His Cold Heart J.JK

Chapter 4: Beneath the Surface

The days after that evening in Jungkook's office felt different. Yoonji couldn't concentrate on her work the way she normally would. Instead, her thoughts kept drifting back to him, replaying his words over and over in her head: "I wasn't always like this."

Jungkook, the cold, distant CEO, had given her a glimpse of something real—a vulnerability that made her see him in a completely new way. He was more than the man everyone feared, the one whose reputation kept people at a distance. Beneath the exterior, there was a person carrying a burden, a weight that seemed to be crushing him slowly.

Sitting at her desk, Yoonji tried to push the memory aside and focus on her tasks. But every email, every spreadsheet, felt insignificant compared to what had transpired that night. She found herself staring at her computer screen, the words blending together, unable to focus.

"Yoonji!" Jisoo's voice pierced her fog of thoughts as she leaned against the edge of her cubicle. "You're off in space again. Let me guess—him?"

Yoonji blinked, startled. "What? No, I'm just... distracted."

Jisoo grinned knowingly. "Right. Distracted by Jeon Jungkook and his brooding CEO aura."

Yoonji sighed, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. "It's not like that, Jisoo."

"Sure, it's not," Jisoo teased, leaning in closer. "But come on, it's hard not to notice that something is going on. You've been acting different ever since that meeting last week."

Yoonji bit her lip, unsure how much to say. Jisoo was her friend, but explaining what had happened in Jungkook's office felt... complicated. The look in his eyes, the way he had let his guard down—it wasn't something she could easily put into words.

"It's just..." Yoonji hesitated, searching for the right words. "I feel like there's more to him than we all see. He's complicated."

Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "Complicated? That's one way to describe him. He's also, you know, our boss."

Yoonji knew Jisoo was right. She had to be careful. Getting involved with the CEO, even emotionally, was dangerous. It was risky for her career, not to mention her heart.

"Just... don't lose yourself in whatever this is," Jisoo said, her tone softening. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Yoonji nodded, but the truth was, she was already in too deep. There was something about Jungkook that pulled her in, something she couldn't ignore. And after that night, the wall he had built around himself seemed thinner—like she was seeing a side of him no one else had.

Later that afternoon, an email notification popped up on Yoonji's screen. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw who it was from.

From: Jeon Jungkook 
Subject: Meeting

Miss Min, 
Please report to my office at 6 PM. There's something I need to discuss with you. 
Jeon Jungkook

Yoonji stared at the message, her pulse quickening. Another after-hours meeting. She couldn't help but wonder if this would be just about work, or if the strange connection between them would surface again.

By the time 6 PM rolled around, the office was mostly empty. Yoonji stood outside Jungkook's door, trying to calm the nerves fluttering in her stomach. She knocked softly.

"Come in."

His voice, smooth and commanding as ever, sent a shiver down her spine. Yoonji pushed the door open and stepped inside. Jungkook was sitting behind his desk, his suit jacket draped over the back of his chair, his tie slightly loosened. It wasn't much, but the relaxed look made him seem more human.

"Miss Min," he said, motioning for her to sit. "There's a presentation next week, and I need your input on some key points. Your insights from the last meeting were useful."

Yoonji nodded, sitting down in front of him. His compliment, though brief, warmed her heart. He values my opinion, she thought, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease slightly.

Jungkook passed her a file, and Yoonji began skimming through the notes. For a few minutes, the room was quiet, the only sound being the rustle of papers. But the air felt thick with unspoken words. She could feel his eyes on her, even as she tried to focus on the work.

Finally, Jungkook broke the silence. "Do you enjoy working here?"

The question caught Yoonji off guard. She looked up, meeting his intense gaze. "Yes, I do. It's... challenging, but in a good way."

He leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. "Challenging is an understatement. I push my employees hard."

Yoonji swallowed, unsure where this conversation was headed. "You expect a lot. But that's not a bad thing."

Jungkook's eyes darkened slightly, and for a moment, Yoonji thought she saw a flicker of something vulnerable in his expression. He stood, moving to the window that overlooked the city, much like he had done during their last meeting.

"I wasn't always like this," he said, echoing the words he'd spoken before. "People expect me to be strong. Ruthless, even. I had to become that person."

Yoonji remained silent, sensing that this was another rare moment of vulnerability. She watched him, standing there in the dim light of his office, the weight of his responsibilities seeming to press down on him.

"It's exhausting," he continued, his voice quieter now. "Always being the person everyone wants me to be."

"You don't have to be that person all the time," Yoonji said softly. "It's okay to let people see more of you."

Jungkook turned to face her, his eyes searching hers for something. For a moment, the distance between them felt smaller, the boundaries between CEO and employee blurring. Yoonji's heart raced as the tension in the room thickened.

"You're different," Jungkook said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. "Most people wouldn't say what you just did. They don't see me like you do."

Yoonji felt her breath catch in her throat. Was he acknowledging her, not just as an employee but as someone who could see the man behind the title?

Before she could respond, a knock on the door shattered the moment. Jungkook's expression immediately shifted back to his usual cold demeanor.

"Come in," he said, his voice hardening.

The door opened, and Hyejin, one of the senior staff, stepped in with a folder. "Mr. Jeon, here are the reports you requested."

"Thank you, Hyejin," Jungkook replied, already returning to his professional tone. "That will be all, Miss Min."

Yoonji gathered her things, her mind still spinning from what had just happened. As she left the office, she glanced back at Jungkook, who was already engrossed in his work again. But she knew that what had passed between them wasn't just in her head. The cracks in his armor were showing, and for the first time, she had seen the man behind the mask.

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