Lifetime

Strictly Business

Jungkook and I had another glass of champagne to decrease our inhibitions and put us at ease before immersing ourselves in the crowd again. I started by connecting with someone familiar, spotting Sofia among a few other guests. She was quick to introduce me, raving that after her internship she'd accepted a new role as my executive assistant. I joked that she would be putting up with more of my antics, making an internal note that she was currently being pulled into one as she recanted the positions of those we talked with.

My first target was Julio, who I recognized as a model included on one of our Fall covers. I used playful touches to flirt with him as I recalled the photoshoot, teasing him for devouring nearly every pastry we provided.

He was easy, whispering into my ear that he'd like to see me outside of work. When he asked for my phone number, I pulled a business card from my purse, letting him scribble his number on the back instead of providing him with mine. We finished up our conversation and I caught Jungkook's eye over the shoulder of a woman, poking the tip of my tongue out at him before slipping the card into a slot in my bag.

I made an attempt at four more people, collecting the numbers of three before Taehyung realized Jungkook and I were up to something, cutting me off in pursuit of a lonely looking man in the corner of the room.

"What are you two doing?" He smirked, his mouth pulled into a sly smile.

"Seeing who can get the most phone numbers." I giggled, commenting. "You're impeding on my efforts."

He looked over his shoulder to the man my intention was set on, mischief in his eye when he looked back at me. "I'll make you a deal."

I stood a step away from him, raising a brow with curiosity. He reached into his pocket, discreetly lifting out a stack of small pieces of paper and business cards. I took them from him immediately, keeping them close to my chest and hidden from Jungkook.

"All the numbers I got tonight." He shrugged as if it were completely normal to get the number of nearly every person he spoke to. "I'll give them to you for something in return." He proposed.

"You know I don't like cheating." I shook my head, still holding on to the phone numbers and filled with temptation.

He laughed. "Have you forgotten that Jungkook cheats at nearly every game we play?"

It was true. He was always artful about it, Taehyung and I letting him get away with it because he was the youngest and the cutest.

"What do you want in return?" I inquired.

"Whatever the deal was." He answered, sure that it was sexual in nature and without a care to the action. "If you win, I get his deal. If he somehow wins, I get to watch yours."

My chest rose and fell with the heavier breath I took at the thought. The button to my clutch clicked as I opened it, sliding his stack of phone numbers inside in agreement.

He was smooth with the guarded kiss he pressed to my cheek, stepping out of the way so that I had a clear path to the man who checked his watch for the sixth time in the past minute. It only took me connecting with him on his desire to leave the party early to lure an invitation to leave with him. I made the excuse of my presence being a necessity for the duration of the party, my disappointed expression leading him to leaving his number for a rain check.

I succumbed to the thrill of the game, my mind far from any potential consequences that could come from flirting with the editor-in-chief. I gave him every ounce of my attention as he expressed anticipation for working closer to me, our interaction sure to increase with my new position. We lost ourselves in conversation until he checked his watch, excusing himself with a wink and stepping to the stage where a live band crooned.