AUTHOR'S POV

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Taehyung knocked on the door with his knuckles. "Y/n, are you ready? We are getting late" he said from outside expecting a positive reply from her.

SILENCE......

But instead he received a minute of silence.

Taehyung and Y/n are attending a business party tonight for the first time as a couple. Taehyung got ready before time as he dislikes being late. Even though there was still time he just wanted to make sure that they both are ready and reach before anyone else, because he loves being first. He believes that punctuality is power.

"Y/n?" he called once again, a little sensitively this time. No answer again. He twisted his brows, "Y/n, you're in there right? I don't want to be late" he spoke with a bit of tightness in his tone this time.

Still no reply. It was getting frustrating now.

He sighed, "I'm coming in!" he exclaimed, his hands reaching to the door knob.

"No no no!" Y/n finally said something, but negatively.

"What?" he questioned confused. "What's wrong?" he asked loudly, worried and annoyed.

"Can you call Sarah?!" she shouted with tension in her voice.

"Sarah is already off work, tell me what happened?" he answered getting more worried.

She hesitated, "Um....This dress.....well....this dress....."

"Y/n, can you please make it clear?!" he was irritated by the suspense.

"This dress has buttons on the back!" she said abruptly.

Taehyung was taken aback. He bit his lips not knowing what his role is in a situation like this.

"Can you not help yourself?" he asked awkwardly.

"Don't you think that is why I'm asking for help!" she yelled irritated.

Both of them bite their lips. "Y/n?" "Taehyung?" they raised their voices in unison and got awkward again. Silence filled the space for a few seconds. "May I help you?" "Can you help me?" they asked in unison and got quiet as once again.

Taehyung bit his lower lip nervously before turning the door knob. He raised his gaze only to see her standing in the centre of the bedroom with her back barely covered with her middle length hairs. His heart started racing over the unexpected scene as the blood in his cheeks rushed turning them crimson red immediately. He lowered his gaze covering his face and jerked the door close.

THUD!

His face beamed red because of the overwhelming scene. It was his first time encountering her like this. Obviously he was nervous and scared.

"Taehyung?" Y/n turned on the thud noise of the door.

He opened the door again without any warning. She turned her face away to the opposite side instantly.

Reaching to her figure he took a deep breath. Her muscles tensed when his hot breaths touched her bare skin.

Taehyung grabbed her hair gently and moved it over her shoulder. She helped him stroke her hair infront.

Oh, but the warm fingers that traced over her back, nape and shoulder in this 5 seconds felt like 5 hours of touch. His touch made her breaths hitch and left a hot sensation over her skin. She gulped.

And then his fingers went all the way down to her hips, only to travel up slowly and gently closing every button from her lower back to upper back.

The tension between them even beated the coolness of the AC. Taehyung's eyes and hands were on her naked back and she knew it better of how electrifying it was. It was awkward for both of them and they knew it better than anyone however couldn't help given the current situation.

Getting done with the last button both of them released a breath of relief.

"Come out soon" he said and immediately left the room.

"Mhm" she responded, without turning.

***

Y/N'S POV

Our car stopped infront of the venue hall. Taehyung moved out and then gave me a hand, my eyes observing the venue carefully. I was nervous as it was my first time attending a couple party and that also a business one where the only people I know were Jimin and his wife.

We went inside after showing our invitation to the bodyguard. Perhaps Taehyung wasn't as uncomfortable as he was in Rome when walking through the crowd, he casually led the way with his one hand on my lower back and other in his pocket. He looked cool leading us.

"Oh look who it is?!" an unknown man from the crowd exclaimed looking at Taehyung. Taehyung smiled at him, he removed his hand from my lower back and held my hand instead, as he went in for a hug with that man. My heart skipped for some unknown reason.

"Mr. Kim it's been a long-long time!" he said breaking the hug.

"We just met a month ago, Mr. Gu" Taehyung said, he laughed awkwardly.

Mr. Gu's eyes then shifted to me with curiosity, "Uh, she's my wife Kim Y/n" he introduced me to him.

Again that ticklish feeling passing down my spine when he called me ''wife''. I don't know if it's weird but I get a different satisfaction when he says "wife" like yeah, I am his wife, he is my husband, we are a couple. I like the label, the idea of our togetherness.

"Glad seeing you Mrs. Kim,...." we shook hands, "I hope you enjoy the party" he said taking my hand forward to plant a kiss on it.

I widened my eyes because I did not want my hand to be kissed by someone I've never met before, that sucks!

But then Taehyung snatched my hand out of his uncomfortable hold, very respectfully as he forced his smile. Mr. Gu coughed low-key. I sighed by rubbing the hand that he held as his touch still felt like a cheap one. Taehyung nodded once to him and we moved ahead in the big hall.

"You will be comfortable here, right?" he said as we get to an empty table.

What else did I expect? Obviously he is not here to sit with me and have a chat throughout. Mom always said, that a man will take you to the most luxurious party only to find a suitable table, a suitable drink and then leave you all alone until the party ends. She was right.

"Wine?" he asked as I took a seat on the chair.

"No, juice will do" I said, already bored and he went to bring it for me.

A few minutes into my loneliness and Jimin entered the scene from behind.

He's the kind of guy who would always give you surprises.

Jimin took a seat next to me.

"Do you not have people to meet?" I asked while sipping my drink.

"People are not my first priority, friends are" he said like a cool guy. "I just met Taehyung before you"

"Where's your wife?" I asked another question curiously.

"Well she has her own friends to meet" he replied sipping the wine in his glass.

My focus again went to the crowd and again I saw most of the faces staring at me suspiciously. I huffed lowering my eyes.

"Weird, isn't it?" he spoke out of nowhere. I hummed, puzzled. "The amount of ladies who are gwaking at you..."

How does he know?

"They're just jealous, ignore them" he suggested clicking his tongue.

"Jealous? Of what?" I interrogated dumbfounded.

"Well, the man you are married to is not just any man..." Jimin revealed the actual reason for those stares. "...married or unmarried, every woman in here is jealous of what you have" he said.

It's only fair to think childish of all those ladies. No, if they are jealous of me for having Taehyung then in the other way, they probably think that I should feel lucky to have Taehyung as my husband. I mean, I like him and I'm absolutely happy to be his wife, but lucky? Why should I feel lucky? What for? I know he is rich, good looking and charming in his own way, he also owns 1 of the top 10 companies in the world however, that's not why I married him. I married him because I was ready for a marriage and I wanted to give things a chance. If not Taehyung, it would've been someone else just as better as him.

"Mr. Park? Hello!" a man called Jimin.

"Oh, Mr. Bo!" Jimin got up. "Excuse me" he said and left with the man.

I nodded giving a reassuring smile.

***

"Oh! Look who we have here?!" three women came by my table and announced.

Three unknown women. Their presence itself made me awkward, they looked like a trio of baddies.

"Taehyung's wife, aren't you?" one of them said, taking a seat beside me.

"Y/n" I introduced myself by my name because after what Jimin explained, it's frustrating to hear 'Taehyung's wife' especially from the ladies around here. It just made me angry, I don't know why.

I wasn't born to be his wife.

They glanced at one another and chuckled, one of them even rolled her eyes at me and that action was actually rude. None of them have any right to be rude to me like that. They aren't my friends to behave like that.

"So Y/n, tell me what business you own?" the woman who rolled eyes at me asked.

I knew where it was going. She was just trying to pull me down just because I don't own any business.

"I don't own any business, I'm a librarian" I answered proudly cause I'm not ashamed of what work I do.

"That's a lot of attitude for someone who doesn't even own a business of her own" she ridiculed me.

"You should be thankful enough to be Taehyung's wife" one said.

"Exactly. When it's a marriage of convenience, the woman should always speak softly or better keep quiet" the other said.

"Marriage of convenience?" I narrowed my brows. What does she even mean by marriage of convenience?

The woman who rolled her eyes at me said, "Aye, don't tell me you're in the dark!" the witch in green dress acted like a real bad person now.

"Wait, don't tell me you think that a man like Taehyung actually married you because he likes you?!" the other one laughed.

"Exactly, you're not even his type. You really think he likes you?!" one made fun of me.

At this point, my heart felt broken.

They were not just making fun of me, they were bullying me like I'm not worthy of anything and the only status that has left in my life is being Taehyung's wife.

"Ohh....my poor Y/N!" the lady in green dress pitied me by holding my chin with her thumb and index finger. She made me look at her while she gave me a villainous glare. "Let me tell you some facts about your life, as a friend you see..." she smiled at me disgustingly. "The business tycoon Kim Taehyung married you because your father Mr. Kim Yunjin has the 4th largest industry in the country, you are just a bridge which has no value but to join two big empires together..."

I felt tears generate in my orbs. It felt like she was showing me a mirror. Though it seemed untrue and made up, it felt realistic.

"Yours and Taehyung's marriage is just a marriage of convenience and everyone here knows that, now including you too" she said poisoning my soul. "So, start getting used to being called by his name because that's how people will recognise you, cause you are just a good for nothing....."

"Get your hands off my wife!!"

She and all of us flinched when Taehyung came out of nowhere and yanked her hand off my chin. The whole crowd went silent.

"Taehyung, leave!" she shouted trying to get her wrist out of Taehyung's tight hold.

"How dare you talk to my wife like that?" he asked furiously.

Taehyung was real angry. I've never seen this look on his face. But I cared less about what was happening around me. I stood there silent with beaming tears ready to escape any second.

"You think you know better? Huh? Who do you think you are? Answer me. Answer me!!" he screamed at her, she flinched in fear and those two ladies as well.

"Taehyung, you're talking to my wife" a man came ahead and spoke to Taehyung calmly.

"Right now, I'm talking to someone who insulted my wife and I want nobody to interfere" he said, like a threat.

"Taehyung, calm down she's a lady" Jimin tried to make him understand.

"Man or woman, nobody talks to my wife like that" Taehyung yelled.

"Pearl, apologize right now and settle this" her husband gritted his teeth at her as she kept trying to free her wrist.

She huffed angrily with red eyes, "Apologize?"

"Pearl, stop creating a scene and apologize this instant!" he shouted.

"Sorry, Mrs. Kim" she turned to me gritting her teeth.

"Properly" Taehyung gritted his teeth at her.

She gulped her ego, "I AM EXTREMELY SORRY, MRS. KIM" she apologized.

I'm not forgiving her. Never.

Taehyung let go of her wrist, "You should be thankful that you are a woman, because if it was a man instead of you I would've committed a crime" he stated. "Let's go!" Taehyung whispered taking my hand in his and started walking out of the hall leaving everyone behind.

***

The entire car ride was silent, none of us spoke a word. We stopped at an empty restaurant. Taehyung ordered some food as we didn't have anything at the party. I was standing all alone at the window, looking at the empty road on the other side.

I didn't even know that woman and still her words affected me to my core. It was as if someone brought me to the harsh reality and I was living in delusion until now. I don't even know if whatever she spoke was true or false, nonetheless it was so hurtful that it felt utterly realistic. It made me wonder, if I made the wrong decision marrying Taehyung. It made me feel like a fool, was I the only one who wanted to give this relationship a chance?

Was I the only one who hoped that things would work out between us?

Were the feelings positive only by my side?

Was I a fool who was just being used?

Did he always act cold because he never liked me or wanted me to be his wife?

Was it all fake?

Is our marriage really of convenience?????

I want to ask him so many questions.

Taehyung came to me after talking with the manager, "Look here" he said putting his finger down my chin. He had a tissue paper between his fingers, he dabbed it under my eyes while I continued glaring at him with emptiness. "You shouldn't be just sitting like a statue when someone is insulting you. You should fight back" he suggested. "I'm a man, I cannot raise my hand at a woman but you can, right? You should--"

"--Is our marriage of convenience?" I cut him off and questioned instead. My head is too messed up to keep it all to me.

He stood there all silent like someone paused him, his face dull.

Tears glowed up my eyes, "Did you...marry me...for my dad's business?" my voice broke just like my heart.

Please say that those ladies were lying.

"Did Pearl tell you about this?" he asked with seriousness.

So, it is true?

"It's still yours" he said looking into my eyes. "FLOYD Hotel and Business still belongs to you and your dad"

I continued listening to him without a word.

"Yeah, it's true that both the empires collaborated after our marriage, however, it's still yours to inherit from your father. I own none of what is yours and I will never do that" he explained everything clearly and genuinely. "And yes, Y/n, I'm not that bad of a man to use my wife just to get a bigger hand in business"

He sounded hurt. The pain in his voice can be understood. I knew it was because of me. I know I was selfish to suspect him because I wanted to fix my broken heart but it was necessary.

"And let me tell you this, you are my wife. I married you because I wanted to give us a chance as well. Yes, I'm not as open as you but, I like you as a woman. I respect your position as my wife and trust me I will never misuse that position for my own profit. I will never use you"

As he cleared himself to me I felt guilty to actually trust those women instead of him and our families.

My heart was breaking once again and in a situation like this I needed a shoulder to lean on. He sighed and was about to make his way out of the room when I held onto his coat's hem, he stopped. I let my head rest on his chest and cried, letting the tears finally out.

It took him a few seconds but he patted his palm over my head. "I'm sorry that you felt like that" he mumbled caressing my hair.

***

AUTHOR'S POV

*Next morning*

"Nah I'm not coming for golf today" Taehyung rejected someone over the phone.

"I think you should go" Y/n suggested arranging her clothes over the bed.

"What?" Taehyung asked in confusion, her reply was out of blue.

"May I join you as well? Today is Sunday and I'm free of any schedules" she asked him instead of actually answering his question.

He was perplexed for a second because she never joined him to his golf lessons nor did she bother asking about it and today she's suddenly asking to join him there.

"Al--right" he agreed, still confused because it's something she asked for the first time from him and there is no reason for him to deny it.

He was refusing because of the incident that took place last night. He wanted to spend time at home today, with her by cancelling his golf lessons as he did not want to come out looking selfish or careless as a husband.

Y/n smiled getting back to her work. She asked to join him for the golf because she wanted to spend more time with him after what happened last night as well, but at home she won't be able to do so because Taehyung spends most of his time in his study. All she wanted to do is cut the guilt between them.

***

"Let's go, Mrs. Kim" Mrs. Lee said as she was leaving to sit in the shade with other ladies.

"To where?" Y/n questioned innocently. "Aren't we here to watch them playing golf?"

The other ladies chuckled, "Oh Mrs. Kim, who comes here to watch golf? We're here to gossip" Mrs. Lee said.

"Then I suggest you guys must go, I'll wait here. I want to watch Taehyung play" she informed her and the other ladies.

"Hahaha, is it the newly married effect?!" all of them laughed. "Alright stay, darling!" she spoke and left.

***

"Have to say, Kim Taehyung has got a luck in the world of marriage!" Mr. Lee teased Taehyung when he was focusing on golfing.

Taehyung gave a side eye while still focusing on the ball.

"True" Mr. Park chuckled. "This is the first time I'm seeing someone's wife actually sitting and watching her husband play golf" he teased him as well.

"Our wives come here just to gather around and b!tch about us. Taehyung sure is a lucky guy" Mr. Jeong said.

"What? What's with you guys today? Can't you all see I'm trying to focus. Stop babbling" Taehyung got fake angry at them, but as he turned he smiled taking those compliments.

"Strange, ain't it? The Kim Taehyung is losing his focus for the first time ever, that also when we are not even talking to him" Mr. Lee teased him again.

All of them laughed.

Taehyung shook his head getting done with them and finally hit the ball.

"Woah..." they made a sound in unison to appreciate him.

"Woah! Wow! You hit the goal!" Y/n shouted getting up from her chair and clapped for Taehyung in excitement.

His friends giggled.

When Taehyung came back to Y/n, she passed him a water bottle.

"You were so cool" she complimented with a shy grin.

"It isn't a big deal. You don't have to be that excited about it" Taehyung said as he wiped his face with a towel.

"It takes nothing to smile" she grinned looking up at him. "And then, life is too short to wait for big celebrations, we should celebrate every little moment of our life" Y/n said. "I even celebrate when there is an announcement of a book release!" she giggled, he scoffed finding her talks fascinating.

And again everything was back to normal as if nothing ever happened. Bitter conversations are an essential part of relationships, there won't be good days all the time, bad days are just as necessary to make your bond stronger and build trust.

***

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