Blue Irises | Taekook

Fifty-four

Jungkook laughed. It wasn’t a laugh of amusement, but one that sent an ice-cold shiver crawling down the spines of everyone in the room. It echoed, sharp and unforgiving, like the crack of a whip. The tension was palpable, and one by one, his subordinates dared not lift their heads, shrinking further into themselves as if hoping to become invisible, lest they meet his gaze. Even breathing felt dangerous.

Soojin, standing closest to the source of the storm, felt his stomach twist with dread. His heart pounded in his chest, his hands clammy as his mind raced, terrified of what his boss might do next. The calmness in Jungkook's voice only heightened the terror in the room. There was a method to his madness, a cold precision that told him—and everyone else—Jungkook was holding back something far more dangerous.

"Just one task."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room like a predator surveying its prey. The weight of his words hung in the air, suffocating.

"Just one." Jungkook’s voice was deceptively soft, each syllable drawn out with calculated menace, the air between them thick with a tension that threatened to snap at any moment. "And none of you could even get that right?"

The quietness in his tone, the deliberate calm, was far more chilling than any outburst could have been. His words slid over the room like a cold, steel blade, slow and methodical. Everyone knew better than to mistake this for a simple scolding. This wasn’t a scolding—it was a warning.

"Min-Hyung," Jungkook's voice sliced through the thick tension, his gaze locking onto the man as though he’d known all along who was to blame.

Min-Hyung practically jolted in his place, heart slamming against his ribcage. His skin was slick with sweat, every nerve on edge as though his body had gone into survival mode. He had always known this day might come. The pay for this job had been huge—far more than he could ever dream of earning in a lifetime of honest work. But greed had its price, and today, Min-Hyung was realizing just how steep that cost could be.

He shifted slightly, almost jumping in place, his wide, terrified eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out. His throat tightened as the bitter taste of fear settled on his tongue. Was this really the end? Would this be his last day on this beautiful planet?

"I–I…" he stammered, barely able to form coherent words. His mind was racing, but the fear had frozen him in place. His legs trembled, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse under the weight of Jungkook’s unwavering stare.

He was at fault

Everyone in the room knew it

"I expect an answer," Jungkook growled, his gaze narrowing, pinning Min-Hyung down like a predator with its prey. The beta’s fear was tangible, his breath shallow, hands trembling. Jungkook relished it—the sight of terror creeping across Min-Hyung’s face, the way his body shook from the intensity of it. It was intoxicating, the kind of control that Jungkook thrived on.

The silence stretched further, and Jungkook’s satisfaction deepened. Fear was a powerful tool, and seeing it written so clearly on the face of the one responsible only made the moment sweeter.

"Y-Y-Yes, s-s-sir," Min-Hyun stammered, his voice barely holding together as the weight of Jungkook's command settled over him. He could feel the entire room watching him, their silent fear feeding into his own. His throat was tight, his hands trembling despite his best efforts to appear composed. Jungkook raised a brow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, amused by Min-Hyun's visible distress.

"Details of what you did this entire week," Jungkook’s voice rang out like a crack of thunder, reverberating in the room, "on my desk. Right now."

The authority in his tone was absolute, leaving no room for hesitation. Min-Hyun's body lurched into action, his movements frantic as he fumbled to pull out his laptop, the nerves getting the best of him. Sweat dripped from his brow, which he hastily wiped away, trying desperately not to lose what little grip he had on the situation. His hands shook as he finally managed to get the laptop out, nearly dropping it in his rush to reach Jungkook’s desk.