As I settled into the plush interior of the limousine beside Jungkook, my thoughts drifted back to that moment in his cabin. The memory lingered, a bittersweet echo of a time I wished to hold onto, yet the notion of embracing my boss felt oddly disconcerting. What made it even more perplexing was the warmth of his arms as he returned the hug.

Suddenly, my mind wandered to the picture frame on the desk. A wave of uncertainty washed over me as I contemplated whether to broach the subject.

"Sir..." I ventured, catching his attention as he glanced up from his tablet. His eyes locked onto mine, an unspoken invitation to continue.

"I realize this might be a bit personal, but could I inquire about the picture frame on your desk?" I asked, watching as he momentarily stiffened, then cleared his throat.

The limousine came to a stop outside the Marriott hotel, and he turned to me. "Let's save that conversation for later," he replied, stepping out and holding the door open for me. My heart raced, caught in a whirlwind of emotions-was it the mystery of the picture or the way he so graciously held the door that set my pulse racing?

I met his eyes as I emerged from the car, the door clicking shut behind me as he took the lead toward the hotel entrance. I chose to let the earlier topic rest, sensing the weight of unspoken words lingering between us.

We settled at the table we had reserved, anticipation hanging in the air as we awaited the arrival of our client. Just as I reached for a glass of water, my hand slipped, sending the liquid cascading down my front. Jungkook's gaze flicked to me, and I quickly excused myself, making my way to the washroom.

After patting my black cardigan dry, I returned to the table, only to find our client already seated. I approached with a smile, but as I drew closer, my steps faltered, and the warmth of my expression faded.

I took a step back, my heart racing as I recognized the figure before me. Kim. My father's business associate and a family friend, the very man whose son I was destined to wed. Just as I contemplated slipping away, I collided with an unyielding surface.

Looking up, dread washed over me, and I felt my legs tremble beneath me. Taehyung stood there, his initial surprise morphing into a chilling smirk.

"Where do you think you're going, miss?" he asked, his tone dripping with mockery. Both Jungkook and Kim turned their gazes toward me, Kim's eyes widening in disbelief. I quickly apologized for my tardiness and took a seat across from him, flanked by Jungkook and Taehyung.

Jungkook scrutinized me for what felt like an eternity, concern etched deeply on his face. Finally, he shifted his focus back to Kim, and their conversation shifted to plans for a new branch in Japan, leaving me to grapple with the tension that hung in the air.

Since when had they ventured into the realm of cleanliness? My thoughts drifted, and I felt a pair of eyes upon me-two pairs, to be precise. One belonged to Taehyung, who scrutinized me with the intensity of a hawk, while the other belonged to the woman behind him, a spirit devoid of eyes.

Her lips curled downward in a frown of disappointment. Taehyung's smirk widened as he slipped his hands beneath the table, inching toward my thighs.

Meanwhile, Jungkook was engrossed in detailing something to Kim. The spirit's gaze pierced through me, as if she were delving into the very depths of my being. Sensing my unease, she took an unexpected action.

Taehyung's eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. Jungkook and Kim turned their attention to him, confusion etched on their faces as he struggled for air.

None of them understood the source of his distress. My gaze fell upon the long, pale hands that clamped over his mouth with an unyielding grip.