𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬 || ᴋᴛʜ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ꜰꜰ

FIVE

Her Pov:

I slid into the plush leather chair, feeling the warmth of victory spread through me as I concluded the final details of the contract. The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional tap of my pen on the gleaming mahogany table. The client's handshake had been firm, their smile genuine. Another successful deal under the belt of Lee Diamonds.

My heart was racing from the adrenaline of sealing the deal, but my mind was already shifting gears to the next challenge. As the client left, the room felt eerily empty, a stark contrast to the bustling office outside. I took a moment to bask in the quiet, allowing myself to breathe in the sweet scent of success. But the solitude didn't last long.

The sudden vibration of my phone in my pocket snapped me out of my reverie. It was a reminder of the world that waited impatiently for my attention. With a flick of my thumb, I unlocked the screen, expecting the usual flurry of emails and messages. But what I found was a storm of notifications that grew by the second, a digital cacophony demanding my immediate response.

My secretary, Rachel, rushed in, a look of alarm and excitement on her face. She held out a tablet, the screen glowing with a familiar social media app. "You need to see this," she said, her voice tight with anticipation. My eyes widened as I took in the image displayed on the screen. It was a picture of my hand, entwined with another's, and on our fingers, rings gleamed.

The caption beneath the picture read like a declaration of war. Taehyung had outed us to the world, claiming our relationship without so much as a whisper of consent. The audacity! I could feel my cheeks flaming as I scanned the comments section, a minefield of congratulations and speculations. My heart felt like it was going to pound its way out of my chest.

I looked up at Rachel, who was biting her lip nervously, awaiting my reaction. "How could he?" I whispered, my voice barely above a hiss. "We haven't talk about this. We weren't ready for this kind of exposure." Rachel's eyes were wide, her gaze flickering between the tab and me.

"I don't know," she stammered, "but it's already gone viral. Your followers are going crazy!" My mind raced as I tried to formulate a plan, a way to put this genie back in the bottle. But as I scrolled through the endless sea of likes and comments, the reality sank in. There was no taking this back. My personal and professional lives had just collided in the most public of ways, and the tremors would be felt for days to come.

With trembling fingers, I called Taehyung, the line connecting with a cold, digital ring. Each unanswered tone stoked the fire of my anger. How could he be so reckless? So selfish? The call went to voicemail, his cheery message a slap in the face of my current predicament. I hung up, my hand shaking with rage and disbelief. What was I going to do now?

My thoughts were interrupted by Rachel, who had been quietly observing the chaos unfold. "Should I start drafting a statement?" she asked, her voice tentative. I nodded curtly, unable to form words. A statement. Yes, a statement was necessary. Something to control the narrative before it spiraled completely out of control. But what to say?

I took a deep breath and began to type, my words measured and calculated. I had to be careful. This was a delicate dance, one misstep could cost me everything I'd worked so hard for. "Thank you for the overwhelming support," I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Taehyung and I are indeed in a relationship, and while we appreciate the love and excitement you're sharing with us, we would have liked to announce it on our own terms. Please respect our privacy as we navigate this new chapter in our lives." I reread it.

It was a tightrope walk of diplomacy and authenticity. Not too much, not too little. Just enough to acknowledge the situation without giving away the maelstrom of emotions I was experiencing. Rachel looked over my shoulder, her eyes filled with sympathy and understanding.