What's wrong with CEO KIM?

The Appointment

The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension as Kim Taehyung stared out of the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office. Below him, the bustling city of Seoul moved on as if oblivious to the internal chaos unfolding within the young heir of K-Group, one of the most powerful conglomerates in the country. Despite his privilege and seemingly endless resources, Taehyung’s path to becoming CEO was anything but smooth.He leaned back in his leather chair, his long fingers idly tapping the armrest, still processing the conversation he'd had with the board of directors just an hour ago. His lips curved into a wry smile as their words echoed in his mind.“Your reputation is unacceptable, Taehyung. If you don’t fix this, there will be no succession. This is your final warning.”The smirk on his face faded as his mind drifted back to the countless scandals that plagued his youth—wild parties, drunken escapades, infamous hookups with top models, and not-so-subtle exits from various high-profile relationships. He had been the media's favorite playboy for years, and now it was catching up to him.K-Group couldn’t afford a scandal-ridden CEO. Not anymore. And so, the board had taken matters into their own hands.Taehyung ran a hand through his dark hair, slicking it back as he tried to calm his rising frustration. The board’s solution? A lawyer. Not just any lawyer—a personal handler, a so-called "PR expert" in disguise, whose job was to clean up his messes and prevent him from creating any new ones.Taehyung almost laughed at the absurdity of it.He wasn’t used to being told what to do. He was Kim Taehyung—rich, powerful, and untouchable. Or so he thought.The soft click of the office door opening drew his attention away from the skyline. In walked the man who would soon take control of his life—Jeon Jungkook.Taehyung’s gaze traveled over Jungkook as the lawyer entered with quiet confidence. He was younger than Taehyung had expected, probably in his mid-20s, but there was an undeniable air of authority surrounding him. His sharp, tailored suit clung perfectly to his toned frame, and his expression was one of cold, professional detachment.No pleasantries. No smile. Just business.“Kim Taehyung,” Jungkook greeted, his voice calm but firm as he closed the door behind him.Taehyung raised an eyebrow, eyeing the man up and down before leaning back in his chair with a cocky smirk. "So you're the cleanup guy they sent, huh?"Jungkook didn’t so much as blink at the dismissive tone. He set his leather briefcase on the desk with precision and opened it, pulling out a tablet. “I’m Jeon Jungkook. From now on, I’ll be managing your public image and making sure no further incidents occur that could jeopardize your position as CEO.”Taehyung’s smirk deepened, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Managing me, huh? That’s ambitious.”Jungkook met his gaze, unflinching. “You’ve been given multiple chances, and you've blown every single one of them. My job is to make sure there aren’t any more. We can do this the easy way, or you can keep playing the reckless, entitled playboy. But make no mistake—if you choose the latter, you won’t be sitting in that chair much longer.”There was no arrogance in Jungkook’s voice, no sense of superiority. It was a statement of fact, delivered with a cutting edge that surprised Taehyung. He was used to people cowering around him, especially those brought in to "fix" him. But Jungkook? He seemed unfazed by Taehyung’s intimidating reputation.Taehyung leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You think you can control me?”Jungkook’s expression didn’t waver. “Control? No. Guide you into not ruining your future? Yes.”Taehyung let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But I don’t need babysitting, and I certainly don’t need someone following me around, telling me what to do.”“You need me more than you realize,” Jungkook replied coolly. “I’ve already taken care of most of the damage from your previous scandals. My firm wiped several incriminating stories from the internet, and I’ve ensured that the most problematic ones won’t resurface. That’s my first and only favor. The next time you end up in a mess, I won’t be so forgiving.”The smile faded from Taehyung’s face as he absorbed Jungkook’s words. He hadn’t expected the man to move so fast. Usually, people in this position took days, if not weeks, to even start working through his scandalous history.Jungkook had been on the job for one day.“And if I don’t comply?” Taehyung challenged, though he already knew the answer.“You won’t be the CEO. It’s as simple as that.” Jungkook’s eyes remained locked with his, not backing down even an inch. “You’ve been handed everything your entire life, Kim Taehyung. This is the first time you have to actually work for something.”The words hit harder than Taehyung would admit. He clenched his jaw, annoyed by how easily Jungkook had gotten under his skin. It wasn’t just the words themselves—it was the truth behind them. And the fact that someone had dared to speak to him like that.But there was something else. Something about Jungkook’s unflinching demeanor intrigued him. Most people would have been terrified in his presence, yet this man stood tall, unapologetic, and completely unaffected by Taehyung’s wealth or status.For the first time in a long while, Taehyung felt a flicker of curiosity.“What’s your story?” Taehyung asked suddenly, leaning back in his chair once again. “Why are you doing this?”Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his gaze hardening. “Because I’m good at what I do.”Taehyung let out a low hum of acknowledgment, his eyes trailing over Jungkook with newfound interest. "And where does someone like you come from?"“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon, if that’s what you’re asking,” Jungkook replied evenly. “I worked hard to get to where I am. No shortcuts. No favors.”Taehyung tilted his head, his curiosity growing. “So you think you’re better than me?”“No,” Jungkook said, his tone measured but firm. “But I do think I’m more disciplined.”That struck a chord, and for a moment, Taehyung’s smirk faltered. He straightened up, the playful arrogance fading from his expression as he regarded Jungkook seriously.“Well, Jeon Jungkook,” Taehyung said after a long pause, his voice quieter but no less intense, “let’s see if your discipline is enough to handle me.”Jungkook’s eyes never left his, unwavering as he responded. “I think you’ll find that I’m more than capable, Kim Taehyung.”And with that, Jungkook picked up his briefcase, heading toward the door. Just before stepping out, he glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll be starting early tomorrow. Don’t be late.”The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Taehyung alone in the quiet room, the lawyer’s presence still lingering in the air.Taehyung leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face. For the first time in years, he felt something he hadn’t expected.Excitement.