8. The Party
15:23, 16 October 2022◀ ▶
"Ahh, what is with the staring contest?" Tae let out, standing to Namjoon's and Jin's right, his glance bouncing between Jimin and Yoongi, to Namjoon and then Jungkook.
"Wait!" Yoongi breathed out, holding up his hands in 'time out', then gaped at Namjoon and Jin, still standing in each other's arms. "You are Jin's boyfriend?"
Jimin had never seen Namjoon so lost for words as he gaped at Jimin and Yoongi.Hoseok's confused voice filled the room next. "And you know Joonie how?"
"Ah," Namjoon let out, scratching his head while Jin stepped out of his embrace, his eyes skipping around the room too, then landed wide and confused on his boyfriend."Joonie? What does this mean?"
And of all the people, it was Jungkook who broke the news. "Oh... Jeez, this is kinda awkward. But Namjoon is actually working for the company Yoongi and Jimin work for too."
Jin gaped. "What? You're working with Jimin and Yoongi? But I thought you said you were a secretary?"His head snapped to the boys in question, an accusatory blaze in his eyes as he stared at Jimin."You never told me about him!"
Jimin huffed out in frustration. Oh bloody motherfucking hell! How was his life turning into such a mess?"Yeah, cause he literally started working this week and you were talking about about Joonie all the time and didn't even listen to me! And how the hell was I supposed to know his real name was Namjoon? You never told me that!"
"Okay, hold on boys," Hoseok stepped in, sensing the mood turning sour. "What's the big deal? I mean, isn't it kinda amazing you already know each other? Just a surprise, right? Now co-workers can become friends, just like we did with Yoongi."
Jimin was about to say something, but Jungkook's laughter rippled through the room. Jimin made the mistake of looking at him. Seeing his smile- his wicked amusement mixed with mischief glittering there and boom, Jimin was tingly all over, shortly followed by the burn of rage coursing through him as the devil opened his mouth.
"I don't think Namjoon is the problem here."
And then he had the audacity to wink at Jimin as he turned to the confused boys with a dazzling smile which showed his teeth. "I think the problem is the fact that I'm not their co-worker, I'm their boss."
Jin, Hoseok and Tae looked like Jungkook just declared the earth flat. "You are what?" Jin let out, utter disbelieve in his voice, but the young boy only chuckled some more. "My last name is Jeon. My father owns J-Jeon's and has made me Overseeing Manager of the Marketing Team. So... that kinda makes me their boss."
"Not awkward at all," Yoongi whispered to him, his voice dipped in irony. Jimin could only agree.
"So," Tae whispered, his eyebrows narrowed in thought. "They," he pointed at Yoongi and Jimin, then turned to the still grinning Jungkook. "Work for you?"
"Yep. But," he smiled, bright and wide, stepping forward into their direction. Jimin felt himself tense as Jungkook stopped in front of the two smaller boys. "We're all professionals, aren't we? I'm sure we're all able to separate work and private matters?"
Jimin felt like slapping him again. Hard. He was one to talk! He had blurred the line the other day in his office.
And the smile he now shot him basically screamed that he was well aware as he reached out, offering his hand. "So. Welcome to my house. Feel free to call me Jungkook here. I wouldn't think of making you stick to formalities when we're all among friends."
Oh, Jimin was going to fucking murder him by the end of the night, but right now, he could do nothing but reach out and shake his offered hand, aware the other's were watching the exchange. He made himself smile and tried to ignore the little bolds shooting up his arm at feeling Jungkook's large hand wrap around his.
"Okay then, Jungkook," he let out, pretending this was the first time he said his first name.
Jungkook's eyes blazed and the smile turned almost feral, the hand squeezing his tightening for a second before he schooled over his features and turned to Yoongi, suddenly nothing but and absolutely friendly young boy. "Pleasure to have you both."Yoongi shook his hand too and then his face lit up like a candle. "Wow. I gotta say, you really are a cool boss."
Jimin groaned in his head. They had no fucking idea! Jungkook was about his worst nightmare come to life. And now he wouldn't only haunt him at work, but in private too.
***
Jungkook was annoyingly perfect, and Jimin fumed in annoyance even as he got caught up in it. He didn't think the younger was acting. He simply WAS funny and easy-going and not snobby at all, even though he was born a rich kid with all privileges.
He joked with them like he had known them for years, often made fun of himself and everyone looked at him in adoration and growing fondness as the evening progressed. They were eating, barbecuing outside while drinking and sharing stories. Namjoon in private was even more chill than at work, and he and Jin were always clinging to one another, speaking to each other softly, and seeing them both so happy actually made Jimin forget who stood in their middle.
Jungkook got along great with Tae, the two of them started to play badminton in the massive front yard, and their laughter- Jimin tried not to, but he smiled as he heard both his brother's laugh and even Jungkook's. He might hate him, but his laugh was still one of the most beautiful sounds he'd ever heard.
Jungkook and Jin hit it off almost immediately, the two of them falling into brotherly bantering like they had been living together for years, both of them all smiles and open laughs.
Hoseok, was giggling as much as he made other's giggle, Jungkook turning out to be naturally funny and having the older tumble on the floor in laughter more than once. And even the normally more reserved Yoongi was talking loudly and openly, joking with Jungkook as if he weren't his boss, simply a good, old friend.
And Jimin... he really tried not to, but his gaze constantly drifted over to where he was and then got caught in his smile and his dark eyes. And as if sensing Jimin watching him, the younger met his gaze and his smile changed, getting even more dazzling before turning into a smug grin which always managed to make his teeth ground together and promise himself not to look again.
Only to find himself staring at him a few minutes later. The sunny day turned into night, the air cooling, but still warm enough to linger outside in shirts as they drank and turned up the music, talked and laughed and had fun. And despite Jungkook, he felt himself relax.
And then they decided to head inside to get the party really started.
Jungkook, proofing he was not the least bit arrogant or snobby, helped clean and carry everything inside just like the rest of them. And then Jimin stood back in the living room, staring at the massive oak tree which called up some very heated, very vivid memories while the others finished cleaning up outside.
And as if sensing it, he felt a large present brushing his back and a dark, low murmur against his ear that had him shiver.
"Remembering something?"
He tried to stand completely still and make his voice come out clear and neutral- and failed. "Not a bit," Jungkook chuckled and he felt the brush of a hand against his hips. "Liar," Jungkook breathed and then his warmth disappeared as the other's came inside as well.
"You okay, ChimChim? You seem out of breath," Tae asked when he saw him stand there, and while he wave it off and said he was fine, he heard the small chuckled from the boy getting some more beers out the fridge. Damn him!
Jungkook came back to stand next to him, handing him the cold bottle. "Here. Might help you calm down." Jimin took it with a tight-lipped thanks.
No one seemed suspicious- except for Namjoon, eyeing them with a heavy expression. Yeah.. he definitely knew what was going on. "Jungkook?" he now said, coming up to them with a tight set to his lips as he glanced at Jimin, then to his friend. "Can you help me with getting the big music boxes down from my room?" he ground out while Jungkook only kept staring down at Jimin ignoring him. "Now, JK, "Namjoon added, and Jimin got the feeling just because Jungkook was the boss, it didn't necessary made him the one in charge in their friendship. Namjoon was older after all.
Jungkook's jaw clenched, but he finally turned to Namjoon and before he could say something, the older grabbed his wrist and dragged him up the stairs, out of Jimin's sight.
Jimin let out a long, heavy breath, then took a long sip from his beer. "It's Jungkook, isn't it?"Jimin choked on his beer and it came out his nose again as he swirled around to find Yoongi behind him, his eyes boring into Jimin. He coughed at the remaining water in his throat until he felt able to speak again. "What do you mean?"
Yoongi shot him a look that basically screamed: "really? You think I'm stupid?" But all he said aloud was: "The boy trouble you were talking about. It's got something to do with Jungkook, doesn't it?"
Shit. Yoongi was and always had been too keen. And the way he was looking at him... denying wouldn't help. So instead he looked around and made sure everyone else was occupied as he grabbed the boy's wrist, and much like Namjoon, dragged him to the corner of the kitchen, lowering his voice to a mere whisper.
"You can't tell anyone, Yoongi, please."
Yoongi's mouth dropped open, like a part of him had still doubt his theory. "So.. you actually have something with him? Shit, Jimin! He's fucking engaged!"
Jimin growled and ran his hands through his hair. "You think I don't know? But when I met him, I didn't even know who was!"Yoongi gape even more. "What is that supposed to mean?""It means," Jimin whispered out "I met him in a nigh club last weekend with no fucking clue he was the CEO's son. Fuck, I didn't even know his name."
Yoongi let out a long, rough breath."So... you slept with him?"
Jimin bit the inside of his lip and then slowly nodded, blushing again. He was doing that ridiculously much since he met Jungkook.
"Shit," Yoongi exclaimed, running a hand through his own hair, his eyes shimmering with concern."Was he the guy the other's told me about? The one who fucked you so hard you couldn't walk the next day?"Now he turned a very, very bright red. Yoongi groaned as he saw the truth in Jimin's eyes."And now? Please tell me you're keeping your distance, Jimin."
Jimin let out a humorless laugh. "And how am I supposed to do that? You think I haven't tried? But now I don't only have to see him at work but in private too. And he's not being very helpful in making me forget!"
"Did he... I mean did you... do anything after you knew who you were?"
A dangerous question and his ashamed gaze gave him away."Jeez, are you crazy? He's our boss, Jimin! This could get really fucked up!"
"And you think I don't know that? You wanna know the reason he called me into his office that first day? He told he me he'd fire me if I told anyone about us!"
Yoongi's eyes flew wide and he saw anger shimmer there. Anger and disappointment. "He did what?"
"That's why you can't say anything, please. I don't know what he'll do if he knows I told you."
An incredulous puff escaped the boys lips as he tried to file that new picture of Jungkook in his head."That was such a dick move, I really didn't expect that of him. But.. if that was the thing he told you right after you guys found out who you were... why the hell would you do something else with him?"
And here was the one million dollar question. "He's... fuck.." he exclaimed in a rough breath. "It's not that simple. He just... I mean have you seen him? He's freaking perfect! Handsome and funny and he wont let me go. I was the one who offered to forget it ever happened.""And he won't?""It doesn't seem that way."
Silence spread as he saw the older try to come up with helpful advice, but seemed at a loss for words. "Shit," he only exclaimed through gritted teeth."Yeah, I know."
"What are you going to do now?"
Jimin had absolutely no idea, but he knew he couldn't let what happened in the office happen again. He had to be stronger than that. He had to start thinking with his brain, not his dick.He nodded to himself as he made the decision.
"You know what? I'm gonna talk to him. Make him see reason. Right now, before I forget why I have to do it."Yes. He had to do it right now, or he'd fall deeper into it than he already was.
"Wait-" Yoongi snapped catching his wrist as Jimin had already turned to find the youngest. "Are you sure you wanna do this here? Today?"
"I have to," he croaked out. Yoongi didn't understand. Jimin had to make the boundaries clear. If he stood any chance of either establishing a professional work-relationship with Jungkook, or even try to become friends. But nothing else.
Yoongi shot him a long, concerned look, but then bobbed his head slightly. "Okay. But be careful, okay? I know how... nasty you can be if you want to. I saw you destroy some of the other Team Leaders in debates and you can be scary as shit. And I really don't wanna work under anyone else than you."
Jimin swallowed hard, but for some reason, he wasn't afraid Jungkook was going to fire him. "I know what I'm doing."
Ha! That was such a lie, and even Yoongi knew that, but he still let him go and Jimin took up all his courage and ascended the stairs he had seen Namjoon and Jungkook disappear.
----------------◀ ▶----------------
There are no comments yet. Log in to be the first to leave a review!







