat a man. She sighed. So her grandmother truly was attempting to set her up with another man.

"It's very nice to meet you, Rosè Yang." He began, turning around to charm her with a thousand-watt smile. "I'm sure my mother must have already introduced me, but I am the Vice President of Mun Toy Inc."

A tall presence approached him from behind whose murderous chill was like a hand that strangled his throat.

"Scram." Park Jimin snarled, hands tucked inside of his pockets, with the appearance of a triad leader. His soulless eyes landed upon the man and he did not need to be told twice.

He left his seat and went elsewhere, presumably towards his mother.

Ha Neul glanced up, a disapproving frown on her face, but Park Jimin surprised her by pushing the chair into the table. He did not plan on sitting down beside her.

Ha Neul felt a bit nervous when Park Jimin's dark, sinister eyes pierced hers as if warning her to back off. He then bent down to give Rose Yang a peck on her cheek and walked back to his table, leaving a heavy silence in the atmosphere.

The seat next to her remained empty the entire dinner.

Soon, the lively chatter resumed when waiters came out with plates of food.

- - - - -

Rosè Yang approached her grandmother with a single question, "Putting the lines aside, there are other reasons you do not like him. Am I right?"

Ha Neul turned around to face her granddaughter whose piercing stare resembled Yang Marco.

"Take a stroll with me through the gardens." Ha Neul's voice sounded older to Rosè Yang. In her years of absence, she did not realize just how old her grandmother was getting. She did not want such a thing to happen, but time was running out faster than she could chase it.

Rosè Yang glanced back where Park Jimin was standing in a corner, watching her like a hawk. Rarely touching his food during dinner and never indulging in the conversations people tried to strike up with him; all of his attention was dedicated to her. No matter where she went, she was within his line of sight.

Rosè Yang's head tilted to the large french doors that lead to the gardens. Then she folded her elbows and allowed Ha Neul to place a hand on the nook of her bent arm. Together the two strolled down the Millenium Path Garden, a place she frequented in her youth. The peach blossoms had yet to shed their petals, presenting a wondrous world of pink and white, a tranquil and breathtaking scenery to witness when the wind picked up.

"In the viewpoint of a bachelorette, Park Jimin is a well-sought out one. Many would kiss the ground he walked on." Ha Neul started off. Her fingers brushed against a petal that softly fell off a leaf. "But you are not like that. You do not cling onto him nor do you chase him. He likes that because you are different."

She sharply turned around. "But what about your other characteristics? What happens when this push-and-pull game ends? What shall happen to your relationship then? " She answered her questions for Rosè Yang. "He will grow old of this game. He will grow old of your feistiness." She spoke from experience.

In her youth, her behavior greatly resembled Rose Yang's. The Head of the Bang Monarch was deeply infatuated by her because she was different from the rest. When women did everything to please him, she did everything to annoy him.

He chased after her, tripping over his legs, and when he finally conquered her, he soon became bored with her. The game was, after all, over. The chase was done. What was still left to do?

His feelings towards her were intrigued that a woman half his size could have that much confidence bottled up inside of her.

He did not love her.

He loved the idea of conquering a stubborn little thing like her. And look at where it landed her; a marriage tainted with affairs. After placing Ha Neul in his house, like a trophy, he sought after other trophies who would also give him a hard time. In order to secure her position, Ha Neul birthed him many children.

"You can tell me all you want that he is a different man from my husband." Ha Neul did not hide a lot of secrets from Rosè Yang. When Rose Yang was younger, Ha Neul had already told her everything there was to know about her relationship with Patriarch Bang.

Rosè Yang knew what her grandmother was referring to. Even now, her maternal grandfather was nowhere in sight. It was his wife's birthday, but he was trying to conceive another's birthday. "He loves me and I love him."

"Love... what a wonderful yet tainted word. A person's heart can be changed like a light switch. Once he sees someone who gives him a harder time than you, will his heart remain true? You are beginning to relent to him because of your feelings. You've been acquired by him."

"Do not make the same mistakes that I have made, child." Ha Neul gave Rose Yang's hand a gentle pat. "I do not want to see you bear the same pain and frustration I did in my youth."