The drive to Namjoon’s company felt like it took longer than usual, the silence in the car heavy with anticipation. When they finally arrived, Namjoon navigated to the underground parking, the familiar setting offering little comfort as they parked. They both sat in the car for a moment, neither eager to move but knowing they had to.
Namjoon was the first to speak, breaking the tense silence. "Ready?" he asked softly, turning to look at Y/N with concern.
Y/N nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "As ready as I’ll ever be."
With that, they both unbuckled their seatbelts and exited the car, walking side by side towards the elevators. The ride up felt like an eternity, each floor bringing them closer to the moment they had both been dreading and anticipating.
When they reached the designated floor, they stepped out of the elevator and made their way to the meeting room. As they approached the door, they paused, both taking a deep breath to steady themselves.
"This is it," Namjoon whispered, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Y/N squeezed back, her eyes meeting his. "We’ve got this."
Together, they pushed open the door and stepped inside the meeting room. The atmosphere inside was formal and tense. Seated around the large table were both CEOs, their managers, and a few members from the PR department. All eyes turned to Namjoon and Y/N as they entered, curiosity and expectation in their gazes.
Namjoon led Y/N to the empty seats prepared for them, and they sat down, their hands still linked beneath the table. The room was silent for a moment, the CEOs exchanging glances as they waited for one of them to speak.
Namjoon decided to break the silence. He cleared his throat, his voice steady but his nerves evident in his tone. "Thank you all for coming. We know this meeting was called on short notice, but there are some important things we need to discuss."
Both CEOs nodded, their expressions serious but open. Namjoon’s CEO leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the table. "We’re all ears, Namjoon. What’s on your mind?"
Namjoon glanced at Y/N, who gave him a small nod of encouragement. Taking another deep breath, Namjoon began. "First, I want to inform you all that Y/N and I have been in a relationship for the past year. We’ve kept it private to protect our personal lives and careers, but we feel that it’s time to bring it to your attention."
There was a slight murmur around the table as the CEOs and the others absorbed this news. Namjoon’s CEO raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "A relationship? For a year?"
Y/N nodded, her voice steady as she added, "Yes, we’ve been together for a year. We’ve kept it from the public and the industry because we wanted to focus on our work without distractions. But there’s more we need to share."
The room fell silent again, the air thick with anticipation. Namjoon took Y/N’s hand under the table, giving her the strength she needed to continue.
Y/N took a deep breath before speaking, her words measured but clear. "We found out recently that I’m pregnant. We’ve decided to start our family together, and we wanted to be upfront with you about this development."
A stunned silence followed her announcement, the shock evident on everyone’s faces. The CEOs exchanged wide-eyed glances, clearly not expecting this revelation. Even the managers, who had been briefed earlier, seemed slightly taken aback by the directness of the news.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Namjoon’s CEO leaned back in his chair, his expression a mix of surprise and contemplation. "Well… that’s certainly unexpected," he said, his tone more thoughtful than critical.
Y/N’s CEO seemed to gather himself as well, nodding slowly. "This is quite a surprise, indeed. But I must say, it’s not unwelcome news."
Namjoon and Y/N exchanged relieved glances, feeling a bit of the tension ease from their shoulders. The CEOs continued to speak, their voices now more measured as they processed the situation.
Namjoon’s CEO spoke up again, his tone more pragmatic. "This changes things, of course, but it doesn’t have to be a negative. We can work with this. The most important thing is that we handle it carefully, both for your sake and for the company’s."
The PR department members nodded in agreement, already thinking ahead to the strategies they might need to implement. One of them leaned forward, addressing Namjoon and Y/N directly. "We’ll need to craft a plan for how we present this to the public. It’s crucial that we control the narrative and ensure that your privacy is respected."
Y/N’s CEO chimed in, a small smile playing on his lips. "Congratulations to both of you. This is a big step, and while it’s unexpected, we’ll support you as much as we can. But as you know, we’ll have to navigate this carefully."
Namjoon nodded, his grip on Y/N’s hand tightening slightly. "We understand. We’re ready to work with you to make sure everything goes smoothly."
With the initial shock wearing off, the tone of the meeting shifted. The CEOs and managers began discussing the logistics of the situation, brainstorming ways to handle the news and protect both Y/N’s and Namjoon’s careers. It was clear they were taken aback, but their willingness to adapt and support their artists was evident.
The meeting lasted for a couple of hours as they worked through various scenarios and plans, the conversation now more focused and constructive. By the time it ended, Namjoon and Y/N felt a renewed sense of hope. It wasn’t going to be easy, but they had the support of their companies, and that made all the difference.
As they stood to leave, both CEOs offered their congratulations again, their smiles more genuine now that the initial surprise had worn off. The managers also offered words of encouragement, promising to work closely with them to ensure a smooth transition into this new phase of their lives.
Namjoon and Y/N walked out of the meeting room, their hands still clasped tightly together. The tension that had gripped them all morning was slowly beginning to fade, replaced by a sense of accomplishment and relief.
"That went better than I expected," Y/N said softly as they made their way back to the elevator.
Namjoon nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it did. I think we’re going to be okay."
Y/N squeezed his hand, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. "We will be. We’ve got each other, and now we’ve got their support too."
As they stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, they allowed themselves a moment of quiet relief. The hardest part was over, and while there were still challenges ahead, they knew they could face them together.
