Beneath the Surface I Seungsung [✓]

Chapter 7

The merger meeting dragged on, though Seungmin barely noticed. Numbers and projections blurred together, the monotone voices of the board members fading into the background as his focus remained solely on Jisung. Across the room, Jisung appeared calm, confident as ever, but Seungmin knew better. There was an edge to him today, a tension that hadn’t been there before. Every now and then, Jisung’s eyes flickered to Seungmin, sharp and unreadable, and each time their gazes met, Seungmin felt a jolt, like they were teetering on the edge of something they couldn’t control.

As the meeting continued, Seungmin tried to focus. Tried to pretend everything was normal, that this was just another business interaction. But his mind kept wandering back to that night in Jisung’s penthouse, to the way Jisung had held him in the quiet darkness, and how, for the first time, Seungmin hadn’t wanted to leave.

He hated it—hated the vulnerability that had crept into their dynamic. Hated the way Jisung had made him feel something he couldn’t explain. They were supposed to be enemies, locked in a constant struggle for control, and yet somehow, they had both let that guard down.

And now, there was no going back.

“Seungmin?”

The sound of his name snapped him out of his thoughts, and he looked up to see one of the board members staring at him expectantly. He hadn’t even noticed they’d been discussing one of his proposals.

Seungmin straightened in his seat, his face carefully composed. “Yes. The financial outlook for the next quarter remains strong, as outlined in the report.” He quickly summarized the details he’d prepared, but even as he spoke, his mind wandered back to Jisung.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jisung smirk—just the faintest twitch of his lips, as though he knew exactly what had been distracting Seungmin. Heat flared in Seungmin’s chest, a mixture of anger and something else he didn’t want to name.

By the time the meeting finally ended, Seungmin’s nerves were frayed. He stood abruptly, gathering his things with more force than necessary. He could feel Jisung’s eyes on him, but he didn’t dare look back. He just needed to get out of here, to get some space and clear his head.

But as he made his way to the door, a voice stopped him cold.

“Seungmin.”

It was Jisung. His tone was smooth, laced with something that made Seungmin’s stomach twist.

Seungmin turned slowly, meeting Jisung’s gaze with all the calm he could muster. “What?”

Jisung stood at the other end of the table, leaning casually against the chair, but there was a glint in his eyes—something challenging, something that sent a shiver down Seungmin’s spine.

“We need to talk,” Jisung said, his voice low and controlled, but there was an undercurrent of intensity that made Seungmin’s pulse quicken.

“I don’t think there’s anything to talk about,” Seungmin replied, his tone sharper than intended. He knew exactly what Jisung was referring to, but he wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it.

Jisung raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Oh, I think there is. You and I both know things have… shifted.”

Seungmin’s heart raced, but he kept his expression impassive. “There’s nothing to discuss. We’re business rivals, Jisung. That’s all there is to it.”

Jisung chuckled, a low, humorless sound. He pushed away from the chair and took a few slow steps toward Seungmin, closing the distance between them. “Is that what you keep telling yourself?”

Seungmin stiffened, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. He hated how Jisung could always get under his skin, could always twist his words in a way that made Seungmin doubt himself. “I don’t have time for this,” Seungmin muttered, turning back toward the door.

But before he could take a step, Jisung’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist. The sudden contact sent a shock of heat through Seungmin’s body, and he froze.

“Stop running,” Jisung said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “We need to figure out what the hell this is between us.”

Seungmin yanked his wrist free, glaring at Jisung. “There is nothing between us. This—” he gestured vaguely between them, his voice trembling with frustration “—was just a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Jisung’s eyes darkened, the smirk finally fading. “You don’t believe that.”

Seungmin’s breath caught in his throat. He hated how easily Jisung could read him, how easily he could see through the walls Seungmin had built around himself.

“I do,” Seungmin lied, his voice cold.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The tension between them was electric, crackling in the air like a storm waiting to break. Jisung’s eyes bore into Seungmin’s, searching, challenging, daring him to deny what was happening between them.

Then, without warning, Jisung took another step forward, closing the gap between them. His hand shot out, grabbing Seungmin by the collar and pulling him forward until their faces were mere inches apart. Seungmin’s breath hitched, his pulse racing in his ears.

“You can lie to yourself all you want, Seungmin,” Jisung whispered, his voice low and dangerous, “but we both know this is far from over.”

Seungmin’s chest tightened, his heart pounding as Jisung’s words sank in. He wanted to pull away, to push Jisung back and pretend none of this was happening. But he couldn’t move. The magnetic pull between them was too strong, too undeniable.

For a moment, they stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. Seungmin’s breath came in shallow bursts, his mind racing, but his body refused to cooperate. Jisung’s grip on his collar tightened, and Seungmin could feel the heat of his breath against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.

And then, before Seungmin could react, Jisung leaned in, his lips brushing against Seungmin’s ear as he whispered, “This isn’t a game anymore.”

Seungmin’s heart stuttered in his chest, and for the first time, he felt the full weight of Jisung’s words.

This wasn’t just about business. This wasn’t just about rivalry.

This was something else entirely.

And Seungmin had no idea how to stop it.

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