unexpected |Taekook|

part: 29

As Jungkook and Taehyung continue to navigate their relationship, the tension between their professional lives as CEOs and Taehyung's secret involvement with the mafia intensifies. Taehyung’s struggle to maintain his dual life grows more difficult, especially as business pressures mount and rivals begin to close in. Meanwhile, their love deepens, and moments of intimacy and passion serve as a temporary escape from the dark realities surrounding them. But beneath the surface, the threat of exposure looms large, and Taehyung knows that one wrong move could bring everything crashing down.

---

The boardroom was filled with the usual buzz of anticipation as Jungkook and Taehyung prepared for the quarterly meeting of their joint venture. Both CEOs, they had built an empire together by working together. (Merge) —one founded on mutual respect, sharp business acumen, and an undeniable chemistry that extended far beyond the boardroom. On the surface, they were the perfect power couple, commanding respect and admiration from all sides.

But today, the atmosphere was different. There was an undercurrent of tension, an unspoken anxiety that lingered in the air. Jungkook, ever the perfectionist, had been pushing their teams hard, driven by his desire to stay ahead of the competition. Taehyung, though equally committed, had been more distracted lately—his thoughts often wandering to the darker side of his life that Jungkook was still blissfully unaware of.

As the meeting began, Jungkook’s sharp eyes missed nothing. He noticed the slight delay in Taehyung’s responses, the way his gaze would occasionally drift out the window, lost in thoughts far removed from the task at hand. It wasn’t like Taehyung to be so unfocused, and Jungkook’s concern grew with each passing minute.

“Taehyung,” Jungkook said, leaning in slightly as the meeting wrapped up, “are you okay? You’ve seemed a bit... distracted lately.”

Taehyung blinked, pulling himself back to the present. He offered Jungkook a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m fine, Kookie. Just a lot on my mind. You know how it is.”

Jungkook nodded, but his worry didn’t dissipate. He knew Taehyung well enough to sense when something was wrong, even if Taehyung wasn’t ready to talk about it. But now wasn’t the time to push. They both had roles to play, and any sign of discord between them could be disastrous for their business.

“Let’s get through the day,” Jungkook suggested, his tone softening, “and then we can talk more tonight. Maybe unwind a bit, just the two of us.”

Taehyung’s smile became a bit more genuine at that. “I’d like that,” he said, his voice low, a hint of relief in his eyes.

---

That evening, after a long day of meetings and negotiations, Jungkook and Taehyung finally returned home. Their shared penthouse was a sanctuary from the world—a place where they could let down their guard and just be themselves. But tonight, even the comfort of home couldn’t fully ease the tension that had been building between them.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Jungkook wrapped his arms around Taehyung from behind, pulling him close. The warmth of Taehyung’s body against his was soothing, grounding him in the moment. He buried his face in the crook of Taehyung’s neck, breathing in his scent, the familiar mix of cologne and something uniquely Taehyung.

“Tae,” Jungkook murmured, his lips brushing against Taehyung’s skin, “I’ve been worried about you. You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Taehyung stiffened for just a moment before relaxing into Jungkook’s embrace. “I know, Kookie,” he said softly, his hands coming up to rest on Jungkook’s. “I’m just... dealing with a lot right now. Work has been stressful, and I guess it’s just getting to me and after all I'm not as experienced as you”