Chapter 12 - Heat of the Spotlight

Heat of the Spotlight

The announcement of the Business Innovation finalists sent the school buzzing, and no pair drew more attention than Kim Taehyung and Park Y/n.

Two elites. Top 1 and Top 2. Engaged by arrangement. Now partners by competition.

It was the perfect storm for public interest.

Y/n sat at her desk, shoulders squared as the press announcement played on screen. Taehyung's face appeared beside hers—two clean-cut prodigies locked in forced proximity.

"You look pissed," Jennie muttered beside her.

"I am pissed. Why do they always crop the photo to make it look like we're dating?"

Jennie arched a brow. "You're literally engaged."

"Fake engagement."

Jennie smirked. "Sure. Tell that to the way you looked at him during the last round."

Y/n scowled, but her phone buzzed just then.

Taehyung: You look good in that photo.

Taehyung: Even when you're pretending not to hate me.

She stared at the message longer than she should've before typing back:

Y/n: You're lucky the photo cut off before I stabbed you with my pen.

Taehyung: Then I'll frame it.

Taehyung: A rare moment of peace in our beautiful war.

She bit back a smile.

That evening, they were forced to attend a press dinner something neither of them were thrilled about.

Y/n emerged from the limousine in a midnight-blue pantsuit, hair slicked back, sharp as glass. Taehyung blinked.

"You look like you could crush the stock market with a look."

She gave him a once-over. "And you look like a GQ cover with too much perfume."

"You noticed?" he smirked.

"I smell arrogance. It's not hard to detect."

Their banter continued like a well-practiced script but beneath it, a pulse.

During dinner, their chairs were too close. His thigh brushed hers. Her elbow grazed his.

"Stop that," she whispered when his knee bumped hers again.

"Stop what?"

"That."

He didn't move. "I didn't do anything."

She turned to glare at him and found him already watching her.

And for once... there was no smugness in his gaze. Just quiet.

Warm.

When she looked away, her heartbeat was entirely her enemy.