Namjoon looked at the last weeks report. So far they have not lost any market share but they are walking on thin ice. If they are unable to improve their performance, the company is well on its path to lose some customers.

While Jimin and Yoongi are excellent in their own job roles, neither of them are leaders. Atleast not like Taehyung or Jungkook. The smart thing to do is to hire two people for the job but something is stopping Namjoon from doing that even.

His chain of thoughts were disrupted with a quiet knock on the door and it was opened in the next second by his friend, Hoseok. The latter gave a soft smile at the tired state of the other and took a seat opposite him.

"Hey." Hoseok said with a soft smile. "How's it going?"

Namjoon wordlessly turned the laptop towards Hoseok who checked it with curious eyes. After few seconds, Hoseok looked up at Namjoon and raised his eyebrows.

"This is bad, Joonie." Hoseok said in a soft voice and Namjoon gave a sigh in reply.

"Yeah, I know. Both teams seemed to be slowing down without Jungkook and Taehyung."

"Well, you have to do something. Otherwise it's gonna impact the company."

Namjoon didn't say anything but just stood up and walked towards the window. He was deep in thoughts as he looked outside. He already knows that he has to do something but couldn't decide on just what.

One doesn't feel right to his heart and other doesn't agree with his mind. Or pride. Namjoon sighed again. Hoseok felt bad for his friend and he got up and walked near the window too.

"Why don't you hire two new people?"

"I- uhhh...I don't know."

"What do you mean 'you don't know', Joonie? Just call out the vacancy. I'm sure there are plenty of good and talented people out there."

"I know. It's just.... uhhh... what if they are not suitable for this company?"

"Joonie, that's why we hold interviews. So that you can pick the most suitable person. What's this about?"

Hoseok didn't want to pressure his friend but this has gone long enough now. They had been friends for long enough for Hoseok to guess what's going on in Namjoon's mind.

Namjoon's heart knows what needs to be done but it looks like his mind needs a little more pushing. And Hoseok is more than happy to provide that.

"Or do you want Taehyung and Jungkook to come back?"

Namjoon finally looked at his friend. And even though he didn't voiced out his answer, Hoseok knew that he had correct pinpointed Namjoon's dilemma.

"You know you can always call them back. It wasn't like they committed a fraud and you fired them." Hoseok said in a soft voice but Namjoon looked even more troubled. "They might not wanna come back but you can always give the option."

There was a few seconds of silence and Hoseok waited patiently for his friend's answer.

"I can't, Hobi..." Namjoon's voice sounded really strained.

"Of course you can. It's just that you won't."

"It's not that simple, Hobi. I still don't feel right about relationships within the office. Plus I said some terrible things to them I'm sure they will never want to come back here."

Hoseok thought for few seconds before speaking his mind.

"As for your opinion on office relationships, well, that's something you have to come to terms on your own, Joonie. This is your company, you have the luxury of not doing anything that doesn't feel right to you. But you do have to understand that times have changed now. This is not your father's era. Plus Jungkook and Taehyung have proved themselves to be totally different than that asshole."

"And as for what you said to Jungkook and Taehyung, I'm sure they will understand and forgive. I don't peg them to be the type to hold grudges. Anyway, it's not like they are totally on the right side with this too. You just be honest with them and tell them your reasons and concerns. I'm sure it'll work out. If not, well then, you tried. We will do what's necessary after that."

After few seconds, Namjoon gave soft nod at that. Yes, It's what he should do.
  
  
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Taehyung had been looking at few job vacancies when his phone rang. They came home from Jeju island yesterday and currently, Jungkook was making lunch for them. He picked up the phone see Namjoon's name and answered the call.

"Hello, Namjoon"

"Hello, Taehyung. Is this a good time to talk to you? It won't take long."

"Yeah I can talk now, Namjoon. What's this about?"

"So... uhh... I want to talk with both of you regarding your jobs and I would rather do it in person. If it's ok with you two, can we meet? You can pick a convenient place and a time but if possible, I would appreciate if we can do it soon."

"Uhh... of course. We can even come this evening if you are free."

"Excellent. Thank you. I... uhh.. really appreciate this. Shall we say around 6.00?"

Taehyung then picked a place close to their office and after few more seconds, the call was over. Taehyung stared at the phone for about a minute, still not believing the call, before walking to the kitchen.

Jungkook had already done with preparing food and was washing the equipments when he sensed Taehyung's stare. He turned to give just a glance to his husband but what he saw was little worrisome so Jungkook stopped what he was going and walked to his husband.

"Tae, is everything ok?" Jungkook asked in a concerned voice and Taehyung scratched the back of his nape uneasily.

"Uhh... Namjoon called." Taehyung watched as Jungkook's eyes became wide at that. "He wants to meet us. I'm sorry I didn't ask from you but I said we can come today evening."

Jungkook gave a reassuring smile and raised his hand to gently stroke Taehyung's arm. "Of course it's ok, Tae. But is it what I think it is?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Are you... uhh.. ok with that?"

The question had to be asked even though both of them knew the answer.
  
  
  
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At exactly 6.00pm, both sets, that is Namjoon with Hoseok and Taehyung with Jungkook, were in the cafe. Initially Namjoon wanted to come alone but Hoseok volunteered to come with him. He felt bad for his friend and in case Taehyung and Jungkook had a negative response for their request, Hoseok wanted to try and convince them.

They ordered their beverages and some light snacks, made small conversation as they ate and drank before coming to the business parts. Taehyung and Jungkook waited for Namjoon to start the talk since he's the one requested for this meeting.

But it was not in the way they were expecting. Namjoon looked to a far away point and talked in a soft tone, as if he was talking to himself.

"About 25 years ago, my father used to own the biggest marketing company in the country. He and his friend built it together, they were partners. Things were sort of ok for about 5 years. They both worked hard and the result was the top place in the industry."

"One day, a girl joined their company. She was ambitious, to say the least, but she was also manipulative and sly. After sometime, my father's friend and this girl got together. The affair was kept a secret from everyone but of course my father knew it. They were best friends after all."

"Things were ok for sometime but then little by little, my father's friend began to change. He began to ask for bigger benefits, bigger income, more shares, like that."

"At first, my father gave in to his demands but then he refused. Because it was totally unfair. Now this friend was the one who handled everything related to client interactions and my father was the one handling technical and administrative side."

"One day, this friend sold whatever the shares he had to a different firm and opened up a new marketing company with that money. And as he was the who had the relationship with all the clients, he took them all to his company."

"My father had only a handful left which was no where near enough to continue with the business. Plus the competitor who bought the company shares demanded the returns. Long story short, my father was declared bankrupt pretty soon. My father's friend apologized after few years, the girl had shown her true colours to him too but it was too late at that point."

"I saw my father's struggles from a very early age and he was not able to leave me anything. I started my company from the scratch and built it to this level. One of the advices my father gave me was to never allow relationships in the office."

"It will create a conflict of interest among employees and they will let their hearts make official decisions when it should be done with your brain. And I whole heartedly agreed with that."

Namjoon finally broke from the trance like state he was in and looked at Taehyung and Jungkook, who were staring back with a slightly shocked faces.

"I'm not trying to make excuses for what happened. I just wanted you two to know my reasons for doing what I did. I clearly know you two are not like my father's friend or that girl. You two didn't let your relationship affect the work, even when I made you compete against each other. I know that very well."

"And you are absolutely right, Taehyung. I would have definitely asked Jungkook to leave had you told me about you two being married on the day of the party. But if you had come and spoke with me later, I believe I would have made a different decision. I realized pretty soon what a huge asset you are to this company, Jungkook."

"But when I had to find out like that, all I could think about was how you two deceived me. It felt exactly the same situation as my father's, when he got betrayed by his friend. By someone he trusted a lot."

Namjoon looked little uneasy and Hoseok put his hand on Namjoon's shoulder for a silent support. He  knew the story behind for Namjoon's stubborn rule prohibiting office relationships. He didn't agree with that but he understood it.

Namjoon gave him a soft smile before looking at the couple infront of him again.

"I know that there is no valid basis to ask for you two to leave the company. I want to apologise. I'm extremely sorry for what I said to you two, which is definitely uncalled for. I'm sorry, Taehyung. I'm sorry, Jungkook. If it is ok with you, I would like to offer you your jobs back."

There was a silent for few seconds before Taehyung spoke up.

"I'm sorry, Namjoon-"