𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 | jjk ff

2.

At the club.

Seowon’s POV

I swirled the amber whiskey in my glass, the ice clinking softly. I’d been seated in this velvet-lined lounge for thirty minutes now. The air was thick with perfume, smoke, and secrets. Honestly, I had no interest in meeting a mafia man in real life. But Yoongi had insisted.

“Connections, Seowon. In this world, they matter more than money,” he’d told me.

Still, the idea of shaking hands with someone who could order a killing with a nod? Not exactly my kind of networking.

Yoongi sat across from me, glued to a phone call. His tone was low, clipped, controlled. Through the glass wall of our private booth, I could see strippers twirling under neon lights, casting looks our way.

“What’s the point of a VIP lounge if it’s still a fishbowl?” I muttered under my breath, placing the glass down. Another sip and I’d probably start spilling my secrets.

Yoongi ended his call, finally looking up. His feline eyes studied me for a moment before he smiled slightly.

“You look on edge.”

“I’m just. . .aware,” I replied, meeting his gaze.

“He’ll be here in a minute,” he said casually, lowering his voice like we were about to meet the devil himself. “Jungkook doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Neither should we.”

I gave a slow nod, trying not to let the nerves show. My gaze flicked to the dancers again, but I couldn’t focus anymore.

footsteps.

The lounge door opened with a soft click. And there he was.

Jeon Jungkook.

Four bodyguards flanked him, but it was obvious who was in charge. He moved with the kind of lethal grace you don’t learn,you’re born with it. Dark, tailored suit. Sharp jaw. Those obsidian eyes didn’t just look through you; they stripped you bare.

I stood to greet him, willing myself not to stare, not to falter.

Yoongi gestured. “Jungkook, don’t just hover. Sit.”

“Sure, hyung,” Jungkook responded, his voice a deep, silken rasp. It settled in the air like a warning.

He sat across from me, facing me directly. I sank back into my seat, suddenly aware of every breath I took.

Jungkook’s pov

I took a seat beside Yoongi hyung, but my attention immediately shifted to the woman across from me.

So this was Yoon Seowon.

I’d heard about her from my mother and from the media, of course. Elusive, sharp-tongued heiress of Y Group. She rarely attended public events, yet somehow remained headline-worthy. Seeing her in person? She didn’t disappoint.

Her lipstick was the color of blood and ambition. Her black slip dress hugged her like a secret. There was elegance in her posture, but those eyes. . .they were calculating.

“She’s the one I told you about,” Yoongi said casually.

“I see,” I said, turning to her. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Yoon.”

She returned the greeting, her voice cool and composed. “Pleasure’s mine, Mr. Jeon.”

It was formal. Distant. But her eyes betrayed curiosity.

I was here to discuss the recent ambush at our port ,an arms shipment had gone sideways. But clearly, Yoongi wasn’t ready for business.

“The attack—” I started, but he cut me off.

“Later. She’s here now.”

I didn’t argue. Yoongi wasn’t just a mentor,he was family. And when he took that tone, I listened.

Seowon raised a brow. “If there’s something pressing, I can leave. Mafia talk isn’t exactly my scene.”

“You’re not leaving,” Yoongi said without missing a beat.

She frowned, but it looked more like a pout, which she quickly masked with a sip of water.

I studied her. She wasn’t just beautiful,there was something deeper. She wasn’t afraid of us. Just. . .cautious. Like someone used to dancing with fire and not getting burned.

“You always travel with a full set of bodyguards?” she asked suddenly, her gaze flicking to the men at the door.

“It’s necessary,” I replied.

“Must be exhausting,” she murmured.

The conversation thinned after that. Eventually, Yoongi signaled her driver. She was slightly tipsy, and he wanted her home safely.

After she left, we finally discussed the port ambush. I had suspects. Yoongi didn’t like what he heard.

“I think Yuna’s fiancé might be involved,” I said.

Yoongi tensed. “Double the security. If Sejun’s involved, he won’t play fair.”

I nodded grimly. “He’s too quiet lately.”

“And silence,” Yoongi muttered, “is where the storm brews.”

Seowon’s pov

Morning.

A dull headache greeted me the moment I opened my eyes. I sighed ,must’ve been the whiskey. Still, no time to waste.

I got ready quickly. Sharp eyeliner, sleek outfit, strong coffee. My schedule today was brutal first day back at work and only days left until the Seoul runway show.

The drive was quiet, the city buzzing outside my window. Despite the stress ahead, a strange calm settled over me.

This was my world,fast, ruthless, and perfectly tailored. And I was ready to own it.