Breakfast in Taehyung's apartment was a domestic affair. Jimin didn't remember the last time he had this many people to share his breakfast table with. Life had become much better.

When he stepped out of his shared bedroom with Taehyung, he was greeted by the sight that warmed his heart. He had come to Tae's home earlier that morning to dress for the day.

Yoongi hyung, the ever-silent one was in his element, cooking a healthy breakfast that smelled divine and lured him out of the room sooner. All men except Yoongi were dressed in their work clothes. Taehyung dressed in his grey suit with black button-up flitted around him, handing him the plates and helping him clean.

Hobi hyung was in his usual killer attire, his undercut hair deeply parted to reveal his forehead. He looked smoking hot in his black Prada suit and white button-up with the first three buttons open, a small anchor pendant chain adorned his neck, his tie strewn carelessly on the counter. He was sipping his coffee, scrolling through his phone.

Jimin saw why this CEO Hoseok caused Katy's brain to short circuit. He quickly pulled his phone, clicked a photo, and send it to her, chuckling when she replied with a keyboard smash. Oh, he loved her reaction to CEO Hoseok.

"Good morning, hyungs. TaeTae..."

"Good morning!" His Hobi hyung flashed a bright smile, his tiny dimples flashing.

"Good morning, Minnie."

"Good morning," Yoongi's mumble was barely audible as the pan sizzled.

"Smells delicious, hyung." Jimin went to peer over Yoongi's shoulder, his mouth watering at the sight of sizzling meat. "Pork belly?"

"Mhmm..." Yoongi hummed absent-mindedly. "Braised pork belly and egg with rice."

The man though appeared cold on the outside was actually the most caring, kind soul. He had his own way of showing affection, cooking was one of them.

"Thanks, hyung. It's been a while we all had proper homemade food on a weekday," he said whole-heartedly. It was amazing how soon Yoongi had blended with the crowd. Again, it shouldn't be a surprise with the little butterfly Taehyung in the picture. He followed Yoongi like a lost puppy whenever they were together.

"Grab a plate, it's almost ready," Yoongi said, shooing him away, but the growing redness of his cheeks told the older male was touched. "I made some for your Jungkookie too."

Jimin grinned. Of course. It was Yoongi hyung. He wouldn't expect any less from the man.

As for his Hobi hyung, the home was where Jimin was as he once said. He had simply moved his bags to Tae's apartment when he figured Jimin was staying over here. It only made Jimin's heart swell. What did he ever do in his life to deserve so much love? Is this how it feels to have a family?

Taehyung's apartment too had an open-themed kitchen with a counter that doubled as a dining table with high chairs. Five minutes later, they surrounded the counter, plates loaded, and digging heartily.

"You might want to cover that," Hoseok mumbled pointing Jimin's neck.

Jimin's fingers traced the two hickeys on the side of his neck. One below his ear and the other little lower, a smile curving his lips. Jungkook had surprised him by coming home sooner. He couldn't help the little flutter of his heart at the warm memory of the night they spend together. After years, Jimin was content in life. They had to work through a lot of things, but they'd slowly get there. As long as they were together, nothing else mattered.

"I'm feeling a bit rebellious today," Jimin said after a moment, smirking as he winked at his hyung who shook his head with a smile.

Taehyung whistled. "You're going all in, huh? That old man is going to have a heart attack at today's meeting."

Jimin shrugged. "That's his problem. Besides, I'm not doing it for him."

"Then?" Tae prodded.

Jimin took a swig of water. That morning when he stood in front of the mirror just about to conceal the hickey, he realized something. Jungkook was still insecure, believing he wasn't good enough. His chest tightened. With Eunji lurking around and the past that had shaken the very foundation of their relationship, Jimin could only do anything that takes to prove his love to his lover.

"Is everything okay?" Tae's concerned voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Y-yeah." Jimin cleared his throat. "It's just Jungkook. He's still insecure and I don't want him to go back into that headspace again. I was a fool to not notice this before." When he met Tae's gaze, his friend sported a fond smile. "Now that I see the signs again, I don't want to repeat the same mistakes."

"Just how much do you remember, Minnie?"

Jimin shrugged. "Just enough to not fuck this up again." Jungkook's father wasn't making this any easy on him either. That man was a snake. Jimin didn't know how Jungkook would react if he saw Eunji and him in the same room again. With the reporters and the others surrounding them, there was only so much Jimin could do. That was why he needed the help of his friends more than ever.

In front of him, Hoseok's face tightened. "We got your back, Jiminie," he assured as if reading his thoughts. "You aren't alone this time."

"I know." Jimin relaxed considerably.

"Leave Eunji to us. Jungkook can handle others. He's playing this game for too long," Taehyung said. "Stay out of this and give his father no reason to fire you. Because Jungkookie needs you there."

Jimin nodded thoughtfully. "I will, but that doesn't mean I'll suck it up to him."

"Wouldn't expect anything less." Taehyung was chuckling, his shoulders shaking as he extended his fist, which Jimin bumped.

It was going to be a long day.

***

Jimin could feel the stares as soon as he stepped into the building with Taehyung. He squared his shoulders, pushed his hands into his white slacks that he paired with a navy blue button-down shirt, white blazer, and a matching tie that belonged to Tae. His blonde hair was styled and deeply parted, giving him a sharp edge. The look had given him an enormous amount of confidence, which was much-needed because they had a meeting in an hour.

The hickeys were a stark contrast against his pale skin, warranting more attention. He ignored the looks he was getting as he patiently waited for his level. No one dared to comment and beside him, Taehyung was trying hard to suppress his laughter.

Byeol caught his eye and pointed her thumb to Jungkook's office as soon as he entered the threshold of Jungkook's office that his father occupied now. The door was slightly ajar, carrying the voices outside. The old man was furious and Jimin immediately knew what this was all about.

Jungkook had returned earlier to Seoul. With a scowl, he marched to Jungkook's office, Tae hot on his heels.

"What's with your attitude, huh?" Jungwoo's voice boomed. "I'm done with you acting like a hormonal teenager! First, you made me lose face by refusing to attend the events I scheduled for you and now this..." He pointed at Jungkook's attire and Jimin paused at the entrance just to calm the fury that was pumping through his veins then. This was Jungkook's father. As much as he despised the man, he couldn't just march in and chew his head off. That would give the man a reason to fire him on the spot.

To his surprise, Jungkook was oddly calm, standing there in semi-formal attire.

"What the fuck are you wearing Jungkook? This is a prestigious firm and we have a reputation to keep."

Jimin didn't see what was wrong with Jungkook's outfit. He had opted for a white Henley t-shirt, navy jeans, beige-linen jacket, and white vans. It wasn't something Jungkook usually wore to the office.

"Is this all a joke to you? You don't want to fulfill your duties. You refuse to attend the corporate events," Jungwoo barked. "You're twenty-seven and you don't even have a girlfriend. When I was your age, I was already the chairman of the Jeon Corporation and you were six-months old. But what about you? You're nothing but a failure."

Jungkook's hands fisted at his side but he said nothing. Jimin didn't have to see Jungkook's face to know he was stressed. The subtle movement of his shoulders was enough for the elder to read him like the back of his palm.

"You're a disgrace to the Jeon family!"

Jimin clenched his jaw, one arm opening the door widely. "Wow," he said, his nostrils flaring and breathing growing heavy as the anger tightened his chest. "That's too low, Jungwoo-ssi." Jungkook swiveled on his feet, his head whipping as he stared at Jimin with wide eyes.

"Who do you think you are? This is between me and my son." Jungwoo's face contorted with anger.

Oh, how much Jimin would love to punch that face right now.

Jimin folded his arms across his chest as he leaned on the doorframe. "You're in Jungkook-ssi office, interfering with our schedule for the morning. That makes it every bit of my business," he replied nonchalantly. "What I don't understand was...how is Jungkook-ssi a disgrace, considering he single-handedly worked his ass off to get your prestigious company into Fortune five-hundred? Jeon Corportation is the number one healthcare technology company in South Korea and Japan for the fourth consecutive year. I just replaced that glass shelf to your right because the old one was too small to hold the awards and accolades Jungkook-ssi brought in during the past five years as the CEO of this company. So, excuse you Jungwoo-ssi, you have no right to call my boss a failure."

Taehyung's hand came to rest on Jimin's back, his body equally tense. Jungkook's jaw went slack as he stared at Jimin with the same admiration that boosted Jimin's ego.

"And how do you suppose he finds someone if he's wilting away within the four walls of the office? Love relationships are not a business deal to forge in corporate events." Jimin straightened, smoothing his suit jacket as he fixed his gaze on Jungkook. "You have a call with Sungwoo-nim at nine-fifteen." He casually flicked his wrist to check the time. "That's in five minutes. And you have to prepare for the meeting at ten. You can work in my office since this one is..." he tilted his head to the side, throwing an annoyed glance at Jungwoo. "...otherwise occupied. I've already shifted the necessary files there."

With that, he pivoted on his heels and exited the office, ignoring the bewildered look of Byeol, Lia, the new recruit, and two associates who had been waiting for their turn to meet Jungwoo. Consequences be damned. He would rot in hell if he let that bastard go at his Jungkook like that. Not happening as long as I'm living.

Jimin didn't have to look behind him to see Jungkook had followed. "Eat up. Yoongi hyung cooked extra for you," was all he said before going to the huge window that overlooked the busy streets of Seoul.

None of them had said a word because Jimin was the scariest person to be around when he was furious. He was ready to call it quits, not that his future depended on Jeon Corporation. His purpose had changed as soon as Jungkook had stepped into his life, becoming the main center of his universe. Jungwoo can suck a dick for all he cared.

"Hyung..." Jungkook called hesitantly and he threw a glance over his shoulder. "Um...the call...it's um...nine-fifteen." He was shifting uncomfortably on his seat, chewing at his bottom lip, doe-eyes wide and blinking. "Ah, you didn't tell me who I'll be talking to."

Jimin's eyes softened at the nervous display of the youngest. "I lied." He offered a small smile, forcing his body to relax. "He might be your father, but he should watch his mouth, especially when he talks to you when I'm around." He strode to the youngest, who suddenly appeared so young and small in his chair. Jimin hooked a finger under Jungkook's chin. "No one gets to talk to you like that, not even your dearest father."

Jungkook nodded, rubbing his lips together as he blinked a few times.

"Eat..." Jimin said in a gentle tone, his heart melting upon seeing how vulnerable Jungkook can be in certain situations. "It's gonna be a long day."

***

As expected, the heated words exchanged in the office room were only a start. When they met in one of the conference rooms at ten, Jungwoo looked ready to kill. This time, the topic of discussion was, however, Park Jimin.

Jimin sat behind Jungkook with Byeol and Lee, who was Jungwoo's assistant, the man as poisonous as his boss was. The board members, heads of the departments, and some important associates had gathered, which was useless in Jimin's opinion. Jungkook ran everything smoothly but this meeting was to assert dominance. To establish that Jungwoo still held the authority.

Jungkook had shown a streak of his rebellious side by showing up in semi-formals. Jimin noticed the surprised looks on the other's face, but no one said a thing. The unspoken tension in the air was so thick and even the otherwise smug-looking board members were squirming in their seats.

Heads expectantly turned toward Mr. Jeon when he cleared his throat. He leaned to the microphone, his expression stern and voice terse. "Good morning, gentlemen. It's great to meet everyone after so long." His voice lacked sincerity that was ignored by the members in the room. Jungkook had his hands clasped in front of him on his lap, looking at a specific spot on the table as his father continued.

The more Jimin watched Jungwoo, the more he realized how different Jungkook was. He was everything his father wasn't. Kind, compassionate, and loving. Jimin tuned out Mr. Jeon's words for the most part, but his ears perked when he spoke the next words.

"...lacking discipline. I severely condone the lack of professionalism and employees breaking the code of ethics, thinking it's okay to march in wearing anything they seem fit and sporting evidence of their sexual exploits from previous nights." His voice was a snarl and Jungkook tensed, his hands unconsciously lifting to the neck, but dropping as if he realized what he was doing.

On the other hand, a wide smirk lifted the corner of Jimin's mouth. He suppressed a grin and tried to focus his laptop screen. Byeol was taking notes as usual. The silence didn't last long as soon as Mr. Jeon said those words, a soft murmur started from the far end of the room.

"If you're referring to me, dad, I don't see what's wrong with my outfit. You're forgetting that I'm the face of this company. I have to keep up with the latest trends." Jungkook displayed the confidence and nonchalance he reserved only for a specific group of people. "Besides, what our employees do in their private lives is none of our concern." Jungkook twirled his pen in a hand as he casually leaned in his chair, cocking his head to slant a glance at his father. "As long as they're not fucking their partners inside our premises, it shouldn't matter."

Jungwoo looked taken back at the casual use of the curse word and Jimin had to bite the inside of his cheeks to stop himself from laughing.

Someone coughed while silence washed over the room. It lasted for a good five seconds before one of the board members barked with laughter. "That's a good one, kid," Lee Sunghoon snickered. "Seventy percent of our employees are at the prime of their youth, Jungwoo-ssi. Let the kids have some fun."

"You're worrying for nothing Jungwoo-ssi," Choi Young Ho piped in. "Jungkook-ssi has taken Jeon Corporation to new heights in five years. No one in this room can deny that. You made the right decision by handing him the responsibility."

"I agree with Young Ho," Sunghoon said. "I wasn't thrilled when he took over, but the kid has proved himself repeatedly."

Jungwoo, who wasn't expecting the turn of events, clenched his jaw. "Jeon Corporation has a reputation to uphold. People are watching us. There's a way we do things here. My father did it that way and I'm doing what my father taught me. Is it wrong I'm expecting the same from my son? I don't find it amusing when my son neglects his responsibility and I find it even less amusing when his personal manager runs around with those ridiculous marks on his neck. Engaging in one-night stands on a weekday, what kind of standards are we setting up for our company?"

"The responsibility I ignored is a birthday party of some I-don't-know-who that has nothing to do with our business." Jungkook gritted through his teeth. "We had this conversation multiple times, father. I'd rather do something worthwhile in my office than showing up to these useless parties. And, once again with all due respect, the private life of our employees is none of our business. It's atrocious for you to assume something like that about Jimin-ssi. He's in a very stable relationship unlike you...who haven't seen your wife in twenty-two years." He stood, pushing his chair unceremoniously. "I don't have time for this."

Jimin watched Jungkook turn on his heels, exiting the room and slamming the door behind him. A few seconds later, Taehyung stood, his gaze briefly locking with Jimin as he made his way to the exit. Jimin also stood. He contemplated saying something, but he was so pissed at Jungwoo that he just removed his tie and unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt, watched the man's eyes growing wider when he saw more hickeys over his collar bone.

Jimin tipped his head in a mock salute, pivoted on his heels, and left the room. This wasn't how Jimin planned the day to go. However, the man just had a knack of bringing the worst out of him and making him do things he'd never even dream of doing.

Jungkook was seething when Jimin entered his office. "Jungkookie..." Jungkook's head whipped up, a frown tilting his lips as he looked at Jimin, his eyes widening when he finally noticed the hickeys in the display. "Cancel my contract."

The youngest blinked, his body tensing. "H-hyung..." He jumped to his feet. "You—"

"I'm not leaving," Jimin cut him off. "I don't want your father to have some sort of leverage over me and tying me to Jeon for the next three years." Jimin knew what he was signing up for when he joined the Jeon Corporation, but what he hadn't expected was the contract that gave more power to Jungkook's father in a situation like this. "I didn't know what kind of shit he was putting you through when I signed the contract," he quickly clarified, noticing the panic settling in Jungkook's features. "You're nothing more than an employee to your father. If he decides to ship me off to China or anywhere for that matter, I have no choice but to go."

It was that or he should face the legal consequences that would follow. The youngest had been clever with that contract. He had learned the motive later from Taehyung. He inched closer, standing chest to chest with the youngest. "It's better to cancel it while you still wield the power to do so. Because after today there's no going back."

Jungkook blinked looking like a deer caught on headlights, then nodded jerkily. "I...I'll do it immediately."

Jimin was fine as long as it was only Jungkook, but the moment he met Jungwoo, his alarm bells had gone off in his head. With Jungkook now pursuing an active partnership with JH Inc. it was for the best to get that out of the way before things went South.

"I'll see you later." Jimin sighed. "I have to go to the venue and finalize a few things for tomorrow." He turned to Taehyung, who was silent all this time. "Taehyungie, let's go."

My exams starts coming Saturday. I thought the exams were cancelled, but ugh! I might slack on the update, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I was enjoying writing this fic but real life keeps ruining my fun.

Until we meet again...💜💜💜

I loved the mini concert today!!! 

https://youtu.be/gFYAXsa7pe8