“It feels so weird to wear a formal suit.” Sungmin complained as he got out of the cab with Kris right behind him. Sungmin had to wear formal suits everyday when he went to his company but being here in Korea for last ten days and wearing loose shirts and jeans had him so comfortable that he didn’t like the feel of the black velvet suit he was now wearing in honor of Kyuhyun’s birthday.

But he did internally thanked God that Mr. Cho had arranged the birthday party in his mansion rather than a fancy hotel. For Sungmin, birthdays were a personal occasion and celebrating them in your house was the best thing.

“What are you complaining about? Don’t you wear these clothes like every day? I am the one who should be complaining but since I look rather dashing so… I am good!” A smug Kris had his say and Sungmin had to admit that the off white suit his tall cousin was wearing sure made him look quite handsome… but he would rather die than say it out loud.

The two cousins reached the door and a butler gave them a deep bow and asked for their names, Sungmin happily bowed back and gave his name along with his coat to an assistant beside the butler. Gaining their names the butler nodded and showed them the way to the main hall.

WOW… was the word that went along Sungmin’s mind as he entered the beautifully yet elegantly decorated Hall, which was quite big.

Sungmin looked around and saw a lot of older looking men with equally older looking ladies with them… if Sungmin was to compare them to the parties he had attended in America then this was one major difference he would like to point out. In America mostly older businessmen have a younger than their daughter girl hanging on their arms… true that some of those kind of people could be seen in this party as well but majority of the guest were here with their families and seemed content with that. Sungmin liked this kind of environment a lot.

Sungmin and Kris looked around after they had absorbed the atmosphere around them, trying to find the birthday boy.

It was a birthday party of the CEO of one of the greatest companies here in South Korea so as Sungmin has expected no prettily wrapped gift could be seen on a big table in the corner of the room because there was no way that such a small gift could be presented to such an important person. Sungmin himself was not sure what to get Kyuhyun, at first he was fixed on the idea to buy one of Cartier watch from Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astotourbillion collection but then his cousin had very kindly pointed out that if any regular American gets you one of the most expensive watches then it could make you really suspicious. Then Sungmin resolved to buy one from Calibre de Cartier collection, which was also quite expensive for a regular American boy but Sungmin just could not bring himself to get his friend a non-branded watch.

 “Sungmin, you came!” A happy voice exclaimed from behind the duo and they both turned around to see a beaming Kyuhyun standing in a deep grey tux, looking very handsome.

“Of course I did… And Happy Birthday!” Sungmin wished him and used great effort to stop himself from hugging his friend as they were in middle of quite a judgmental company right then. Then Sungmin brought forward the gift he got for Kyuhyun before saying, “Here you go Birthday boy.”

“Oh Sungmin you didn’t need to bring anything.” Kyuhyun muttered scowling a little.

“Of course I did.” Sungmin insisted as he his gift in the hands of a very reluctant looking Kyuhyun. They have never talked about what Sungmin did in America before but now Sungmin realized that apparently his new found friends thinks of him as a very average guy… Sungmin wondered what their thought will be once they find out who he was. At first Sungmin had thought his plan to get to know the real them was great but now that he finds himself getting attach with the guys, he feels bad in betraying them.

“You really shouldn’t have.” Kyuhyun again muttered as a servant moved forward to get the gift from Kyuhyun’s hand and told him that he would put it with the rest of the gifts in the personal library. “No, please take this to my room and put it on my study table.”

The servant bowed to let him know that he understood Kyuhyun’s instruction before leaving the trio to chat among them. Then Kyuhyun took them to introduce them to his Mother who was a kind, warm and charming lady, she expressed her happiness at finally meeting ‘The Sungmin from America’ she kept hearing about from Kyuhyun for last few days.

Then the Kim’s and Park’s arrived right one after the other so Kyuhyun and his mother left to greet their guests and since Suho and Changmin had to greet the already present guest in the big hall so Sungmin and Kris were left to entertain themselves. But Kris, who had fallen in love with the punch and had kept drinking it needed to go on a restroom break and that left Sungmin to stand all alone. Then suddenly Sungmin’s eye fell on another figure who stood by one side alone just like Sungmin and it took mere seconds for Sungmin to recognize the handsome face…

.

.

Donghae was feeling really, really uncomfortable as he stood in a corner of the big hall, waiting for Cho Kyuhyun, the birthday boy, to greet his other guests so Donghae could wish him a Happy Birthday and hand him the gift his Father had asked him to give Kyuhyun and get out of this hell as soon as possible while internally he was cursing his sister for bailing out on him at the last minute.

Donghae himself didn’t want to come to this pretentious party to begin with but his father insisted that he attend the party because otherwise it would be considered rude on his part. Since they never used to be invited to such parties even a year ago so this was a huge thing, according to Mr. Lee, but to Donghae it was all a game those great Businessmen liked to play.

But then Donghae saw him… the Cinderella from ten days ago… the blonde handsome stranger wearing a blue gray shade of suit, which quite coincidentally matched with Donghae’s suit, walked in with a stern looking man ahead of him. They went straight to Mr. Cho to greet him with a fake smile fixed on the older man’s face. After greeting and wishing Cho Kyuhyun in the similar manner the blond and his Dad, Donghae presumed, went ahead to meet other elites.

Donghae couldn’t help but keep looking at the blond guy who had Donghae restless for past ten nights now, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here… which kind of amused Donghae as he saw a slight pout around the flushed pink plump lips of his.

Just when the bored looking blond thought to take a look around as his Dad was busy talking with another stern looking man then Donghae found his eyes locking with the pair of brown eyes which showed disinterest for two seconds then recognition in next two which soon followed by somewhat fear and then the blond looked away with his face flushing a little.

Donghae was confused that why the blond was acting like this with him… Donghae didn’t know who he was but it seemed that the blond did but what had Donghae ever done to deserve this kind of treatment from that beauty?

The blond kept giving subtle glances toward Donghae but looked away whenever he found that Donghae was still looking at him and that strange way of their playing peek-a-boo amused Donghae to no extent.

“Hey, why are you standing here all alone?” A voice said and Donghae looked beside him to find a sweetly smiling guy there. Donghae didn’t recognize him… which was not surprising because where Donghae was literally married to his company there he didn’t find it worth his time to learn names and faces of people he had entered the race, of thriving to come out victorious and better than the rest, with.

“Umm… Hello.” Donghae didn’t know what he should say in the reply of other's question so he resolved to greet him formally.

“Hello to you too.” The boy said and for some weird reason he looked amused. Donghae wasn’t sure whether the other was mocking him or he had not lived in Korea because even though he was talking formally but there was a tint of informal tone in his way of talking. But Donghae dismissed all the thoughts when the cute looking guy went ahead and introduced himself. “I am Lee Sungmin, by the way.”

“I am Lee Donghae.” Donghae tried to give off a feel of confident aura around him but he knew he failed when he noticed the twinkle in other eyes. “Umm… If you don’t mind my asking… which company are you from?”

Donghae didn’t want to end their talk at bad footing but the problem was that he didn’t knew what should he talk about with the other unless he find out what kind of business the other guy, Sungmin as he said, was associated with.

“Oh no… I am just a friend of Kyuhyun. I am from America.” Sungmin explained to him. “I just saw you standing alone so… wanted to come and say ‘Hi’.”

Donghae suddenly felt more at ease when he realized that he was not in the company of a stuck-up businessman so he smiled more warmly and openly at Sungmin. Then he noticed, from above Sungmin’s shoulder, the blond guy was looking at Donghae but as soon as their eyes locked with each other, the blond flushed and looked away.

“So what kind of company are you from?” Sungmin asked a distracted Donghae.

“We mostly import machinery from Japan but also design some of our own.” Donghae replied politely but he couldn’t stop from looking above Sungmin’s shoulder as his eyes were fixed on the fidgeting blond guy.

“You have designers to design machinery at your company?” Sungmin asked as he seemed somewhat surprised but quite curious to learn.

“No,” Donghae shook his head and gave a small embarrassed laugh since in his distracted state he had let out a secret of his own. “Only I design engines and stuff but that is not much, I am still trying to perfect my skills… our main business is importing the machinery from Japan.”

But Sungmin seemed more interested in Donghae’s talent of designing rather than his business but it didn’t sound like he had a hidden agenda because Sungmin geuinely seemed curious about it so Donghae felt at ease as he filled him up… it was quite fun talking machinery like the way Donghae was with Sungmin. Donghae didn’t want to ask what Sungmin did in America because he thought he might end up sounding like he was preying but it was obvious that Sungmin knew a lot about machinery and designing it.

Sungmin was ranting about a story he once heard about an American company and Donghae was busy looking at the blond guy who had finally given up on avoiding Donghae’s gaze and was now out right glaring daggers at Donghae… which still kind of amused Donghae. Then suddenly the blond took his leave from the circle of acquaintance he was standing with and started to march right toward Donghae.

“What’s your problem? Can’t you look at something else?” The blond guy hissed at Donghae when he came to stand much closed to him, totally disregarding Sungmin’s presence and his shocked expressions.

“I was just wondering that why you left so suddenly that day and why are you avoiding me today?” Donghae went ahead and asked rather than answering the blond.

“Look here you caveman!” The blond gritted out his teeth before saying that.

“Caveman?? Last time I checked you thought I was hot.” Donghae didn’t usually get angry so suddenly but he did not appreciate the way the blonde was treating him now and calling him caveman for no apparent reason was so not right.

“Yeah you are a caveman with your rough hands definitely not so hot bulging arm muscles… keep that in mind and go back to that trash you call your company and go work like a slave like you were doing the other day.” The blonde guy ended his speech and left in a diva like way. Donghae wasn’t sure why he was thinking that but… Gosh! The guy looked so hot when he was angrily ranting away just now.

“Umm… what was that all about?” Donghae suddenly became aware that he was not alone.

“I really don’t know.” Donghae honestly told Sungmin but then out of curiosity he asked, “Do you know who he was?”

“Umm…” Sungmin looked a bit hesitant to say but finally…, “Yeah, he is Lee Hyukjae.”

The name of his rival suddenly produced a jump in his mind. “Lee HYUKJAE? The CEO of Lee Corp.?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know that?” Sungmin asked with furrowed brows.

“No I didn’t,” Donghae mumbled out as his brain had gone in a sudden whirlpool and Donghae found himself wishing that he could leave soon… the revelation of him having a teeny tiny crush on his Rival had him going numb. “Sungmin, since you are friends with Cho Kyuhyun, can you get him to meet me so I can wish him birthday before leaving?”

Sungmin nodded at him but couldn’t help and add, “You are leaving?”

“Yeah, I have an important meeting to attend.”

Which was kind of true but the meeting was a good two hours away… but Donghae just needed to leave this place.

Sungmin took Donghae to Kyuhyun who was still standing in a circle of his Father’s acquaintances with a rather fixed smile on his face. Sungmin alone went up to Kyuhyun and gave a small tug at his sleeve, Kyuhyun noticing who was calling for his attention bowed to the elders and turned to leave with Sungmin… which earned them a sting eye from Mr. Cho.

Sungmin dragged Kyuhyun and Donghae to where, Changmin and Suho were merrily talking.

“Finally the birthday boy had been set free!” Changmin exclaimed dramatically as his hand reached for the tray of appetizer placed on side tables… the very reason why Suho and Changmin were near the food table rather than the middle of hall where most people were socializing.

“Yeah Sungmin just saved me! Thanks Sungmin you are my savior… I owe you my life.” Changmin’s equally dramatic friend said.

“Oh I never wanted to be your savior or anything.” Sungmin quickly bust Kyuhyun’s bubbles then he pushed Donghae to front. “This is Lee Donghae and he was waiting for you to get free from those old people so he could greet you.”

Donghae was very surprised at Sungmin’s way of introducing him and was even more surprised that Sungmin actually knew what was going through his mind when Donghae didn’t even said a word about it.

“Lee Donghae, the CEO of Lee Group of industries?” Kyuhyun inquired with somewhat surprised eyes on display.

Donghae nodded to confirm him.

“I didn’t know Dad invited you but I am really glad you came because I heard so much about you, about how intelligent, hard working and down to earth guy you are… I think I am somewhat of your fan but don’t tell my Dad about that… I think I should stop talking now since I am giving too much away.” Kyuhyun blabbered out in his haste as he shook Donghae’s hand. Donghae couldn’t help but laugh at the cute side of the stone-cold CEO he had heard about. It seemed that Kyuhyun was not how the other Businessmen made him sound like.

“Yeah it’s like a regular thing for our Dads to say, ‘Learn something from that hard working Lee Donghae, look where he got his business at and you lazy bums are gonna make us go bankrupt',” Suho tried his best to imitate his Dad’s stern voice but it was an epic failure but Donghae was shocked at something else.

“I didn’t know I was so well known.” Donghae let out with a smile.

“Dude, give it a few years and if you keep working like you are doing right now then you would become a legend in Business World.” Changmin told Donghae with a friendly pat on his shoulder.

Donghae