Beneath the Surface I Seungsung

Chapter 9

Seungmin walked out of the boardroom, each step feeling heavier than the last. His mind was spinning, his chest tight as he tried to process what had just happened between him and Jisung. It was always like this—every encounter with Jisung left him unraveling, struggling to maintain the control he prided himself on.

Once outside, Seungmin leaned against the cool marble wall, letting the sharp chill seep through his suit. The bustling hallway of executives and assistants blurred around him, their movements inconsequential compared to the storm brewing inside him.

Jisung. The name echoed in his mind, each syllable weighed down with a hundred conflicting emotions—hate, anger, desire, and something more dangerous that he wasn’t ready to confront.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out absentmindedly, expecting another business notification. Instead, it was a message from Jisung.

Jisung: I won’t push again. But you know where to find me.

Seungmin stared at the message for a long time, his thumb hovering over the screen. He wanted to delete it, to ignore it and pretend this whole thing didn’t exist. But he couldn’t. There was always a pull, an invisible thread that kept drawing him back to Jisung, no matter how much he hated it. No matter how much it complicated everything.

With a frustrated sigh, Seungmin shoved the phone back into his pocket and pushed off the wall, making his way to the elevator. He needed to get out of here. Away from the company, from the endless reminders of Jisung, and most importantly, away from the weight of his own emotions.

---

The cold air outside hit Seungmin like a slap to the face, but it was a welcome relief. He walked down the busy city streets, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, trying to clear his head. The sounds of the city—honking cars, bustling crowds, the hum of conversation—faded into the background as he let his thoughts drift.

It had been a long time since anyone had gotten under his skin like Jisung. Since anyone had made him feel so out of control. For years, Seungmin had prided himself on being focused, driven—he had to be, coming from nothing and clawing his way to the top. He didn’t have the luxury of distractions.

But Jisung had become the one thing he couldn’t ignore.

The thought of their nights together sent a jolt through him, a mixture of desire and frustration twisting in his gut. He hated how much he wanted it—how much he wanted him. And yet, even now, the memory of Jisung’s touch, the heat of his skin against Seungmin’s, made his pulse quicken.

But this was a dangerous game, and Seungmin knew he was already too far in. If this continued, it would only end badly. Their rivalry had never been simple, but now, it was tangled in something far more complicated—and far more volatile.

As Seungmin turned a corner, his phone buzzed again. For a moment, he hesitated, half-expecting another message from Jisung. But when he pulled out his phone, it wasn’t Jisung’s name on the screen. It was a call from his assistant.

Seungmin answered, forcing his voice to remain calm. “Yes?”

“Mr. Kim, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we’ve received some news about the merger with Han Corp,” his assistant said, her voice professional but with an underlying note of urgency. “There’s been a new proposal, and it’s… surprising.”

Seungmin frowned, his earlier frustration fading as he slipped back into work mode. “What kind of proposal?”

“It’s from Mr. Han himself,” she said. “He’s offering terms that heavily favor our company. It’s unprecedented. We’re still going over the details, but it looks like he’s willing to compromise in ways that benefit us significantly.”

Seungmin’s steps slowed, his mind racing. Jisung was offering favorable terms? That didn’t make sense. Jisung never backed down in negotiations. If anything, he was known for his ruthless business acumen—always ensuring he came out on top. Why would he suddenly be so generous?

“Send me the details,” Seungmin said, his voice tight as his suspicion grew. “I want to review everything.”

“Of course, Mr. Kim. I’ll send them over immediately.”

Seungmin hung up, his thoughts spinning once again. This wasn’t just about business anymore—this was Jisung making a move. A calculated move, but one that didn’t fit the cold, competitive persona Seungmin had come to expect from him.

What was Jisung playing at?

Seungmin made his way back to his office, his mind running through every possible angle, every motive that could explain Jisung’s sudden change in strategy. Was this Jisung’s way of extending an olive branch? Or was it something else entirely—something more personal?

By the time he reached his office, the document from his assistant was already waiting in his inbox. Seungmin sat at his desk, eyes scanning the terms quickly, looking for any hidden traps or fine print. But there were none. It was as his assistant had said—Jisung was offering terms that heavily favored Seungmin’s company, giving him the upper hand in the merger.

None of it made sense.

Seungmin’s phone buzzed again. Another message from Jisung.

Jisung: Consider it a gesture of goodwill. I told you, I’m not going to push.

Seungmin stared at the message, his heart pounding. A gesture of goodwill? Since when did Jisung offer anything without expecting something in return?

But deep down, Seungmin knew the truth. This wasn’t just about business. This was Jisung’s way of saying that whatever was happening between them—it wasn’t just a game anymore.

Seungmin closed his eyes, the weight of it all pressing down on him. He wasn’t ready for this. He wasn’t ready for the shift in their relationship, for the lines between rivalry and something more to blur so dangerously.

But Jisung was already one step ahead. And Seungmin wasn’t sure he could keep up.