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Kim Taehyung stared out of the glass panels of his office that outlooked Seoul. Vehicles busily moved up and down grey roads and from the 10th floor of Tan Corporation Headquarters, they looked like tiny insects busily hurrying off to find food on a Saturday morning. The city below him looked utterly peaceful, moving on its own accord, people hurrying off to their jobs and well-planned days. It made Taehyung wonder why he was in such a mess. It shouldn't have been so. Not to him, the world's fifth youngest millionaire, someone who usually makes 5-year plans. Now here he was in his office after announcing an urgent meeting for the director board.

He let out an exasperated sigh. There was only silence that surrounded Taehyung as he stared, eyes unfocused, mind wandering places he couldn't possibly

keep track of. He unraveled his hands from behind him and checked the time from his wrist watch, a fine limited-edition Rolex one he had only bought last month. It showed that it was almost 12 in the afternoon.

No matter how much of a hurry he was in when he came home straight from the hospital after checking his father in, to rush off to his office, he wore a perfectly-ironed Gucci suit with his shiny black loafers and his blond hair was neatly combed back. He looked crisp and fresh and anyone would look at him twice as he walked by. He simply looked perfect. No matter how much of a mess it was inside his head, he knew to not give that away. He was the CEO of the country's biggest company. Of course, he'd been trained to look perfect in any situation. He shall never have any flaws.

The door to his office opened as a blond head walked past and Taehyung turned to see Jimin walking towards him.

"Is everyone here yet?" Taehyung asked.

"Yes. You can start the meeting now" Jimin said.

"I'm not going to tell them about father" Taehyung said in a small voice.

"Yeah you shouldn't" Jimin agreed. "Go in now. Everyone's waiting for you"

Taehyung nodded and walked towards the meeting room. He could hear the chatter from outside. The director board didn't sound happy as they seemed to be arguing. It only made Taehyung more nervous.

"It'll be fine. Just tell them what our plan is" Jimin assured.

Taehyung nodded and sucked in a breath and walked inside as two staff opened the door for him. The whole room fell silent as the CEO entered, all the men and women who were much older than Taehyung rose to their feet, bowing with respect.

Taehyung bowed back, nodding at them and took his seat at the head of the table.

"Wouldn't Mr. Kim join us today?" one of the older directors asked.

"My father wouldn't be here today. He was busy with some personal affairs" Taehyung smiled at the men and women before him. "Shall we start?"

-

Taehyung usually liked the cold. It was always better than being sweaty and too warm. He liked it best when Jeongguk's naked body was wrapped around him, providing him with just enough heat to stay comfortable. He didn't at all like the coldness of his father's hospital room. It was too cold for his liking and he hated hospitals.

His mother sat comfortably on the armchair beside Taehyung's father's bed. She looked healthy, taehyung thought.

"When is he waking up?" Taehyung asked as he watched the frail body that lay atop the white bed, an oxygen mask connected to his nose. His father looked weaker than Taehyung had ever seen him.

"He's just asleep. Don't worry. It was only a seizure, the doctors said. He'll be released in a few days when his condition improves" Taehyung's mother said, also eyeing her husband.

"He's all right?" Taehyung tried to gulp down the stress and anxiety that laced his voice. But the words only came out thick with worry.

"Yes. Don't worry, son"

Taehyung nodded, finally feeling like a small weight was lifted off his shoulders. He was about to tell his mother about the directors' meeting when his phone started buzzing. He took it out of his pocket and checked the caller ID.

My Baby🐰💞

"Mom I need to take this" Taehyung said and immediately walked out of the hospital room.

"Gguk" Taehyung breathed out the moment he slid his finger over the call icon.

"Tae" He heard Jeongguk say from the other side. He felt a wave of comfort hitting his body the moment he heard his lover's voice. He had been craving to hear Jeongguk's voice all day.

"How did it go?"

"It went fine, Gguk. The director board meeting was a mess but they came around. Rose is rejecting meeting with our managers. I don't have any other choice other than to meet her myself"

"Oh"

"I need to do this or if she files a lawsuit, we're done for"

"Yeah I know. Do everything you should do. I'll be supporting your every decision, you know" Jeongguk said.

"Thank you" Taehyung said. He sank down to a seat outside his father's room.

"Everything will be fine" Jeongguk whispered and Taehyung just wanted to embrace Jeongguk at that moment, feel his warmth...his love.

"Yeah" Taehyung whispered back.

"I can come over tonight"

"No, Jeongguk. I'll be staying home. I need to meet Rose tomorrow morning" Taehyung said.

"I see" Jeongguk said. "Tell me if you need anything, okay?"

"I will"

"Taehyung?"

"Hmm?"

"Is there something you're not telling me? You sound like you're about to cry"

Taehyung wanted to cry. "Hmm"

"Tae! You're worrying me. What's wrong, my love?"

Taehyung wanted to tell him. He wanted to tell Jeon Jeongguk about his father's condition.

But...

At the end of the day, Jeongguk was still his rival. His enemy. Was he not?

But also, his dearest lover?

Was he to let his biggest rival know about his greatest weakness?

But as a lover he should share his grief...

He was battling with himself silently as the other end of the phone line waited for answers.

"Taehyung. You know you can tell me anything. I'm your boyfriend"

"My father had a seizure this morning and he was hospitalized. He's fine now though, I guess. He will be discharged in a few days" Taehyung breathed out.

He felt like another burden was lifted off his shoulders. He knew he would've felt guilty with himself if he didn't tell Jeongguk about his father's condition.

"Oh Taehyung" Jeongguk said. "I didn't know. I hope he'll get well soon. Is he okay now?"

"Yeah. He's sleeping now" Taehyung felt the need to cry again. He really needed Jeongguk by his side at that moment. "Only my family and Jimin knows. And now, you"

"I won't tell anyone. Don't worry. But Taehyung, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine" He didn't Jeongguk to worry too much.

"I wish I was there to hug you" Jeongguk's worried voice came through the phone line. "Kiss you. Tell you everything's going to be alright" He whispered.

"Me too" Taehyung whispered.

The door of his father's room opened and his mother's figure came into view. "He's awake"

"My father just woke up. I'll call you later. I love you" Taehyung said.

"I love you too" Jeongguk said and after hearing those words, taehyung hung up and rushed inside.

-

Taehyung didn't want to put much effort into his looks when he visited Rose the following Sunday morning. The actress, after Taehyung called her personal number and requested a private meeting, had agreed a meeting at her house. He wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, with a jacket. Casual. But his whole appearance dripped wealth and power. With his hair combed back, he simply looked tempting and irresistible.

Taehyung now sat on the leather sofa of Rose's living room. And the actress sat before him, her face covered in a white mask.

"Miss Park" Taehyung started. "I'm more than pleased to have a meeting with you today and I appreciate it so much that you've taken time to meet me despite being ill and having a busy schedule" Taehyung flashed his handsome smile at her.

Rose scoffed. "Mr. Kim, all my schedules are cancelled or this whole month! I've cancelled all the tv shows and shootings because of this!" Rose angrily pointed at her face.

"Miss Park, I'm really sorry about the inconvenience that happened to you because of my company's fault. But we've done everything in our power to avoid this kind of situation again. And all the stocks- "

"I don't care about what you've done, Mr. Kim. Do you know how much damage this has done to me? I went to the hospital yesterday and the doctors said they can't be sure if it would leave a scar or not. My whole career depends on my looks! Do you know how much this could affect me? And the following two weeks, my schedule was packed. The amount of money I'd be losing? Do you have any idea?"

Taehyung sighed. "I'm sorry, Rose. I will provide you money for all your medical treatments"

"Of course, you will. When I file a lawsuit tomorrow, they'll charge you with all my hospital bills and- "

"Is there really no other way we can solve this? Must you file a lawsuit?" Taehyung tried. "We're acquaintances. We worked together. You were the actress of our advertisement"

Rose scoffed again. "you must really think I'm such a clout seeker, don't you Mr. Kim?"

"It's not that, Miss Rose- "

"I know what you're here for, Taehyung. You want me to stop this and you'll be able to prevent the downfall of your beloved Tan Corporation. I know that. But why should I? I want justice for what happened to me"

"I will give you anything you ask" Taehyung said. "I am the owner of the biggest company in South Korea. I can give you so much more fame and popularity than a simple lawsuit can give you. Name your price"

"Anything, you say?"

"Yes. All your hospital bills, the money you'll be losing on the period of time you're being treated. All of that and more. Just- "

"Date me"

Taehyung froze. Did he hear her correctly?

"W-what?"

"You heard me. Date me" Rose's brown orbs stared right into Taehyung's. He was reminded of Jeongguk's doe eyes. They were so much darker and bigger than hers. So much more beautiful. So much full of wisdom and kindness.

"Tell the media that we're dating. I will remove my police complaint and announce that it was a mistake and that you were not guilty. You don't even have to pay be extra. Just date me" The actress shrugged as if what she said was something out of a daily conversation. Taehyung was surprised by how much casual she sounded. As if telling someone about the weather. Taehyung was surprised by the bluntness of her words. And how there wasn't the slightest hint of shyness in her voice.

Taehyung felt lost. It was as if he was a child again; alone, scared and vulnerable. No one to guide him and unable to take decisions on his own.

"Why?" Taehyung managed to say, despite all the heavy emotions choking him.

"Why?" Rose laughed, the apples of her cheeks rising behind the mask she was wearing. "Because as you said, you can bring me more fame and popularity than this lawsuit could"

"But I'd never love you. I wouldn't like you romantically. I already despise you for what you're trying to do to my company. Neither of us would be happy from this. How long are you trying to pretend? This isn't going to work!" It was the only sane trial of thoughts that went through his mind. All the other thoughts of how he wanted to run to Jeongguk's arms and never leave his embrace. Jeongguk would keep him safe. Only Jeongguk can keep him safe.

Jeongguk Jeongguk Jeongguk

Rose laughed. Loud, obnoxious laughter that made taehyung flinch and avert his gaze to her. "Kim Taehyung" She said. "Do you live in this industry? Do you live with this money like you confirm to be living? Love? Romance?" laughter again. "I don't want those. I need fame. Fame is money. Love isn't going to add zeros to my bank accounts. And what's so special about falling in love? There's no need for that as long as we both prosper from this deal. You save your company. I gain more fame. Do you really plan to fall in love and marry that woman of your dreams? A happy ending?" More laughter. "This isn't some fairytale! This is business. I swear you're so childish and naïve"

Taehyung sat frozen in his seat, fumbling with his fingers. All his life, he'd found himself listening to the exact same thing over and over again. Same summery, different voices and words. He was born and raised in a family of businessmen. They had told him to make sacrifices for what lasts long. And love wasn't believed to be one of those.

Love? His father would laugh at him when he once heard him saying he loved a girl in ninth grade to his mother. And that he wanted to ask her out. But his father had laughed at him. Told him to do it but not to take it seriously. Because as he gets older, Love is only going to be a burden to him. What he must fall in love is money and his business. He had told him that love isn't going to take him places. Only money would. As a future businessman, Taehyung should be focusing on his studies.

He had been heartbroken from his father's words. He believed in love. He wanted to marry someone he loved when he's older. He'd dreamt of doing so. But his father's words only crumbled his dreams into dust.

He was sure his mother had different ideas. But she had only told him his father wasn't wrong. And that if he liked her, he should ask her out.

So, the next day, he did. And she turned him down.

He was heartbroken and he decided his father's words were nothing but true. Love isn't going to make him happy. Love only brought sorrow and heartbreak. He didn't need love. He needed to grow up and become a strong man with a strong mind to run his father's business. As the oldest of his family, it was his responsibility.

So, he doesn't do love.

He only fucked. And that was enough pleasure for him.

He had rooted himself neck-deep in that belief until he realized he was in love with Jeongguk, his own enemy.

From that day he set aside his beliefs about love not mattering. He knew he was able to find happiness from love. He loved Jeongguk and Jeongguk loved him back. And what else mattered?

Being loved felt euphoric to Taehyung. He didn't want to let it go.

But hearing Rose's words after years of not hearing the same words, it made him think. Think if maybe, at the end of the day, what mattered the most?

His whole family's reputation and his company is in line.

His love life, which he had only started not two days ago was also in line.

He needed to choose.

His Jeongguk or his company, his family?

What matters the most?

Maybe his father is.... right?

~*~

I love Taehyung's sperm😭😭😭

Guys stay safe and wash your hands!
I love ya'll
Sara💜