Mr. Lee

12. Association

'Ready?' Mr. Lee asked you as the two of you stood in front of the building.

You nodded nervously.

'Nervous?' he chuckled.

'A little,' you admitted.

'Understandable, but unnecessary. You're with me. Nothing will happen,' Mr. Lee assured you.

You knew this, but still...

'Don't you need your bodyguards?' you couldn't help but ask, thinking about how your father never went around without at least two bodyguards and remembering how Mr. Leehad arrived at your house with five.

Mr. Lee pouted and shook his head.

'No, not this time. See, Mr. Uisim has backed out because of my true nature. Because he is scared. If I come barging into his building with even one bodyguard, he'll probably just call the cops on me. And that would be very inconvenient,' Mr. Lee explained. 

You nodded, understanding his point.

'So, ready?' he asked again.

'Ready,' you said resolutely. 

'Good morning Mr. Uisim,' Mr. Lee spoke cheerfully as the two of you entered his office. 

Mr. Uisim was a small middle-aged man with quite a sizeable belly and a bald patch on the back of his head.

Mr. Uisim didn't say anything but just nodded at Mr. Lee, then spotting you, his eyes narrowed.

'Who's this?' he asked rudely.

'This is Y/n,' Mr. Lee introduced you, disregarding Mr. Uisim's discourteous manners, 'She's the daughter of the head of the Buja clan. Her father... upset me, so now she's mine,' Mr. Lee said sweetly, smiling at you.

You had a hard time keeping a straight face, wondering why on earth Mr. Lee would disclose this very private information.

But the reason became very apparent when you noticed Mr. Uisim's face. His features paled as he looked at you.

It had been a warning.

A warning not to cross Mr. Lee or he might take something from you...

Was this why he had asked you to come with?

Purely for the reason to threaten Mr. Uisim?

Not because he wanted to be with you?

Mr. Uisim swallowed.

'Right. What is it you want?' Mr. Uisim asked, continuing his rude manner.

Mr. Lee sat down in one of the chairs opposite Mr. Uisims desk, and you followed his example.

'Well,' Mr. Lee began calmly, still upholding his polite manner, 'Last night I got a very distressing phone call. One of my employees noted that you had changed your mind. Set it on pulling out of our contract. Of course, this seemed very unlikely to me since you had already paid me the deposit upfront of 20 million,'

Mr. Lee's manner of speaking was very calm and very polite. You could see how Mr. Uisim grew paler but also angrier with every word Mr. Lee spoke.

'Of course, I wanted to speak to you personally sir. I didn't want to believe these worrisome gossips to be true,' Mr. Lee finished.

'Well, it is true,' Mr. Uisim said shortly. 'I'm out,'

'May I ask why?' Mr. Lee inquired.

Mr. Uisim shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

'Because... Because...' Mr. Uisim began, chewing on his tongue before finally spitting it out, 'Because I've become aware of what you really are,'

'And what am I?' Mr. Lee asked friendly as if he was asking for the time.

'You're one of them,' Mr. Uisim said looking at me shortly, before going back to Mr. Lee, 'You're a mobster,'

'And why do you think that?' Mr. Lee continued, still polite as ever.

Mr. Uisim scoffed.

'Isn't it obvious? You have the daughter of the infamous Buja clan sitting right next to you! You say you own her!' Mr. Uisim spat.

'So because her father is a well-known mob leader, she has to be part of the mob too, which makes me in association a mobster as well. Then, doesn't that make you part of  it too, if it is the title is transferred simply by association as you so say?' Mr. Lee asked.

Mr. Uisim huffed incredulously before exploding.

'Don't spout that nonsense at me! I want nothing to do with your underworld! I know you do illegal things! I know you have your hands in gambling, fraud, selling stolen car parts!  I've heard you do whitewashing and hacking and even deal drugs and guns!' Mr. Uisim shrieked.

'Hmm, no guns,' Mr. Lee said shaking his head, then adding, slightly smugly, 'and only the good and clean drugs,'

'So you admit it! You are one of them!' Mr. Uisim screeched as he jumped up from his chair pointing at Mr. Lee in almost a comical way.

'Well, I want nothing to do with you! Nothin! I am out! OUT! I will not be associated with this kind of trash. I'm breaking all contracts! All ties!' Mr. Uisim went on in a shrill voice.

This time you couldn't help but chuckle. Mr. Uisim snapped his neck to face you, his face red with anger. Even Mr. Lee looked at you with a slightly surprised expression on his face at your giggle.

'What are you laughing at woman?!' Mr. Uisim bellowed.

But his demeaning manner didn't do anything to you. You were used to far worse.

You took a quick glance at Mr. Lee who nodded slightly as to let you know you were free to speak.

'Well,' you began, trying your best to sound as polite as Mr. Lee had, 'you don't just cut all ties with the mob. It's impossible,' you said.

'What is that nonsense?' Mr. Uisim barked at you.

'You see, sir,' you added in an attempt to sound respectful, 'once you've associated with someone from the mob, especially the boss, that's it. There's no way out. Ever. Your name will always be on their list. They know your name, your face, what you do, where you live, and who your loved ones are. They will not just simply let you out because you feel like it. No, once you've come in contact that's it. You're in for life. Even if it's something minor. The best one can do is fulfill their contract and hope they are never contacted ever again,' you explained.

Mr. Uisim sputtered furiously at you but no real words came out.

You looked over at Mr. Lee.

There was a big smile on his face, his white perfect teeth greeting you.

He nodded at you proudly and you felt your heart swell up with pride.

You had done well.

Mr. Lee thought you had done well.

'I-I,' Mr. Uisim grumbled, seeming to have calmed down ever so slightly but enough to form words again.

'If I come through,' Mr. Uisim said with clenched teeth, 'Can you promise me to never call upon me ever again?'

'I promise,' Mr. Lee said calmly.

'And you'll leave my daughter alone!' Mr. Uisim added quickly.

'I wouldn't dream of touching your pretty Nabi,' Mr. Lee smiled.

Your eyes darted to Mr. Lee but you quickly corrected yourself.

Pretty?

Did he say the daughter was pretty?

Or was he just saying that to tease?