Bond Made in Hell || A TAEJIN STORY || Arranged Marriage

56

Jimin

I stand in front of Jungkook's office in the empty hallway. I raise my hand to knock, but as always, my fist falters before the hard wooden surface. Oh, why is it so hard? Why has everything become so hard?

I take a deep breath and knock. Jungkook's voice calls out, sharply. 'Come in!'

I push the door open and step inside. Jungkook looks up at me as I stand, shaking and diffident, in the doorway, then turns back to his work without a second glance.

I inhale, my voice trembling as I begin to speak. 'Mr Jeon....'

'Jimin-ssi.' He looks up once more, and his voice is cutting. 'Are you here to stand and yell at me at the top of your voice again? Or accuse me of baseless things, perhaps?'

'I'm e-extremely sorry, Mr Jeon,' I whisper. 'That was extremely rude and uncalled for of me that day- I-'

'This is a workplace, Jimin-ssi,' Mr Jeon's voice does not soften the slightest bit, and I feel my heart plummet. 'A professional environment. Not a place where you can openly declare your emotions without the slightest regard for the standing or the superiority of the person in front of you. I could have fired you for that, you know.'

I look at him. The tears spring to my eyes. He truly does not love me. He truly does not care. Why have I always been such a fool? Why have I always kept trying to convince myself he was hiding his feelings for me?

'What are you here for, Jimin-ssi?' Mr Jeon raps out.

'I'm....I'm here for....' I take a shuddering breath and swallow hard as I try to prevent my tears from spilling out, taking an envelope out my pocket. 'The...the Annual Investor's Ball invitation. It arrived today morning.'

'I see.' Mr Jeon leans forward to accept it from me. He turns it over, frowning. 'They have sent out the invitations remarkably late this time. Or did they decide not to invite us altogether since we were embroiled in scandal, and changed their decision last moment?'

'I do not know, Sir,' I say, nervously. 'So...are you planning on going?'

Jungkook hums. 'I'll see. While I myself am the slightest bit inclined to go, it would be a much-too-good opportunity to gather more investors and show them that our company- or our stocks- have not been the least bit affected by Mr Kim Seokjin's recent absence- withdrawal.'

I watch him carefully as he says Jin's name. His face is blank and emotionless as he says it, and his voice as matter-of-fact as ever. Maybe he has actually gotten over....?

'How is Mr Kim Seokjin, anyway?' He asks, suddenly, and my rising spirits fall yet again. I hate myself for being like this- I hate myself for being such a terrible friend.

'He is quite all right, Sir.' I avoid mentioning our recent meeting- Jin had said it was to be kept strictly private.

For a second, I think I see Jungkook's eyes mist over, and a slightly melancholy expression cross his face. Then he hums again, and the cold, authoritative look is back.

'Well, I suppose I might as well as go attend the Annual Investor's Ball, even though it is nearly always a huge waste of time. It wouldn't make a good impression on the business community if I absented myself. You shall be coming along with me, Jimin-ssi, of course.'

'And what about Namjoon-ssi, Sir?' I blurt out. 'I rather think he should come along too- he's quite an asset to our company, and he's very diplomatic, knows how to talk to people- I'm sure he'd play an instrumental role in winning over future investors at the Ball.'

Jungkook frowns. 'All right, then. Tell him to come along as well.'

'Very well, Sir.' I bow. As I turn to leave, Jungkook calls out suddenly. 'Jimin-ssi.'

'Yes, Sir?' I turn to look back at him. 'Again, Sir, I'm most extremely sorry-'

'Wear something nice at the Ball,' Jungkook interrupts me, abruptly. 'I need you to look good.'

I stop mid-apology, lost for words. Then I blush hard, and bow once more. 'As you wish, Sir.'

As I walk out the door and shut it behind me, I lean against the cool wooden frame, breathing in and out slowly. I've done my part- I've done everything Jin asked of me. And now, all I must do is wait.

Wait for tonight.

Shit is about to go down folks ;)