𝑬𝑵𝑺𝑵𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑫 | JUNGKOOK

88. A Start

Jungkook's POV

As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, I felt the atmosphere shift. Claire's expression turned sharper, more serious. She moved a few steps down the hallway, making sure we were out of earshot from anyone still lingering in the meeting room.

"I wanted to discuss the revised deadline," she began, her tone measured. "You seem confident that you and your team can meet it, but I want to ensure you understand the implications if this timeline isn't met. My client has very high expectations, and any delays could damage the reputation of your team and your fashion department."

Her emphasis on "your team" hit a nerve. Something about the way she said it felt like a challenge, as though she was questioning my leadership. I kept my expression neutral, but inside, warning bells were starting to ring. I didn't like the way she was framing this conversation.

I nodded carefully, choosing my words with equal precision. "We understand the stakes, and we're fully prepared to meet the deadline. We'll get it done."

Her lips curled into a thin smile, but there was no warmth behind it. "I certainly hope so," she replied, her voice soft but cutting. "After all, it's not just the deadline. It's the quality. It has to be flawless. I'm sure you understand the kind of pressure that comes with this level of work-especially for someone like Alba."

Her casual jab at Alba's skills hit me harder than I expected. My entire body tensed, and before I could stop myself, I felt my jaw clench. "Someone like Alba?" I echoed, my voice calm but dangerously cold.

Her smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I just meant... she's still young. She's talented, sure, but she's not exactly seasoned. For a project of this magnitude, it's important to have someone with real experience leading the charge."

Her words settled like a weight in the pit of my stomach, but I refused to let my irritation show. She was baiting me, testing me, and I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction. Still, I couldn't let her insult Alba's skills like that.

"You're wrong," I said, my voice ice-cold. I didn't care how much she tried to intimidate me. "Alba's more than capable of handling this project. She's proven herself time and time again, and she'll do it again with this line."

Her smirk faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly, her eyes narrowing as if reassessing her approach. "Oh, I don't doubt her potential, Jungkook. But potential isn't always enough at this level. We both know how cutthroat this industry can be. Sometimes, people bite off more than they can chew."

I took a step forward, the coldness in my voice hardening. "Alba isn't biting off more than she can chew. And if you or anyone else is doubting her, you're going to see just how wrong you are when she delivers exactly what's expected. On time. Flawlessly."

She blinked, clearly not expecting me to push back like that. She shifted her weight, her posture subtly changing as she leaned slightly closer to me.

"You're very protective of her," she noted, her tone dropping, almost suggestive. "That's... admirable." She took a step forward, her eyes locking onto mine, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

I could feel the change in her demeanor. Her posture, her voice, the way she looked at me, it all felt off, like she was testing different tactics now. It took me a moment to realize she was trying to flirt, trying to see if she could sway me by switching from icy professionalism to something more... personal.

"Jungkook," she said, her voice lower now, almost a purr. "I can see you're very committed to your team. It's one of the things that makes you stand out. It's impressive, really. But in our line of work, we all know how complicated things can get when... personal feelings are involved."