Love in the Shadows (KTH x reader x JJK) (18+)

Chapter 41

Y/N's POV-

The moment I stepped into the office, I was hit by a wave of dread. The bustling atmosphere that usually seemed lively now felt oppressive. As I approached my desk, I saw it: a towering pile of tasks, each paper stacked meticulously with sticky notes detailing what needed to be done. The sight was enough to make my stomach churn. Taehyung had certainly outdone himself this time.

I took a deep breath and sat down, trying to calm my nerves. The hum of the air conditioner and the faint sounds of colleagues chatting outside couldn't drown out the turmoil in my mind. I felt bad for not going to Jungkook's place yesterday. I wanted to, but something held me back—a part of me that still felt loyal to Taehyung. Despite everything that had happened, I couldn't simply erase Taehyung from my heart.

Jungkook had been so understanding and patient, but I couldn't help but wonder if denying him was my subconscious way of holding on to Taehyung. He had betrayed me and shattered my trust, yet his presence was deeply rooted in my soul. It wasn't easy to just throw him out and act like nothing had ever happened between us.

Taehyung and I shared so many memories, dreams, and moments of genuine happiness. Those feelings don't just vanish overnight. Every time I thought about moving forward with Jungkook, a part of me felt like I was betraying those memories. I felt torn between the love I once had and the new affection blossoming with Jungkook. It was a difficult and confusing place to be, leaving me feeling lost and uncertain about my own heart.

My phone buzzed almost immediately. It was a message from Taehyung: *"Please prioritize these tasks. The deadlines are tight, and I expect thorough work. No excuses."* I could almost hear his voice in the message—cold, demanding, and unforgiving.

"Just great," I muttered to myself, picking up the first file. The clock seemed to tick louder as I waded through the pile, each task more complex and time-consuming than the last. I felt like I was drowning in paperwork. By mid-morning, I had managed to finish only a fraction of what was assigned.

As I was deep into analyzing a set of data, Taehyung's sharp voice cut through the office buzz. "Ms. Min!" he called, his tone as rigid as ever.

"Yes, Mr. Kim?" I responded, trying to keep my voice steady as I walked into his office.

He was sitting at his desk, reviewing some documents. Without looking up, he said, "I reviewed the preliminary work you submitted. It's not up to the standard I expect. We have a critical client presentation coming up, and I need this to be flawless. Do you understand?"

I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush with frustration. "Yes, Mr. Kim. I'll make the necessary revisions."

"Good," he said, finally looking up with a piercing gaze. "Also, I need you to handle this additional set of reports. They're due by the end of the day. Don't let me down."

I tried to mask my growing irritation. "Of course, Mr. Kim," I said, forcing a smile before retreating to my desk.

As the day dragged on, the pressure mounted. Each new task seemed to come with a tighter deadline than the last. The constant stream of criticism wasn't helping either. Every time Taehyung walked past my desk, he had a comment—mostly critical—about my progress. "This isn't thorough enough," or "This needs more detail," or simply, "This isn't good enough."

By early afternoon, I was in a near panic. The amount of work was overwhelming, and Taehyung's demands seemed endless. I barely had a moment to breathe before he appeared again at my desk.

"Ms. Min, this report you submitted still has errors. I need you to fix them immediately. I expect better quality," he said, his voice carrying a tone of disapproval.