33

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Tan Corporation, South Korea's largest company and globally renowned brand has been accused of having harmful chemicals in their latest beauty product, a whitening cream that was only introduced to the market yesterday. Famous actress Rose is now on her way to the police station to file a complaint against Tan Corporation after she had used the product and had...

Taehyung set the iPad in the table angrily and aggressively tugged at his blond locks, gritting his teeth. He had been reading through different articles for almost 10 minutes now. He was seated at the kitchen table with Jimin, who had been answering phone calls for the last ten minutes.

"Did you-"Taehyung started only to be cut off by Jimin.

"Yeah. The business managers are already on it. Most of the stocks had already been cleared off the stores. Only Busan and Changwon is left. The outlets in every other country was also informed to not sell the products. Our staff had already collected the samples from the attendees of the Conference. Fortunately none of them had left the country yet. And hopefully they haven't used the cream yet" Jimin said.

Taehyung sighed. "How the fuck did I even sleep through this? How the fuck did this happen? It's impossible! We did every test out there before it was released!"

"I know! And that actress hadn't even complained to our customer service before she had reported it to the media! Talk about a clout seeking bitch" Jimin said.

Taehyung sighed again. He felt suffocated in fear that if something goes wrong, their centuries of worth reputation would be flushed down the drain in mere seconds. And he'd be responsible. Nothing like this had happened since the day the business had started. Not a single scandal, not a single complaint that had gone this far.

"That fucking bitch" Taehyung cursed. "How dare she give it straight to the media? How unethical of her. She even starred in our commercial and we paid her millions! The least she could've done is-"

Taehyung stopped himself as he felt a soft hand on his. He turned his head to look at Jeongguk standing next to him. He was dressed in one of Taehyung's shirts and his features were scrunched with worry.

"It'll be fine. Drink this first" Jeongguk said, his voice sweet as he pushed the cup of hot chocolate he had made towards Taehyung. He leaned in to plant a kiss on Taehyung's cheek.

For the briefest moment Jeongguk's lips met Taehyung's cheek, he closed his eyes and he felt himself calm down.

"What did your lawyer say?" Jeongguk asked Taehyung and looked at Jimin for the answer.

"He had requested a meeting" Jimin said.

"Rose will file a lawsuit against you. You'll have to talk to her before she does. Talk her out of it or this will harm your brand's reputation" Jeongguk said.

Taehyung nodded. "Did you tell Mr. Kang to meet with her after she gets out of the police station?"

"Yeah but her manager is refusing a meeting" Jimin said. "She doesn't want to meet anyone since her face is, in her words, 'ruined'"

"Bribe her, then" Jeongguk said.

"What?" Both Taehyung and Jimin said in unison, surprised of the words that came out of Jeongguk's mouth

Jeongguk shrugged. "Offer her money so she won't file a lawsuit. It's that or your reputation"

"But..." Taehyung thought for a moment.

"Have you done something like this, Jeongguk?" Jimin asked.

"No but my father had" Jeongguk said, not a single regret identifiable in his voice as he threw his father under the bus.

Taehyung nodded. "We should go meet my father. He'd know what to do"

"Taehyung it'll be okay. We have done everything in our power in this situation" Jimin said and walked away from Taehyung and Jeongguk as his phone started ringing again.

Taehyung watched Jimin go and took Jeongguk's hand in his. Jeongguk smiled at his lover. "It'll be fine"

Taehyung tried to smile but he found himself unable to. A thousand worries were crashing down on him, making his attempts to even appreciate the love of his lover futile.

"I thought the good stuff were going to start in my life after yesterday. But I was so wrong" Taehyung said.

"Taehyung! Don't say that! No matter what, we'll be together. I'll be right beside you supporting you on your every decision because I love you. I'll never leave you" Jeongguk said and embraced Taehyung.

As Jeongguk's hands wrapped themselves around Taehyung's torso, and his warmth mingled with Jeongguk's, he felt like if he stayed like this, all his problems would vanish.

"I love you too" Taehyung whispered. He rested his head on his lover's shoulder, finding comfort in the slow caresses across his back that Jeongguk offered. Only if he could stay like this forever... but his comfort zone was soon terrorized by the loud ringing of his phone. He drew away from Jeongguk, and he felt his anxiety and worry crawl back to him the moment he felt the loss of Jeongguk's warmth.

Taehyung's father's caller ID had popped up in the phone screen.

"Son, are you on your way here?"

"I'll be there soon, dad. I'm still in my apartment" He said and he the line was cut. Taehyung placed his phone in the kitchen counter and sighed deeply.

"Shall we go now?" Jimin said as he walked towards Taehyung.

"Yeah let's go. I'll get dressed" Taehyung said and walked to his bedroom. Jeongguk followed him.

After ten minutes, Taehyung had gotten ready. He fumbled with his wrist watch hurriedly to put it on. His actions halted when he felt warmth behind him and arms wrapping around him. He didn't need to look behind him to know who it was.

Jeongguk placed his chin on Taehyung's shoulder and sighed deeply. Taehyung placed his own hands over Jeongguk's small ones and held them tightly as if those alone would give him strength. And they did. The anxiety that had been eating him inside out since the moment he stepped into the shower seemed to pause whenever Jeongguk was near him.

"Everything will be fine" Jeongguk whispered.

Taehyung wanted to believe him. He really did. But deep beneath him, he wasn't too sure.

He turned around in Jeongguk's embrace, only to be met with beautiful dark orbs filled with stars that stared right back at him. Though Taehyung had seen the same eyes a myriad eyes, he would never fail to be amused by them.

Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jeongguk, returning the embrace.

"You know" Jeongguk said, making Taehyung draw away and look at the smaller boy.

"You can always ask me for help. About anything. Even financially or business-wise. I'll help you with everything I can"

"Thank you, baby" Taehyung said, voice deep with emotion. "But I don't want your family coming between us. Our families still hate each other. If we show them the least bit of intimacy, they'll suspect us. We can't have anyone destroying what we have right now. So it's fine, darling"

"The business is mine. It belongs to me legally. If there's anything I can do for your business, I'd do it. My father will have no legal say in this" Jeongguk's voice was stern.

"I appreciate that but-"

"I said what I said. Stop telling me what and not I should do" Jeongguk said, mouth forming a cute pout.

Taehyung chuckled, moved by the boy's adorableness. "I love you"

Jeongguk sighed. "I love you too"

Taehyung closed the space between them. Taehyung's lips rested upon Jeongguk's rose petal soft lips. Jeongguk kissed back, wrapping his arms around Taehyung's neck and Taehyung pulled Jeongguk closer by his waist.

Before they could take the kiss any further, Jeongguk broke away.

"I'll be going now. Will you call a car to come pick you up?"

"Yeah. I will"

"There's some cereal and fruits in the cupboards. You should eat something. Go back safely. I'll call you" Taehyung said.

"I will. Be safe"

Taehyung nodded at Jeongguk and left. He didn't bid him goodbye. Too scared that if he did, it'd last forever. More than the trouble his company has faced, he felt like something else would go wrong. There was a something in his gut that kept bugging him that made him scared for his future.

He ignored it. Now, he had a company to save.

-

"How did this happen?" Taehyung's father was sitting the leather chair in his study. Taehyung stood in front of his wooden table with Jimin, both standing at attention, their bodies tense.

"I don't know" Taehyung spoke in a small voice.

Mr. Kim, his father massaged his temples. He seemed more stressed out than Taehyung liked.

"Mr. Kim we've done everything in our power to stop her from taking this far. Our sales manager Mr. Kang is trying to get an appointment with her. She's refusing to. But we won't stop trying" Jimin said.

"The damage is already done. Not once had this company faced something like this. And this is something that has to do with the quality of our products. Everyone knows about what happened and now the trust is already weakened. If this doesn't go too far, people might forget this scene in a week or two and the sales might go back to how they were. So in one way or the other you must persuade her to stop" Taehyung's father, Kim Eunjin said.

"Yes, father"

"And I can't believe you let this happen" Taehyung's father's voice was angrier now. "I let you run this business at such a young age thinking you'd be able to handle things like this. It's not like you're not capable of doing it. You are so careless. If you don't get rid of your playboy ways, you will make this company go bankrupt. You think that you don't have much things to do as the CEO of the company, not more than giving orders and accepting offers and attending parties. Maybe if you were more careful with your new product this would've never happened"

Taehyung bit his lip, trying to conceal the sadness that caroused through him from his father's words. They were nothing but true. He was too focused on being with Jeongguk and then he was too distracted when they broke up, thinking of ways to have him back.

"I'll do everything to make this right, father. I'm sorry"

"If that woman doesn't agree for a meeting, Taehyung you will go and request a private meeting. She wouldn't say no to you. And whatever it costs you, you will make her stop. And remember" Eunjin raised his voice, making Taehyung look at him.

"Whatever happens, you will take this company to the place that it was before. No matter what way. Even if it costs you everything you hold dear. Including your beliefs. Because I know you have some strong principles, boy. Those don't matter in these situations. Am I clear?"

What does he mean? Taehyung was confused.

"Yes father"

"I believe in you. I'm tired now. I will go and rest now. Jimin, stay by Taehyung's side"

"I will, Mr. Kim"

Eunjin stood up and he took a groggily step. Then he lost his balance. Taehyung ran to his father and caught him before he fell on the floor with the help of Jimin.

"Father!" Taehyung called, heart erratic and voice thick with worry. The unconscious body of Mr. Kim heavy as the two met knelt on the floor holding him in their arms.

"Jimin call an ambulance" Taehyung said, tears threatening to spill.

This can't happen. His father was having another seizure. This can't happen. Not when he needs his father's assistance. He needed the support of his father. Taehyung let a tear fall down his cheek, unable to contain himself. Everything felt numb around him. A blur of colors when his mother came and screamed looking for answers of what happened, when bodyguards came and hoisted his father to a nearby sofa and the medical staff of the ambulance hurrying soon after and taking Eunjin with them.

And the only thought that seemed to cross Taehyung's mind was, this can't be happening.

-

The sound Jeongguk heard the moment he entered the Jeon Household was laughter. Loud, contemptuous laughter. Triumphant, almost. It made Jeongguk wince. Laughter wasn't too common in the Jeon household. In fact, no one ever laughed here. Especially with the absence of Jeongguk's mother, the whole household felt dead and dull.

His father and aunt were in the living room, chatting and laughing, half-empty wineglasses in their hands. Their chatter stopped when Jeongguk approached, the grinning faces of his aunt and father turning towards him.

"My Son!" Jeongguk's father called. Jeongguk couldn't remember the last time his father called him that. Wherein he should feel happy about being called that in so long, he only felt numbness and anger.

"Come over! Join us. Have a glass"

"What's the occasion?" Jeongguk asked as he walked towards them.

"Didn't you hear the news? The Kims'-"

"Yeah I saw" Jeongguk said, cutting off his father.

"This truly is something to celebrate. I've never felt this happy" Jeongguk's father said.

Aunt Mina smiled at her brother. "I'm glad too"

Jeongguk stood there watching his family celebrate the downfall of someone else. He felt disgusted. He knew that they've been enemies for over decades but it didn't justify this behavior. And then it clicked. What if... could it be...The whole thing felt so...?

"Father" Jeongguk said, making Mr. Jeon look at him. "Did you plan this? Did you make this whole scenario happen?"

Jeongguk's father laughed. Loud and obnoxiously.

"No I didn't" He said. "But I'm just euphoric that this happened"

Jeongguk sighed in relief. If it was his family that had been responsible for the trouble Jeongguk's lover was facing, he didn't know how to even face him.

"But Jeongguk, you call this Karma" Mr. Jeon said.

"What do you mean?"

"They are finally going to pay for what they did to your aunt 30 years ago"

"What? What did they do?" Jeongguk looked at his aunt who sipped her wine calmly and then at his father.

"The Kim's younger brother, that is that bastard Eunjin's brother was supposed to marry your aunt all those years ago. We were friends back then and your aunt fell in love with that jerk. We had planned everything for the wedding and they even got engaged. But that son of a bitch cheated on your aunt. Mina caught him with another woman the day before the wedding. The whole wedding was cancelled because that day they broke up. Your aunt was mentally ill for over year after that trauma"

Jeongguk only knew half of the story until now. The guy who abandoned Aunt Mina was Taehyung's uncle? He wondered if Taehyung knew of this story.

"I'm sorry, Aunty" Jeongguk said.

"Its past, Jeonggukkie. I'm over it now. I'm living a better life now" Aunt Mina said.

"And that bastard married the daughter of Zeus Enterprises, which is, mind you, an American company, only months later. In conclusion he abandoned your aunt for money. That sick family of bastards. They deserve all the bad things in this world. I hope they'd go bankrupt. And be thrown to the streets" Mr. Jeon's voice was venomous.

Jeongguk gulped. What happened to Aunt Mina may be unforgivable but the next generation shouldn't have to pay for the sins of the previous generation. He was supposed to feel hatred towards the Kims. But he didn't feel anything close to that. He just pitied Taehyung who was the victim of wrongdoings of his elders.

"Aren't you happy about what happened to the Kim's, Jeongguk?" Aunt Mina's voice awoke him from his trial of thoughts.

"I am" Jeongguk said, forming a slight smile. But it was forced. He hoped the others in the room didn't notice that.

"You should work harder. We can definitely get the award for the best business this year. Now that they are gone..." Mr. Jeon went on about how they are the best company now and how they should get all these money.

But Jeongguk hardly listened. He felt more and more miserable about the situation Taehyung was in now. He didn't know too much about this industry and how much harm the situation would bring Tan Corporation. But from how sure his father was of the downfall of Taehyung's company, he feared for the future of his lover.

The future of both Taehyung and himself.

~*~

Thank you for voting and commenting!

I love all of youSara❤