Chapter 8: Unspoken Tensions

The air in Kim Enterprises' main conference hall was thick with hushed whispers as Taehyung strode through the entrance, exuding power and dominance with every step. The employees, dressed in pristine business attire, stilled in his presence, eyes darting to steal glances at him.

"He's even more handsome in person," one female employee murmured to her colleague, her voice barely above a whisper. "I swear, if I had a chance, I'd make him mine."

"You? Please. I'm already secretly dating him," another claimed, flipping her hair confidently. "He just doesn't want to go public with it yet."

A group of male employees chuckled from the corner. "You're all delusional. He's not interested in any of you. But trust me, I'll be the one to win him over."

Taehyung ignored the murmurs, uninterested in their meaningless chatter. However, someone else was not so composed.

Jungkook stood at a distance, a file clutched tightly in his hands, his knuckles turning white. His jaw clenched as he listened to the absurd claims being made about Taehyung. His blood boiled, an ugly surge of jealousy twisting inside him. How dare they?

His expression darkened further when his gaze landed on Choi Min-Yu, Taehyung's secretary, who was smirking smugly while surrounded by a group of admiring employees.

"I've been working closely with Mr. Kim for years," Min-Yu boasted, leaning against the desk with an air of confidence. "Trust me, I know things about him that none of you could ever imagine."

Jungkook's grip on the file tightened so hard that the papers inside nearly crumpled. Unimaginable things? What the hell was that supposed to mean? His teeth clenched as anger flared through him. The thought of anyone else being close to Taehyung, claiming to know him intimately, made his stomach twist with an unfamiliar, burning sensation.

Just as his temper threatened to snap, a commanding voice cut through the gossip.

"Min-Yu."

Taehyung's deep, authoritative voice silenced the room instantly. Min-Yu straightened, trying to look unaffected, but the slight twitch in his expression betrayed his nervousness. He turned to face his boss, plastering on a polite smile. "Yes, sir?"

Taehyung's sharp gaze flicked over the employees before landing on Min-Yu. "My office. Now."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward his office. Min-Yu gulped before following hastily, the rest of the employees watching in stunned silence.

Jungkook exhaled sharply, his hands trembling with suppressed rage. He needed to calm down. He needed to—

"Jungkook."

He stiffened at the sound of Taehyung's voice, only now realizing the man had returned to stand before him. Those dark eyes bored into him, filled with unreadable emotions.

"Inside."

Jungkook's heart pounded, but he masked his emotions with a blank expression, nodding stiffly before following Taehyung into his office. The heavy door shut behind them, sealing them in an atmosphere thick with tension.

For a moment, neither spoke. Taehyung leaned against his desk, arms crossed, studying Jungkook carefully. "You're tense."

Jungkook scoffed, crossing his own arms. "I'm fine."

Taehyung tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "Are you? Because you looked like you were about to rip someone apart out there."

Jungkook forced out a laugh, but it was humorless. "Your employees have interesting things to say about you."

"Ah," Taehyung mused, a smirk playing at his lips. "You mean their delusions?"

Jungkook's jaw clenched. "And Min-Yu?"

Taehyung's smirk faded slightly, his expression turning serious. "He oversteps sometimes. But his words mean nothing."

Jungkook looked away, biting the inside of his cheek. Then why does it bother me so much?

Taehyung exhaled through his nose, pushing off his desk and closing the space between them. "Jungkook."

The sound of his name from Taehyung's lips sent a shiver down his spine, but he didn't let it show. He kept his gaze trained on the floor.

"Look at me."

Slowly, Jungkook lifted his eyes, meeting Taehyung's intense gaze. The air between them crackled with something unspoken, something dangerous.

Taehyung's fingers brushed against Jungkook's wrist, the contact brief but searing. "What's really bothering you?"

Jungkook inhaled sharply, every fiber of his being screaming at him to stay composed, to not show weakness. But Taehyung's presence, his proximity, his damn voice—it was unraveling him.

Instead of answering, Jungkook took a step back, forcing distance between them. "Nothing. Just work stress."

Taehyung didn't believe him, but he let it slide. For now.

"Fine." He turned and walked toward his desk, picking up a document. "If you're so stressed, let's focus on something productive. I have a business proposal that requires your input."

Jungkook exhaled, grateful for the shift in topic. "Alright. Let's get to work."

But even as they discussed contracts and negotiations, the tension between them remained, thick and suffocating, lingering beneath every word, every glance.

And neither of them dared to acknowledge it—yet.