The tension between Yoongi and Valentina lingered throughout the rest of the day. Valentina kept her head down, determined to finish her tasks without further confrontation. She was trying her best to keep her emotions under control, but every time she glanced at Yoongi, a pang of guilt shot through her. The truth was becoming harder to hide, and it was taking everything in her not to blurt it out.

Meanwhile, Yoongi couldn’t focus either. His mind was divided between Valentina and the unwanted messages from his ex. Every time his phone buzzed, a wave of irritation crashed over him, and it was all he could do to resist throwing the device into the trash. He had cut her out of his life for a reason, but she was persistent—far more than she had been when they were together. And as much as he wanted to pretend that her messages didn’t affect him, they did. Not because he still had feelings for her, but because she had shattered his trust in people.

Valentina, however, was different. He had chosen her carefully, observed her professionalism, her ability to submit and communicate. But now, something was off, and it worried him that she wasn’t telling him what was on her mind. He could sense her hesitance, the walls she had built, and it frustrated him that despite everything, she wasn’t opening up.

By late afternoon, the tension was unbearable. Yoongi finally stood up and made his way toward Valentina’s desk, stopping just short of her space.

“Valentina,” he said, his tone commanding but calm. “I need you to come with me.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the sudden instruction. She glanced up at him, swallowing her nervousness before nodding and standing from her chair. “Yes, sir.”

He led her out of the office, down the hall, and into one of the private meeting rooms. As the door clicked shut behind them, Valentina’s pulse quickened. It wasn’t unusual for Yoongi to pull her aside for private conversations, but this time felt different. There was an intensity in his eyes that made her feel both excited and nervous.

Yoongi gestured for her to sit down on one of the chairs, but he remained standing, pacing the room as if trying to collect his thoughts. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke.

“We need to talk about what’s been going on between us,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “I can’t ignore the fact that something’s changed. You’ve been distracted, distant, and it’s affecting not only your work but our dynamic.”

Valentina looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. She knew this conversation was inevitable, but now that it was happening, she didn’t know how to start. Her feelings for Yoongi had grown so complicated, and the fear of ruining everything by admitting them was overwhelming.

“I... I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice shaky.

Yoongi stopped pacing and stood in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked down at her. “Start with the truth. That’s all I’m asking.”

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “It’s just... it’s hard for me to keep things professional when... when I’m feeling things I shouldn’t be feeling.”

Yoongi’s expression softened slightly, though his brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Valentina’s heart pounded in her chest as she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I know we have a contract, and I’ve been doing my best to follow it. But... I think I’m developing feelings for you, Yoongi. Real feelings, not just the kind that come from our arrangement.”

For a moment, Yoongi was silent, his eyes searching hers for any hint of dishonesty. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but measured. “Feelings were never part of our agreement.”

“I know,” she said quickly, her voice tinged with desperation. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. I know it’s against the contract, and I understand if you want to terminate everything, but... I couldn’t keep pretending that I wasn’t feeling this way.”

Yoongi studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. The room was thick with silence, and Valentina’s stomach twisted in knots as she waited for his response. She had just admitted the one thing she had been terrified to say, and now everything hung in the balance.

Finally, Yoongi sighed and sat down in the chair across from her, leaning forward slightly as he rested his elbows on his knees.

“Valentina,” he began, his tone softening. “You’re not the only one who’s been feeling things. But this... complicates everything.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve been trying to keep my own feelings in check, too,” he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before returning to hers. “This wasn’t supposed to be emotional. It was supposed to be professional—a contract with clear boundaries. But somewhere along the way, those boundaries started to blur.”

Valentina’s heart raced at his confession. She hadn’t expected Yoongi to feel the same way, and hearing him admit it made her emotions swirl even more.

“So... what do we do now?” she asked cautiously.

Yoongi leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he considered his words. “We can’t ignore what’s happening between us. But at the same time, we need to be careful. This kind of relationship, with the power dynamics and the emotions involved, can get messy really fast.”

Valentina nodded, her throat tightening. “I understand.”

“I’m not saying we have to stop,” Yoongi continued, his voice low and thoughtful. “But we need to be honest with each other about what we’re feeling. And we need to figure out if this is something we both want to explore, knowing that it’s no longer just about the contract.”

Valentina felt a mix of relief and anxiety at his words. The idea of exploring a real relationship with Yoongi was both thrilling and terrifying. But she knew one thing for sure—she didn’t want to walk away from him.

“I want to try,” she said softly. “I don’t know where this will go, but I can’t pretend that I don’t have feelings for you.”

Yoongi nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Then we’ll figure it out together.”

He stood up and held out his hand to her, and Valentina took it without hesitation. As they left the meeting room and returned to the office, the tension between them had shifted. It was no longer about hiding their emotions or avoiding the truth. Now, it was about navigating the uncharted territory of their evolving relationship—one that was no longer confined by a contract, but shaped by the feelings they couldn’t ignore.