His Cold Heart J.JK

Chapter 2: Cracks In the Ice

Yoonji's fingers hovered over her keyboard, but she wasn't typing. She stared blankly at her screen, her mind replaying the earlier scene with Jeon Jungkook in excruciating detail. His cold words, the way he barely acknowledged her existence—it shouldn't have bothered her this much, but it did. She felt like a fool for even thinking he'd notice her in any other way than professionally.

"Yoonji, are you even listening to me?"

Jisoo's voice broke through her thoughts. Yoonji blinked, turning to her friend who was leaning against the side of her cubicle, arms crossed with an amused expression.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Yoonji mumbled, trying to shake off the lingering tension.

Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "I said, you look like you just walked out of a disaster meeting. Don't tell me he was harsh on you again?"

Yoonji groaned, dropping her head onto her hands. "I was late delivering the files, and he was... well, you know how he is. He barely looked at me and when he did, it was to criticize me for being late."

Jisoo gave a sympathetic nod. "Sounds like the Jeon Jungkook special. But come on, don't let it get to you. He's like that with everyone."

Yoonji sighed, slumping in her chair. "I know. It's just... I don't know. I guess I hoped he'd be different. Or at least not so dismissive all the time."

"You've got your work cut out for you if you're waiting for him to soften up," Jisoo said with a shrug. "The guy's a machine. I've never seen him lose his cool, not even when he fired that department head last year. Ice cold."

"Yeah... but no one's like that all the time, right?" Yoonji mused. "There has to be something more to him. No one's that heartless."

Jisoo chuckled. "Girl, you're too nice for your own good. If anyone could find the human in him, it'd probably be you."

Yoonji smiled weakly. "I doubt he even remembers my name."

Before Jisoo could respond, the sound of heels clicking rapidly against the office floor caught their attention. Hyejin, the CEO's assistant, appeared, looking frazzled and stressed as she hurried toward them.

"Yoonji!" Hyejin called out, waving a hand. "You're needed in the conference room. Mr. Jeon wants you there now."

Yoonji's heart skipped a beat. "Me?" Her voice came out higher than she intended.

"Yes, you," Hyejin said, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Apparently, the client wants a junior team member present for the meeting. You've been requested."

Yoonji blinked, trying to make sense of it. "But why me?"

"Who knows," Hyejin replied, clearly too busy to offer explanations. "Just be there in five minutes. Don't be late this time."

With that, Hyejin hurried off, leaving Yoonji frozen in her chair. She turned to Jisoo, who was already giving her an encouraging nudge.

"Looks like you're finally getting some face time with the boss," Jisoo teased. "Don't overthink it. Just be your usual, hardworking self."

Yoonji nodded, though her stomach was already twisting with nerves. Why would Jungkook want her in the meeting? She was practically invisible to him.

She gathered her things quickly, her hands trembling slightly as she straightened her blazer and hurried toward the conference room. As she approached, she could hear the low murmur of voices inside. The heavy wooden door loomed in front of her, and for a moment, she hesitated. This wasn't like delivering a file. This was a meeting with Jeon Jungkook and clients. High stakes.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door.

The room was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. Around the long table sat several high-profile executives, their expensive suits and sharp expressions making Yoonji feel small. But it was Jungkook who commanded the room, as usual, sitting at the head of the table, his posture relaxed but his presence dominating.

His dark eyes flicked up to her as she entered, and for a split second, Yoonji thought she saw something flash in his gaze—surprise, maybe? But just as quickly as it appeared, his expression returned to its usual cool detachment.

"Miss Min," Jungkook said, his voice neutral. "Take a seat."

She nodded, her throat dry as she took the only empty seat at the table, which just so happened to be directly across from him. She could feel his eyes on her for a brief moment before he turned his attention back to the discussion.

The meeting proceeded smoothly, the executives discussing numbers and projections that Yoonji tried her best to follow. But her mind kept drifting to Jungkook. His sharp focus, the way he spoke with authority, how every person in the room seemed to hang on his every word. He was a force to be reckoned with.

"Miss Min," Jungkook's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up, meeting his gaze. "What are your thoughts on the client's proposal?"

Yoonji's mind blanked. He was asking for her opinion? In front of all these people?

"I—uh," she stammered, her palms sweating. The room seemed to grow warmer as every eye turned toward her. "Well, I think..."

She paused, gathering her thoughts. This was her chance to prove she wasn't just some invisible junior employee. She had worked hard to get here, and she knew her stuff.

"I think the proposal has potential, but it could benefit from more flexibility in the timeline. The market trends suggest that the project might need room to adjust depending on future demand, and a rigid deadline could limit that potential."

Silence filled the room for a beat too long, and Yoonji's heart pounded in her ears. Had she overstepped? Had she said something wrong?

Then, to her surprise, one of the executives nodded in agreement. "She's got a point. We don't want to be locked into something that might shift in the coming quarters."

Jungkook remained silent for a moment, his eyes studying her closely. Then, with a slight nod, he said, "Noted. We'll consider that moving forward."

Yoonji exhaled quietly, relief washing over her. She had done it. She hadn't embarrassed herself, and for a brief moment, she felt Jungkook had actually listened to her. Maybe she wasn't as invisible to him as she thought.

As the meeting concluded and the executives filed out, Yoonji gathered her things, trying to make a quick exit before anyone noticed her shaking hands. But as she reached the door, Jungkook's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Miss Min."

She turned, her breath catching in her throat as she met his intense gaze. He was still seated, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

"Good work today," he said simply. His tone was flat, but there was something in his eyes that made her heart skip.

"Thank you, Mr. Jeon," she replied, barely managing to keep her voice steady.

He didn't respond, his gaze lingering on her for just a second longer before he turned back to his papers.

Yoonji left the room, her head spinning. It wasn't much—just a few words. But for the first time, Jungkook had acknowledged her as something more than just another employee. Maybe, just maybe, the ice was starting to crack.

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