Chapter 13

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The days following their secret agreement passed in a blur of meetings, emails, and negotiations, but Beneath the Surface of their professional lives, something had undeniably shifted. Every encounter with Jisung was charged with tension, a tension that no one else seemed to notice, but Seungmin could feel it in every glance, every word they exchanged.

Their nights were still as heated as ever, filled with the same passion that had always burned between them, but now there was something else. A quiet understanding that this was no longer just about lust. It was about more than that, though neither of them had dared to fully acknowledge what that "more" was.

Seungmin had kept his distance during the day, keeping up appearances. He knew better than to let their personal entanglements bleed into their professional lives. The business world was a battlefield, and their companies were still rivals. They couldn’t afford any slip-ups, not now, not when so much was at stake.

But every time Seungmin caught Jisung’s eye during a board meeting or a conference call, he felt the pull, the magnetic force that had drawn them together in the first place. And he hated it. Hated how Jisung could so easily unnerve him with a single look, how he could make Seungmin feel exposed in a room full of people who had no idea what was really going on between them.

It was during one of those meetings—a tense, high-stakes negotiation with a third-party company—when things took a turn.

Seungmin sat across from Jisung at the conference table, their teams flanking them on either side. The discussion had been going on for hours, both sides pushing back and forth over the final terms of the deal. But all Seungmin could focus on was the subtle way Jisung’s gaze would drift toward him, the barely-there smirk that played on his lips whenever Seungmin spoke.

It was infuriating.

“Kim-ssi, what’s your stance on the final clause?” Jisung’s voice cut through the air, smooth and sharp as always. There was no indication of anything unusual in his tone, but the way he looked at Seungmin—like a predator watching its prey—made Seungmin’s stomach twist.

Seungmin cleared his throat, forcing himself to stay composed. “We believe it’s a reasonable compromise, considering the scope of the project. My team and I have reviewed the details thoroughly, and we’re confident it’s the best path forward.”

Jisung leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. “Confident, are you?”

Seungmin’s jaw tightened. He knew exactly what Jisung was doing. This was their dynamic, wasn’t it? Always pushing, always testing each other’s limits. But now, with the added weight of their private relationship hanging between them, it felt more personal than ever.

“Yes,” Seungmin replied evenly. “We’ve crunched the numbers, and we believe this deal will benefit both sides. Of course, that’s if you’re willing to be reasonable.”

Jisung’s lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Reasonable? I think I’ve proven I’m more than reasonable, haven’t I?”

The subtle jab wasn’t lost on Seungmin, and he fought to keep his expression neutral. He couldn’t afford to react, not here, not now.

Before he could respond, the CEO of the third company, oblivious to the tension simmering between them, spoke up. “I think we’re all in agreement, then. We’ll finalize the paperwork and set a date for signatures.”

The meeting wrapped up shortly after, and as the room emptied, Seungmin gathered his things, determined to make a quick exit. But as he stood to leave, Jisung’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Seungmin, a word?”

Seungmin froze, his back to Jisung as the rest of the team filed out. He took a deep breath, composing himself before turning around. “What is it?”

Jisung waited until the door closed behind the last person, leaving them alone in the now-empty conference room. He leaned against the table, arms crossed over his chest, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

“You did well today,” Jisung said, his tone casual but laced with something else. Something that made Seungmin’s skin prickle.

Seungmin narrowed his eyes. “If this is about the deal, I don’t need your approval.”

Jisung’s smile widened. “Of course not. But that’s not what I meant.”

Seungmin crossed his arms, keeping his distance. “Then what did you mean?”

Jisung pushed off the table, taking a step closer. “I meant you’re good at keeping it together. At pretending like there’s nothing between us.”

Seungmin’s pulse quickened, but he didn’t let it show. “There isn’t anything between us. Not here. Not in public.”

Jisung stopped in front of him, close enough that Seungmin could feel the warmth radiating off him, close enough that the air between them felt charged with electricity. “No?” Jisung’s voice was low, teasing. “Then why are you holding your breath right now?”

Seungmin exhaled sharply, stepping back, trying to put some space between them. “This is exactly why we agreed to keep things quiet. You can’t do this, Jisung. Not here.”

Jisung raised an eyebrow, amused. “Why not? No one’s here. It’s just us.”

Seungmin shook his head, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Because this isn’t a game. We can’t risk everything we’ve built just because you want to play with fire.”

Jisung’s expression shifted, the playful glint in his eyes fading as he stepped even closer, backing Seungmin up against the wall. “Who said I’m playing?”

Seungmin’s breath hitched as Jisung’s hand came up, resting against the wall beside his head. They were close now—too close—and Seungmin could feel the familiar heat between them, the undeniable pull that always seemed to draw them together no matter how much he tried to resist.

“I meant what I said,” Jisung murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m done pretending. I’m done playing these games. You feel it too, don’t you?”

Seungmin swallowed hard, his pulse racing. He hated that Jisung could see right through him, that he could read him so easily. But denying it now, after everything, felt impossible.

Jisung’s hand brushed lightly against Seungmin’s jaw, his thumb tracing the curve of his cheek. “We can keep this secret, Seungmin. But that doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

Seungmin’s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of Jisung’s words settling heavily on his shoulders. He had known from the beginning that this was dangerous, that getting involved with Jisung would complicate everything. But now, standing here, with Jisung so close, his breath warm against Seungmin’s skin, Seungmin couldn’t bring himself to push him away.

Because deep down, he knew Jisung was right.

It was real.

And it terrified him.

But as Jisung’s lips ghosted over his, Seungmin let his fear fall away, just for a moment. He let himself forget about the risks, about the consequences.

For now, this was enough.

And maybe, just maybe, that was all they needed.










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