Eternal Devotion of Manifest/Chaennie

Chapter 35

Waking up to hot, messy make-outs and long sex drives was never on my bucket list until now. Last night, I did get in late and found her napping in my office chair. The next thing I knew, I was home, in bed, grunting, moaning, even wailing. I was quite pleased until I ambled into the meeting room with my colleagues, siblings, and confidantes. 

They all curved to me sceptically, narrowing their eyes as if I had cheated on them. Well, technically I did, since they all despise Rosie with a passion.

I was met with a wave of scrutinising gazes. My cousin Namjoon, the oldest in our team, stood at the head of the table waiting for me, his arms crossed. Ken, my long-time friend, sat beside him, raising an eyebrow in silent question. My siblings, Taehyung and Irene, exchanged a look before returning their attention to me.

Namjoon was the first to break the silence. "Jennie, do you have any idea what time it is?" he questioned, his tone measured but with an edge of irritation. 

"I know, I'm sorry for being late," I replied, attempting to sound as proficient as possible. I had never seen him this infuriated or offended though I knew how punctual freak he was.

Ken leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "It's not just about being late, Jennie. We've noticed a... decline in your focus lately."

Irene, invariably the more outspoken twin, jumped in. "You're getting more and more involved with an enemy. Do you acknowledge the position you're putting us in?"

Taehyung, who usually kept his emotions in check, seemed especially agitated. "While you've been busy falling in love with your wife, her brother Jimin has taken control of 50% of our black money business across Asia, now. That leaves us with only Europe, South America, and South Africa. He's cutting into our operations, and you're distracted."

I felt a pang of remorse. "I understand the gravity of the situation," I said, my voice firm despite the inner turmoil. "But love and business are separate. I won't let my personal life affect our work."

Namjoon sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's already affecting it, Jennie. We can't afford to lose any more ground to Jimin. Our entire operation is at risk."

Ken nodded in agreement. "We need to be united, focused. You can't let your feelings compromise our business. We're a team, and right now, it feels like you're not fully with us."

I took a deep breath, learning the weight of their words. "I'll get my priorities straight," I promised, looking each of them in the eye. "I won't let you down."

Taehyung, still visibly upset, added, "It's not just about loyalty to the business. It's about loyalty to us, your family. Remember that."

I nodded, understanding the deeper implications of his words. "I will. I promise. And Rosie is my family too, and so is yours," I pointed out, walking back to my chair. 

The room fell into an edgy stillness as I gathered my thoughts. Once seated, I took a deep breath and made my decision known. "I need to make something clear. From now on, I will not be involved in delivering orders, handling any of the operations, or even setting foot in any of our companies. I won't be part of the confidential business anymore and will handle this company's white money."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room. Namjoon raised an eyebrow, clearly sceptical. "What are you saying, Jennie?"

Ken leaned forward, his voice rising. "You can't be serious. This is a family business. Our families built this together."

I held up my hand to silence them, my expression firm. "I am serious. I will always be here to offer advice, to suggest solutions, and to support you in every way I can. But I won't be directly involved in the operations. I love Rosie, and I want to keep it that way."