Chapter 4 — “Terms & Conditions of War”

Next Day - At Jeon Cooperation

The Jeon Corporation headquarters was the kind of place where the air smelled of polished ambition and imported coffee. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls reflected Seoul’s skyline, and employees clicked away at keyboards like synchronized metronomes — until the elevator doors opened.

Kim Taehyung stepped out in a perfectly tailored grey suit, hair swept back just enough to show off his sharp jawline. His lips were curved in that dangerously polite smile — the kind that made receptionists stutter and interns forget their passwords.

A low wave of murmurs spread across the lobby.

“Isn’t that the CEO’s ex—”

“Shhh! You’ll get fired.”

“They look even better in person—”

Taehyung ignored it all, striding straight toward the front desk.

“I have a meeting with your CEO,” he told the receptionist, who looked as if she’d just swallowed her gum.

“Y-yes, Mr. Kim. He’s expecting you,” she stammered, tapping at her keyboard.

Inside Jungkook’s office, sunlight spilled across the dark mahogany desk. Jungkook was reviewing a contract, pen twirling between his fingers, when the door opened.

“Jeon,” Taehyung greeted, leaning casually against the doorway. “Try not to faint from joy.”

Jungkook looked up slowly, eyes sweeping over him in an infuriatingly slow appraisal. “I’m still waiting for the joy part.”

They sat opposite each other, the conference table between them like a demilitarized zone.

“This collaboration proposal is mutually beneficial,” Taehyung began smoothly, sliding a folder across. “Unless, of course, your company is too… small to handle it.”

Jungkook’s jaw ticked. “My company could swallow yours for breakfast.”

“Tempting offer,” Taehyung smirked. “But I prefer to dine alone.”

For the next twenty minutes, the meeting was less about business and more about verbal jabs disguised as polite negotiation. If anyone had walked in, they would have thought the two men were discussing million-dollar deals — not competing over who could get the last word in.

Finally, Jungkook closed the folder. “Fine. We’ll proceed with the partnership… on one condition.”

Taehyung raised a brow. “Which is?”

“I’ll be personally supervising the project,” Jungkook said, leaning back in his chair with a smug smile. “Every meeting, every site visit, every late-night revision — I’ll be there.”

Taehyung’s smile faltered for half a second — just enough for Jungkook to catch. “Obsessed much?”

“Think of it as… quality control,” Jungkook replied.

As Taehyung left the office, he passed Jungkook’s assistant, who was carrying a small stack of children’s toys wrapped in corporate-branded paper — a promotional package for an upcoming charity event. Taehyung’s gaze lingered for a fraction of a second too long before he turned away.

By the time he reached the elevator, Taehyung’s phone buzzed with a text from his assistant:

Don’t forget the appointment tomorrow at 10.

He quickly typed back:

Delete this chat.

That night, Jungkook sat in his office, staring at the closed folder. He told himself it was business strategy that made him agree to the partnership.

But somewhere deep down, he knew he just wanted a reason to keep Taehyung in his orbit.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***