Jungkook's pov

It's late on Thursday evening. That's no surprise. Kim Taehyung works late every day, and as his assistant, so do I. It's exhausting-the man never seems to rest.

I stifle a yawn and scan through my mailbox. Everything is replied to... everything's organized. His calendar is all set for the next day. I've made the calls I need to-I've answered the people I need to answer. There's nothing more for me to do. My phone pings, and I swipe at Jimin's message.

Chim: Taeho is really excited for tomorrow. I can tell!

Oh, no. The man himself had only exchanged two texts with me-one to confirm the time and the second to confirm the place. I didn't like that Jimin had to be the messenger.

Kookie: You're too invested in this. It's unhealthy.

He responds with a variety of emojis that lets me know just what he thinks about that.

Chim: What are you wearing

I hadn't thought about that yet. In all honesty, I was less and less enthusiastic about this date with each passing day. How high were the odds of finding love on a blind date, anyway? But Jimin was objectively right. It had been far too long since I went on a date and put myself out there.

Dong-wook had been over two years ago. And in the time since, I'd only focused on work, until Eun Ilsung saw fit to let me go over his own wounded pride. He couldn't have someone on his team who had effectively built Century Grand building without any recognition. I was a risk, and I was let go in a way designed to ruin me.

I shake my head. I don't want to think about that.

The time on my computer reads nearly seven p.m. If Taehyung doesn't need anything else, I'm heading home.

I press the intercom button. "Do you need anything else before I head home, Mr. Kim?"

He usually answers right away, but there's a nearly minute-long pause before his voice rings out. "Yes. Come inside."

Frowning, I head through the door to his office. He's not at his desk. Instead, he's standing by the model in the corner. It's the first time I've seen it uncovered. It's definitely not one of Kim & Ryu's current projects, because I know those by heart by now.

It doesn't look like anything I've seen before.

The building is shaped a bit like a violin, with graceful curves in steel. Even from the small model, it's clear the building is planned to be very large. Steps lead up to a concealed entrance in one of the curves.

It's gorgeous. There's something elegant about it.

Understated.

My eyes slowly shift to Taehyung's. For the first time, his gaze isn't clinical at all.

He runs a hand along the sharp edge of his jaw. "I want your opinion."

"My opinion?" I step closer, looking at the meticulous details. Is this another test?

"Yes." His voice makes it clear he's not entirely comfortable. "You had good notes for the Rexfield project, about the use of the top floor."

Ah. Maybe I'll see something he's missed, he means. It's not uncommon for architects to ask each other for input. But by the way he's holding himself, stiffly and uncomfortably, it's clear that it's unusual for him.

"I'd need to see the blueprints for the digital model for that," I say softly. "But the outside is stunning."

"Hmm."

"You don't think so?"

"I think something is missing," he says carefully, "and I don't know what."

I lean closer, looking at all the details. The model is in complete 3D and beautiful from all angles. My first instinct is that there's nothing missing at all. But after he points it out, I can see what he's saying. It's cold in its beauty. It's clearly a building meant for the arts-a building to admire from afar.

"I'd add wood," I say impulsively.

"Wood?"

I ignore his offended tone, the snob. "Yes. Some natural element to anchor the... the floatiness of the curves. These steps here, see? They could be made out of stacked timber. And this portion here could be in dark wood." I point, seeing it in my head. "I'd play around with a digital model and see how that changes the effect."

He crosses his arms over his chest. There's still denial there-I can tell that he doesn't appreciate my suggestion about a natural component. But he doesn't protest, just stares at the model like it holds all the answers.

"What is the building for?"

Taehyung meets my gaze, his jaw clenching and unclenching. "It's an opera house."

Oh. I stare at him with newfound respect. "You're planning on participating in the Seoul city's design competition."

"Yes." He throws the sheet over the model, all the beautiful curves hidden again. "I am."

Damn.

I take a step closer. "Does anyone else know?"

"No one at the firm does. And I'd like to remind you that you signed a nondisclosure agreement as part of your contract."

God, this man. "I'm not going to tell anyone."

Taehyung nods and steps back toward his desk. "Good."

It's his classic form of dismissal, and I retreat back to the office door. My gaze can't help but flick back to the model in the corner. I didn't know that Taehyung actively designed. Most builders at his level outsource all of that to the architecture teams.

I'd been right, then, when I asked him earlier this week if he loved it too.

It's clear, with every painstaking detail in his model, that architecture is in his lifeblood too.

-

-

Before my date with Tae-ho, Jimin is all rainbows and sparkles on the phone. "It'll go so great."

"I'm sure." I smooth my hand over my suit-A red coat white shirt and black fit pants, A-line, perfectly date appropriate- and roll my eyes at his optimism.

"You're using the tone that says you're indulging me."

I laugh. "I'm just not quite as sure as you. But I am looking forward to it. Now leave me alone, he could be here any minute."

"Okay, okay. I'll see you tomorrow at the gym-I can't wait to hear everything!"

We say our goodbyes and I slide my phone into my purse. I've been waiting outside the bar for a few minutes, but so far, no Tae-ho. I head inside and take a seat at the bar. The place is half-full, waiters carrying out fancy cocktails served in intricate glasses. The spot had been his suggestion, and since he's a bartender, I'd gladly accepted.

"A martini, please."

The bartender shoots me a smile and starts mixing the drink with practiced movements. Tonight will be good, to get back into the dating game, to meet someone new. Good. Very good, in fact.

Taehyung would be on his date too. I had looked up Salt beforehand, and it was a beautiful place. No doubt his date was someone beautiful, too. I'd googled Kim Taehyung before-hadn't been able to stop myself-and I'd only found one picture of him with a date. He'd been in a tuxedo, and the woman on his arm had been stunning. Slim and with big doe-eyes. The title had been mocking. The son of famous Seoul developer attempts to make a mark on the Seoul scene.

In the picture, Taehyung stared into the camera in a way I was getting used to, like he was daring it to take a picture of him. His dark eyes indifferent, as if whatever you choose to do-or don't do-doesn't matter to him in the slightest. It's a look I recognize. It's what makes him a challenging boss.

Not to mention a great architect-the opera house had been impressive. My hands had itched to get closer, to see the blueprints and bring it to life on my screen. It was exactly what I'd worked on at Eun Ilsung, the large, grand-scale projects. He competed in every possible design competition worldwide, which was exactly how we'd gotten the Century Grand Dome project.

The bartender nods at me. "Waiting for someone?"

"Yes," I say. "Must be late."

"No worries. If he's not here when you're done with your drink, the next one's on the house," he says with a wink.

I can't help but grin back. At least someone is here to appreciate the effort I put in with my outfit and makeup tonight. "Thanks."

The minutes inch forward and no Tae-ho in sight. He hasn't even texted to let me know he'll be late.

Taehyung would never be late. No doubt, he'd been bang on time tonight for his date. My mind drifts to what he would wear-how his suit would hug his wide shoulders and strong arms-before I shut it down.

I'm not on a date with Kim Taehyung, and I never will be.

Tae-ho shows up nearly half an hour late. He smiles crookedly when he sees me, looking exactly like the picture Jimin had sent me. About my height, with brown hair and lanky limbs. Cute, in a boyish kind of way.

"Jungkook?"

"That's me."

He leans in to kiss my cheek, smelling like smoke. "Glad you could make it tonight."

"Likewise," I say dryly.

Tae-ho doesn't apologize for his lateness and the rest of the evening follows suit. I'm bored out of my skull an hour later, trying and failing to follow a story about his roommate's poor taste in video games.

I clear my throat. "Do you enjoy bartending?"

"Nah. It's all right, you know. Pays the bills." He grins, cheekily. "But I definitely feel like I have a future elsewhere."

"Really? Doing what?"

"I'm not sure you'd understand."

"No, try me," I say, intrigued for the first time in over an hour. "What do you want to do instead?"

He leans in, smiling at me like he's about to tell me a secret. "I saw this great documentary last week about Neil Armstrong. It was so cool. I mean, he was so cool. What he did, you know? Man, that guy really did something with his life, you know. And the documentary really showed that, like, in-depth."

"Right," I say slowly. "So you want to become a documentary filmmaker?"

He laughs. "No. An astronaut."

"Wow."

"Yeah. I figured it's a lot of work, but you have to start somewhere. I know I just made the decision, but I'm really committed."

"I can imagine."

"I've already ordered a few books about it. Well, one. Introduction to physics. Seemed a good place to start."

Oh, god.

What the hell had Jimin been thinking, setting me up with this guy? We couldn't be more different if we tried. He was a blank canvas and still trying to figure out what to become. Nothing wrong with that, but it wasn't someone I was interested in dating.

And when he asked me what I did for a living-the first question he'd asked me all night-and promptly confused an architect with an archeologist...

Tae-ho raises an eyebrow when I call it a night. "Already? It's not even ten."

"I'm an early riser," I say, putting down cash for my own drinks. "Thank you for tonight."

"Sure you have to go? Jimin said a lot of nice things about you, but he didn't do you justice." His smile turns flirtatious, eyes glittering. "I live close by, you know."

Yeah... it's definitely time to go.

"I have to. Thanks for tonight."

"I enjoyed myself," he says. "See you around."

Despite the stifling Gangnam air, I breathe in deep gulps as I leave the bar.

Jimin, my kind, crazy, impulsive friend. He'd been wild when he suggested this. An astronaut. He wanted to become an astronaut based on one week of knowledge.

I walk down the street and watch people mill about around me. Seoul is always a bustle of people, never asleep, never quiet. When I first said I wanted to move here, my parents had been confused. Why? It's all money and work and people who don't smile at one another on the street. It had been difficult to describe it to them. I loved my parents. I loved the small town in Busan where I grew up. But it hadn't felt big enough for my dreams, or for the person I grew into as soon as I left for college.

My phone rings, an insistent vibration in my pocket. Probably Jimin, calling to check in on the date, unable to stop himself. I consider letting it go to voice mail-he'll be disappointed that I didn't like Tae-ho.

But eventually I fish it out of my pocket, and when I see the caller ID, it isn't Jimin at all.

It's Taehyung.

-

-

To be continued....

Jungkook 's date was a disaster ..... What about Taehyung and the phone call??!😏