Book Of Tease

Cracks II

With a final wink, he turned and strolled towards the door. Taehyung watched, a mixture of frustration and something dangerously close to admiration swirling inside him. Just as Jungkook reached the door, he paused and glanced back over his shoulder.

"By the way," Jungkook said casually, "if you ever want to get out of this stuffy office for a bit, just let me know. I have some great places in mind. You might even enjoy yourself."

Taehyung's heart raced at the invitation, but he quickly masked it with irritation. "I don't need your charity, Jeon," he snapped, but the words felt hollow even to him.

"Charity? Who said anything about charity?" Jungkook replied with a laugh, clearly unbothered by Taehyung's biting tone. "I just think you could use a break. And maybe some fun."

"Fun? I'm a CEO, not a child," Taehyung retorted, crossing his arms defensively.

Jungkook smirked again, that disgusting charming smile that made Taehyung want to both punch and kiss him at the same time. "Sure, Mr. Kim. But I see the way you look at me when you think I'm not watching. You might be a cold CEO to everyone else, but there's a spark in you that says you're not as serious as you want to be."

Before Taehyung could retort, Jungkook opened the door and stepped out, leaving Taehyung reeling in his wake.

"Goodnight, Taehyung!" Jungkook called, his voice echoing in the hallway as he walked away. "Don't work too hard!"

Taehyung stared at the door for a long moment, his mind racing. The teasing, the laughter, the undeniable chemistry between them-it was all too much. He pushed his chair back and stood up, pacing the room in frustration. How had one person managed to turn his world upside down in such a short time?

The quiet of the evening settled around him, but Jungkook's presence lingered, making it difficult to concentrate. He returned to his desk, attempting to focus on the reports before him, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the younger man. Jungkook's laughter, the way he leaned in close, the challenge in his eyes-it was intoxicating.

After what felt like hours of futile attempts to work, Taehyung leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. It was impossible to ignore the tension that had built between them. He knew he should maintain his distance, keep Jungkook at arm's length, but a part of him craved the thrill of their exchanges.

---

The next day, as Taehyung settled into his usual routine, he found it hard to shake off the remnants of Jungkook's teasing. He was determined to keep his focus, but a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach kept pulling him towards thoughts of their last encounter.

During lunch, he was distracted, unable to concentrate on his meal. His assistant glanced at him, concern etched on her face. "Is everything alright, Sir? You seem a bit... preoccupied."

Taehyung waved her off. "I'm fine, just thinking about some company matters."

"Right," she said skeptically, clearly unconvinced. "Is it about Mr. Jeon?"

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, his expression sharpening. "Why would it be about him?"

She shrugged, her lips twitching with amusement. "I don't know, but I've seen the way he looks at you. And honestly, it's adorable."

Taehyung felt his cheeks heat up, irritation creeping in. "I don't need your opinions on my personal life."

"Personal life? You mean the one that's mysteriously absent?" she teased, but Taehyung shot her a glare that silenced her laughter.

Just then, the door swung open, and in walked Jungkook, a broad grin on his face as he spotted Taehyung.

"Hey, look who I found! Mr. Busy CEO himself!" Jungkook called out cheerfully, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

Taehyung groaned inwardly as his assistant's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, perfect timing!" she exclaimed, clearly enjoying the situation. "I was just telling Mr. Kim how adorable he looks when he's flustered."

Jungkook's eyes lit up with delight, and he stepped closer to Taehyung's table, unabashedly leaning over it. "Flustered, huh? I must be doing something right then," he said, teasing laced in his voice.

"Don't push your luck, Jeon," Taehyung shot back, trying to maintain his composure. But Jungkook's playful grin was infectious, and Taehyung felt the familiar warmth creeping back into his cheeks.

"I'm just stating the facts," Jungkook replied, seemingly unbothered by Taehyung's stern expression. "You should learn to embrace it. It's part of your charm."

"Charm? I think you're mistaken," Taehyung retorted, serious.

Jungkook laughed, clearly enjoying their back-and-forth. "Keep telling yourself that, Mr. Kim. But I see what I see."

"Enough, Jeon," Taehyung said authoritatively. "Why are you really here?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd stop by and remind you that you should really consider getting out of the office more," Jungkook replied, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Life's too short to be stuck in a stuffy room all day, don't you think?"

Taehyung's heart raced at the proximity, and he was suddenly acutely aware of how close they were. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms defiantly. "I don't need your advice on how to live my life."

"Sure you don't," Jungkook said, his tone teasing. "But you know what? I think I'm going to keep coming back here until you finally agree to let loose a little."

Taehyung rolled his eyes, trying to hide the smile that threatened to break through his stoic facade. "As if you could actually change my mind."

Jungkook straightened, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Challenge accepted."

With that, he turned on his heel and sauntered away, leaving Taehyung flustered and bewildered at the table. The laughter and banter from his colleagues faded into the background as Taehyung found himself lost in thought.

He couldn't deny it any longer-Jungkook was getting under his skin in a way that both thrilled and terrified him. The teasing, the chemistry, and the undeniable attraction were becoming harder to ignore.

---

As the afternoon wore on, Taehyung tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on work. But the promise of Jungkook's next visit lingered in his mind, stirring up feelings he couldn't quite understand. It was both exhilarating and unnerving, and he had no idea where this unexpected connection would lead him.

But deep down, Taehyung couldn't shake the feeling that Jungkook was exactly what he needed to break through the ice he had carefully constructed around himself. As he returned to his work, a small smile crept onto his lips-perhaps this was the start of something he never expected.