Beauty Next Door (vsoo)

[21]

The tension between Taehyung and Jimin hung in the air like an unspoken challenge. As Jimin continued with his presentation, Taehyung couldn’t help but steal glances at him, noticing how easily Jimin engaged with Jisoo. He seemed so at ease, so familiar with her, and it ate at Taehyung’s insides. Every time Jimin leaned in closer to her to explain something on his Mac, their hands brushed, and Taehyung's grip tightened around the edge of the chair.

It was subtle but enough to make Taehyung question just how deep their relationship was. Business partners? Or was there something more? He had never been this jealous before, never had this overwhelming desire to claim someone so fiercely. The way Jimin was so comfortable with Jisoo, touching her casually, talking to her with that soft smile—it all made Taehyung feel like an outsider in a space he had always considered his own.

Every word Jimin spoke, every look exchanged between him and Jisoo made Taehyung feel more unsure of himself. Was he doing enough? Was he doing the right thing? He wanted to believe in their connection, wanted to believe that he meant something to her, but moments like this made him second-guess everything. Was Jisoo looking at him the way she looked at Jimin? Did Jimin have more of a hold on her than he did?

Taehyung was pulled out of his spiraling thoughts when Jimin finally wrapped up the presentation. Jisoo gave him a warm smile, her eyes filled with appreciation as she congratulated him and his team for their hard work. Taehyung sat back, a sigh escaping his lips as the tension in the room finally began to dissolve.

“Great job, Jimin. You’ve really outdone yourselves,” Jisoo said, her voice warm and sincere. She turned to her assistant, Mia, who had been watching the exchange silently. Mia gave her a nod of approval, clearly pleased with the results.

Jimin stood and smiled, offering his hand to Jisoo, who accepted it with a grateful look. The gesture seemed so effortless between them, and it sent a ripple of unease through Taehyung's chest.

Once the meeting came to a close, the KJ team stood to leave, Jisoo giving her best friend a brief hug before walking back towards her desk, deep in thought.

“Mr. Taehyung,” Jisoo called out, her voice soft but commanding. Taehyung, who had been lost in his thoughts, snapped to attention.

"Yes, CEO Kim?" he responded, his voice steady but with a hint of uncertainty.

She raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “What exactly were you doing here today? You’re not part of the meeting.”

Taehyung’s face lit up with an innocent smile. “I’m your assistant, CEO Kim. I just wanted to sit in and learn from the presentation.”

Jisoo eyed him for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. “You’re more than just my assistant, Taehyung,” she said quietly, a subtle hint of amusement in her tone. But there was something else in her voice, something unspoken, that made Taehyung pause.

Before he could respond, Jisoo turned her attention to Mia, who had walked over with some final paperwork. “I’ll catch up with you later, Taehyung,” she said, her tone gentle, but Taehyung felt a twinge of disappointment.

Jisoo left the meeting hall shortly after the conversation, her thoughts heavy with the weight of everything that had just happened. Taehyung’s presence lingered in her mind, his words about their relationship still echoing in her ears. The sudden declaration of feelings, the quiet intensity of his gaze, and the unspoken tension that had built up between them... it all felt so real now, so undeniable.

Taehyung, on the other hand, stayed behind in the hall, lost in his thoughts. His eyes followed Jisoo’s retreating figure before they fell back on Jimin.