ALPHA | BTS FANFICTION

AU - Love Crime - Part 7

Flash Back: Months Before the Alpha Sports Ceremony.

I had braced myself for Kim Taehyung's harsh treatment after rejecting his marriage proposal, assuming that his decision to assign me to the corporation was nothing more than a carefully devised act of revenge. However, as the weeks slipped by, the weight of his demands and the relentless pace of his work began to shape me in ways I hadn't expected.

At first, the challenges felt impossible to overcome, each task more overwhelming than the last. Yet, as I struggled to keep up with his unyielding expectations, something unexpected happened.

I began to grow.

The work that once seemed insufferable became more manageable, the tasks less daunting as I found myself learning, adapting, and expanding my capabilities. What once felt like a battleground now seemed like a field of cultivation.

The overwhelming presence of his expectations no longer paralyzed me but pushed me forward. The thought of being near him, of working alongside him, no longer filled me with dread, for I was too consumed by the work itself to dwell on anything else.

When I entered his private office each day, it felt as if time itself had been suspended. From the moment I stepped inside, I was absorbed in a constant, frenetic rhythm that carried me through the hours. I barely noticed the passage of time; the relentless demands of my tasks overshadowed everything.

By the time I collapsed onto my mattress at night, I would black out, scarcely able to muster the energy to care for myself.

Blinking out of my thoughts, I glanced toward the bustling table set in the heart of a scenic orchard, where the executives and shareholders mingled with jovial conversation. The company hosted an outdoor event that required my presence with Kim Taehyung, so I had to escort him all the way out of Seoul. It's quite lovely to be outdoors because I've always been behind highly structured walls, whether at the mansion, at the corporation, or at the elite university. I've always felt I was secluded from the world.

"Why aren't you eating...? Are you sick or are you not satisfied?" Taehyung softly nudged my arm, snapping me out of my wandering thoughts. I blinked and shifted my gaze to his raised eyebrow.

"I don't feel like eating," I murmured, shaking my head as I briefly glanced at the high sun overhead. A polite smile curved my lips as I offered it to the guests at the table, but my mind felt distant, pulling away from the chatter. My skin began itching with an uncomfortable sensation... spreading across my forearm and all over my sensitive flesh. Am I getting rashes again...? I sighed softly, lowering my head to scratch the irritated skin when- Kim Taehyung abruptly stood from his seat.

"Please excuse us. We'll be departing early, as we have other plans," He announced, his voice cutting through the conversation. He then placed a hand on my back, a gesture of gentle reassurance. My brows furrowed in confusion. But he said we'd stay until the evening...?

"Oh? That's unfortunate," An executive remarked from across the table. As I hesitated, unsure whether to follow his lead, I finally rose from my seat, my movements uncertain. Kim Taehyung guided me smoothly, his hand finding my waist as he lowered his head to deliver his polite farewell. I mirrored his gesture with a small bow to the guests before we moved toward the exit, the shift causing the table to rise in respectful unison.

Kim Taehyung, with his usual blankness, waved his hand to signal the others to sit. His arm dropped to hold my hand, and I instinctively tightened my grip on his as I struggled to walk over the damp soil in my high heels. We always hold hands in public, but behind closed doors, it's as though we're strangers, each of us retreating to our separate corners. In fact, in the vast mansion, we hardly shared the same space.