Fateful Alliance ∞

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TAEHYUNG

The morning had unfolded more gently than I had anticipated.

The air in the garden had been warm, filled with the scent of dew-kissed grass and faint traces of the lavender shrubs Mom insisted on tending herself. Breakfast with Jungkook had felt... light. The sound of his laughter still echoed faintly in my head, stubbornly clinging even as I tried to shift my focus elsewhere. His presence had this strange way of softening me, uncoiling knots of tension I hadn't even realized I carried. For a brief moment, it almost felt like life was something I could enjoy rather than endure.

But, as always, reality was impatient.

My phone buzzed sharply against the tabletop, dragging me out of the warmth of conversation and into the cold grip of responsibility. The screen lit up with Jack's name. His calls were never casual.

I answered with a clipped, "Yes?" already bracing myself.

"Sir, it's urgent," Jack's voice crackled through, taut with anxiety. "There's been an incident with the IAHS_221 files. You need to come in. Immediately."

The words slammed into me like a sudden downpour. IAHS_221 wasn't just any project. it was the backbone of months of work, the kind of folder that made or broke careers. My mood soured instantly, irritation pressing down on the rare bubble of peace I'd been indulging in.

"I'll be there shortly," I replied, my voice automatically flattening into the detached, businesslike tone I'd perfected over the years. Cold. Efficient. The voice of the CEO, not the man who had just been teased over pancakes.

I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket. My jaw clenched. Of course, the universe couldn't let me have a morning uninterrupted. Of course, work had to invade.

Jungkook's eyes caught mine from across the table, soft and questioning. He didn't ask, but I could see he wanted to. For a moment, I almost wanted to explain, to share the weight. Instead, I gave him a brief nod before excusing myself.

Back in the bedroom, the shift in atmosphere was palpable. The light filtering through the curtains no longer seemed comforting but harsh, like it was mocking me for being dragged back into the storm of work.

I tugged open the wardrobe, pulling out a suit. My movements were swift, practiced—like slipping into armor before battle. White shirt, black slacks, jacket. Everything crisp, pressed, perfect. My hands moved without thought, but my mind wasn't entirely on the task. I could still feel the faint ghost of Jungkook's smile from breakfast tugging at the edge of my consciousness. I shoved it away. I couldn't afford that softness now.

Then I realized the tie was missing.

A low curse escaped me. The simplest detail, forgotten. My fingers dug through the drawer, pulling out the silk tie I always wore for these kinds of meetings. I looped it around my neck, but the fabric resisted me, twisting, slipping. My fingers tugged harder, irritation spiking with every failed attempt.

The knot came undone again. My jaw ached from how tightly I was clenching it.

I could almost feel the minutes dripping away, every second of wasted time magnifying the tension building in my chest. The office was waiting. Jack was waiting. And here I was, battling a piece of fabric like a fool.

I was on the verge of ripping the tie off entirely when Jungkook's quiet voice cut through the air.

"Mind if I help?"

My hands stilled.

I hadn't even noticed him watching me. He was standing just a few steps away, towel-dried hair falling into his eyes, his posture hesitant yet resolute. His smile was small, tentative, but warm in a way that made something unfamiliar flicker in my chest.