Love Candidate - Controversies - Chapter 18

Jiyoung slowly undid Taehyung's button as he massaged her waist on the bed while kissing him and tilted her head back on the pillow when he moved his lips to her neck. She inhaled in pleasure as she ran her fingers over his toned abs to absorb his heated warmth. Taehyung tugged her dress's straps off her shoulders to reveal her bra and leaned down to bury his face in her breasts. Jiyoung arched her back intensely at the stimulating activities over her body. She held onto his head in difficulty when his phone started ringing. The drug lord ignored the call and chose to entertain Jiyoung on his bed, but the phone wouldn't stop disturbing them.

"Pick up the call," Jiyoung whispered, tugging Taehyung's flustered face away from her breasts. He gently kissed her lips and sat up to answer the call.

"Oh?" Taehyung answered as he wildly ran his fingers through his messy hair while sitting between Jiyoung's legs in his loose shirt.

"Aren't you bringing Jiyoung home? I'll pick her up if you're busy," Jimin questioned in a worried tone. Taehyung glanced at Jiyoung as she rolled on the bed to snuggle against his blanket.

"She's with me," Taehyung exhaled as he rubbed his face with his eyes fixed on her body curves.

"I told you not to touch her-"

"I'm not doing anything to her. She's drunk," Taehyung sighed, slowly turning to sit on the edge of the bed.

"I'll bring her clothes over then. The dress doesn't look comfortable," Jimin responded and hung up on Taehyung. The drug lord carefully placed his phone on the nightstand and crawled back over Jiyoung to kiss her when he noticed she was fast asleep on his pillow.

"Are you asleep?" Taehyung frowned and cupped her cheeks in confusion. Jiyoung didn't respond and weakly flopped her head to the side. Taehyung stared at her lifeless body with a tempted expression but held himself back and crawled off the bed. He walked into his bathroom to shower, then returned to the room in his towel and soaking wet hair to find Jiyoung sprawling on his bed in her short dress. Taehyung quietly pulled on his clothes and leaned over the bed to spread the blanket over her exposed panties since the dress was pushed upward... all the way to her waist.

"This is why men go crazy for you. How are you so careless?" Taehyung whispered as he adjusted her head on the pillow to ensure she was comfortable. He gently combed her hair out of her face before strolling out of his bedroom to pour himself a drink in the living room. He switched on the TV in the living room after slumping down in exhaustion because he didn't want to stay in the same room with her. He might lose control of himself.

Next Morning

Taehyung grunted and slowly sat up on the couch to rub his face after accidentally falling asleep on the couch... just as Yoongi strolled out of his bedroom with his casual clothes.

"Why did you sleep on the couch? You left the television on last night when I returned home," Yoongi mumbled, slumping on the opposite couch with his half-opened eyes. Taehyung squinted at the foggy morning view and lowered his sleepy face to rub his lips in exhaustion.

"She's asleep in my room," Taehyung muttered, lifting his puffy face to look at Yoongi.

"You gave up on your bed to let her sleep?" Yoongi chuckled, reaching out for the mineral water bottle to uncap it.

"How can I sleep with her when she's a mess?" Taehyung shrugged, leaning back against the headrest to close his eyes.

"Or maybe you like her too much to do anything with her?" Yoongi questioned.

"Moh?" Taehyung lifted his head to frown at Yoongi's statement.

"If you like her so much- Why won't you ask her out?" Yoongi bitterly stared at the drug lord.

"I did. She won't take my intention seriously. She thinks I'm fooling around," Taehyung mumbled while scratching his head in frustration.

"Of course, she thinks you're fooling around," Yoongi chuckled and shook his head with a weak smile.

"Why would you say that? I told her I wanted her to be my girlfriend, but she kept rejecting me. I think she still likes my brother," Taehyung sorely replied as he sat crossed legs on the couch.

"She broke up with your brother and came to you. Now's your chance," Yoongi shrugged at Taehyung.

"I'm trying! But she won't-"

"It's because you keep beating around the bush. Man up if you want her to take you seriously and stop seeing other women. How can you earn her love when you're constantly with other women?" Yoongi dawdled. Taehyung grew quiet as he thought about his friend's words.

"Why can't I see other women if we're not even dating? I'll stop when she agrees," Taehyung shook his head.

"That's why she can't take you seriously. Every time you're with another woman, the less she'll like you," Yoongi laughed at Taehyung's clueless expression.

"I already slept with her once, and we kissed a lot of times. Yet she doesn't want to label our relationship," Taehyung muttered. Yoongi turned to look at Taehyung in surprise.

"You slept with her already? When? Last night?-"

"No. I slept with Jiyoung after she broke up with my brother- no. She slept with me after she broke up with him. It's disappointing. She wounded my pride," Taehyung grumbled under his breath.

"Are you saying she used you as a rebound to get over your brother?" Yoongi scoffed in disbelief. Taehyung fired at his friend a sore expression.

"She says she wants to be with a green flag man. Does it make sense? She's a red flag woman!" Taehyung complained, cutely slumping on the couch to throw a tantrum like a little kid. Yoongi pitifully watched his friend's hopeless love life and turned to rub his eyelids.

"You're a red flag man around other women, but after seeing Jiyoung's red flags last night- You're the green flag man next to her. You're not on her level in both business and love standards," Yoongi teased with a weak smile.

"How dare you mock me! I'm just holding back because-"

"Because you like her, but you're not her ideal man. She's too cool for you," Yoongi teased his friend until Taehyung's face flushed red in irritation.

"Ah! How am I supposed to show proper affection when I've never even been with anyone permanently!? I don't understand anything about love, and it's frustrating! Having sex with people is much easier because there are no attachments!" Taehyung complained, repeatedly smacking his own face with a cushion.

"Aigo. You really really really like her-"

"I'm going to kill you if you keep mocking me!" Taehyung suddenly glared at Yoongi with his killer eyes.

"I think she likes you too, but she's in denial, so just keep pursuing her and stop seeing other women if you like her!" Yoongi scolded his friend.

"Don't tell her I told you about our hidden relationship-"

"Taehyung?" Jiyoung groggily appeared down the corridor when Taehyung tried to warn Yoongi. The two men snapped their heads to find Jiyoung strolling into the room in Taehyung's oversized hoodie and striking messy hair.

Jiyoung's POV

I sleepily rubbed my eyes as I walked into Taehyung's living room to find him sitting on the couch with a flustered expression.

"Are you wearing my clothes?" Taehyung blinked at his hoodie as I circled the couch to approach him.

"I took off the dress because it was too itchy," I sleepily answered as I stood before him.

"Jimin said he'll bring you spare clothes," Taehyung nodded. I slowly crawled onto his lap to face him and sleepily slumped against his warm body in a sitting position.

Third Person POV

Yoongi sat frozen on the opposite couch as he watched Jiyoung climb onto Taehyung's lap like a little kid to sit on him. She cutely leaned her body against his chest with her eyes closed in his loose hoodie. Taehyung glanced down at Jiyoung's shocking behavior with a puzzled expression, awkwardly looking up at Yoongi as she hugged him.

"Did something happen last night?" Jiyoung whispered, looking up at Taehyung with her dazed expression. Taehyung quickly averted his eyes from Yoongi and gently hugged her back.

"Oh? No. You fell asleep," Taehyung studied her rosy cheeks until he felt his heart thumping out of control. Yoongi sniggered in silence and gave Taehyung thumbs up with an approving smile, making Taehyung blush even harder.

"You didn't touch me?" Jiyoung yawned, gently cupping his cheeks to stare at him.

"I wanted to, but you fell asleep," Taehyung replied without thinking as he gazed at her tender eyes.

"I didn't know you were such a gentleman," Jiyoung grinned at Taehyung. Yoongi covered his mouth in shock, quietly rolling on the couch to laugh at the situation. Taehyung's face turned bright pink at her words. Yoongi clasped his mouth to stop himself from making any sound as he struggled to stay calm.

"Are you still drunk?" Taehyung frowned when Jiyoung kept on grinning at his face. Yoongi suddenly sucked in his breath, quickly perching on the couch to watch Taehyung converse with Jiyoung in anticipation.

"Hug her! Stop being so shy!" Yoongi mouthed Taehyung in excitement. The drug lord briefly glanced at his friend and averted his eyes back to Jiyoung, carefully tightening his arms around her waist.

"I'm sober! I think I'm... just a bit... sleepy," Jiyoung chuckled, gently kissing Taehyung's cheek. Yoongi frantically jerked around on the couch in distress while pounding his chest until he felt his blood pressure rising from watching their flirty interactions. 

"If you're sober... then will you be my girlfriend?" Taehyung gulped. Jiyoung stopped chuckling and stared at him in silence with a serious expression. Yoongi suddenly froze in his place to anticipate the answer as Taehyung tensed up in his seat.

"You're being funny again..." Jiyoung muttered, trying to get off Taehyung when he suddenly gripped her waist to hold her on his lap.

"Answer me. I need an answer!" Taehyung frowned at Jiyoung's sleepy expression. She pursed her lips at his demanding tone while examining his face, finally shaking her head at him in response.

"How can I be with your girlfriend if you keep seeing other women-"

"I'll stop. If you agree to be mine. I'm tired of beating around the bush- and I'm sure- I like you- so- give me a proper answer!" Taehyung stuttered as Yoongi mouthed him the words to help his friend confess his feelings. Jiyoung frowned at Taehyung's tensed expression and turned to look behind her. Taehyung quickly grabbed her face to stop her from looking at Yoongi, who immediately dodged behind the coffee table to avoid her. But Taehyung was swift. He pinned his lips against hers to hold her attention, eventually pulling away with his firm hands on her cheeks to keep her focus on him. Yoongi exhaled in relief and sat up on the floor to watch his friend again.

"What- are you-"

"Jiyoung, answer me! You can't keep kissing or touching me like this and then push me away! I will go feral if you keep playing with my feelings like this!" Taehyung frowned at her in frustration as he squished Jiyoung's cheeks in frustration. She blinked at his upset expression as she sat on him, uneasily studying his upset face. Yoongi nervously bit his lips as he waited for Jiyoung's response.

"You do that to other women-"

"Stop talking about other women! That's before I realized I really liked you! I like you now, so answer me!" Taehyung grimaced at her when she tried to dismiss his confession again. Jiyoung grew hushed as she searched Taehyung's desperate eyes. Yoongi gripped his fists nervously after a long pause between Jiyoung and Taehyung when she suddenly burst out laughing like a madman. Taehyung blinked at her reaction in confusion when she kept on laughing at him.

"Jiyoung-"

"Okay," Jiyoung laughed, lightly smacking Taehyung's chest. Yoongi furrowed his eyebrows at her reply in confusion.

"Okay?" Taehyung repeated, unable to process the meaning behind her word. Jiyoung abruptly stopped laughing and stared at Taehyung again... dead in his eyes.

"Are you proposing to be my boyfriend?" She questioned Taehyung.

"Y-Yeah?" Taehyung stuttered as he nervously stared at her blank expression. She suddenly giggled again and lowered her face to shake her head in disbelief. Yoongi pulled his hair in distress as he quietly waited for her final response. It wasn't his business, but she was somehow taunting both Taehyung and Yoongi with her hesitation in the tense living room.

Jiyoung's POV

I shook my head with my head hung low and raised my flustered face to stare at Taehyung's anxious expression. Why is he this clueless? I'm having fun teasing him, but I feel so sorry for taunting him like this. Jiyoung... think carefully about this. What is there to think about? What do you mean? What is there to think about? I already have an answer. What's the answer? I stared into Taehyung's nervous pupils and glanced at his red ears as he gawked at me without breathing. Why isn't he breathing? He will get a stroke.

"Give me all of your money if you want me to be your girlfriend," I finally answered, tilting my head to the side. Taehyung suddenly turned pale, completely taken aback by my words. He looks like he's going to explode from the stressful situation. 

"What-"

"I'm just joking! Pabo! I like you too!" I laughed and leaned forward to kiss his lips. Taehyung didn't react and kept staring at me with a startled expression.

"You like me-"

"Oh! I'll let you be my boyfriend!" I grinned. Taehyung's eyes bulged open in shock.

"AHAHAHAAHAHA! CONGRATULATIONS! AHAHAAHHAHA! THAT WAS SO INTENSE I COULD'VE HAD A HEART ATTACK!" Yoongi suddenly shrieked behind me. I wildly turned to find Yoongi rolling on the floor with his hands over his chest as he struggled to catch his breath from anticipating my answer. He was in the room the entire time!?

"Are you serious?" Taehyung blinked at me with a slight smile.

"Why? Should I change my mind-"

"No! I'm so happy! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Taehyung shrieked, suddenly pulling me into a crushing hug. I froze in confusion when Yoongi kept screaming on the floor while kicking the air like a kid. Taehyung broke into a bright smile and pulled me into a deep kiss. I blushed at his tender strokes over my lips, unconsciously gripping his shirt until I ran out of breath.

"Thank you for being his girlfriend! HAHAHA! Finally!" Yoongi sat up to rub away his tears after shrieking like a madman.

"Wae? Wae? Why are you more excited than me?! What's the matter with you!?" Taehyung snapped at Yoongi as he slowly crawled back onto the couch in tears.

"I can finally sleep in peace! You're my savior, Jiyoung! I no longer have to listen to women's moans at different times of the day! HAHAHA! I CAN SLEEP IN PEACE NOW," Yoongi exclaimed, slumping down on the couch to laugh in tears. I scoffed at Yoongi and turned back to smile at Taehyung to find him glaring at Yoongi.

"Move in with me," Taehyung averted his eyes to mine.

"What?" I stared at him unsurely.

"Live with me! I don't want to be away from you!" Taehyung pouted.

"Jiyoung, I hope you can tame him. Please try not to make any noises when you move in," Yoongi fired me a pleading expression. I chuckled and slowly got off Taehyung to sit beside him instead. Ah... I really went from calling Taehyung a perverted freak to my boyfriend now. 

Do I regret it? No. Am I nervous? No. Why did I agree? Because I've been so focused on searching for a good man... I ended up changing my true self to please others by force. Just like how I pretend to be an innocent woman for Seokjin. I always felt uneasy around him, and I had to be mindful of my actions when I'm around Seokjin as if I was walking in a minefield. Appa, I finally recalled your guidance. Comfort. Choose a person you're comfortable with, Jiyoung-ah. Someone I don't have to fake my identity around. Someone I can be with, without pretending to be someone else, and it's Taehyung. 

I was always open around Taehyung, even if he annoyed me. He's supportive of me and appreciates me for who I really am without expecting much from me. That's the reason why I wasn't traumatized when we made love. Because I knew he knew my background. I felt at ease around him because he was aware of my past and still chose to embrace me. The reason I had an episode with Seokjin... it's because I was too tense and uncomfortable with him. I pretended to be someone I'm not for him because I wanted him to like me. I was afraid of him finding out the truth about my past, so I was never prepared for Seokjin. 

I found my answer. Appa, I found my answer.

Fast Forward

"Jiyoung-shi? Oh no. I forgot to inform you we don't have training today," Secretary Yoo gasped for air as he rushed through the corridor with a stack of files. Stopping abruptly when he spotted me walking in the hallway.

"Do you need help?" I blinked at Secretary Yoo as he struggled to carry the documents. I reached to heave a few folders without hesitation.

"I'm so sorry for bothering you, but can you help me carry the files? There was a sudden shift in the corporation's network, so the employees are shifting into different departments! Why did he have to make us move all of the sudden!?" Secretary Yoo grimaced, hurriedly walking forward, so I followed him.

"Who's making you move-"

"Kim Namjoon, of course. He's shifting us around. Even Seokjin has to move out of his office," Secretary Yoo muttered as we stepped into the elevator.

"Is he kicking Seokjin out of his office?" I questioned in surprise, unconsciously gripping the folders.

"Yeah. Namjoon is moving into the presidential suite. He removed all the secretaries and assistances from Seokjin's lobby," Secretary Yoo panted as he leaned against the elevator wall to catch his breath.

"So is Seokjin losing his job...?" I questioned.

"No. Seokjin is just moving to a lower office. But Namjoon is taking control of everything, so Seokjin is restricted to object the order under his brother's authority," Secretary Yoo nodded.

"What about the corrupt men?" I questioned, uneasily staring at Secretary Yoo.

"Seokjin is actively searching for a solution to appease Namjoon, but it's hopeless. Namjoon had already sent specialized investigation teams to uproot all the financial cash flows in the corporation. He's going to compare the data with authentic documents sent from abroad," Secretary Yoo shook his head. I pursed my lips and lowered my head in guilt. What did I do? I feel bad because I was the reason Seokjin lost his position... and I abandoned him. Is there a way I can help? Secretary Yoo immediately rushed out of the elevator once it opened on a lower floor and rushed down the corridor as employees bustled all over the place with their documents.

"We're here, sir!" Secretary Yoo informed after bursting into an office. The office wasn't as grand as the president's floor... but it was still pretty spacious with the same view of the city.

"We?" Seokjin questioned with his eyes fixed on a document.

"Jiyoung was kind enough to help me bring your documents," Secretary Yoo panted as he settled the documents in the disorganized office. Boxes of folders and files were all over the floor and couch. Seokjin looked up from his desk as I placed the folder on the coffee table.

"I'll leave now-"

"Can you help Secretary Yoo arrange the files?" Seokjin exhaled, averting his dull eyes back to his document as he twirled his pen between his fingers. I glanced at Secretary Yoo's sweaty forehead and back to the files.

"Sure," I nodded. Secretary told me to sort out the folders in red boxes on the shelves, so I did as he instructed in silence when an assistant suddenly barged into the room with an anxious expression.

"Sir! The president demands for all the administrative files related to the representatives and their transaction records," The assistant informed. Secretary Yoo's face turned pale.

"What? That's not his job-"

"It's for the investigation team, sir," The assistant swallowed in fright. Secretary Yoo straightened his body in his sweat-soaked shirt to rub his face in distress.

"But-"

"Give it to him," Seokjin dawdled as he flipped through his document with an unbothered expression.

"But sir! This isn't right! He's interfering with your work-"

"Let him have whatever he wants," Seokjin sighed, dully looking up at his secretary. Secretary Yoo frowned at Seokjin and quickly turned to search for the box. He grabbed a box and hurried out of the office with the assistant, leaving me alone with Seokjin. I didn't say anything while organizing the folders into a neat row.

"Your father came to see me yesterday," Seokjin muttered. I halted and turned to look at Seokjin, but he wasn't looking at me. He was scribbling on his document with a tired expression.

"He knows the ledger is missing. I told him the truth," I muttered and turned back to stack the shelves.

"Your father will use Jungkook's family to shield him from the charge if Namjoon gets his hand on the ledger. I'm sure you're aware," Seokjin nodded as I turned to look at the other boxes in the office.

"Are you going to do nothing about it?" I questioned, unsurely staring at Seokjin.

"Jungkook's family is his people, not mine so-"

"My stepfather. Why are you protecting him?" I sighed in frustration. Taehyung has the ledger, so Namjoon will win the case for sure.

"To protect my family, especially Taehyung," Seokjin sighed, finally averting his dim eyes to mine.

"What do you mean to protect Taehyung?" I whispered in horror. What is this??? Seokjin refused to answer me and lowered his face to look at his documents again. Why is Taehyung suddenly involved in this? Is that why Taehyung made Jimin retrieve the document? Should I ask Taehyung about the ledger...? But he'll think I only accepted his feelings because I want the ledger back...?

Fast Forward

"I'm seeing Taehyung," I confessed, staring at Jimin nervously as we sat on the couch in my living room.

"What do you mean? You slept with him?" Jimin questioned, turning to me with the noodle in his mouth.

"No. I mean- He's my boyfriend. We're in a relationship," I pursed my lips at Jimin. Jimin sat frozen in his place as he stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"Why did you agree-" Jimin lowered his ramen cup on the coffee table to stare at me in disbelief.

"I don't know! I didn't like him at first... but he grew on me!" I whined in frustration. I don't know if I did the right thing by accepting his proposal, but I like him! A lot!

"I'm not even surprised," Jimin suddenly chuckled while shaking his head.

"What do you mean? Aren't you mad?" I questioned, unsurely scanning his weak smile.

"I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised. Let's go," Jimin suddenly got up to pull on his jacket.

"Where are you going?" I questioned as he slipped on his shoes. Jimin dragged me out of my house, and we headed to Taehyung's apartment in the cold night.

"I was doubtful of Taehyung, but after working with him... I realized... He's not what I assumed he was," Jimin muttered as we walked into the building.

"What do you mean?" I questioned, following him from behind in confusion.

"That's the reason why I invited you to work with him. It's weird, but he's very humble. Do you know what's suspicious? I feel like he's not the real boss. He's taking orders from someone else. He's just a puppet in this whole mafia thing, so he tends to wear the deadly image to terrorize people when he's actually... a soft heart. I know you're aware of it too. He's like a child," Jimin muttered as we stepped into the elevator. I scratched my head and leaned against the wall with my arms crossed.

"And?" I muttered.

"My first intuition was that you got with him to retrieve the ledger back, but why would you help your stepfather? I'm here to confirm something," Jimin muttered, stepping out of the corridor. I frowned at him in confusion when he rang the doorbell, and Yoongi suddenly appeared at the doorway.

"What are you guys doing here?" He asked, opening the door to let us in. I entered the apartment before Jimin to find Taehyung eating in the living room.

"Oh? Why are you here," Taehyung looked up at us in surprise. Jimin didn't say anything and slumped on the couch with his gaze fixed on Taehyung.

"Let's just eat together if you're here," Yoongi nodded, sitting down next to Jimin. I carefully sat down next to Taehyung as he glanced back and forth between us for explanations.

"I told you not to fool around with Jiyoung," Jimin narrowed his eyes at Taehyung.

"What are you talking about?" Taehyung blinked as he held a fried drumstick with his chopstick and smudged lips in confusion.

"Jiyoung told me about your secret relationship!" Jimin snapped in irritation. Taehyung turned to look at me for explanations because I told him not to tell anyone about us. Only Yoongi knew about us.

"Yah! Aren't you getting too comfortable!? I'm your boss!" Taehyung snapped, dropping the chicken into his plate in irritation.

"When was your first kiss?" Jimin furrowed his eyes at us. What is he doing?

"Why are you asking?! You said you're not dating her anymore-"

"Who kissed who first? Answer me!" Jimin impatiently snapped at Taehyung. Taehyung scoffed at Jimin's rudeness and suddenly got onto his feet in anger.

"Yah- What are you-"

"I kissed him first. Why are you asking???" I exhaled, rubbing my face in confusion.

"You kissed him first???" Jimin frowned at me in surprise.

"Oh! She did! She grabbed my face and aggressively kissed me!" Taehyung snapped in frustration, causing my face to flush red in embarrassment.

"Huh. That's interesting," Jimin frowned, leaning back against the couch with his arms crossed.

"Are you jealous?" Yoongi questioned, weakly chuckling as he dipped the hot sauce.

"So you really like him...?" Jimin nodded at me.

"What? Is she not supposed to like me!?" Taehyung turned to grimace at me with an anxious expression.

"Jiyoung doesn't kiss people first unless she really likes them. I know this because I was her long-term boyfriend," Jimin shrugged, suddenly leaning forward to grab a drumstick.

"What are you talking about? Jimin, you're confusing me," I frowned at him.

"You kissed me first too-"

"Yah! Are you trying to irritate me!?" Taehyung snapped at Jimin when he wouldn't stop talking about our past relationship.

"Did you kiss Seokjin first too?" Jimin ignored Taehyung's furious reaction with his eyes fixed on mine. I pursed my lips and glanced at Taehyung's glowering face.

"No. Seokjin kissed me first," I muttered after recalling my memories.

"See? She only kisses the person she likes first, so congratulations. She really likes you," Jimin averted his eyes to Taehyung. The drug lord froze at Jimin in confusion and turned to look at me.

"Jimin what-"

"I'm confirming your feelings for him. I know it's difficult for you to trust people, and I know you might be questioning your decision. Whether you like him or not... you do. You like him. I'm telling you this because I want you to be happy. I'm doing you a favor because I failed to protect our relationship," Jimin shrugged. My heart clenched at his words, but I started blushing when I noticed Yoongi smiling at me. Taehyung slowly sat back down to look at me with a flustered face.

"This is legendary. The ex-boyfriend is coaching the current boyfriend about their lover," Yoongi smiled at us.

"Well, at least you're with a well-off man now from a good family too. But be careful. She doesn't believe in second chances," Jimin averted his gaze to Taehyung. I weakly smiled at Taehyung, who was unusually quiet.

"Well... since you confirmed her feelings for my dear friend. I'll confirm his feelings too," Yoongi smirked at Taehyung.

"What are you-"

"How many times did Taehyung ask you to sleep with him?" Yoongi questioned me when Taehyung tried to stop him.

"Too many times... I don't remember," I shrugged. Yoongi chuckled under his breath.

"It's his way of saying he likes you," Yoongi shook his head in disbelief.

"How is asking a woman to sleep with you an appropriate way to express your feelings-"

"Exactly. Taehyung never asks. He just lures women onto his bed by seducing them. He never asks... but he kpet asking you. Did he ask you to be his girlfriend... before or after you sleep with him?" Yoongi raised his eyebrows at me.

"Before..." I replied.

"Congratulations. Both sides have mutual feelings then. Taehyung doesn't ask women to be his girlfriend because he doesn't commit," Yoongi beamed at me.

"Mohyah? You sound like you've dated him before," Jimin sniggered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from Yoongi. I turned to find Taehyung staring at his hand with a blank look.

"I've been his business partner for years. It's normal for him to bring women in a few times a day... even if they're strangers. I knew something was up when Taehyung-shi asked me to research your background," Yoongi smiled. Taehyung didn't respond and kept staring at his hand with an expressionless face.

"What's the matter with him? Why is he so stiff?" Jimin briefly glanced at Taehyung.

"He talks a lot when he's nervous, but he doesn't talk at all when he's caught off guard or very embarrassed," Yoongi laughed after getting onto his feet. Taehyung gripped his hands nervously without looking at me, making Jimin chuckle at his unresponsive behavior.

"I'll stay over. Can I? I'm so sleepy~!" Jimin groaned as he got onto his feet to yawn.

"There's a free room down the corridor... you can use it. And leave him be... he'll come back to his senses," Yoongi nodded down the corridor. Taehyung refused to budge in his seat. Jimin and Yoongi left the living room to sleep, so I awkwardly turned to look at Taehyung.

"They're gone. Why are you still stiff?" I muttered, carefully packing the rubbish on the coffee table to dump it in the trash. And yet, Taehyung refuses to speak with his eyes trained on the floor. I sighed and grabbed a few tissues to wipe the smudge on his lips before lowering my face to meet his eyes. He quickly glanced away in panic.

"Why aren't you speaking?" I asked and tried to catch his eyes again, but he refused to look at me.

"I'll head back home if you don't want to talk with me," I muttered and got onto my feet when he suddenly leaped up from the couch.

"Ah!?- Taehyung!" I screamed when he threw me over his shoulder like a bag and hurried towards his room. I gasped in shock when he tossed me onto the bed and rushed away to lock the door to trap me in his room. He stood stiffly against the door with a blank expression, making me chuckle at his bizarre behavior.

"Go and wash your hands and face. I won't leave," I crossed my legs on the bed to assure him. Taehyung gulped at my words and slowly walked away from the door to enter the bathroom. I heard the faucet running, and he eventually stepped out of the bathroom and slowly walked up to me.

"Come here! You're making me uncomfortable!" I snapped at his composed behavior. He slowly crawled onto the bed to hug me in a sitting position, so I exhaled and patted his back.

"Are you embarrassed?" I muttered, gently patting his head.

"No," Taehyung finally responded to me.

"No? Then why are you like this?" I whispered, cupping his cheeks after he pulled away from me to look at my eyes.

"Because I think I like you a little too much," He whispered, anxiously staring at me.

"A little too much?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"A little too much. I think I'm going crazy," Taehyung whispered. I chuckled at his cuteness and leaned forward to kiss him.

"I like you a lot too," I smiled. Taehyung weakly snuggled his face against my palm and leaned forward to hug me. We didn't do anything that night and cuddled to sleep. I felt very happy with him. Maybe he is the one for me?

Dating Taehyung was like dating three different men, depending on his mood. He can be a child, an annoying friend, or a deadly drug lord. One moment he's soft and cuddly like a baby. The next moment he's goofy and annoying like a typical boyfriend, and the next second he's sexily pleasing our bodies on the bed. Although I'm occupied with my love life... I'm still restless about my stepfather, Namjoon, and Seokjin's situation at the corporation. The intensive investigation is putting everyone on edge.

"Annyeonghaseyo," I softly knocked on the door before stepping inside the modern-minimalist president's office to find Namjoon working at his desk. He renovated the entire interior to suit his taste. 

"Did my brother send you?" Namjoon smiled at me as I walked up to his desk.

"Neh. Secretary Yoo is occupied at the moment. The investigation team is interrogating him today," I nodded, carefully placing the file Seokjin asked me to bring to him. I was about to leave when Namjoon asked to speak with me. He got up from his desk and sat down on the couch. I sat across from him unsurely as he smiled at me. He's so handsome... Seokjin is also handsome... and even Taehyung. What kind of genes did they inherit?

"How is your stepfather doing? He must be worried," Namjoon questioned with his fingers clasped together as he keenly smiled at me.

"I don't know. I don't see my stepfather often," I shook my head.

"You're not fond of your stepfather," Namjoon nodded.

"How did you know?" I blinked at him in surprise.

"From what I know, he set you up with my older brother to initiate peace between your family and mine. But you defied his order and broke up with Seokjin. Are you still on good terms with him?" Namjoon smiled at me.

"We're fine," I nodded at Namjoon.

"He's not. Seokjin must be upset about losing you," Namjoon shook his head slightly. I studied his reserved expression and lowered my head to make up my mind. It's hard for me to retrieve any information from Seokjin because our breakup was too impulsive and messy. I can't even talk to Taehyung without him suspecting me. 

"I know I let Seokjin down after everything he did for me," I muttered, shaking my head in guilt.

"No, you didn't," Namjoon scoffed. I looked up at him unsurely.

"He lost his position as the president because he chose me," I sighed heavily. Namjoon laughed at my response and shook his head with a bright smile.

"No. That's a lie. Seokjin was just using you to shield his reputation," Namjoon sadly smiled at me.

"What?" I stared at him in confusion.

"Seokjin knew I was going to win the election, but he didn't want to admit to his downfall. So he used you as an excuse to justify his defeat. It seems like he lost his position because he's dating the Hwang's daughter, right? I told you the rumors are not true. His failure isn't your fault. He's just ashamed of losing to me because he's the heir. So he used a woman... you... as a shield. I'm really sorry for what he did to you, but if you have been wondering why he was willing to protect your family... It's because he can't accept the fact that I'm better than him. He might've lost his position, but he still has a good reputation. Why? Because everyone thinks Kim Seokjin lost his status because of a woman. The corporation believes he sacrificed his position for love. No one pays attention to the fact that it was just a strategic plan to divert attention from the actual reason he lost to me. It's because he's not competent, and you were innocently used to save his image from being a failure," Namjoon exhaled. My heart sank. 

If this is true... all those times I didn't understand why Seokjin kept me by his side... was it really because he couldn't accept his defeat, so he used me to cover his downfall? Even if I don't believe Namjoon entirely- part of his statement is accurate. The corporation thinks I'm Seokjin's downfall... and everyone despises me now because they think I abandoned him after everything he did for me. But the truth is... that's his plan... to redirect everyone's attention to me so he wouldn't be seen as a failure?

I listlessly walked through the corporation corridor with the stressful thoughts stuck in my head when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist. I stumbled after the person when he unexpectedly pulled me into a room and slammed the door shut behind us. I frantically turned to look at the person in confusion when he suddenly leaned forward to kiss me before I could react to the situation. I froze in shock after Taehyung pulled away to smile at me.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, staring at him in shock.

"I came to see Namjoon hyung," Taehyung smiled, leaning in to kiss me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he secured my waist when he suddenly lifted me off the floor to push me onto a table.

"We might get caught-"

"It's just a storage room," Taehyung whispered, tilting his head to kiss my neck. I gripped his hips when I felt his sensual strokes over my neck and leaned backward.

"Why are you here to see Namjoon?" I asked, turning his face back to meet his lips as he undid my shirt's buttons while I sat on the desk with him between my legs.

"I don't know. Hyung just called for me," Taehyung shrugged as he loosened my shirt all the way... to expose my bra and leaned down to bury his face in my chest. I moaned in distress and leaned back with my arms against the table.

"What if someone finds us?" I whispered. Taehyung drew his face from my breasts after fondling me and hovered his face over mine instead.

"Give me a kiss," Taehyung smiled. I giggled softly and leaned forward to kiss him with my arms wrapped around his neck.

"What happened to your face?" I suddenly frowned when I realized his right cheek was slightly bruised.

"What? Nothing-"

"Did someone slap you?" I whispered, tilting his face to inspect the bruise on his cheekbone. Taehyung anxiously rubbed his face as I examined him.

"I'm fine. Don't worry," Taehyung shook his head. I frowned at his uneasy expressions as he stood between my legs.

"You keep getting hurt," I whispered, worriedly caressing his cheek. Taehyung carefully buttoned up my shirt with an uptight expression before pulling me into a crushing hug.

"We should go," Taehyung whispered, drawing away to smile at me. I nodded and got off the table to fix my shirt as he fixed his suit. He gave me a light peck before I stepped out of the room and strode away. Taehyung left the room afterward. I walked back to Seokjin's office when I noticed the staff gossiping all over the corridor.

"AHHHH!" Secretary Yoo suddenly burst out of Seokjin's room with a pale expression. I halted when Seokjin stormed out of his office with an uptight expression. He walked past me and hurried into the elevator.

"Come with us!" Secretary Yoo grabbed my shoulders and turned me the other way. He let Seokjin use the elevator by himself and waited for the next lift with me.

"What's going on???" I questioned, unsurely scanning the bustling corridor.

"Someone dug up The Kim's past controversies!" Secretary Yoo rubbed his nose bridge in distress.

"Controversies?" I stared at him, dumbfounded by the news.

"They covered it up years ago, but it's back now! What the hell is this!? It must be the corrupt representatives!" Secretary Yoo stepped into the elevator with me and leaned against the wall in defeat.

"What controversies?" I curiously gazed at him. Secretary Yoo frowned at my innocent face and finally handed me his phone. I glanced at the article and pursed my lips as I read the contents until blood drained from my face.

A murder case concealed by the Kim family.

"It's probably your father," Secretary Yoo sighed at me. I blinked at the article and handed it back to Secretary Yoo.

"My father?" I whispered.

"Oh. He's upset with Namjoon, so he's exposing The Kim's affair to cast him out of his seat," Secretary Yoo stood with an uptight expression.

"Is it real? That one of the sons murdered someone?" I whispered, turning pale. The article claimed one of Kim's sons murdered a person, and the case was immediately covered up to protect their family. Jimin told me... Taehyung was convicted of murder before becoming the mafia boss. My heart thumped fearfully at the frightening possibilities.

"I don't know either. The Kims quietly handled the matter without leaking any information to the public," Secretary Yoo shook his head. We quickly stepped into the president's lobby and hurried towards Namjoon's office- only to hear arguments from inside the room.

"-It's not supposed to circulate on the news!" Mr. Kim snapped just as I strolled into the office with Secretary Yoo. Seokjin was standing with his hand under his chin. Namjoon was seated on a single couch with his arms crossed while his parents sat beside him. And Taehyung...? He was kneeling on the floor before his mother with a pale expression.

"The media will press us to confirm the controversy, and if things get out of hand- They will reinvestigate the case," Seokjin shook his head with a dreadful look.

"Jiyoung-shi... are you aware of this?" Namjoon frowned at me. I froze when everyone turned to me.

"No- I didn't know-"

"Can you contact your stepfather to verify his involvement?" Mrs. Kim tearfully stared at me as Taehyung sat with his head hung low on the floor. I gulped at his pitiful state and slowly nodded at her.

"Your brothers are busy with their work! And you had to mess things up!?" Mr. Kim snapped at Taehyung.

"It wasn't my fault! Why am I the blame!? It's clearly Hyung's fault for provoking the corrupt chairmen-" Taehyung suddenly glared at his father. His father roughly struck him hard across his face. I gasped in shock and was about to take a step forward when Secretary Yoo held me back. Taehyung whimpered on the floor with his head hung low, making my heart churn in pain when I realized his lips were bleeding from the impact.

"You're the reason we're suffering like this! We could have left you in the shitty prison for your crime! How dare you raise your voice at your brother?!" Mr. Kim roared at Taehyung. I gripped my fists in horror as I watched Taehyung tremble on the floor in fear.

"Abeoji... that's enough. I'll handle the case so Namjoon can focus on the corporation," Seokjin sighed bitterly at his younger brother and turned to stroll out of the room.

"You're the family's disgrace! I should've never raised you!" Mr. Kim furiously spat at his son and stormed out of the office. Mrs. Kim quickly wiped Taehyung's lips with her napkin with a worried expression before rushing out after her husband without comforting him.

"Stop whining like a child. Get up," Namjoon exhaled and stood up from the couch to sit at his desk. Taehyung sucked in his breath and shakily stood up with his bloody lips. Unconcious tears formed in my eyes when he averted his eyes away from mine in embarrassment. I wanted to walk forward, but before I could react... Secretary Yoo tugged me out of the office. I gripped my fists anxiously and rushed back to Seokjin's office, but I didn't stay and left the building.

"What did you do!?" I snapped, bursting into my father's office after arriving at his facility.

"What's the matter? Why are you here?" My stepfather looked up in surprise, startled by my presence.

"Was it you? The controversies related to the Kims-"

"Ah. That?" My stepfather chuckled, slowly closing his document.

"Why are you so shaken? I thought you broke up with Seokjin already?" My stepfather questioned, raising his eyebrows at me with a dull expression. Shit! I can't let anyone know about Taehyung!

"The Kim is enraged! Jungkook's family will be the victims of your conflicts!" I snapped in irritation.

"Oh? Since when did my daughter care about my business affairs?" He chuckled, slowly getting up to narrow his intimidating gaze at me.

"The corporation thinks I'm responsible for the issues because I'm your daughter," I gritted.

"The case... it was covered years ago. I was aware, but it wasn't me. Seokjin promised me he'll handle Namjoon when I met him a few days ago," Jaehyun shrugged, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed.

"Y-You know about it too?" I stared at my stepfather in dread.

"The murder? Of course. I know everything about their crimes. Seokjin's family fears my knowledge," He nodded.

"What happened?" I swallowed, clenching my fists in fright.

"The article is accurate, so whoever released it must have had access to insider information. The youngest son of the Kim family killed a woman. He killed his oldest brother's girlfriend," Appa exhaled. I blanked out at his words.

The youngest son...?

Taehyung.

His oldest brother's girlfriend? Seokjin's girlfriend- 

Yeona.

Seokjin told me Yeona is dead.

Taehyung killed Yeona?

_________________________

Hi! I didn't think I could finish writing this chapter in just a day because I needed to edit and finalize it but I did? Lmao! So here's another chapter for everyone! I just received my new term schedule and it's crazy packed. T_T I hope you're enjoying the chapter?! I love you guys! <3 Please stay safe and healthy! Thank you for supporting Love Candidate! <3