Ties of Fate

The Meeting

Jungkook sat in his office, staring blankly at the towering skyline outside his window. It was late afternoon, but he hadn’t accomplished a single thing since the conversation with his father the night before. His mind had been spinning ever since, filled with thoughts of the impending disaster his life had become.

The thought of marrying Kim Taehyung still seem absurd. He’d spent the past few years trying to forget the man existed outside of the public events they were forced to attend. The idea that they would now be bound by marriage—a partnership that was supposed to save both of their families’ businesses—was laughable.

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. There is no escape, and he knew it. His family had given him no real choice, and the weight of responsibility was bustling. Despite his resentment, the burden of the Jeon legacy was one he had always accepted, and he wouldn’t let his family’s empire collapse because of his own emotions.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," Jungkook called, already knowing who it would be. He had been dreading this moment since he left the family meeting.

The door creaked open, and there he was—Taehyung, leaning casually against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets, dressed in an outfit that looked like it had walked straight off a runway. The brunette framed his face, and his brown pupils were unreadable as he stared back at Jungkook.

Jungkook felt his stomach tighten. This was the first time they had been alone together in a long time. Too long, perhaps.

"So," Taehyung said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hear congratulations are in order. We’re getting married."

Jungkook’s jaw clenched. "It’s not something to joke about."

"Who's joking?" Taehyung stepped further into the office, letting the door close behind him. He moved with a fluid grace that only made Jungkook’s annoyance grow. Taehyung had always been effortlessly confident, and it grated on him—especially now.

"Is this what you want?" Jungkook asked, leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "To marry me for the sake of your family’s business?"

Taehyung’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Do you think I asked for this? Believe me, the last thing I want is to be tied to someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Jungkook echoed, his voice laced with tension. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. Don’t act like you don’t know. You’ve never exactly been a fan of mine, and the feeling’s mutual. We’ve been at each other’s throats for years. Do you really think this marriage is going to change that?"

Jungkook bit back the retort that came to mind. As much as he hated to admit it, Taehyung had a point. Their rivalry had been ongoing for years, simmering beneath the surface at every business function, every industry event, every time their paths crossed.

But things were different now. Their families’ futures depends on them coming together, whether they liked it or not.

"I didn’t ask for this either," Jungkook said finally, his voice low. "But our families are in trouble, and this merger is the only thing that can save them. Whether we like it or not, we’re in this together."

Taehyung let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Together? Do you even know what that word means? You’ve spent your whole life living in that stiff, perfect little world of yours, while I’ve been doing my best to survive in mine."

Jungkook bristled at the jab. "At least I take my responsibilities seriously. I don’t run around like a spoiled child, acting like the rules don’t apply to me."

"Maybe that’s because the rules are suffocating," Taehyung shot back, his eyes flashing. "Not everyone wants to be tied down to some rigid, soul-crushing life."

The room was thick with tension as their gazes locked, neither one willing to back down. Jungkook could feel the familiar surge of frustration building inside him, the same feeling he always had when dealing with Taehyung. The man knew exactly how to push his buttons.

But this time, the stakes were different. They weren’t just fighting for their own pride anymore. This was about their families, their futures, and whether they could find a way to work together.

After a long moment, Taehyung broke the silence, his voice softer and less sharp. "Look, I don’t like this any more than you do. But if we’re really going through with this… we need to figure out how to make it work. For the sake of our families."

Jungkook leaned forward, his elbows resting on his desk. "What are you suggesting?"

"I’m suggesting that we set some ground rules," Taehyung said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We don’t have to like each other, but we need to at least pretend to get along. In public, we act the part—happy newlyweds, the perfect business couple. But in private… we stay out of each other’s way."

Jungkook considered the proposition. It wasn’t ideal, but then again, nothing about this situation was. Taehyung’s suggestion had merit. If they could at least put on a united front, the public would buy into the idea of their marriage, and the business would benefit. Beyond that, they didn’t need to be involved in each other’s lives any more than necessary.

"Fine," Jungkook said after a moment. "We’ll act the part in public. But I have conditions of my own."

Jungkook walks to the other side getting closer to Taehyung.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, intrigued as he take a step back. "Oh? Let’s hear them."

"I won’t tolerate any of your… antics," Jungkook said, his tone serious. "No scandals, no impulsive behavior that could damage the reputation of the Jeon family. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it properly."As his face get closer to Taehyung's.

Taehyung rolled his eyes but nodded. "Fine. No scandals. But you have to lighten up, Jungkook. If we’re going to sell this, people need to believe we’re actually happy. That means you need to stop acting like you have a stick up your—"

"Enough," Jungkook cut him off, his voice cold. "We’re not here to be friends. We’re here to save our families’ businesses. Let’s focus on that."

Taehyung sighed, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Whatever you say, Mr. Perfect. This is going to be fun."

Jungkook shot him a glare as he brings his face closer, and Taehyung almost fall as he tried to avoid his face and suprisingly Jungkook caught his waist. Taehyung was overwhelmed with his ears red as he quickly removes Jungkook's hand, as he turns to leave yet he paused in front of the door, glancing back at Jungkook.

"For what it’s worth," Taehyung said quietly, his voice losing some of its usual sarcasm, "I don’t want this any more than you do. But we’ll figure it out. We have to."

Jungkook didn’t respond as Taehyung walked out of his office, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The door clicked shut, and the tension in the room seemed to dissipate, but the weight on Jungkook’s shoulders remained.

For the first time in his life, Jungkook felt utterly out of control. He had always been the one in charge, the one who made decisions with a clear head and a steady hand. But now, he was being pulled into a situation he couldn’t control, with a partner he couldn’t trust.

Yet, as much as he hated to admit it, Taehyung was right.

They had to make this work. Because failure wasn’t an option.

And neither was escape.

"Wait was his ears red just now?"