Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership of anything from the Boys Before Flowers universe. The only thing I own is this story based on the series and my own original characters that appear throughout.

Chapter 2 - Conceding

Min Seo was not excited. Her boss was definitely not going to be pleased with her to say the least. It didn't help that Tae Ho had not stopped glaring at her after rudely dragging her from her apartment that morning. She had no doubt that the man would exaggerate the story from last night and that poor Jun Su would attempt to take the blame for her once again. She had to stop letting these stupid things happen.

She cursed herself for what happened the night before. Damn that Prince Song. Damn him and his charming demeanor!

Ahead of her, Tae Ho paused at the entrance to Kang Sun's study. He nodded at the men guarding the door before knocking on the door. She was not surprised that the men were not alarmed by their presence. She had been here so many times that she hardly was intrigued by the luxurious furnishings and priceless pieces of art that decorated the lavish home. It would have almost been inspiring had she not known most of what was done to attain such wealth.

"Come in" came a rough voice from inside the study.

The voice sent a shiver up her spine and she couldn't help but shudder. She let out a sigh as Jun Su patted her on the back reassuringly. Min was almost tempted to run for the hills but knew she couldn't do that when her boss, Kang Sun, sat in the room ahead. She grudgingly moved her feet as the trio entered the room quietly.

Mun Kang Sun was not a pleasant man. He was not warm in the slightest when it came to business. The coldest place in South Korea was being locked in the gaze of the older man. His very presence made her skin crawl and his rough voice made goose bumps appear on her skin. Regardless of how much contact she had with the man or how much she attempted to hide from his gaze, he knew that he unnerved her. He knew that she was intimidated by his very presence and he knew that he could get her to do anything he wanted. He was one of the few that she didn't dare to oppose and with good reason. The man was dangerous.

"Please do sit" said Kang Sun as he reclined slightly in his chair, clasping his hands together in front of him. Jun Su chose to lean closest to the doorway as there were only two chairs available. She almost groaned aloud as Tae Ho chose to sit in the chair farther from his own father. This left her with the plush chair that was closest to the sturdy desk. She clenched her hands at her sides as she slid into the seat uneasily.

"Nice to see you three again so soon" said Kang Sun, bringing his dark eyes up to eye each of them in turn. His gaze reached Min Seo and paused as he met her deliberately blank face. Only her eyes gave away that she was worried about the encounter.

"What's got you so flustered, little Min?"

She could feel perspiration building up on her palms and resisted the urge to rub them off on her jeans. It wouldn't help her in any case to show him that she was nervous. Not that he didn't already know.

"Nothing, Kang Sun, sir" came her curt response in the tense silence.

"Are you sure?" he asked, staring at her intently. There was a certain glint in his eyes that Min Seo could not decipher. It was in no way good for her so she simply nodded in response to his verbal prodding.

"That's a shame. I've been hearing a funny story about what happened last night. It seems we do have a bit of a mix up. I'm not quite sure what it was really" he rumbled. Min couldn't bring herself to hold his gaze anymore and dropped her eyes to look at her hands clasped in her lap. "You see... I was under the impression that I told you three to watch, not interact, but watch Prince Song."

His voice had risen several octaves as he continued on with his rant. Min Seo resisted the urge to cringe and silently wished that Jun Su would offer her some sort of support. She knew she couldn't rely on him all the time but Kang Sun was someone she couldn't stand to be around when he got like this.

"Now I don't want to point any fingers, you see, but a few of my men were telling me that a little birdy got a little up close and personal with a certain mafia prince" stated Kang Sun as he stood up from his chair. His steps in his brand name leather shoes echoed within the study as he moved around his desk. Min cast a hesitant glance up only to meet his gaze as he leaned on the edge of his desk. He was sat directly infront of her and she knew he knew. "Anyone care to enlighten me on exactly what the hell went wrong last night?"

Min opened her mouth but no words came out. She had never been good at thinking on the spot and this was definitely not one of her brighter moments. Thankfully, Jun Su chose that moment to speak up in her defense.

"It wasn't out fault, sir" he said, coming to stand behind her chair. "Everything was going according to plan until Prince Song decided to come to the bar when Tae Ho and Min Seo were stationed. If he had never done that, our cover would never have been compromised."

Min noticed the careful placement of the word "we" and silently thanked him in her head. She definitely owed him. Badly.

There was a beat of silence as Kang Sun glared up at Jun Su. Min Seo didn't dare to turn to look and she didn't need to. Jun Su wouldn't flinch in the face of Kang Sun.

"Are you saying your cover was so easily blown when Mr. Song decided he was a bit thirsty?" ground out Kang Sun angrily as he stepped forward.

"That's not-" started Jun Su before he was quickly shut down by Tae Ho leaping from his chair.

"Bullshit! He was all over Min and that's how he found us out! It's not like she was fucking complaining about it either!" shouted Tae Ho as he scowled angrily.

He was quickly silenced as his father held his hand up to quiet him.

"Are you trying to tell me that your cover was blown because he was interested in our little Min?" said Kang Sun, his eyes widening as he grinned slyly. Tae Ho huffed at his father's response and moved to speak again.

"Quiet boy! I'll not have you ruining the mood with your petty jealousy..." growling Kang Sun as he stepped threateningly towards his son. As if realizing what he was doing, the fierce expression on his face disappeared and a coy smile grew on his face once more. He stepped away from his son and instead moved closer to Min Seo. "Afterall, we're all having fun here aren't we?" he said as he reached over to tilt Min's chin up to glance at him. Meeting his gaze once more, she managed to suppress a shiver from running down her spine. Kang Sun gripped her chin tighter and turned her head this way and that. The gleam in his eyes was definitely not something she was looking forward to. It always meant he had an idea. At the rate he was looking at her as if for the first time, she guaranteed it wouldn't be anything good.

"I can see why you would turn heads, little Min" said Kang Sun as he finally released her chin. "You've grown quite beautiful since you were a little girl... When you were younger you used to always cry about everything. Every time I even looked at you, you'd start crying for your parents" continued Kang Sun as he smiled fondly at the memory. "I remember it like it was almost yesterday when I took you in... And now look at you."

Min Seo wasn't sure whether to thank him for the apparent compliment or not. Just the fact that he was talking about her parents was a rarity. Min had been under the care of Mun family for as long as she could remember. They had provided everything for her since she was a little girl. Sure, she hadn't gotten to spend time with her parents like all the other children in school but at least she had a family and a home to call her own.

"Not that I take pleasure in interrupting your little trip down memory lane father," started Tae Ho as if he honestly didn't take pleasure in interrupting his father's musings. "But Song Woo Bin is a man who takes interest in anything with breasts, an ass and two legs. He's a player; always has been and always will be. Just because it was Min Seo this time doesn't mean anything. In fact, he's probably already forgotten about her."

Min felt an uneasiness settle into her belly. It had barely been a minute after Kang Sun had called her beautiful and now Tae Ho was trying to convince everyone she wasn't anything special. Was Tae Ho right? Had Woo Bin already forgotten about their encounter? She honestly didn't know what to believe. Last night had been... magnetic. Min couldn't have kept her hands to herself if she had tried to! It felt like it had only been her and Woo Bin alone in that club. She couldn't even remember what kind of music was playing or who else was around them. That was at least until he figured out something was different about her and her fantasy was shattered. A scowl appeared on her face as an unrelenting worry hit her. What if that was just the lovable charm of Prince Song? He was a womanizer wasn't he? Who's to say that she wasn't just another pawn in his game? Was she the only one who was affected by last night?

"It's a good thing that I never had much need for your opinion, boy. Despite how often you open your big mouth to tell me it" bit out Kang Sun as he rounded on his son. Tae Ho was locked in his father's angry gaze before Kang Sun broke it to look at Min Seo once more. His expression turned warm as he returned to his desk. He lounged leisurely in his high-backed leather chair as he threw his feet up on the desk. He brought his hands together and pressed them to his lips in a thoughtful expression.

"This may work out exactly in our favor afterall" said Kang Sun in a cheerful tone.

Min Seo's jaw almost hit the ground. No way was she getting caught up in this game. No way in hell was she being used as a pawn in Kang Sun's war. Not if she had anything to say about it.

"Here's my idea, little Min" stated Kang Sun as he leaned across the table in glee. It absolutely sickened her. "So from what I gather, this Prince Song has a little bit of a thing for you..."

"It's not so much a thing as it was a passing-"

"Damn it Min, don't interrupt me! " he shouted, slamming his hands palm down on the desk. Min Seo jumped at the sound and immediately shrunk back in her seat. Her hands gripped the bottom of her seat and she dropped her gaze to the ground.

"I'm... I'm sorry little Min" came his voice as she dared to meet his eyes again. "I'm sorry for raising my voice at you. I just- You know how I feel when you interrupt me, sweetie."

He reached out a hand toward her with his palm facing up. Tentatively with hands shaking, she reached across and took his hand. He smiled in response before clasping her hand in between his. He began to rub soothing circles on the back of her hand as she found herself unconsciously relaxing. "Do this for me, little Min. Win over Prince Song and we'll have an open door to breaking the Song family. Then it will be all our's for the taking."

It was a mistake to meet his eyes at that moment. The man had such a kind expression on his face it would have been wrong to refuse him. But everything was so wrong with this plan. Min knew it was wrong. Hell, the chances of her succeeding were nil. But one imploring look from the man who had raised her and she was a pile of mush in his hands. She could never refuse him. And just like that he had turned her over and laid her belly up like a lamb to the slaughter.

XxX

Min Seo watched her feet shuffle along the sidewalk. She pulled her coat tighter around her as a chill ran up her spine. She had no idea where she was going. All she knew was that she didn't feel like returning home just this second. Her apartment was always a place of solitude for her but on nights like these it just felt so empty.

She sniffed and wrinkled her nose in discomfort. The snowflakes gently floated down and landed in little flurries on the ground. Most people didn't like the snow but Min found it oddly comforting. She always preferred the cold to the heat. It was always the best time for a cup of hot chocolate or a night in under some comfortable blankets.

Turning, she stopped and leaned over the railing beside her. It too was littered with snowflakes that melted underneath her touch. Rubbing her arms together she thought of the meeting with Kang Sun that had taken place a few hours earlier. She had found herself restless and unable to relax after she had agreed to his plan. It didn't feel right to deceive Woo Bin like that. It didn't matter that he didn't know her all that well and it didn't matter if he had an interest in her or not.

Kang Sun had always found ways of getting what he wanted whether through interrogation, torture or even starvation. She had seen it first-hand even though Kang Sun had tried to shield her from it. It was how he had made his living all these years and it in turn connected to how she survived.

She had moved out from the Mun household when she was sixteen and she had been living on her own for a few years now. Min Seo had demanded her own space to grow on her own and Kang Sun had given it. He didn't make her take up a job to fund her frivolous lifestyle. He let her roam free, spending his money where she felt fit. Ever since he had adopted her, she had been his little girl and he had bent to her every whim.

The only conditions were that she could never tell anybody about the Mun family and that she had to do a few odd jobs for him. Some of the jobs had been a bit tough. Hell, she had received many bruises and wounds on account of working for him but that was who she was. She was part of the Mun family and she had to uphold their name. Even if that meant beating up a few gangsters or in this case seducing a mafia prince.

She couldn't let him down.

Min Seo let out a breath through her mouth and watched the chilled air linger in the air for a moment. Pushing away from the banister, she made to walk further on towards her apartment.

"Move out of the way!" came a sharp yell.

Min barely had the chance to look up before something collided with her and knocked the air out of her lungs. She grunted from the pain as her legs tangled with the stranger's. She began to struggle as the stranger began to move as well.

"Ouch..." came a groan.

Min Seo looked up to lock with those of a dark eyed girl. Her short pigtails and bangs were cute. But her hair currently stuck out at odd angles. It was undoubtedly mussed from their scuffle. The girl couldn't have been much younger then her and she was dressed in a red vest with fur lining the hood. Her thick shirt was covered in an orangey plaid pattern.

Noticing her gaze the girl stopped struggling abruptly and gave her an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry! I was in a rush and I didn't notice you standing there against the railing. What was I thinking?! I could have knocked you over it! I'm so sorry!" she ranted as Min struggled to keep track of what she was saying.

"Ah..." started Min but found herself lost for words. "That's alright. I should have watched where I was going... N-No harm done."

The girl quickly got to her feet and grabbed her pink umbrella that lay forgotten on the sidewalk. She threw her white scarf back over her shoulder and stretched out a gloved hand towards Min. Min Seo's mind finally caught up with her as she grabbed the hand that then hoisted her up with a surprisingly strong grip.

"I'm in a bit of a rush but I really am sorry!" continued the girl as she shook Min's hand forcefully. Min Seo felt her whole body shaking at the abrupt and strong grip of the smaller girl. She struggled to get her thoughts in order but she was still so confused at the sudden arrival of this wild card.

Before she knew it the girl had ducked around her and sped off on her way. She was heading in the opposite direction of Min and she doubted she'd ever see the girl again. At the speed she was going, she would most likely knock a few more people over before she got to where she needed to be.

Min Seo shifted to start on her way home before she heard a strange squelch underneath her boot. Shielding her eyes from the snowflakes, she noticed the bright red beanie that was stuck beneath her boot. Gripping it quickly, she made the connection in her head and quickly turned to where the girl had run off to.

"Wait!" shouted Min Seo after the retreating form of the girl. She waved the sopping wet beanie in her hand, hoping the girl would turn around. "You forgot your hat!"

The girl didn't even slow down and before Min knew it, she had turned a corner and disappeared with her pink umbrella. Min sighed once more but this time in frustration.

What a strange girl...

Min Seo looked towards where the girl had hastily retreated before looking down at the beanie in her hands. Wringing it out, she folded it neatly and tucked it under her arm. Turning on her heel, she continued back towards her apartment with a mess of thoughts swirling around her head.

I am so sorry for the delay everyone! This summer has been so busy that I havent been able to sit down and hash out the next few chapters. It didn't help that I wasn't quite sure how to integrate my new character into the BBF universe.

Let me know what you think! You get bonus fake internet points if you guess who she just met! :)

- HLF