Bound by Fate, Built on Love (Jay ff)

Understand

Jay

Our arguments, while frustrating, became the highlight of my day.

There was something about the way Hae-in challenged me that kept me sharp.

She was smart, bold, and unafraid to call me out when I slipped up.

It was infuriating and impressive at the same time.

One afternoon, we were reviewing a joint project in the conference room when I made a suggestion to cut costs by streamlining operations.

"That's a short-term solution," Hae-in said, tapping her pen on the table.
"We need to think long-term. If we cut too much, it'll backfire in a few years."

"I disagree," I countered, leaning back in my chair.
"Short-term sacrifices are necessary for long-term stability."

She narrowed her eyes at me, a challenge sparking between us.
"Or we could avoid short-term mistakes by planning smarter from the start."

I almost smiled. "I suppose we'll see who's right when the numbers come in."

"Don't be too disappointed when it's me," she shot back, a slight grin tugging at her lips.

For all our disagreements, I realized something: I liked working with her.

She pushed me to think deeper, to question my own decisions.
And slowly, without either of us noticing, we began to find common ground.

---

Hae-in

Living with Jay wasn't as bad as I expected.

He was still distant most of the time, but I could tell he cared, even if he didn't say it.

It was in the small gestures—the extra coat he'd leave on the chair for me when it got cold, the way he'd make sure my reports were always printed before meetings.

One evening, after a long day, I found myself coughing again,
my throat raw from working late.

Jay appeared in the doorway with a glass of water and some cough drops,
setting them down beside me without a word.

"You didn't have to do that, I could get it myself," I said, my voice hoarse.

"I know," he replied, meeting my eyes for a moment before turning away.

"But I want to."

And just like that, something shifted.
Maybe it wasn't just about the companies anymore.

Maybe, despite everything, we were starting to understand each other.