ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS//TAEHYUNG FF//

No More Hiding - 1

Inside the penthouse, however—

It was finally quiet.

The press conference ended hours ago.

But the world still hadn't calmed down.

News channels replayed the recording again and again. Headlines flooded every screen:

"Kim Taehyung Publicly Confirms Relationship Amid Corporate War."

The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Cars moved like tiny streaks of light below.

Y/N stood near the balcony, arms resting lightly on the railing.

Behind her, Taehyung poured two glasses of wine.

Neither of them had said much since coming home.

Not because something was wrong.

Because the day had been too big.

Too public.

Too intense.

He walked over and handed her a glass.

"You handled today better than anyone else in that room," he said.

Y/N smiled faintly.

"You mean the room full of reporters waiting to tear me apart?"

"Exactly that one."

She turned toward him slightly.

"You didn't have to confirm everything."

"Yes, But I did."

His answer came without hesitation.

"I'm done pretending my life is a negotiation."

The seriousness in his voice made her pause.

Taehyung rarely spoke so directly about himself.

He looked out toward the city for a moment.

"My father spent years turning relationships into business contracts," he said quietly.

"My engagement was one of them."

He looked back at her.

"But you were never part of a deal."

Y/N held his gaze.

"Good," she said softly. "Because I don't do contracts in my personal life."

That earned a small smile.

The kind that only appeared when he was actually relaxed.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

The city lights reflected in the glass walls.

Then Taehyung suddenly set his wine down on the table.

Y/N noticed the shift immediately.

"What is it?"

He didn't answer right away.

Instead, he stepped closer.

Close enough that the space between them disappeared again.

"You know," he said quietly, "today the entire media industry tried to define our story."

"That's what media does."

"They don't get to decide the ending."

Y/N studied his expression.