Book Of Tease

Crack

The days following the elevator incident were anything but ordinary for Taehyung. Despite his attempts to focus on work, he couldn't stop thinking about Jungkook's words, the teasing in his deep voice, and the warmth of his touch. Every time the memory surfaced, Taehyung found himself involuntarily glancing at his reflection in the office window, as if expecting to see the flush still lingering on his cheeks.

He scolded himself repeatedly. This was unprofessional. He had a company to run, a reputation to maintain. He couldn't afford to be distracted by the antics of a persistent, overly confident young man. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, Jungkook's smirk and those challenging words wouldn't leave his mind.

Taehyung was seated at his desk, reviewing a report, when his phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number flashed across the screen:

"Thinking about me, Mr. Kim? ;) - JK"

Taehyung's grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching. How did Jungkook get his number? He was about to type a terse response when another message popped up:

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about our little elevator moment. Your secret's safe with me."

Taehyung's cheeks flushed. He deleted his draft reply and set the phone aside, forcing himself to focus on the spreadsheet in front of him. But the numbers blurred, the words on the screen fading as Jungkook's smirking face filled his thoughts.

A knock on the door jolted him back to reality. He straightened in his chair, putting on his usual stoic expression as his secretary poked her head in. "Sir, Mr. Jeon is here to see you again."

Taehyung's eye twitched. He should have known. "Let him in," he said, trying to sound indifferent, though his pulse quickened at the prospect of another confrontation.

The door swung open, and Jungkook strolled in with that same easy confidence, his smile a little too smug. Today, he wore a charcoal gray suit, perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders. He paused just inside the door, giving Taehyung a once-over before letting out a low whistle.

"You look a little tense, Mr. Kim," Jungkook remarked, his voice dropping into that familiar deep tone as he shut the door behind him. "Didn't sleep well again?"

Taehyung glared at him, though he knew the pink tinge on his cheeks would betray his irritation. "What do you want, Jeon? Don't you have work to do at Jeon Enterprises?"

Jungkook leaned against the edge of Taehyung's desk, his hands slipping into his pockets. He shrugged, looking far too relaxed for Taehyung's liking. "Yoongi's handling things today. I figured I'd spend some time with my favorite CEO."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "If you're going to waste my time, I'll ask security to escort you out. I'm sure they'd be delighted to keep you out of my office for good."

Jungkook chuckled, unbothered by Taehyung's threat. Instead, he leaned in closer, invading Taehyung's space as he had in the elevator. "Oh, come on, Taehyung," he murmured, using his first name again. "You don't really want me to leave, do you?"

Taehyung's breath caught. He tried to maintain his composure, but he couldn't ignore how the proximity made his heart race. He attempted to keep his voice steady, but it came out slightly unsteady. "You're overestimating yourself, Jeon."

Jungkook's smirk widened, clearly enjoying the challenge. He reached out, gently adjusting the cuff of Taehyung's shirt, his fingers brushing against his wrist. The touch was innocent enough, but the deliberate slowness of it made Taehyung's skin tingle.

"You know," Jungkook began, his voice low, "I can tell when someone's interested, even if they're pretending otherwise. It's kind of cute how you're trying so hard to stay cold."

Taehyung shot him a withering glare, swatting Jungkook's hand away. "You think too highly of yourself, Jeon. I have no interest in playing along with your little games."

Jungkook's eyes glinted with amusement as he leaned back, giving Taehyung just a bit of space-but not nearly enough. "Maybe. But I think you're just scared to admit that you like having me around."

Taehyung clenched his jaw, trying to think of a retort that wouldn't reveal just how much Jungkook's presence was starting to get to him. But before he could speak, the intercom on his desk buzzed. He quickly pressed the button, grateful for the distraction.

"Sir, there's an urgent call for you from one of our overseas partners," his secretary announced.

Taehyung straightened, casting a sidelong glance at Jungkook. "I'll take it," he replied curtly, then looked back at Jungkook with a pointed expression. "As you can see, I'm busy. You should leave."

Jungkook simply smiled and pushed off the desk, but he didn't seem fazed by Taehyung's dismissal. He made his way to the door, pausing with his hand on the handle to look back over his shoulder.

"You know, Taehyung, I think we'll be seeing each other again very soon," he said, a teasing lilt in his voice. "Don't miss me too much."

With that, he slipped out of the office, leaving Taehyung staring after him with a mix of frustration and something he couldn't quite identify. As the door clicked shut behind him, Taehyung let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, pressing a hand to his chest to steady his racing heart.

---

That evening, long after the call had ended and the office had emptied, Taehyung sat alone in the dim light of his office. He rubbed his temples, trying to push away the thoughts of Jungkook and focus on the mountain of work still awaiting his attention.

But as the clock neared 8 PM, the office door creaked open again. Taehyung looked up, surprised to see Jungkook stepping inside, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"What are you doing back here, Jeon?" Taehyung snapped, immediately switching back to his stern tone, though his heart skipped a beat. "I thought I made it clear that I have work to do."

Jungkook raised his hands in mock surrender, but he didn't stop moving closer. "Relax, Mr. Kim. I'm not here to bother you... well, not entirely," he added with a wink. "I just left something behind earlier."

Taehyung raised a skeptical brow. "What could you have possibly left here?"

Jungkook pretended to look around the office, then walked over to Taehyung's desk, leaning across it in that same infuriatingly casual way. "I think I left... this," he said, reaching out to pick up a small pen that sat on the desk.

Taehyung's eye twitched. He recognized that pen-it was the one he kept for signing documents, and it had never left its spot on his desk. "You're seriously back here for a pen?"

Jungkook's smirk grew wider. "Well, it's a very special pen, you see." He twirled it between his fingers, his eyes never leaving Taehyung's. "Can't just leave something important behind."

Taehyung rolled his eyes, but his irritation faltered as Jungkook leaned even closer, placing the pen back on the desk with a soft thud. The younger man's face was only inches from his own, and in the quiet of the empty office, Taehyung couldn't ignore the heat radiating from Jungkook's proximity.

"You know, I think you like it when I come back for no reason," Jungkook whispered, his voice dropping into that familiar deep tone that sent a shiver through Taehyung. "It gives you an excuse to see me again."

Taehyung's cheeks burned, but he refused to back down. He met Jungkook's gaze head-on, though his voice wavered slightly. "You're delusional if you think I enjoy any of this."

Jungkook's eyes gleamed with mischief, and he reached out, tracing a fingertip along the edge of Taehyung's desk. "You say that, but I can tell when someone's pretending. Besides," he leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing against Taehyung's ear, "I think you like how close I get."

Taehyung's breath hitched at the sensation, his resolve crumbling further. He turned his head slightly, and their noses nearly brushed, the air between them crackling with tension. For a moment, Taehyung thought Jungkook might actually close the distance, but instead, the younger man straightened, pulling back with a satisfied grin.

"Well, I've got my pen," Jungkook said cheerfully, holding it up as if it were a prize. "Guess I'll be on my way. But don't worry, Taehyung. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again very soon."

With a final wink, he...