Kim Headquarters - parking lot

Jungkook slammed the door of his car shut, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His heart was still pounding from that ridiculous meeting, from the way Taehyung had casually backed him into a corner, smirking like he held all the cards.

That infuriating man.

Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, exhaling through his nose. He just needed a second to breathe. Just a moment to gather his thoughts before he-

Knock. Knock.

His eyes snapped open. He turned his head slowly, already bracing himself.

There he was. Kim Taehyung. Leaning down with zero sense of personal space, his forearms resting on the open car window. The bastard was smirking again.

"Running away so soon, JK?"

Jungkook scowled. "Don't call me that."

Taehyung tilted his head, his rich brown eyes gleaming in the afternoon sun. "You left so fast. Almost like you were escaping from something."

Jungkook clenched his jaw. "I have another meeting."

"Hmm." Taehyung let out a thoughtful hum, tapping his fingers against the car door. "That's interesting."

Jungkook narrowed his eyes. "What?"

Taehyung's smirk widened. "Because Jimin just texted me. Your schedule is clear for the day."

Jungkook cursed under his breath.That little snake.

Before he could come up with an excuse, Taehyung casually dropped a bomb.

"You should check the news."

Jungkook frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Taehyung simply nodded toward Jungkook's phone. With an uneasy feeling settling in his chest, Jungkook grabbed it from the passenger seat and unlocked it.

His stomach dropped at the headlines flashing across the screen.

"JEON JUNGKOOK SPOTTED WITH KIM ENTERTAINMENT CEO- A NEW POWER COUPLE?"

"JEON HEIR & KIM TYCOON - BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?"

"INSIDE SOURCES CONFIRM: SOMETHING IS BREWING BETWEEN TAEHYUNG & JUNGKOOK"

Jungkook froze.

His fingers tightened around his phone as he scrolled through the articles. Blurry paparazzi photos of them together flooded the internet- one where Taehyung was whispering something in his ear, another where their gazes were locked in a way that could easily be misinterpreted.

It looked... intimate.

Way too intimate.

Jungkook's breath came out sharp. "What. The. Hell."

He whipped his head up, eyes blazing. "Fix this. Right now."

Taehyung, completely unbothered, just tucked his hands into his pockets. "Why?"

Jungkook's brows furrowed. "Are you serious? My father is going to-"

"Love it."

Jungkook froze.

Taehyung's smirk softened into something calculated, something knowing. "Think about it. Two of the most powerful families in the business world? A strong alliance. Your father has been pushing you to settle down, hasn't he?"

Jungkook's blood ran cold.

Because Taehyung wasn't wrong.

Jungkook hated that Taehyung wasn't wrong.

Taehyung stepped closer, voice smoother than silk. "If we play this right, it could be beneficial for both of us."

Jungkook hated that this made sense.

But this was insane.

"This is insane," Jungkook muttered.

Taehyung just raised a brow. "Then tell me no."

Jungkook opened his mouth but the words wouldn't come.

Because saying no meant walking away.
Saying no meant admitting he was running.
Saying no meant Taehyung won this round.🌚

Jungkook hated losing.

"...Fine," he bit out. "But only until we clear up this mess."

Taehyung's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Of course, JK."

Jungkook groaned.

This was a mistake.

---
Jungkook barely had a second to process his mistake before his phone vibrated violently in his grip. The name flashing on the screen made his blood run cold.

The phone rang once. Twice.

Jungkook knew he should answer. But his fingers hesitated over the screen, his pulse drumming in his ears.

He wasn't ready for this.

But he never had a choice when it came to his father.

He exhaled sharply and swiped to answer.

"Appa," he greeted, keeping his tone neutral.

A beat of silence.

"Come home. Now."

The sheer authority in his father's tone sent a shiver down his spine. No room for argument, no warmth just cold command.

Mr. Jeon's voice was calm, but Jungkook knew better than to mistake that for patience. His father's fury was never loud. It was sharp. Precise. Deadly.

Jungkook's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I have-"

"Now, Jungkook."

A low hum of disapproval. The kind that made Jungkook's chest tighten like he was a child again, standing before his father's desk after disappointing him.

Jungkook's jaw clenched. "Understood."

The line went dead.

Taehyung, still leaning against his car, arched a brow. "Daddy dearest isn't pleased?"
Jungkook glared. "Shut up."

Taehyung smirked. "Want me to come with you?"

Jungkook snorted. "Do you have a death wish?"

Taehyung just grinned. "A little."

Jungkook rolled his eyes and sped off, leaving Taehyung chuckling in the dust.
-----

The massive gates creaked open, revealing a long driveway lined with white marble statues and neatly trimmed gardens. Everything was pristine. Elegant. Cold.

Much like his father.

Jungkook walked into the grand living hall,"Jeon Jungkook!"

Mr. Jeon stood in the center of the vast living room, his sharp gaze piercing straight through his son. His mother, Mrs. Jeon, sat tensely on the couch, hands clenched in her lap.

"Appa," Jungkook greeted cautiously.

Mr. Jeon threw a newspaper onto the table. The very same headlines from earlier stared back at him.His & Taehyung's
The headlines mocked him.
His father's voice was low, controlled, but laced with unspoken fury.

"Explain."

Jungkook straightened his shoulders. "A misunderstanding It's just the media twisting things. There's nothing-"

His father's gaze didn't waver. "A misunderstanding that has already spread across every major business network in India and South Korea?"

Jungkook stayed silent.

"Nothing?" Mr. Jeon's voice sharpened. "Then tell me why half the board is calling me, congratulating our family on an upcoming union with the Kims?"

Jungkook's jaw tightened. "I didn't ask for this."

"Then why didn't you deny it immediately?"

Before Jungkook could respond, his mother-soft, kind, always trying to shield him-spoke up.

"Yeobo... maybe this isn't as bad as it seems." Mrs. Jeon reached out, her voice gentle. "Taehyung is a good man, and if the media believes it, perhaps-"

"Stay out of this," Mr. Jeon snapped, his glare cutting through her words.

Jungkook clenched his fists. "Don't talk to her like that."

His mother's eyes flickered to him with worry, but she quickly shook her head, silently telling him not to interfere.

"Jungkook," his father continued, ignoring his protest. "I have spent years building this empire. Do you think I will let a single careless mistake tarnish our name?"

Jungkook exhaled sharply. "I'll handle it."

Mr. Jeon leaned back. "So tell me, Are you truly engaged in a relationship with Kim Taehyung, or have you simply lost control of your actions?"

Jungkook inhaled sharply. There it was.

The constant expectation. The belief that he should never make a mistake.

He lifted his chin. "It's a business move."

His father's expression remained unreadable. "Do you take me for a fool?"

Jungkook clenched his fists. "Appa, I-"

"You will fix this," Mr. Jeon interrupted, his voice low, powerful. "Or you will face the consequences."

Jungkook's stomach churned. "What consequences. Mr. Jeon finally spoke. "You will accept the marriage proposal from the Lee family."

Jungkook's heart stopped.

No. No, no, no.

"That alliance was already refused," Jungkook said, voice tight.

Mr. Jeon's lips curled slightly. "It is back on the table."

Jungkook's pulse spiked. He had barely dodged that arranged marriage nightmare once. There was no way in hell he was letting them push him into it now.

"You can't be serious," Jungkook hissed.

His Father gave him a pointed look. "Jungkook, you know how important it is for our family to maintain strong ties. The Lee's-

"I don't care about the damn Lee's!"

Silence.

The air shifted.

His father's expression didn't change, but the temperature in the room dropped.

"You are being emotional," Mr. Jeon said, voice like steel.

Jungkook stood. "No, I'm being rational. For once in my life, can I not be treated like a damn chess piece?"

His mother worried interfered between father and son duo . "Jungkook-"

"I mean it, Amma." Jungkook's voice shook. "You think my fake relationship with Taehyung is a scandal? Imagine how much worse it'll be if you force me into something I don't want. I won't do it."

Silence.

Mr. Jeon stood.

Jungkook held his breath.

His father's voice was quiet. Dangerous.

"Then fix it. Publicly. Immediately."

Jungkook's throat went dry. "How?"

Mr. Jeon's eyes glinted with shine.

"You will publicly announce your engagement with Kim Taehyung."

Jungkook's mind blacked out.

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

"Excuse me?"

Mr. Jeon's gaze was unrelenting. "You wanted to play this game? Fine. Now, you will commit to it."

Jungkook felt lightheaded.

."You must understand, Jungkook. A fabricated romance is one thing, but an engagement solidifies your image. The press, our investors-"

"Are you insane?" Jungkook snapped. "I barely even like him!"

"Then pretend," Mr. Jeon said simply.

Jungkook staggered back.

This wasn't happening.

This was not happening.

"You have one week," Mr. Jeon continued, adjusting his cufflinks. "If you do not make the announcement, you will marry whoever I choose."

Jungkook's blood ran cold.

"You know how to play the game, Jungkook."

Jungkook's hands trembled.

One week.

One week to convince Taehyung to pretend they were engaged.

One week before he lost everything.

His mind spiraled.

There was only one person who could help him fix this.

And that bastard was probably still smirking somewhere.

Kim. Fucking. Taehyung.

Jungkook's head ached.

This was a disaster.......!!

"And Jungkook..."

Jungkook's spine stiffened.

"Don't disappoint me again."

Jungkook swallowed the lump in his throat, giving a stiff nod before turning to leave. His mother stood too, following him to the hallway.

She reached out, grasping his wrist. "Beta," she whispered, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

Jungkook forced a small, tired smile. "I'm fine, eomma."

Her fingers squeezed his. "Taehyung... is he kind to you?"

Jungkook hesitated before sighing. "He's annoying."

A small, knowing smile touched her lips. "That's not what I asked."

Jungkook sighed, pulling her into a one-armed hug. "Don't worry about me, eomma. I'll handle this."

She pressed a kiss to his hair before stepping back. "Be careful, my son."

Jungkook nodded, his heart heavy as he walked away.

Outside, he leaned against his car, exhaling sharply.

Taehyung was going to love this.
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