Min Yoongi - Idol's love

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25: Unspoken Ties

The CEO's expression was colder than I'd ever seen. Even through the grainy quality of the video call, his frustration was apparent, it sent a chill down my spine. My gaze dropped to the phone on the table, the headline glaring back at me with painful clarity. The words "New Romance?" seemed to pulse on the screen, mocking the delicate balance we thought we'd maintained.

He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I won't mince words," he began, voice firm. "This article reached me early this morning. As you might guess, the board and our PR team are concerned. Very concerned. We've managed to keep scandals to a minimum for years, and now—" he gestured to the phone, "I see this?"

Yoongi, who had been quiet up until now, took a deep breath and looked the CEO straight in the eye. "Sir, this isn't ideal, but we never intended anything to become public. We've been careful."

"Careful?" the CEO repeated, his tone icy. "If you had been careful, I wouldn't be reading this right now." He leaned closer to the camera, his frustration escalating. "You're in the middle of a major tour, Yoongi, and the focus should be on that—not on some rumor about you and a 'mystery woman.' I expected better judgment."

Yoongi's jaw tightened. He was doing his best to keep his composure, but I could see the tension building in his expression. "I take full responsibility for this," he said calmly. "It's on me. But I promise it won't interfere with the group or the tour. We'll be extra cautious moving forward."

The CEO shifted his gaze to me, and I felt the full weight of his stare. "And you," he said, his tone sharper now. "I trust you understand the magnitude of this situation. Being part of the team always means maintaining a professional distance. You're not only jeopardizing your own position but potentially impacting the entire group's image. Do you understand that?"

I swallowed, nodding quickly. "Yes, sir. I understand. This was... never meant to be public."

The CEO sighed heavily, running a hand over his face. "Well, it's out there now. Damage control is already in progress, and the PR team is drafting a statement to clarify and downplay this situation. I need absolute discretion from both of you. If I see even a hint of another incident like this, there will be consequences." He paused, his expression softening just slightly. "I don't want this to become a larger issue than it already is. But you both need to show me I can trust you to be responsible."

Yoongi and I nodded in unison, a weight settling over us. "Understood, sir," Yoongi replied, his tone sincere.

The CEO studied us for a moment longer before finally nodding. "Good. I want daily updates on the tour from both of you, and I don't want to have this conversation again." With that, he ended the call, the screen going dark.

We sat in silence for a moment, letting his words sink in. The weight of his warning was clear: this was our only chance to handle things properly.

Yoongi sighed, breaking the silence. "You okay?" His voice was soft, and gentle in a way that made me feel both comforted and conflicted.

I nodded, though my mind was racing. "I think so," I murmured, barely convincing myself.

He looked down at the table, then back up at me. "We'll be careful. I won't let this affect you—or the team. I promise."

A weak smile found its way to my lips. I wasn't sure how things would play out from here, but Yoongi's presence grounded me. We had to be more cautious than ever, but at least we faced this together.

''I will leave to say goodbye manager,'' Yoongi said and I nodded. I then left the scene.

Just as Yoongi was about to turn the room, his manager caught him by the sleeve. "Yoongi, stay for a moment. The CEO wants a word with you alone," he said, his voice gentle and firm. Yoongi frowned in confusion but nodded, closing the door behind him.