CH 3

"Here we are." Mr Chang exclaims as he opens the door that showcases a room much bigger than Taehyung had expected.

"This is my office?" The secretary asks in uncertainty.

"Yes. All yours." The elder chuckles.

As Taehyung hurriedly enters his office with a stack of papers, he stumbled over his own feet, sending the papers flying in all directions,as if autumn leaves falling across the ground on some sunny afternoon.

The clumsy demeanor earns a sympathetic smile from Mr Chang as he helped pick up the scattered documents.

"S-sorry." Taehyung mutters sheepishly, fingers frantically trying to catch up the mess.

In minutes,both the males places the files on the table,the almond eyes scanning the room underneath the thick frame.

"Well, you are the CEO's assistant and you do get some preference here. That's a reason why your office room is so big and the door at the left leads to CEO's office. You can assume yourself as a gatekeeper. Anyone who comes in must see you before Jungkook. Nobody is allowed to just enter the CEO's room without your permission unless it's me."

Taehyung blinks at the statement.

"T-that's it? A gatekeeper?"

"Oh no no young man. You do have a bunch of works as well. But that depends on Jungkook what he wants you to serve. Make sure to portray your proficiency the next time you meet him. You'll learn as you go. He's actually kind and soft inside."

"Okay....then." The younger bows, expecting the other to leave.

"Onething Taehyung. Um, your sir might appear arrogant sometimes but that's what keeps him running a billion dollar company and being on top of workers twice older than him. You must be very patient to handle him. I think I saw that in you during the interviewing process,you mentioned having a fighter mentality and a strong aggression. That's what the company needs, Jungkook needs."

Taehyung nods repeatedly, attempting to look focussed.

"And don't make him disappointed at you. I'm tired of conducting interviews and hiring secretaries every week. Better meet your sir now and create a tidy impression this time. My office is at the opposite end of the hallway. If there's a confusion, come and meet me. "

The man left, leaving the mafia in a daze.

'So.... Jungkook Jeon it is.'

Straightening his back muscles, Taehyung made his way towards CEO's office. His steps were purposeful yet tinged with a hint of nervousness as his thrilled mind couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about his new role as the CEO's secretary.

Possessing a strong sense of smell, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air distracted him and the almond eyed immediately takes a cup of steaming cup from the staff's trays.

Don't get him wrong. The secretary in black has despised the bitterness of the beverage since ages.

Taehyung just saw the opportunity to enhance his impression on CEO Jungkook by anticipating his needs and preferences.

By presenting Jungkook with the beverage without being asked, Taehyung aimed to demonstrate his attentiveness, proactive nature, and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure Jungkook's comfort and satisfaction. This small gesture was his way of showing Jungkook that he was dedicated to his role as secretary.

Approaching the door, Taehyung paused for a moment, gathering his composure before knocking the door.

"Enter."

Suppressing a victorious smile on his face, the secretary pushes the door open. The almond eyes dilated. The room was twice as large as his own, glass windows surrounding the luxurious walls, beautiful lights shining through the room showcasing the city view wide underneath.

"Do you plan standing there all day?" The stern voice brings him back to reality.

The elder fixes his glasses immediately and hurried to the desk .

"I-I am sorry sir. I-"

"Well,it's the second time Mr. Kim."

Jungkook states blankly,eyes fixed at the laptop,not bothering to look up at the subordinate.

The elder blinks in confusion. It's a sure observation of the pair of hazel eyes by now, that Jeon Jungkook speaks in precision but his words hold intelligence.

"Sir,c-could you please explain?"

"Second time you are apologising today and it's been less than an hour since we met. Are you really this dumb or it's just an act?" The younger asks looking directly at the other's orbs.

"Hyung, don't scold Angel uncle." Minho who had been playing with the fishes on the aquarium of the room whined.

"Angel? Uncle? Minho,stop teasing strangers. Atleast, make yourself formal." Jungkook rolls his eyes then fixes his orbs at the elder's hand carrying a cup in a questioning gaze.

Taehyung let out a breath he was holding for a while and placed the cup on the table~

"I brought you a cup of freshly brewed coffee to start your day sir."

Jungkook, startled by the unexpected offering, blinked in surprise before a perplexed expression crossed his face.

"Well, you didn't reply to my question. And actually um,I don't drink coffee."

Taehyung's eyes widened in embarrassment as he realized his blunder.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sir! I didn't know. My apologies," he exclaimed, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

With a good-natured smile, Jungkook reassured him,

"No worries, Taehyung. It's the thought that counts."

' My thought? Well, about that.... you'll count later — with your tear drops.'

A calculated smile appeared on the secretary and he couldn't deny the fact that somewhere inside him was satisfied at the soft tone of his Target; finally the arrogant tone dropped.

Onething the hazel green pairs have keenly noticed. The sharp gaze has dissected every aspect of Jungkook's features—the slight protrusion of his front teeth, giving him an adorable innocence, and the doe-like roundness of his eyes, reflecting both an unspoken resilience

The CEO rests his hands on the armrest leaning on the chair, an unintentional pout appears on his face

"Well, did you happen to notice my rose pot in the hallway? It was in the morning when I entered but the last time I went out for Minho,it was .....vanished?"

Taehyung's stomach churned with anxiety as he struggled to find the right words. Not because he was afraid of what he did. He never is. Shoes that have stood on blood aren't scared to crush a pot ,but what scares him is he has to place a justified reason for his action or just get fired on his first day.

Before he could respond, Minho blurted out of nowhere, with an innocence only a child could possess.

"It was Angel uncle! He accidentally broke your favorite plant, hyungie."

"Ah, I see. Mr Kim,is that true?" Jungkook asks perking his eyebrows, with a playful twinkle in his eyes.

'Fuck!'

And the mafia swears he'll never have children. Not atleast in this lifetime. They are so annoying, so honest,so dumb,so embarassing and most importantly,so wickedly innocent.

"Mr Kim." Jungkook yelps, returning to his usual cold tone.

Following a bunch of bows, Taehyung gulps before stuttering ~

"I-I'm sorry, Sir. It was an accident. I didn't mean to break it. I'll m-make it up to you."

"How?"The younger wails~apparently bestowing a strong authority but the trained experianced pairs of hazel eyes traces a thin layer of water accumulating on Jungkook's orbs.

"S-sir,I'll buy you on.."

"Shut up." Jungkook's voice cuts through like a blade, sharp to the finality as it freezes the other on the spot.

"You can barely speak without stuttering and you think you can manage being my assistant?" The CEO sneers," That's funny though."

Taehyung clenches his fists at the insult. The penknife conserved on his boots perks up his ego but thankfully enough,he didn't let it win.

Thick black orbs as charcoal emits rage as Jungkook interrogates, noticing the silence of the employee.

"Show me your files once."

In seconds,the trembling figure gets back to his office and returns with the testimonies, politely handing it to the younger .

Jungkook trails his vision upon the copy, measuring Taehyung's aptitude through the page.

"Well, so how would you handle a situation where there's a conflict of interest between two departments within the company?"

"I guess I would, uh, start by, um, asking for help from, uh, someone smarter than me? Like ask my senior or Google it just."

The elder replies sheepishly and Jungkook squeezes his eyes, unable to witness the same man standing at front was the one who passed the interview.

Jungkook sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Is there anything... anything you are good at?"

The innocent little man, sitting in front of the aquarium was visibly amused at his Angel uncle's stammerings and couldn't help but squeal in loud.

A harsh bang at the table flinches the two into senses when Jungkook looses his demeanor.

The CEO's patience wore thin, his jaw tightening with irritation. "Mr Kim, this is not a time for jokes," he snapped, his voice sharp and cutting.

Taehyung's smile faltered as he realized he had crossed a line.

"Oh, uh, sorry sir," he mumbled, feeling the weight of Jungkook's disapproval like a ton of bricks.

"Fifth time you are apologising." The younger huffs looking away.

"You may have qualifications..." Jungkook states "but you can't survive in the business world if you don't know how to deal with people. No one will willingly do your work out of the kindness of their heart. If you trust people easily,it would lead to your downfall Mr Kim."

'We'll discuss surely it some other day ,I promise. Who has a kind heart and who trusted whom at the end!'

Taehyung fixes his glasses and the red tie dangling from his neck.

"I-I..."

"Now think of it Mr Kim. What will you do in the situation?" Jungkook's eyes flickered in hope and encouragement.

"Conflict?Ah,I w-will send my people to warn them or bribe them as per situation. Or j-just remove both the parties."

Jungkook's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his patience wearing thin.

"Bribe, Taehyung? This is a business, not the mafia," he retorted, his voice tinged with irritation.

Taehyung's smile faltered, realizing he had let his true colors show for a moment.

"Oh, uh, sorry sir. I me-mean with ice cream," he muttered, his demeanor shifting as he tried to regain his composure.

The CEO sighs at the elder's innocence, realising what he taught him a while ago was as successful as trying to eat with nose.

...Jungkook warns of deceit and lies,...

...Teaching Taehyung to be wise....

...As he spoke of the volatility of heart ...

...Taehyung nodded, playing his part....

...But behind the facade of a clumsy guise,...

...Lay the mind of a master, cunning and wise....

...The irony in this twisted facade,...

...Where the one who warns is the one betrayed....

...For in the labyrinth of deception's snare,...

...It's Veiled Vision that leads to despair....

Death. Die. Embarassment.

This is what Taehyung feels after three hours of constant work. Non stop typing, emailing and reading ~ probably the last time he had been to such meticulous studing was when he was in school,the only place that haunted the mafia.

And accompanied to the workload, Taehyung can feel the charcoal pair of eyes on him. A damn stranger is continuously staring at him time to time to keep a watch,and it's not the best situation for a man who thrives in darkness.

Jungkook has instructed his secretary to sit beside his desk for today, since he found the newcomer highly incompatible to survive alone.

Minho, however was sitting on Taehyung's lap , occassionally playing with the jet black hairs of the elder and the tie,and the mafia had to endure the tremendous torment of the CEO's brother.

But the mafia has to admit. The little boy is really cute. He will be as pretty as his brother, Taehyung can bet.

"Um, Kim uncle, can you make funny faces like this?" Minho exclaimed, scrunching up his nose and sticking out his tongue in a comical manner.

Taehyung chuckled, mirroring Minho's expression with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Like this?" he replied, pulling a silly face that made Minho burst into giggles.

"Yeah, that's so funny!" Minho laughed, clapping his hands together in delight.

Taehyung grinned, reveling in the joy of their childish banter.

"What else can you do, Minho? Can you make animal noises?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

With a mischievous grin, Minho began to mimic various animal sounds, from roaring like a lion to squeaking like a mouse. Taehyung joined in, adding his own interpretations of each creature's call, much to Minho's delight.

"Enough!"

A shrill voice jolts the two , bringing them to the realm of reality. Jeon Jungkook, was glaring at the males, piercing through their eyes .

If humans had the power to kill through glares, Kim Taehyung would have been dead by now.

"This is the room of the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world and you two are sitting here making animal noises?" The CEO explodes, his voice sharp with frustration.

"Now employees would pass outside and assume I'm harbouring animals in office!" his expression stern and his brow furrowed in annoyance.

Taehyung scratches his nape.

"Um sir, isn't the room soundproof?"

"Just shut up."

Minho's face fell, his playful demeanor replaced by a look of guilt.

"I'm sorry hyungie," he mumbled, sliding off Taehyung's lap and retreating into the corner of the room.

Taehyung's heart sank as he watched the scene unfold. He knew that Jungkook's temper could flare up unexpectedly, and he didn't want Minho to bear the brunt of his anger.

"It's my fault sir" Taehyung interjected quickly, trying to diffuse the tension.

"I encouraged Minho to play. I'll make sure to focus on my work from now on."

The doe eyes couldn't endure his brother sulking at the corner as he immediately rises to grab his little one.

"See Minho, even if you wanna be a mafia,you shouldn't indulge yourself to frivolous activities okay? Mafias don't make funny noises and faces like this."

The Mafia's jaws hung to the floor. The younger in front didn't just reject his identity but also his capability as a gangster, all unknowingly.

"But hyungie, I'll show you oneday."

"Minho! Life should be sculpted with honesty and trust okay? Stop dreaming of that nasty profession."

Taehyung couldn't help but interject more to the younger. He's always wondered what normal folks think about dark world.....

"Wh-why? What's wrong in making money and having fun?"

Jungkook's gaze softened slightly at Taehyung's admission, but his frustration was still palpable.

"You need to understand the importance of discipline, Mr Kim,"he states..." Well,I make money too without harming lives."

'More than me?Nah'

Taehyung nodds earnestly, placing a big boxy smile.

'Yea yea, I placed a microphone under the table. Don't worry appa." The Mafia states subtly, pouring some wine on the glass,tired after the whole day of service.

From the grandeur of the mansion's windows,The skyline stretched out before the mansion, a breathtaking panorama of towering skyscrapers and twinkling buildings that seemed to reach for the heavens.

Neon signs flickered in an array of colors, painting the night sky with an ethereal glow, while the gentle hum of city traffic provided a soothing soundtrack to the evening's serenity.

"How's he?" Mr Kim asks, tapping his shoes on the floor.

"What?"

"The new Jeon?"

A thin smirk adorns the younger. The silk blue robe enhancing his hideous features.

"Ah Jungkook... he's... different," Taehyung admitted reluctantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Different how?" his father pressed, his tone demanding answers.

"Well,that CEO literally got tears for some potted plant. I guess it reminds him of his father or someone special. But that's what I wanted to know. Generally, riches don't mind emotions. But he's a compassionate fool inside."

His father's expression softened, a flicker of disappointment passing through his eyes.

"So.... your plan is?"

"Kindness is a weakness and he can be easily manipulated by flattery.Everything is proceeding smoothly, appa."

Taehyung's lips curled into a sly grin as he leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"I need to gain his trust and attack at the right time."

"But Tiger,exploiting someone's weaknesses for personal gain is not the path to true strength. You can

But Taehyung brushed off his father's words with a dismissive wave of his hand, his hunger for dominance overshadowing any sense of morality.

"I know what I'm doing, father," he replied coldly, his gaze icy with determination.

As the conversation continued, Taehyung's father couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for his son's descent into darkness.

...The blazing flames burn with fierce intensity,the paws of tiger weaving intricate patterns of snare....

...But who's the predator and who's the prey?...

...For in the dance of life's play,...