And If You Stay

Chapter 09

Lisa's pov

I walk inside the café and someone I barely know bob one hand in the air to beckon.

She rings no bell to me but as I approach her table, that face becomes recognisable. I know her, but not on personal level.

Kim Mun Jae. Sunrise Airline's COO a.k.a Roseanne's aunt.

"I believe we spoke on phone,"

I press my lips into one straight line, all before offering her my hand.

"Lisa Manoban,"

"We did speak on the phone," the woman speaks without glancing my way. Then, without speaking further, jut her chin at the empty chair across from her seat for me to fill.

I follow and sit down. Hands placed neatly on my lap. "So,"

I gulp. "Is there anything that I can help you with?"

Kim Mun Jae ignores my question. Instead, she stirs her tea slowly in anticlockwise.

A waiter appears with her order a moment later and asks politely if I would like to order too.

"Hot tea, please," I say. She nods and disappears into the kitchen.

"Is there anything that I can help you with?"

The woman repeats my question with utmost mockery.

Then, her sharp eyes glance at me. "I doubt if you can help me at all,"

"I'm not sure I understand,"

I say. My chest breathes out heavy than before. "Ms. Kim, with all repesct, I need to know why you summoned me tonight out of blue,"

"Well," Kim Mun Jae locks her eyes on me. "We need to talk about you and my niece, Roseanne"

I clench my jaws. "I don't know what you are talking about,"

"Don't be stupid," Kim Mun Jae hisses as she leans in. But then the waiter appears and she pulls herself together until the girl in blue cap disappears again.

"You were married to her, didn't you? And you thought I was stupid,"

"Even if we did," I can hear myself slowly getting angry. "It doesn't concern you at all,"

Kim Mun Jae pauses for a moment. She looks completely taken aback by that reply.

"To be honest, it does concern me because right now, you're going to act up as if the marriage didn't happen and in fact, want to pursue another marriage with another person. Do you hear me, Lisa? Of how absurd that sounds like?"

"Look,"

I fist my palms. "Like I said, I don't know who the heck you are aside from the position in Sunrise you are currently holding. But I want you to know, that you are in no position to meddle with my affair,"

"First it was my niece,"

The woman sighs dramatically. "Now, it's the president's daughter?"

She stops chewing her food to give me a pathetic look. "I'm sure we all can't help but wonder what's really the big deal in falling in love with tramp like you?"

"Stop right there,"

I warn. "Just stop,"

"Why?" The woman asks dubiously. "Are you afraid we are going to find out the truth about you? And when I said the truth, it's the very truth about you,"

"You're just playing,"

I decide as I breathe in some air. "You're just making things up and trying to scare me. But I'm not scared. I'm not going to let anyone takes Ji - Eun away from me like all of you took my Roseanne,"

"No one took your Roseanne,"

Kim Mun Jae replies. "It was an accident,"

"It wasn't,"

I clench my jaws. "It was planned. And when it didn't go well like what you precisely wanted, you faked her death and took her away from me,"

Kim Mun Jae shakes her head. "I have no idea what you're saying, Captain Manoban"

"And that's not the worse thing yet,"

I look away with ragged breath. "You murdered my little one,"

"That's a huge accusation," the woman glares at me. "I could easily put you in jail for that,"

"You knew she was pregnant, didn't you? That's why you planned that crash. Because you didn't want to see her happy,"

"Enough,"

The woman warns. "One more word from you and I'll make sure you regret it,"

"You can't scare me anymore,"

I stand up. "Because I won't let you,"

Then, I leave her there. Not even wanting to look back.