Love changes EGO

~24~

A/N POV ~

The morning sun filtered through the windows of their car as Misoo scrolled through her phone. Namjoon, seated beside her in the driver's seat, navigated the streets with practiced ease. The soft hum of the engine filled the air, punctuated only by the occasional sound of cars passing by.

"Oh, I forgot," Misoo exclaimed suddenly, her eyes widening as she looked up from her phone.

Namjoon glanced at her briefly, his brows furrowing. "Forgot what?"

"I forgot to ask Daisy about the money," she explained, her voice tinged with mild frustration.

He nodded, his gaze returning to the road ahead. "You can handle it later. Don't stress about it."

Reassured by his calm demeanor, Misoo sighed and leaned back in her seat. Moments like these reminded her of how much she appreciated his steady presence.

As they pulled into the parking lot of RKIVE, the company they both worked for, the bustling energy of the workplace greeted them. Together, they entered the grand lobby, the air buzzing with the sounds of employees moving about.

"See you later," Misoo said with a smile as they parted ways, Namjoon heading towards his office and Misoo towards her studio. Although their cabins were on the same floor, they were located in opposite directions, ensuring both of them had their own space to focus.

Namjoon, however, found his gaze trailing after Misoo for a moment longer than usual. She was deep in conversation with one of the male designers, her expression serious yet friendly. Though he trusted her completely, a small pang of jealousy stirred within him. It wasn't about distrust—it was just the natural possessiveness that came with loving someone.

Meanwhile, Misoo was unaware of his thoughts. On her way to her studio, she encountered Minjun, a senior designer from RKIVE's Incheon branch. Minjun was an established name in the industry, admired for his skill and humility. Misoo raised her hand in greeting.

"Morning, Minjun!" she called out cheerfully.

He returned the wave with a polite smile. "Morning, Misoo. How's everything going?"

"It's going well, thank you," she replied. "What brings you here today?"

"I have some work to wrap up at this branch," he explained. Then, with a warm expression, he added, "By the way, congratulations on your upcoming collection. I've seen your designs—they're truly impressive. I'm sure the show will be a success."

Misoo felt her cheeks warm at the praise. "Thank you so much, Minjun. That means a lot coming from you."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways. Misoo headed to her studio with a renewed sense of determination.

---

In his cabin, Namjoon was going through his schedule when a knock interrupted his focus.

"Come in," he called out, looking up to see Minjun stepping inside with a file in hand.

"Good morning, Sir. This is the progress report on our work and sales," Minjun said, placing the file on Namjoon's desk.

Namjoon flipped through the pages briefly before nodding. "I'll review this in detail later. Is there anything else you need?"

Minjun shook his head. "That's all for now, Sir."

Just as Minjun was about to leave, Namjoon leaned back in his chair and asked, "How do you know Misoo?"

Caught off guard, Minjun hesitated briefly before answering. "She was my assistant when she was a trainee. I've known her for years."

Namjoon nodded thoughtfully. "What's your opinion of her work? Her collection is releasing soon, and I want to hear your thoughts on whether it'll be worth it."