Obsession | TAEKOOK FF

Chapter 5: Tangles of Deceit and Destiny

The Kim Mansion

​Meanwhile, across the city inside the grand, heavily secured Kim Mansion, Jaebum stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the study. His mind was completely consumed by the boy he had just dropped off at the bus station.

​"Mom," Jaebum called out, turning to face his mother. "I saw that guy again today. He was wearing the exact same necklace as us. I couldn't get close enough to see if it was real or a replica, but it looked identical. Mom, are you absolutely certain that only you, me, and my brother have that specific design?"

​"Yes..." Mrs. Kim replied, her voice breaking as tears pooled in her eyes.

"There are only three of those necklaces in existence. The rare Black Diamond embedded into the center of the lotus pendant makes them entirely unique-one of a kind."

​Jaebum's expression hardened with determination. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm going to run a full background check on him. I'll find out if his necklace is the real deal or just a cheap imitation."

​"I miss my Taehyung so much," Mrs. Kim sobbed, clutching a handkerchief to her chest. "I still remember the night before your first birthdays... I had just given both of you those necklaces. And then, out of nowhere, someone stole him from us..."

​The weight of a dark history hung heavily over the room.

​Years ago, a bitter, violent business feud had erupted between the Kim Group and the La Casa Group. Desperate to ensure the Kim empire would have no successor to inherit the throne, the ruthless leadership of La Casa had bribed one of the Kims' trusted housemaids to kidnap the twin heirs.

That fateful night, the maid had crept into the nursery. But when she reached for the cribs, Jaebum had started crying loudly, panicking her. Terrified of getting caught, she snatched only the sleeping Taehyung and fled into the night.

​That maid was the woman Tae grew up believing was his mother. Unable to bring herself to abandon a helpless infant in the wilderness, her conscience caught up to her, and she chose to raise Taehyung as her own. She loved him deeply, alongside her husband, whom Tae believed was his biological father.
​Tae's father had always claimed his mother simply abandoned them when he was a toddler. But the horrific truth was far darker-she had been silenced permanently by unknown shadows just as she was on her way to confess the truth and return Taehyung to the Kim family.

​To protect the boy from the dangerous forces that killed his wife, Tae's father took a job far away in the provinces, entirely unaware that the son he was protecting was actually the rightful billionaire heir to the Kim empire. The maid had taken that secret to her grave.

​The La Casa Mansion

​Meanwhile, inside the luxurious, pristine halls of the La Casa Mansion, Lisa slammed her purse onto the vanity table in a fit of rage.

​"Ugh! Those pathetic, poor pieces of shit are seriously getting on my last nerve!" she shrieked to the empty room. She poured herself a glass of expensive red wine, swirling the liquid before taking a slow, venomous sip. A cruel smirk spread across her lips. "Just you wait. I'm going to come back for you both, and I will make your miserable little lives a living hell."

​Snapping her fingers, she called for her maids. "Take this suit and burn it. Throw it in the trash. I don't ever want to see it again."

​Without waiting for a response, she stormed upstairs to wash away the memory of the sidewalk confrontation. Lisa was undeniably stunning on the outside, a masterpiece of high-society beauty-but beneath the surface, her attitude was ugly, rotten, and fiercely spoiled by parents who gave her absolutely everything she demanded.

​Kook's POV

​Inside his luxury sports car, Kook gripped the steering wheel, letting out a heavy, irritated groan as he drove away from Lisa's estate.

​"Argh, that spoiled brat," Kook muttered under his breath, loosening his silk tie.

"If it wasn't for the business alliance between our families, I wouldn't waste a single second tolerating her tantrums.

There are plenty of women out there who are ten times sexier and actually know how to behave."

​Ring! Ring!

​His car's Bluetooth display lit up with an incoming call. He tapped the console.

"Hello?"

​"Eyy, Kookie~" a sultry, sweet voice purred through the speakers. "I miss you, baby... why haven't you called me lately, hmm?"

​Kook's tense expression softened into a smooth, practiced smirk. "Eyy, Ayu, baby. I told you, I've been incredibly busy with the company's upcoming quarter. I'll see you soon, okay?"

​"Yah! I miss you right now," Ayu complained playfully on the other end.

"Why don't you come over to my place tonight?"

​Kook glanced at the dashboard clock.

"Alright, alright, I'll be there. Let me just head home to take a shower first. You should get ready too. Bye, baby."

​Ayu was the beautiful daughter of a prominent city mayor. Kook had met her at an exclusive nightclub months ago, and their chemistry had been instant and explosive. Since that night, they had maintained a highly passionate, physical relationship. They didn't have an official relationship label, but Ayu confidently called Kook her "baby," and Kook never minded the perks that came with it.
​A short while later, Kook arrived at Ayu's high-end apartment complex.

​Ding Dong.

​The door swung open, and Ayu immediately pulled him inside, locking the door behind him. She wasted no time, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a deep, breathless kiss. Her fingers worked quickly, unbuttoning his tailored polo shirt as Kook's hands slid down her waist, matching her intense pace. Clothes scattered across the floor as the temperature in the room soared, the underlying tension of Kook's stressful day melting away into the shadows of the bedroom.

​By the time the night was over, the playboy had left another chapter of his secret life behind him, completely unaware of how his world was about to change.

​Present Day: JK's Company

​The next morning arrived, marking the official first day of the corporate OJT internship.

​The main marketing floor of JK's Company was a hive of chaotic corporate energy. Rows of sleek desks were filled with interns and junior executives organizing their paperwork. Tae adjusted his neat, affordable suit jacket, navigating his way toward his assigned desk while Jimin waved encouragingly from a few rows over.
​Suddenly, the glass double doors of the executive elevator slid open with a sharp chime.

​The entire floor went completely breathless. The murmuring crowd silenced instantly as everyone scrambled to stand upright, straightening their blazers to greet the arriving chief executive.

​Kook strode onto the floor, his presence towering, arrogant, and radiating absolute authority. His sharp eyes scanned the room, cutting through the rows of bowing interns until his gaze locked directly onto a very specific, familiar face.

​Kook stopped right in front of the main desk line, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

​"Tae. My office. Now."

​To be continued...

Author's Note:

Oh my gosh, my Flowers! 😱 Tae is actually a missing heir to the Kim Group?! And Kook is definitely living up to his playboy reputation. How do you think Tae's first day in Kook's office is going to go? Let me know your thoughts! Love you all! 🌸