“Surprise!” all the people gathered in the hall shouted when the lights came on.

“W-what is-is this?” Mandy stammered as she saw the people in front of her

“Happy Birthday” Ji Hoo whispered in her ear from behind

The hall was filled with familiar faces for her. The faces obviously had to be familiar; she had known these faces her whole life. Her whole family was there.

“Happy Birthday!” everyone shouted in unison and Mandy burst into tears of joy. Mandy’s sister came to hug her first.

“I really had thought that you all had forgotten my birthday” Mandy said as Harleen wiped her tears.

“Do you really think we could forget your birthday?” Sarabjeet spoke up and moved towards the sisters.

“This is the best surprise ever!!” Mandy shouted and jumped up and down in glee.

One by one, Mandy greeted all her aunts and uncles and her 25 cousins and their spouses and kids.

After Mandy greeted everyone, she started looking for the F4.

“Unnie!” Ga Eul and Jan Di shouted and came running towards Mandy and hugged her.

“Happy Birthday unnie” Ga Eul said

“Thank you so much. This is really awesome” Mandy said looking at the surroundings.

“Ji Hoo sunbae is the one you should be thanking; he almost singlehandedly organized all this” Jan Di spoke up

“He did?” Mandy asked “But where is he now? And the rest of the F4, where are they?”

“They were on the opposite side with Jun Hee unnie before we came to look for you” Ga Eul said pointing in the direction “they might still be there”

“Jun Hee didi also came? Oh that’s great, I’ll go meet her” and with that Mandy left Jan Di and Ga Eul to look for the elder Gu sibling.

She saw Jun Hee chatting with the F4 and walked towards them. “Didi!” Mandy said as she hugged the Gu daughter. “I’m so happy you are here” Mandy said

“And what about us?” Woo Bin asked

“Of course I’m happy to see you all too” and she hugged Woo Bin, Yi Jung and then Jun Pyo.

“You sneaky devil” she said to Ji Hoo and hugged him tightly. “You seriously had me fooled; and I was getting so upset that even you couldn’t remember even though I told you a month ago.” Mandy got teary eyed again

“I didn’t plan all this to see you cry” Ji Hoo said as he wiped her tears and pinched her nose

“I know; thank you for all this. You really are a good gift giver; I love it” Mandy said sniffing lightly

“Which part?” Ji Hoo asked

“All of it!” Mandy said and gave him a megawatt smile

“Your smile is all that matters” he said in Korean looking fondly at her

“Huh? What did you say?”

“That I’m happy that you like it” Ji Hoo lied

Mandy looked at him suspiciously for a second but then smiled and pulled his cheeks with her both hands “You really are the best friend ever”

“I thought I was your best friend” a voice said from behind her

“Niya!” the birthday girl screamed out as she hugged her best friend

“I can’t believe you are here. Did your grumpy boss give you permission or are you on a French leave?”

“Let’s just say, you have made some really influential friends here.” Niya said “Mr. Song” she nodded her head in Woo Bin’s direction “somehow convinced my boss that it was a really great idea to give me a week long leave, with pay”

“You are staying for the whole week?” Mandy asked

Niya nodded

“That’s so great!” Mandy said excitedly

“Thanks, Bhai” Mandy smiled at him

“You’re welcome, but Mandy, I would really like it if you don’t call her boss grumpy; do I look like a grumpy person to you?” Woo Bin joked

“What are you saying?” Niya and Mandy said together

“He bought the company” Yi Jung smirked at them as he sipped his drink.

“What?!!” both the girls shouted in unison

“The paperwork is not done, but I guess in about three months it all should be complete” Woo Bin commented

“But how is that possible, I’m the legal consultant there and I don’t know anything about this” Niya said

“But you are on leave, how can you know.” Woo Bin said smiling mischievously

“I have been on leave for two days; how can a deal be made within two days!!” Niya said

“It can be when the offer is good” and he smirked

“Bhai, you didn’t have to buy the company! Threatening him would have done it.” Mandy said

“It was not a waste, I was thinking of expanding in India anyways. And this provided with the perfect opportunity.” Woo Bin said

“Does everyone at the company know?” Niya asked

“No, only the top people know, so I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.” Woo bin said

“Don’t worry; because I’m the last person somebody is going to prod for gossip” Niya said “Because they are all scared of me”

“They are just intimidated by you. You’ve reached the levels in 18 months that people reach in years and you are the most valuable employee there. And of course you would be; they don’t want to lose one of the best legal aids in the country, now do they?” Mandy said

“One of the best?” Woo Bin asked

“Uh huh, she topped her university and won the best international mooter title, three years in a row.” Mandy replied

“Quite impressive; It’ll be a pleasure to work with you then” and Woo Bin extended a hand

Niya shook it “It’ll be nice to work with you too”

“Ookaay, now don’t start discussing business now; you are on leave” she reminded Niya

“Ok, fine” Niya said as she raised her hands in surrender

“Where did everyone else go?” Mandy asked Woo Bin as the rest of the F4 had disappeared

“Yi Jung and Jun Pyo are with the girls” he said motioning to a corner where the couples were standing “but I can’t see Ji Hoo”

Just then the lights went out and a spotlight came to rest on Mandy.

My net connection !! Sorry for updating so late! thank you for my 4 loyal subbies for still being there. i know you hate me :-(