Reliability Kth

reliability • kth

pairing: taehyung x reader 

chapters: 10

genre: drama, light angst 

rating: pg-13 | p-15 (final chapter)

warnings: cursing, sensual innuendos (and later on) kissing, implied mental health struggles, brief description of panic attack

au: ceo/office 

trope: enemies to friends to lovers 

tags: ceo!taehyung, office!au, best friend!yoongi, unresolved emotional tension, mutual pining, slow burn 

crosspost: ao3

summary: a predictable mistake in buying shares becomes the perfect opportunity for taehyung to show everybody in the company no one is above his rules. what he didn’t know was that his plan would backfire making him question what the real meaning of trust is

☆ disclaimer: this is a work of fiction taken from the depths of my imagination, which takes place in an alternative universe (AU) and has no real connection with people, places or organizations. everything you will read is fictional and created by me. i do not authorize its reproduction, translation or publication, partially or entirely © mrsparknamjoon

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CHAPTER 01: the linchpin ↳ word count: 1.900 ↳ release date: december 11th, 2020 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 02: family matters ↳ word count: 2.155 ↳ release date: december 20th, 2020 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 03: a little honesty never killed anyone ↳ word count: 1.671 ↳ release date: january 7th, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 04: take it back ↳ word count: 2.750 ↳ release date: january 14th, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 05: once upon a time ↳ word count: 3.184 ↳ release date: january 17th, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 06: too blind to see ↳ word count: 2.258 ↳ release date: february 8th, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 07: a double-edged sword ↳ word count: 4.738 ↳ release date: february 22nd, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 08: hanging by a thread ↳ word count: 2.909 ↳ release date: march 22nd, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 09: careful decision, heartful declaration ↳ word count: 4.197 ↳ release date: march 28th, 2021 ↳ revised in: september 25th, 2021

CHAPTER 10: what do you see? ↳ word count: 5.662 ↳ release date: january 25th, 2022

Me too.. too blind to see.. ahh... wt will happen...

the real question i wanna know is: what do you think will happen? 😏 i feel a plot twist coming soon though

When will the nxt part comes..

oh hey anon! do you mean for reliability? i have two chapters coming up later in the week. thanks following along, i appreciate you ^_^

[+18] like no other • kth one shot

pairing: taehyung x reader 

word count: 6.937

genre: smut 

rating: +18 | explicit 

warnings: strong language, teasing, dirty talk, oral [f receiving], fingering, orgasm delay/denial, praise kink, sir kink, creampie, nipple play, rough sex, unprotected sex

au: exes 

trope: sex with the ex 

tags: shameless smut, big dick!taehyung, possessive!taehyung, best friend!jimin, best friend!yoongi

crosspost: ao3

summary: great chemistry is an extreme waste when people are terrible at communication and feelings.

☆ disclaimer: this is a work of fiction taken from the depths of my imagination, which takes place in an alternative universe (AU) and has no real connection with people, places or organizations. everything you will read is fictional and created by me. i do not authorize its reproduction, translation or publication, partially or entirely © mrsparknamjoon

♡ A/N: this is my very first attempt to write smut so please bear with me lmao. i wanna thank my best friend tai (and the biggest taehyung whore i know) for pushing me out of my comfort zone and believing i could do it. your support is everything, I LOVE YOU!! oh and the inspiration behind this story was the song F&MU by kehlani. i truly hope you all like it, xx

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She loved to go out but hated having to sail among the sea of people inside LOVEMAZE, one of the best and most popular clubs in Seoul. Y/N was looking for her best friend, who was supposed to be in the VIP booth on the far right, but she wasn't. Around Y/N, familiar faces became clearer as she crossed the dance floor.  

Taehyung on the other hand was sitting in the corner of the bar, almost hidden from the rest of the crowd. Beside him was Jimin, best friend since middle school, and right in front was Yoongi, the best bartender in town and practically his personal therapist. The three of them had known each other for a long time, well before LOVEMAZE existed, and it was very common to get together on days like today to relax and have fun. Except for Yoongi, of course, who walked back and forth behind the counter serving as many people as possible.

While Y/N and Taehyung remained oblivious to each other's presence, she went to the ladies' room, almost positive she would find her friend there and he asked Yoongi for another old fashioned.

“Already, man?" Yoongi narrowed his eyes, “I just made you one."

“I’m thirsty" Taehyung snarled.

“You look tense" Jimin pointed out, taking a sip of his negroni.

Taehyung ignored him.

“I’m serious. You’ve been acting weird for almost a month now” Jimin continued, paying no mind to his best friend attitude.

“I’m straight, Jimin, don’t worry about it" he answered, “Just work stuff."

“Yeah, right, did Y/N perhaps change her name to ‘work’ and this is your subtle way of delivering me the news?” Jimin sneered.

“Now why would you even bring her up, Jimin?” Yoongi asked, putting the drink he just made in front of Taehyung.

Jimin rolled his eyes and took another sip of his own.

Back in the ladies' room, Y/N found her friend washing her hands and greeted her through the mirror.

“There you are!” she said with hands on her hips.

“Oh, I’m sorry babe, totally forgot I was supposed to meet you at the booth”

“It’s okay" said Y/N, “But don’t you think this club is way too crowded for a Thursday night?" she looked around and even in the bathroom there were too many people, “I mean, what is up with you asking me to come on such short notice?” she opened her clutch and grabbed her lipstick.

“You work too much, you need to let loose more often" her friend pouted as Y/N applied the product on her luscious lips, “I feel like I don’t see you anymore.”

Y/N laughed at her friend's neediness.

“It’s true!" her friend laughed back, “And there might be some friends I want you to meet, you know? Very casual stuff”

“Ah… A-ha!” Y/N pointed the lipstick to her best friend.

“What?" she faked surprise.

“You’re always trying to set me up with someone" Y/N rubbed her lips together.

“There are worse friends out there than me, you know?”

“Of course there are!" Y/N bumped her friend’s shoulder, “For tonight though I just need you to let me enjoy myself, okay?” she pleaded with a soft smile, “Let’s go get some drinks and dance until our feet bleed! Come on" pulling her friend’s arm.

Both YN's best friend, Yoongi and Jimin were trying to distract the two of them from their own thoughts. It had been about 3 weeks since they had broken up (for probably what it seemed like the millionth time in just the last six months) and it was becoming increasingly unbearable to watch this endless soap opera.

“Where is everyone?” said Taehyung, looking around the club as he turned the drinking glass in his hand.

“Hobi is here, but I don’t know exactly where" Jimin looked over his shoulder to the dance floor, “Maybe dancing. You know how he is”

Taehyung laughed and nodded.

“Namjoon is out of town, Jin said he would try to swing by, and JK is…." Yoongi stopped for a second looking confused, and glanced over Jimin, “Where is JK? I don’t remember him replying to our group chat”

“Got me" Jimin shrugged, “I think he met someone and don’t wanna tell us."

“Oh really?” Taehyung interjected.

“I mean, I don’t know for sure, but he’s being super secretive lately” the other boy responded.

“How come?”

“We used to hang out at his place a lot and I have shown up unannounced plenty of times" Jimin set his drink on the counter and leaned in. Taehyung shifted in his seat becoming more interested in the story. “Last saturday I swung by and he didn’t buzz me in, he said he was busy and that it wasn't a good time" Jimin continued, “It was around 11pm and I came from dinner with a couple friends, right? So I really needed to pee, and then I said ‘Okay that’s cool, but can I use your restroom real quick? To which he replied ‘Uh….fine….but make it quick’ after stuttering a bit’."

“That’s weird" Yoongi blinked a few times feeling confused and a bit tired. “Aw shit, I’ll be right back” he excused himself to help another bartender.

“Oh nice, he was definitely fucking someone and you showed up and ruined the whole thing" Taehyung side-eyed Jimin.

“If he was he didn’t look like it" his friend said, “But it’s possible."

“Good for him" Taehyung commented, “And for us. That way you guys can talk about his personal life instead of mine.”

“We don’t have a choice" grunted Jimin.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Every week there’s a new drama going on, Tae. Aren’t you and Y/N tired of it?" he questioned, “I know I am” and drank what was left of his negroni.

After a few minutes of chatting with the people in the VIP box and some tequila shots, Y/N was feeling her muscles more relaxed and her mind at ease. The last week had been super stressful and all she wanted was to have fun and forget about everything for a couple of hours.

At the moment she was talking to a very handsome blonde man, but for the life out of her, she couldn't remember his name. Did it start with J? Or was it with K? It didn't matter, he was attractive enough and could hold an engaging conversation, but she was tired of talking and decided she should go down to the dance floor. Y/N stood up and reached her hand to the guy.

"Let's dance."

As they were coming down the steps in front of the booth, the first notes of Lay's 'Jade' began on the club speakers and Y/N grinned. She hadn't heard that song in a while and was ready to make the most of it.

She led the way, holding the blonde man's hand, and mingled her way through the crowd until she found a good spot in the middle. Once she stopped, she brought his hand around her waist and he immediately slid the other one too, hugging Y/N from behind and feeling her ass brush against his cock.

Y/N started dancing to the rhythm of the music, lifting her left hand to caress the blonde's head and keeping her right on top of his, which were on her stomach. She could sense his hot breath on her neck and it was so sexy the way he was moving his hips forward that she felt compelled to close her eyes for a second and enjoy the sensation.

His hands roamed all over Y/N and she turned to face him. Hands on his shoulders, foreheads touching. The blonde man smiled and pulled her closer by the curve on her lower back. She smiled back and kept grinding to the song.

Not far from there, Hoseok watched the scene. At first, he wasn't sure if it was Y/N or not because the red light that prevailed in the club during this particular song and made everything look dark and luxurious — it was difficult to concentrate. Partially thanks to the girl twerking in front of him but also because he hadn't seen Y/N in maybe a year and shadows could play mind tricks. He wouldn't say anything to Taehyung until he was sure.

When the beat changed, some light beams followed, and as if God had heard Hoseok's thoughts, they lit up Y/N's face perfectly confirming his suspicions. Damn, she for sure was beautiful but who was that guy with her? he asked himself while holding his date by the hips.

A few seconds later, the song slowed down a bit and Y/N turned her back to the man she was dancing with and started to slide down his body gradually towards the floor, holding his hands for support, and then back up just as slow making sure there was no space between their bodies. Hoseok wasn't impressed because he knew how sexy she could be, he has seen her with Taeyhung a couple of times probably on this same dance floor. Nevertheless, it was still very enticing to look away.

As soon as Y/N stood up again, she felt that the blond man was hard and laughed to herself, closing her eyes. When she opened them she locked eyes with Hoseok. He was right in her eyesight but further back, near the DJ booth, and she wondered how come she didn't notice him before. Well, this song was too good and she obviously got distracted.

She held the stare, still dancing, betting with herself whether he intended to approach and say hello or if he was going to ignore her. Hoseok looked away, turning his attention to the short hair girl in front of him. Second option it is , Y/N thought.

“I need a drink" the girl said, leaning into Hoseok's ear.

“I’ll go get it for you" he promptly replied, finding it to be the perfect opportunity to tell everyone who was at the club.

“Okay, I’m gonna go to the ladies' room and meet you at the bar” she agreed.

"You will never guess who I just saw" Hoseok giggled, putting his arm around Jimin and Taehyung a couple of minutes later when he approached the stools.

"Who?" Jimin asked curiously.

"Y/N" Hoseok replied slowly, almost syllabically. He loved drama as much as Jimin and he made sure to drag the name of Taehyung's ex to get a proper reaction.

"For real?" Jimin turned quickly trying to look for her as Taehyung kept still, eyes on Yoongi on the other end of the bar.

"Yeah! She's in the middle of the dance floor, grinding all over some dude I’ve never seen. I bet she's here with her best friend" Hoseok let go of the boys and leaned over the counter, "Hey Yoongi!" Yoongi was busy mixing a drink and mouthed to Hoseok to wait.

What Hoseok didn't see was how Taehyung tensed when he said Y/N was grinding. But Jimin did and he intervened.

"Tae, don't do anything stupid."

"What?" Hoseok took a step back and gazed back and forth between Jimin and Taehyung. "What is stupid?"

Taehyung stood up and grabbed his drink, making Jimin anxious because he knew that if Taehyung wanted could make a scene and end up shutting the club down for the night. He was weirdly possessive when it came to Y/N.

"Please?" he pleaded. Taehyung just patted Jimin's back and made his way to the dance floor, secretly meaning 'I can't make any promises'.

The moment he left, Yoongi approached.

"Where is he going?"

"To look for Y/N" Jimin answered with a frown and Yoongi couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Y/N? Is she here?"

"Oh yeah, I just saw her a couple of minutes ago on the dance floor" Hoseok said casually, "Which reminds me, I need another salty dog for my date and a beer for me, please" he smiled.

"Oh no" Yoongi bit his hand.

"Please, Yoongi, my date will be here any second and she's thirsty" Hoseok pouted totally oblivious about what Yoongi truly meant.

"Yeah, I know" Jimin sighed.

On the dance floor, Taehyung made his way through the back, just circling the space without actually getting into the crowd. Karma was truly a bitch and as soon as the song went 'You belong by my side, keep you with me all the time' he spotted Y/N all over a blonde dude, making him immediately clench his jaw and tighten the grip around the glass in his hand.

To him, the sight was almost unbearable. The guy had his hands all over Y/N's body and she was enjoying it. Taehyung knew she was. He knew her inside and out. He could see how turned on she was from a mile away and it drove him crazy that he wasn’t the one responsible for it.

As he walked, occasionally sipping on his drink, he kept his eyes on Y/N's movements. She was a mix of prey and medusa if that was even a thing. Taehyung felt hypnotized but at the same time he couldn't care less, he had to get closer.

Once he was close enough to see the dress she was wearing, how she did her make up and every other detail the sketchy lights of the club allowed him to, he leaned over the wall and thought about how pathetic this dude looked with her. They didn’t even make a good-looking couple, what the hell was she doing? Taehyung was a thousand times better. Then the music switched up beats once more and his eyes met hers — she didn’t even flinch, it’s like she knew he was there the whole time.

Y/N held Taehyung’s stare over the blonde guy’s shoulder and even smirked a little bit. She wondered if he was actually here in the club and he was. Thanks, Hoseok! she thought. Her stomach began doing somersaults, barely keeping her from hiding the amount of excitement shooting through her body.

The guy whispered something in her ear but she didn’t even listen, too focused on maintaining eye contact with Taheyung in the back of the club, so she just placed her hand on his nape and played with his hair a little bit. Taehyung cracked his neck visibly annoyed, which turned Y/N on and that was a game she really wanted to play. Just one more time. For old time’s sake, she thought.

Y/N shifted her focus back to the guy she was with, swirling to the beat and trading positions, standing now with her back turned to Taehyung. The blond guy slightly put his hands on Y/N ass, just taking his time with her and enjoying the music, but she had other plans.

“Don’t be shy” Y/N whispered in his ear, “Grab it like you own it." And that’s exactly what he did which made her let out a moan in surprise when he quickly squeezed her cheeks. To know that Taehyung was watching it made her feel powerful. If he chose to dismiss all of this it's his problem. Somebody would appreciate it more than him, that’s a fact. Y/N wasn't sure if the blonde guy was up for the task but he looked so cute trying.

The thing is, teasing Taehyung is so fun and she found herself still doing it even if they weren't together anymore. Yes, completely unhealthy, she knew that, but the body wants what the body wants — or who it wants. If she played it right it wouldn't take long for them to be fucking somewhere and she needed so badly.

Taehyung was starting to get hard watching the scene. She looked so good. Y/N wanted to get his attention and she was succeeding. Seeing someone else being that close to her, inhaling her sweet and intoxicating scent, grabbing that ass, hearing her hoarse turned on voice, just made him want to punch a wall. Why did Hoseok have to tell him that she was here? Jimin was right though, Taehyung was tired of the drama. However, it had become his and Y/N's little thing: breakup, makeup, breakup, makeup. He was getting used to it by now.

When the song ended, Y/N made her way back to the VIP booth. Her best friend wasted no time and as soon as she sat down on the couch the interrogation began.

"Soooo, did you have fun?"

"Yeah" Y/N answered truthfully thinking about how jealous Taehyung seemed, "I actually did."

"You're leaving with him tonight, right?"

"I don't know" Y/N said right before her phone buzzed on the table, "Maybe...." She picked it up, unlocked the screen and clicked on the red dot above the messages icon.

Kim Taehyung [00:21 am]: that shit be turnin' me on, i cannot lie

And just like that YN felt her panties getting wetter. It was ridiculous how Taehyung managed to affect her so much and she hated to admit that he did, in fact, exercise some kind of control over her. The way he talked, the way he laughed, the way he teased, the way he fucked. Everything about him made her shiver and she never met anyone quite like him. He was a cocky son of a bitch and she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of admitting all of that but she guessed he probably knew, otherwise they wouldn't be in this weird arrangement. Were they broken up? Would they get back together? She didn't even know.

The orders had slowed down a bit and Yoongi was talking to Jimin when Taehyung sat down at the bar again. Now it was his turn to be interrogated.

"Is she here?" Yoongi asked, looking over to the dance floor.

"Yes" Taehyung said.

"Did you talk to her?"

"No, Chim, she was busy" he replied, putting a special intonation at the last word.

"With who?" Yoongi was curious too.

Taehyung took off his blazer and started rolling up the sleeves on his shirt. "Somebody not worthy that's for sure.”

"I can't believe you're still into her" Jimin rolled his eyes annoyed with how stupid Taehyung looked right now. He was sure Y/N could step on him and he would be like ‘thank you, please do it again’.

Yoongi tried a more gentle approach, "Are you okay, though?"

"I'm fine" Taehyung cracked his neck again trying to feel less tense but it was in vain, knowing damn well the only thing that would solve it would be the problem itself.

Jimin recognized the signal since he was familiar with how Taehyung dealt with stressful situations. Cracking something was always step one. "No, you're not" he barked.

"Let me get you a refill. On the house" said Yoongi, stepping away from the two.

"Chim, Hobi was right, she was all over this guy" Taehyung began, turning to Jimin and making a disgusted face, "And she was having a good time too because she made sure to show me."

Jimin cocked his eyebrow with a confusing look in his eyes.

"She put on a fucking show for me, dancing, grinding, touching without breaking eye contact" he explained angrily, "She knew what she was doing."

Jimin couldn’t help but laugh. Taehyung was possessive, sure, but not necessarily jealous and he was absolutely jealous right now. It was honestly hilarious to watch him lose control and the little bit of dignity he had left.

"Here" Yoongi came back with a new drink. Looked stronger too. "Listen Tae, either you two work this shit out or you move across the country, I don't know. At this point I'm getting exhausted for you, man"

Deep down Taehyung agreed with Yoongi but it was better said than done, so he just shrugged trying not to think about Y/N too much, and sipped his cocktail thinking how maybe he should go home before he dragged out the blonde weird guy and beat the shit out of him for touching Y/N like that.

Speaking of the devil.

"Y/N!" Yoongi shouted, showing his gummy smile, "What can I get you?"

"A shot of your best whiskey" she winked.

"Not much has changed, I see" Yoongi said, looking to Y/N and then to Taehyung. Was he talking about the drink choice or about them? Neither wanted to know.

"It's lovely to see you, Y/N" Jimin chimed in.

"How are you, Chim?" Y/N got closer and gave him a side hug.

"Good, good…” he beamed. Jimin liked Y/N. “What brings you here?"

"Macallan" Y/N raised the shot glass Yoongi brought seconds before and drank it.

"Right" Jimin laughed as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, "Excuse me for a sec" and left.

"Anything for your friends?" Yoongi smirked, tilting his head to the dance floor.

Y/N knew that Hoseok had told the boys that she was at the club and most likely who she was with as well. She counted on it. As soon as she saw him on the dance floor, she hoped he would run to tell Taehyung, in case he was here too. Luckily everything went down exactly how she wanted to and the loveable (but also gossipy) Hoseok fulfilled his role.

"You're funny" she replied, giving back the empty glass and watching him go make another drink for somebody else.

Taehyung was tired of YN's teasing and as soon as the two were alone, he looked her up and down and commanded, "Stockroom. Now."

Y/N watched Taehyung get up from the stool and pass her by, quickly brushing his shoulder with hers, and heading towards the narrow corridor that led to an area for authorized personnel only, such as the stockroom, manager's office and some other rooms. She could cut through sexual tension with a knife if she wanted to, but she didn't. She preferred to ride it. So she followed him until he stopped in front of one of the doors and pointed for her to get inside.

As soon as she did, the combination of drinks she had before made her feel sassier. It was inevitable to feel horny too. Taehyung was looking so unbelievably hot and compared to the main part of the club, the silence of the room made her feel like they were the only ones within a 10-mile radius. They could be as loud as they wanted to.

“Are you having fun, Y/N?” Taehyung asked, locking the door behind him.

“A little" she giggled looking around the room. It wasn’t big but a good enough size to accommodate a few shelves and boxes filled with the best (and worse) kind of alcohol available to man. It had this dimmed yellow light that set the mood perfectly — it wasn’t too dark so they wouldn’t see each other nor too bright to rip the mystery vibe completely away.

“You have to stop doing this” he warned her, moving closer. His voice was low and the right tone to send chills through Y/N’s entire body. She hopped on the wood table that was right in the middle of the room and with the most angelic face managed to say “It is that hard to ignore me? Damn...”

Taehyung stood right in front of her. “When you grind that amazing ass of yours on another man’s cock instead of mine it is.” He grabbed her hand and placed it right on his bulge. “Very hard.”

“Right” she slowly ran her hand through his length, feeling it twitch below the thin fabric of his grey wool trousers. “But you were the one who dumped this amazing ass, wasn’t it?”

Taehyung hissed at her touch. Y/N had a visceral effect on him like no woman has ever had. She always brought an animalistic side of him to the surface, which he didn't even recognize at times. It was strong and powerful. This kind of match is a blessing and a curse.

“I was just having fun with a friend, don’t need to be so jealous" she laughed with an air of superiority, making Taehyung's blood run faster.

But make no mistake, he could be just as dominant as her.

“I don’t need to be jealous” he whispered in Y/N's ear, what it felt to her as a sensually intimidating way, while his hand slowly moved up the inside of her thigh.

The only thing Y/N could do at the moment was to take a deep breath and control her reflexes because she was ninety-nine percent on the verge of losing it and asking him to fuck her senseless — and that’s exactly what she did, she took a deep breath and went right back to teasing mode.

“And why is that?” she asked, stroking his triceps.

Taehyung smiled against her cheekbone, his hand now close to her core. “Because nobody can fuck you like I can” he said as he swiped his thumb across the lace of her panties, applying a little bit of pressure on her clit and making her gasp.

Y/N grabs Taehyung's hand without thinking twice and drags it up and down. “Cut the attitude and put it on me” she said and immediately bit his earlobe followed by a peck in the corner of his mouth making full eye contact.

Taehyung thought that was the sexiest thing Y/N had ever done. Where did she learn it? Since when she takes the lead like that? he thought. She was always loved to tease and was a soft dom by nature, but she rarely responded with the same level of wittiness. Taehyung always prided himself on how he could catch Y/N off guard, but today she was the one who caught him.

And with that, nothing else needed to be said. Taehyung spread Y/N's legs in one swift motion looking straight into her dark beautiful eyes. He placed himself in the middle, closing the gap between them and taking her face in his hands, kissing her deeply.

Y/N felt as if her skin was on fire. Every inch Taehyung touched left a trace and she loved it. While one of his hands held her neck and the other massaged her breast, his mouth left hers and moved down to leave marks all over her collarbone. But she needed him closer, so she pulled him in by his waist and squeezed his ass, rocking her hips against his. The friction helped but it wasn’t enough.

Taehyung worked his way down Y/N's chest, pulling her strapless dress so her delicious breasts were exposed. He wasted no time and sucked one of her nipples hungrily while squeezing the other between two fingers. She moaned so loudly and it was music to his ears.

“That’s my girl!” Taehyung looked up and smirked, just a string of saliva connecting the two of them, “Always so vocal."

He comes back down but switches breasts, pressing himself forward and making Y/N lie down on the table as he devoured her left nipple. She wasn't much of a breast kind of woman but the way he was working them tonight was insane, she was completely lost in this foggy state of mind. What made it even more challenging to get out of it was the fact that Taehyung was now making his way down her body, now shoving her dress up and he not once looked away. It was so intense, so hot... Y/N couldn't take it anymore.

“Stop teasing me, Tae, please” she whined biting her bottom lip.

“You look so fucking pretty when you beg” he said kneeling and positioning her legs on his shoulders, kissing her inner thighs gently, biting once or twice as he got closer to her center. With one hand still squeezing Y/N's thigh, he brings the other around and starts playing with her clit rubbing his thumb at a consistent pace making an 8 motion and teasing her entrance.

He knew, oh my god he knew. He knew her so well that his talent was indisputable. He’s the best I have ever had, she thought. Taehyung acted with purpose. He got harder just thinking about how much she was willing to beg and now was the perfect time to test this idea.

Y/N felt Taehyung's hands go up to grab the hem of her panties and slowly start pulling it down. She helped him by lifting her hip a little bit off the table and as soon as she did he took them off and threw them on the floor. The cold air from the stockroom hit her pussy violently, making her flutter at the sudden change of temperature. Whilst she wrapped her head around the new feeling, Taehyung examined her body top to bottom, eyes filled with lust and desire — Y/N was the hottest and sexiest to him. She would always be.

“Fuck, Y/N, already so wet for me" he said exhaling the air he didn’t know he was holding.

Y/N laughed but more to herself than to him solely because she knew how much this sight turned him on.

Taehyung goes back to the same position as before, but now one forearm over YN's stomach and one hand on her hood, just above the clit, stretching the area a little upwards so that he could collect her juices with just one flat out lick. Y/N thought her clit being exposed like that bordered on extra sensitivity but it also felt good and she didn't want him to stop. As soon as she made that mental observation he moved his hand to her thigh and began to suck her sensitive bud ruthlessly, alternating between erratic and deep licks with the tip of his tongue at her entrance. The sounds were obscene and Y/N was too focused on them, lost in an intense lust, that she couldn’t help but get more turned on than she thought possible.

Y/N reached her hand down and ran her fingers through Taehyung's beautiful and soft black hair, letting her nails lightly scratch his scalp before deciding on a place and closing her fist, making him moan from the sudden hair pull.

“Oh my god, Tae, yes, keep it going" she screamed as the vibration of his moan echoed through her body in intense waves of pleasure.

He sucks faster, Y/N juices glistening all over his chin. The hand that was on her thigh is now at her entrance, his index finger playing around with her folds. She tugged his hair and he instantly responded, shoving two fingers in with no warning and pumping in the same rhythm as he toyed with her clit, making Y/N jerk and shudder in front of him.

“Mmmmh” was all she managed to say. With her eyes and lips tightly closed she could feel the sweet sweet edge getting closer.

However, that wonderful sensation didn't last long, coming to a full stop when Taehyung suddenly removed his fingers from inside her. She clenched around nothing and immediately opened her eyes only to find him leaving pecks all over her core, then her thighs, moving up to her belly button, her stern, then her breasts, her neck, and finally her lips.

Strangely, she wasn’t mad that he had denied her orgasm, but in fact, a little excited by what was next.

“Tonight…” he mumbled in her ear right after slowly kissing her sweet spot, "...you’re gonna cum only on my cock” and ran his hand up her thigh landing a slap on her ass. “Got that?”

“Yes, sir” she growled back pulling him closer by the collar of his shirt with her legs twisted around his waist.

That was it for him. The growl that left her mouth made Taehyung understand why men dueled a few centuries ago, why perhaps some leaders started wars — it was this primal response the responsible for waking up deep desires within one's soul.

Then he hovered above Y/N for a brief moment, supporting his weight on both hands on either side of her head, so he could bend down and kiss her again. Their tongues explored each other without ceremony or reservation, in a way that was more sensual than weird. Taehyung scooped his hands behind Y/N’s lower back, bringing her up to him and then slowly raising both of them to sit upright. She moved her arms to rest on Taehyung's shoulders, entangling her hands behind his neck and pulling him closer without breaking the kiss. Neither of them wanted to stop, not even to gasp for more air. It was too addictive.

Taehyung took a step back from the table and Y/N followed him plopping down onto her feet. He started taking off her dress and she helped him by wiggling until the fabric fell to the floor. The feeling started to get more urgent as Y/N kissed Taehyung's jaw and neck as she worked skillfully to undo his belt. Before she knew it, his pants and boxers were on the floor too and she took the opportunity to break the kiss.

“You handle it different when you mad” she observed as she pushed him to the opposite wall and began kissing him once more, a bit more savage than before, pulling his bottom lip with her teeth, “I missed it” she laughed teasingly looking into his eyes.

“Sex fire when you in your feels" Taehyung shrugged and slid down his hands from her back to her ass leaving a squeeze before stopping right below the curve. That was him signaling to Y/N he’s about to lift her up and she doesn’t miss a beat once he takes a step towards her to get enough space. Once she’s up and has her ankles hooked behind his back he starts kissing her again and walks them to the table.

Taehyung sits Y/N down and she suddenly breaks the kiss panting heavily.

“I want you to fuck me from behind.”

His breath got hitched in his throat. She was so perfect. Why in the hell did he break up with her? Fucking idiot, he thought.

“God, you’re perfect. Bend over" he commanded.

Y/N stood up and turned around bending over the table. Her nipples were so hard and as they brushed over the wood surface she couldn’t help but let out a small and almost inaudible moan. She spread her legs a little and wiggled her ass, impatient to feel Taehyung inside of her. She was dripping.

As Taehyung watched her do that, he felt his cock twitch, precum making his tip shine. So he stepped in, right hand on his member aligning himself at her entrance, left hand with open palm down, caressing Y/N from the top of her cheeks up to her lower back as he slid in. She was so wet for him.

“Jesus Christ, Y/N” he said, placing his now free hand on where her leg met her hip, staying still for a couple of seconds enjoying how her pussy adjusted around him.

Y/N backed her ass more, making him bottom out — oh what a glorious feeling, he was so big. I’m complete, she thought to herself as holding tightly to the edge of the desk to the point where her knuckles were beginning to turn white. Taehyung started slow but then changed to a faster rhythm pounding in a way that had Y/N moaning shamelessly.

“It feels so good, Tae, I might have to piss you off more often, shit”

He snickered and slapped her ass hard. “You like it when I get rough, don’t you?”

Y/N moved her legs a little bit closer together to make it tighter for him. “You like it when I make it tight, don’t you?” she said between thrusts and Taehyung almost cummed at the sudden feeling.

Taehyung couldn't help but laugh a little out loud. Y/N had this incredible gift of surprising him when he truly least expected it. Fucking her was pure bliss and, honestly, the best part of his day whenever it happened. Which is why it was such a shame she didn't know how to be in a relationship.

So he slowed down his pace and reached in front of Y/N’s tight, which for a second made her think he was going to give some extra attention to her pulsing clit but no, it was only to grab her knee and put it on the table completely changing the angle and making his cock reach deeper hitting her special spot just right. Taehyung bent over and placed a wet kiss on her back. She was being such a good girl.

“Fuck yes, right there Tae." Y/N could almost cry at the sensation, it was all so overwhelming. Taehyung was right, nobody could fuck her like he did. He always knew what to do, what she liked and how to hit it. No man could compare. It was too bad he didn’t know how to be in a relationship. “Harder" she muttered under her breath.

Taehyung slowed down just a bit and rammed more precisely and deeply. His hands were firm on Y/N hips and his fingers would definitely leave the spot sore the next day. He loved some sloppy sex, but he was already so close and he wanted her to finish with him.

As the two fucked the brains out of each other, the same thought hung in the back of their minds: such great chemistry is an extreme waste when people are terrible at communication and feelings.

It would be much easier if this toxic pattern of breaking up and getting back didn't repeat itself so often. Perhaps in the next lifetime, when they finally learn a healthy way to love each other, the cycle could be broken. Until then, all they had left was the brief mutual satisfaction their bodies could provide.

Totally surrendered to the sensation of having Taehyung satisfying her like never before, Y/N began feeling that friendly electricity spread through her body as she was so close to reaching her release. Her legs felt like jelly and she wondered how come she hadn't collapsed yet. She heaved and propped her torso up, bringing both of her hands down from the edge to stabilize herself on the table while she tilted her head back and bounced relentlessly on his cock.

“Tae, I’m gonna cum.”

Between his thrusts, Taehyung quickly slid his right hand down Y/N clit and rubbed it fast with the right amount of pressure until he felt her walls clenching hard and her juices coat his shaft, allowing him to finally relax and reach his high too.

A muffled moan was all Y/N heard from him as they rode their high. She knew the quieter he came, the stronger his orgasm was. She could feel every inch of him and it was marvelous — every throb his thick cock made and every drop of cum. She wanted to say something but she needed to catch her breath first.

Once they calmed down enough to make complete sentences, Y/N brought her leg down and stood up. Taehyung removed himself from inside her but didn’t move, forehead resting on her shoulder blade.

“That was amazing, Y/N" he gushed as he kissed her shoulder. Y/N smiled.

Taehyung turned around and started looking for his trousers. He found Y/N’s dress first and threw it in her direction.

“Why I gotta fuck you up to make you fuck like that?” she asked with a mischievous smile sliding her dress down and fixing her hair.

He smiled and wet his lips with his tongue, running his hands through his hair. “Because I’m not a vanilla man,” he grabbed his boxers and started to clean himself up with it, “and you have taste."

“Had taste. Past." Y/N approached and cupped his face, “We’re not doing this anymore, Tae" she warned, giving him a quick peck on the lips, “I mean it.”

“That’s exactly what you said last time” Taehyung lifted his chin up, looking smugly at Y/N, “We both know it's never really goodbye.” She just rolled her eyes at him and started walking backwards to the stockroom door.

“Bye, Tae.”

Y/N had a love-hate relationship with how presumptuous Taehyung could be. Even though it turned her on, she knew they couldn't go on like this. She allowed this behavior so logically she had to be the one to end it. Stop being so horny, she chided herself. She promised that tonight was the last time, for real, she got Taehyung out of her system. The week was shitty, he was here, he helped and now they’re done.

As Y/N left the room, Taehyung finished putting on his pants and adjusting his belt, throwing his underwear in what seemed like a trash bin under the wood table. He really wanted to make it work, but they had reached a point where it wasn't even a possibility anymore. Maybe it was for the best, you know, never seeing each other again, but something inside of him didn't want to give up just yet because she was, indeed, like no other.

07. a double-edged sword | reliability • kth

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pairing: taehyung x reader word count: 4.738 genre: drama, light angst rating: pg-13 warnings: cursing au: ceo/office trope: enemies to friends to lovers tags: ceo!taehyung, office!au, best friend!yoongi, unresolved emotional tension, mutual pining, slow burn crosspost: ao3

summary: over the course of a month, tae is forced to face his feelings in order to fix things with Y/N. but will he be able to? she has some news.

A/N: a double-edged sword: a situation or course of action having both positive and negative effects. in this particular chapter i wanted to show that even when you have the best intentions at heart, things might take an inexpected turn and get you back to square one

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≡ 24 hours later ≡

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Saturday. 11pm. I was trying so hard to fell asleep but my stupid and stubborn brain only knew how to repeat Y/N, Y/N, Y/N, over and over and over and over again — it was driving me nuts.

Yoon Gi helped. He truly did. I felt so much better after talking to him but to be completely honest he stirred some shit inside me too and I wasn't sure how productive the next few days were going to be. If I can't sleep, how am I supposed to focus on work? Y/N may have quit but I was still CEO and had a lot of people depending on me.

In the dark, the light beams that came in through the bedroom window made shadows with interesting shapes and I stared at the ceiling as if it was going to give me the answers I needed.

I took a deep breath.

They say there are 5 stages to grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I already went through 3 but out of order. Does that count?

At first, I tried to bargain with Y/N. No success there. Then I went to straight denial as Yoon Gi casually pointed out how dumb and blind I have been. Now I'm getting depressed because I don't really see a way out of this. Y/N is gone.

Another deep breath.

Maybe I should go make ramen.

In the kitchen, while setting everything up, I went over different conversations I had with Y/N over the years, looking for any hint that my subconscious could have given me that I genuinely liked her. It was still weird to talk about it so openly, even in my own head. Bringing to consciousness something that was asleep, for whatever reason, was uncomfortable.

I'm not sure why I made a point of burying the possibility inside me. Maybe because I believed she hated me (but if she hated you so much, why did she go to work for you?), maybe because I thought she didn't have time for a relationship (she didn't have time because you loaded her with work, idiot) or it was because I was simply afraid (this seems like the most logical option, congratulations). The dialogue with myself went on for a while until the ramen was just the way I like it and I ate out of the pan sitting at the dinner table.

What do I really feel for her?

Is it attraction? Admiration? Lust?

What do I like about her?

If I text Yoon Gi right now will he block me? Probably.

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≡ 1 week later ≡

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “You have been quiet since you got here, honey. Did something happen?” my mom asked as she calmly sliced her steak. Joining us at the table were my father, my brother, and his fiancee Hyun Jae.

“Don't tell me you lost the exclusivity deal with that Australian company” my dad sipped some of his wine while my mom gave an elusive nudge with her elbow making him almost spit his drink.

“No dad, I renewed the deal” I replied.

“So what happened?” my mom insisted, more concerned now, even making Ye Jun lookup.

“Nothing, nothing” I reaffirmed with a (fake) smile making her smile too. “Tell me about the wedding, Jun. Have you guys set the date yet?” I pointed the knife at my brother and my future sister-in-law.

“September 15th” Hyun Jae nodded sheepishly.

“Excellent! I will ask Eun Ae to block my schedule"

“Thank you, Tae” Ye Jun smiled.

“It will be here in Seoul, a classic but intimate ceremony. We are not going to invite many people, just the dearest ones” Hyun Jae explained. “Are you bringing someone?”

I think she must have asked the question that everyone there wanted to ask because the three heads immediately turned to me. My mom because she was curious, my father because he was surprised, and my brother because of Hyun Jae's boldness. Now it was his turn to nudge her with his elbow.

“You can bring someone, or not, it’s fine, we don't care” she laughed embarrassed. “I mean, we do care, you are very important, we are family…” she immediately corrected herself.

“Baby, I think he got it” Ye Jun put his hand on top of Hyun Jae's, making her stop and breathe. It was actually funny the way she blushed. My brother, poor guy, head over heels for her, admired every tiny detail on her face. They deserve each other.

“You should bring Y/N” my mom commented with a smirk as if she had said the most brilliant thing ever.

My dad looked at her a little surprised, “She's a good girl, but wouldn't she give the wrong impression?”

I didn't even have time to say anything, because my mom already intervened as if Y/N was her own daughter, “What do you mean wrong?”

“No, not like that” said my father, “She works at Vante, she is not Tae Hyung's girlfriend. People gossip, you know Soo Jin?”

“And what do you know about gossip, anyway?” my mom narrowed her eyes.

“I'm right here, guys” I remarked, “Doesn't my opinion count?”

“Right” my dad rolled his eyes at my mom and turned to me, “What do you think? Would she accept the invitation even though she only has a professional relationship with you?”

“Maybe, I'll have to ask her” I took another bite of my food. With my mouth full I can't spill out that Y/N no longer works at Vante. My father would kill me.

* * * *⠀

As I'm walking to the front door to grab my jacket and car keys after I said goodbye to my family, I hear footsteps approaching behind me. To no surprise at all, it was my mother.

“You used to stay longer, you know?” she stood beside me, snuggling to her beautiful peach cardigan. Her cheekbones had a light shade of pink and her hair was up in a ponytail. She looked so young.

“I'm sorry mom, I really have to go”

“But it's Sunday” she pouted, hugging my right arm and stopping me from putting the other side of the jacket on.

My mom had this adorable side that came out every once in a while, whenever she needed some attention. Didn't happen much, but at the same time, it made my heart grow bigger. It also made me a little bit sad too since I knew it was because she was feeling either sad or lonely.

“Yeah, I know, I wish I could but there's a lot to be done at the company and I have to prepare for a big meeting tomorrow” I (white) lied since I'm embarrassed about the actual reason why. A part of that statement was true though.

“I know that excuse all too well” my mom side-eyed me, letting go of my arm, “Your dad used to say it quite a lot”

More and more I see traits of my dad in me and I hate it. I swore from the beginning that I was going to be different. Better. Look at me treating my mom the same way he did for so many years. I'm pathetic.

“Can't you ask Y/N to help you or handle the meeting? Just this once” she pleaded, watching me put the car keys in the jacket’s front pocket, “Your brother's wedding it's in 6 weeks and I need to discuss some things with you before"

“Uh…” I paused for a second. I should have seen this question coming. “Y/N is very busy too” I shrugged nonchalantly.

My mom furrowed her eyebrows.

“Let me check my schedule” I quickly intervened, holding her by the shoulders, trying to change the subject, “I think I can come to dinner next Friday and we’ll talk about the wedding”

“Fine” she sighed in defeat.

I gave her a big box smile and a kiss on the forehead, “Okay, I gotta go now, mom”

As I was reaching for the doorknob she said, “Wait, just one more thing”

“Yeah?” I turned around.

She looked me dead in the eyes, cute attitude long gone. “Apologize to Y/N”

“W-what?” I stammered in shock.

“I don't know what you did, but just apologize” she pointed her finger at me as if I was five years old and just did something naughty.

“How did you…” I avoided her stare, letting out a nervous laugh.

“Whenever we asked about her you gave evasive answers” she said just before poking me in the chest, “And I know you"

This was my problem and I didn’t want my mom worrying about it. She had a tendency to want to solve everything for everyone and I suspect she would also like me to date Y/N. To this day, I don't know what her real intention was in insisting on hiring Y/N, but something tells me that it was love at first sight for my mother — unlike me, which was not even on the 8790th sight. If my mother could have chosen to have a daughter, I’m sure she would describe Y/N head to toe, flaws and all.

“Thanks mom but I'll find a way to fix it” I replied with a faint smile, barely holding it together. If she only knew how I was feeling inside.

“Oh, I know that, you always do” she gave me a wink, “Just remember to speak from the heart” and rubbed my chest.

“I did that. Didn't work"

“Are you sure?” she squinted her eyes.

“What do you mean? Of course!” I pulled away.

“Tae Hyung, you have a terrible way to communicate your feelings” she looked back at the living room making sure no one was close by to listen to the next part as she whispered, “and that's on me and your dad" I laughed and she returned to normal volume, “So I highly doubt you knew what you were doing”

“I asked her to stay, that I needed her there”

“Wait, why?” she grabbed my arm again and led me towards the door.

“She quit” I whispered as we crossed the threshold.

“What?” my mom shouted.

“Shh!!” I said while closing the door behind us and pulling her close to me as we walked to the driveway, “Yes, I fucked up really bad mom, but I know that if I can just talk to her one more time I'll convince her to change her mind”

“Where is she now?” my mom asked, lowering the hand that was over her mouth.

There’s no more hiding, I guess. I need to come clean.

“I don't know"

“Good God, Tae Hyung” she slapped my arm, “How in the world did you manage to lose your most devoted and talented employee?”

“By being an asshole” I confessed.

She rolled her eyes, “Lovely”

The moment we approach my car I suddenly turn around, desperation fully displayed on my face, “Can you just please keep this a secret? I'll figure something out, just don't tell dad yet”

My mom pondered for a few seconds. Not if she was going to tell my dad or not, because I knew she wouldn't do it, but what to say to me next. I could see in her eyes how worried she was and how badly she wanted to offer me some kind of solution (the family's problem solver, remember?). Instead, she just used the old-fashioned threat, “You better!”

“Now I really have to go” I gave her a hug. “I love you”

“I love you too” she squeezed me a bit tighter before taking a step back and cupping my face, “And remember: be honest. With her, and with yourself”

“I will…” I nodded, promising myself that as difficult as it was, I would try. My mom was right and that was good advice.

“And stop being an asshole” she moved her hands from my cheeks and rested them on my shoulders.

That was also another good piece of advice, although more difficult to execute, so I just laughed, “I will”

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≡ 1 month later ≡

 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Right after I got out of the shower, while still drying my hair, I noticed my phone light up and vibrate over the sink. It took me a few seconds to register the name that appeared in large letters at the top: Y/N. I threw the towel away and picked up the device as fast as I could, almost dropping it on the floor. Desperate was an understatement.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Are you at home?” she asked, which I immediately replied with a grunt which made her continue, “Can I come in? We need to talk”

The tone in Y/N's voice was serious but didn’t show anger as I thought it would; not like that day on the emergency staircase, at least. I ran over to the intercom and saw her on the camera. The request was surprising, the time even more so. It wasn't like her to show up here at my house, so whatever she had to talk about it must be urgent. Okay, Y/N was the topic of conversation, but something stirred inside me and I started to feel restless.

“Sure” I replied, pressing the button that opened the gate and ending the call right away.

She caught me so off guard and I didn't even have time to put clothes on! I was still in my bathrobe. Damn, this doesn't seem appropriate. As soon as I heard the front door open, I ran into the bedroom and put on the first outfit I saw, a set of black sweats.

Back in the living room, Y/N was sitting on the couch with her elbows resting on her thighs and her chin in her hands, swinging back and forth. Was she nervous or just bored?

“Ah, hello!” I coughed first to announce my presence, “Sorry, I just got out of the shower”

“That’s okay” she straightened up and smiled, watching me walk around the couch and sit, “I should have given you a heads up before coming and not simply show up at your doorstep”

“You are always welcome” I adjusted the glasses on the bridge of my nose, still unsure of what to say next and somewhat afraid of what she had to tell me, “Did something happen?”

Y/N took a deep breath.

Oh-oh, that doesn't sound good.

“Over the past few weeks, I thought a lot about what happened, about the things I said and, especially about the things I didn't say” she looked away, now staring at the tv on the wall in front of us. “Do you remember that acquisition in Hong Kong?”

It took me a few seconds to pinpoint the memory but I smiled when I did, “Sure, it was your first international purchase”

That day Y/N was so happy and I remember thinking ‘It's just another purchase, why is she smiling so much?’, without even considering how meaningful it must have been for her.

“Yes, but what I remember most vividly about that day was the way you treated me” her gaze now returned to me, nostalgic and a kind of sad, “I felt invincible because you believed that I could be invincible” she smiled without showing her teeth as if the memory itself was a little painful to talk about.

“I thought you knew” I replied frowning, “You always acted like you were” I chuckled and Y/N blushed.

“Apparently, we never properly recognized how alike we are and how we have influenced each other over the years, have we?” she asked.

I thought about it for a moment, “Yeah, I guess you’re right”

“Everything has always been so implicit” she nodded, “At least for me…”

“Of course, for me too. I was never big on words, you know that” I agreed.

“Maybe that was our mistake too” she observed, suddenly making me understand exactly what this conversation was about. Watching my reaction closely, she continued, “You know what I'm talking about, don't you?”

I knew, of course I did, but it is so difficult to say it out loud.

“My inability to say thank you?” I teased, trying to be funny, too much of a coward to keep going. Why am I like this? Why do I have to make things more complicated? It's so simple. She is so simple.

“I was talking about how we both took each other's trust for granted and ended up abusing certain situations, thinking it would be okay and just brushing them off when in fact the chance of us getting hurt and feeling betrayed was pretty big” Y/N shrugged, “but sure, you can be really ungrateful”

Shit.

I must have spent a lot of time staring at my feet, searching for the right words, because she took advantage of my silence to keep talking.

“Precisely because I knew you trusted me so much, it didn't even cross my mind to consult you on such a small acquisition and, at that time, very insignificant and disconnected of Min Industries, because I had done it before” she paused and glanced back at me just to make sure that I was following along. “You, on the other hand, thought that I would stay, even after I was humiliated and hurt because that wasn’t the first time that we disagreed on something and you put on a little show”

Yup, she called me on my bullshit. I really took our relationship for granted. When I think of the selfish way in which I made certain decisions or how I treated her, it almost seems like an out-of-body experience. It is as if I look at myself and couldn’t recognize the person in front of me.

“My mistake was to assume that you knew and respected me enough not to use me as a pawn in a pathetic power scheme” Y/N continued, now with a little more urgency in her voice, “And yours was that I was going to tolerate this behavior forever and quietly; a bit submissively too”

She got up and started pacing around the room, “I should have told you that your attitude bothered me but I was busy and naively waiting for that Hong Kong Tae Hyung to appear. The one who was kind, empathetic, and also funny” she seemed lost in thought but not for long. She then regained focus and asked me with bitterness in her voice, “I wanted to be your friend, wasn’t it obvious?”

“No, quite the opposite” I snapped.

“Since college”

“What?” I widened my eyes, “You ignored me in college"

“Because in the few interactions we had, you always found a way to criticize me”

“Wait, you criticized me” I said, getting up and pointing a finger at Y/N.

She watched me do this and pointed her finger back, stammering a little bit, “I-I did it because you did it first”

“I'm so confused…” I massaged my temples as I walked towards the kitchen. Water, I need water.

Y/N was right behind me. She stopped in front of the island and watched me open the fridge. “You really have no idea what's going on around you, do you? Always oblivious”

“I don’t do it on purpose, Y/N” I justified, slamming the door and opening the bottle of water. My voice came out a little harsh because of the mocking tone she had used before — I couldn't help it, this is how we communicate. She noticed.

“But it doesn't hurt any less because of it” she whispered, lowering her head and staring at the counter.

Even after I realized my reaction was exaggerated and being completely aware that this was the whole point of the conversation, I couldn't hold back the following words and kind of shouted, “Is that what you wanted to tell me? At this hour of the night? That I’m a bad person? Thanks, I got the memo”

Y/N took a deep breath, “I'll let this one slide”

Does she want to lay all the cards on the table? Great, let’s do it.

“You know what?” I started, taking a quick sip of water and closing the bottle, “I've been waiting to hear from you for over a month. I was desperate thinking that something had happened. Now you show up here, late at night, with what I thought would be an explanation or at least a productive conversation, but no” I faced Y/N, my hands resting on the cold marble, fingertips gripping the edge tightly. “What do you want?”

“To tell you straight up I’m tired” she replied without any emotion in her voice, “I'm tired of your games, trying to understand your obsession with rules, sympathizing with your family problems, giving my blood sweat, and tears for Vante, acting like your work wife, giving up quality time with my family or any possibility of personal life” she shifted the weight from one leg to the other and tilted her head a little to the side, “I just wanted you to see me as worthy”

“Worthy?” I asked.

“Worthy of your time, of your friendship, and who knows, maybe something more” Y/N ended with a humorless laugh, the kind you give after hearing something absurd or a bad joke.

“Something more?” I blinked trying to assimilate the information.

Y/N rolled her eyes, “Don't try to be funny now”

“Promise I’m not” I raised both hands.

“Tae Hyung, for God's sake, the tension between us is palpable, it always has been. Can you honestly tell me you didn't feel it?” she leaned over the island and grabbed the water bottle in front of me and drank right away.

“Well, yes... I did” I scratched my head, “but you are so hard to read…”

“That's because you never bothered to get to know me. Not really” she capped the bottle and tossed it back to me, “Back in college you made sure to put up a wall between us. I don't even know you”

“What are you talking about?” I grabbed the bottle with one hand in a quick reflex, “You’re the person who knows me the best, Y/N” I pointed the bottle back at her.

“You only get that impression because we spent hours on end together, but when was the last time you told me anything personal?”

Wait, that was a valid question. When was the last time? I'm sure it wasn't that long ago. Hold on, I'll remember. It was that day... no, it was that time...

“See?” she crossed her arms, taking advantage of my inner monologue.

“We’re digressing” I walked around the kitchen, returning to the couch, “What is this worthy thing all about? Do you…” I paused as I sat down, biting my bottom lip “Do you like me?” I asked.

Y/N, still in the kitchen, laughed to herself before slapping the island's surface, “Out of everything I said, is this the part you’re focusing on?”

“Oh I'm sorry if I'm a little shocked by the ton of information you just dumped on me” I said in a sarcastic tone, getting up from the couch feeling the adrenaline running through my body, it was impossible to stay still. “It’s obvious that I had no idea that you felt so bad working at Vante, if I had known I would have done something about it. I never wanted or expected you to give up your life for me or the company, now I feel bad”

“It is what it is” she put her hands in the front pockets of the plaid maxi blazer and walked towards me.

“No, it doesn't work like that” I shook my head “It’s like you don't know the basics”

Then that's it. We reached the point of no return. With each new information Y/N revealed, more urgent was my need to make everything clear. I was scared as hell, but we had no choice. Either we talked about how we really felt or we would end our relationship for good.

“You can't come to my house and say everything you want to say and hope that I don't say anything back. The last month was a fucking nightmare for me, I replayed that night over and over in my head, dissecting all my answers and finding three new ones, because I knew I made the biggest mistake of my life” I felt like my heart was going to come out of my mouth, blood pumping in my ear, my hands were starting to sweat, “If I could go back in time, I would, but I can’t. And where were you for me to properly apologize?”

“I needed some time” she muttered.

“Yes, I understand, I don’t blame you. But now you’re here. Let's talk!”

Y/N was still standing behind the couch, her facial expression impassive, just waiting for what I was going to say next. I, on the other hand, had already taken off my glasses and moved to the front of the tv, walking back and forth in an attempt to calm down a little and choose the right set of words.

“I know I already said it, but I’m gonna say it again, I shouldn't have humiliated you in front of the shareholders, let alone questioned your trust or loyalty to me and Vante. For that and also for being an absolute jerk most of the time, I sincerely apologize”

Y/N nodded.

“It was never my intention to hurt you, drive you away, or disrespect you. You are the person I admire the most within the company. That day I saw the perfect opportunity and went for it. I thought that if I showed the shareholders that even the “boss’s favorite” didn’t have privileges, of course, they wouldn’t” I said calmly and slowly so that she had time to absorb everything.

“I am obsessed with rules because they help me find order amid chaos” I continued, “I’m terrible with surprises. I hate the feeling of helplessness that comes attached to error. My perfectionist nature limits me more than it helps and if I could change something about myself it would be that”

I walk towards Y/N, the only thing between us is the couch.

“Believe me, I didn’t make a conscious choice to use them as an obstacle to anything, including a relationship. I'm sorry for that too” I rubbed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

“About telling you things about my personal life, I honestly thought you didn't care at all” I looked up to meet her eyes, “Even before Vante, you never seemed to care about me that way” I put my hands in my sweatshirt pocket, “You mentioned the wall I put up, but you must have helped me build it because I also know very little about your life. Have you noticed that?”

Y/N was speechless. From her reaction, I could see I struck a nerve. She was too focused on pointing out my defects and forgot to recognize her own.

“Huh…” she said, narrowing her eyes after thinking for a while, “I think you’re right. Better late than never then”

“What?”

“Eric proposed to me” Y/N stated.

I shake my head, suddenly dizzy by what I just heard. Torn between confusion, despair, and a nervous breakdown, I feel like screaming and laughing at the same time because if I heard her correctly it is ridiculous. 

“Are you serious?”

Was Y/N testing me? I thought she liked me. Up until three minutes ago, that was what she made me believe. I’m not crazy, she said 'something more’, didn't she? So how could she be marrying another guy? And that stupid englishman of all people? It must be a joke.

“Didn’t you want me to tell you about my personal life? This is personal” Y/N crossed her arms, “Eric proposed to me”

“Okay, you are serious” I said to myself, “What did you say?” I turned my face to her, a pleading look on my face. At that moment it was impossible to read her expression and the silence was killing me, “Did you accept, Y/N?”

“Yes”

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𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 ❤ 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸! 𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ revised version: 09.25.2021

02. family matters | reliability • kth

previous | index | next

pairing: taehyung x reader word count: 2.155 genre: drama, light angst rating: pg-13 warnings: none au: ceo/office trope: enemies to friends to lovers tags: ceo!taehyung, office!au, best friend!yoongi, unresolved emotional tension, mutual pining, slow burn crosspost: ao3

summary: let’s go back a few years to see how tae and Y/N’s relationship started and also get a glimpse into the kim family

A/N: it was important for me to start the series with a flasback so that the reader would be familiar with the kim family dynamics and the tension with Y/N right off the bat

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10 years before

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“There has to be someone else” I said, staring at the Seoul skyline in front of me as I pondered all the possibilities with hands in my pockets. I'm taking over the family business and the only thing that scares me is making a mistake when hiring people. Well, my dad scares me, and getting a complaint call from him questioning how I managed to ruin Vante Enterprises in less than 6 months of his long-awaited retirement is not in my plans.

“Why?” asked the woman sitting on the large and comfortable couch behind me. Her thin face and dark hair complemented her porcelain skin very well and she was, at all times, the most beautiful person in any room.

“She’s inadequate” I replied, making her roll her eyes.

“Nonsense, Tae Hyung. Y/N graduated at the top of her class, in front of you much less, and did an MBA abroad” the woman said nonchalantly while taking a sip of her tea.

“I meant in regards to the company's culture” I sat down next to her, leaning sideways on the back of the couch and resting my head on my hand.

“Oh right” she set the cup down on the coffee table, “I forgot that you Kims only hire who you can control”

“Mom!”

“Honey, this is your opportunity to differentiate yourself from your father” she continued, “Having someone you know in a position like this is important in the long run”

At least in one thing my mom and I could agree on: I would, without a doubt, run the company in a new way. I had already started by choosing people who were suitable for the positions and not because I knew them or my family had some kind of connection with theirs. If, by chance, these two factors intersected, great, otherwise, the best resume wins.

“Known is not the same as reliable” I observed.

Still not satisfied with my answer, my mom got philosophical. “Trust comes with time” she started in a tone as if she wanted to pass for a spiritual being of great wisdom, but I knew she was just trying to be a good mom despite not knowing the exact details of what the family business required.

“I still have six more resumes appointed by someone I know” I leaned over to the coffee table and picked up the papers. “Two of them are former classmates too. How about that?” I waved them back and forth.

“If I remember correctly, neither of them made you stutter for the first time in an academic debate” my mom made a pose like she was thinking, crossing her arms and bringing one hand to her chin. How dramatic... and a liar. I didn't stutter.

“Yup, I think it's time for you to go” I exhaled, slapping my hands on my thighs and standing up. “Thank you very much for coming and giving your input on a subject I did not ask for” I continued in an amusing tone, but low-key serious, taking her by the hand and guiding her towards the door.

“Tae Hyung, you know that Y/N is the right choice” she moved the bag handle over her shoulder. “Be smart” and caressed my face.

“Okay” I sighed, “I love you” and kissed her forehead.

“I love you too” she smirked and left.

I went back to the couch and grabbed the resumes intending to read them one more time to be absolutely sure that I had not missed any relevant information. Very conveniently the first one was Y/N’s.

“She did it on purpose” I thought out loud when I realized my mom had deliberately put it there so I couldn't ignore it. 

Very well then, I started reading Y/N’s resume with legitimate attention, trying to ignore the name and photo at the top. I needed to be objective and impartial, a lot was at stake, but to be completely honest, at first, it was difficult because she has some striking physical features, which most men would find attractive but that was not my case. And even if it was, her personality overshadowed everything else to the point of making me lose any interest. After my common sense settled in, I continued reading, paying close attention to her previous work experiences.

“Hmm, this is interesting” I mumbled to myself.

Unlike the other candidates, Y/N had interned at one of the largest financial institutions in the country during college - something I had no idea, by the way, but not that we were friends back then, of course, because why would she tell me something like that? I really had no way of knowing - and I'm looking for people with experience in acquisitions. Convenient coincidence, I like it.

Moving on, I analyzed two letters of recommendation along with her resume and I must agree that on paper she is the right person. Damn it, I hate it when my mom is right! Still, the matter of company culture is real and I think that a person like her wouldn’t do well here. She is opinionated, impulsive, and hates being told ‘no’. At the same time, she was praised for the exact opposite in the letters, and that made me curious. An interview wouldn't hurt, would it?

I got up, went over to my desk, and pressed the button that put me in direct contact with the secretary.

“Yes, Mr. Kim?” Eun Ae answered promptly.

“I need to schedule some interviews next week” I said while fiddling through the resumes and selecting three, “I’ll email you the information”

“Yes, sir”

“Ah, Mrs. Gwa?” I almost forgot. It was better to hide my identity, otherwise, they’ll try sucking up to me thinking it would affect my final decision. And by 'they' I mean two of the three people because Y/N most likely wouldn't even accept the invitation if she knew that I was in charge of the company. “When contacting the candidates, I ask you not to divulge that I'll be the one conducting the interview”

“Okay” she wrote down and I could hear the sound of her keyboard. “Anything else?”

“No, that's all. Thank you”

Between today and the day of the interview, I had to prepare myself for the different reactions I might receive. My position as CEO has not yet been announced in the media and only shareholders know that a new person will take over at the end of the year. They suspect it will be my older brother, or rather, they expect it to be him but to the general dismay it will be me.

Ye Jun is a lawyer and has been involved in the family business since he started reading. However, two years ago in the middle of Christmas dinner, he had a breakdown when my uncles pressured him about some specific problem happening inside the company and he totally lost his composure (with a little help from alcohol, of course). He made a scene screaming that he didn't want that life anymore or even see any of those people again. Then he went on about how much he hated their meetings and the way everyone was fake in front of my father and in private would even criticize the color of the tie he wore. From the corner of the living room, I watched the whole thing go down without a hint of shock on my face because I always knew that moment would come. Ye Jun wasn’t born to be a leader.

The next day, he and my father were locked in the office for almost three hours. When the heavy wooden doors finally opened, dad left looking tired and announced without looking me in the eye, “Now it's up to you, Tae Hyung.” Confused by that statement, I went in and saw Ye Jun with his head between his hands, sitting in the armchair by the window.

“What the hell did you say to him?” I pointed my thumb back at the door.

“That I’m not doing it” Ye Jun replied, lifting his head and interlacing his hands. His posture seemed relaxed as if he were finally comfortable, although there was an uncertainty in his eyes that made me wonder if he was having second thoughts about the decision.

“Do what?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Ye Jun looked at me and smiled.

“Give in to the pressure, complying with expectations, sacrificing my profession, not being myself”

He paused, standing up and holding me by the shoulders.

“I also told him that the best person for the position is you” Ye Jun's voice was full of affection, “It has to be you, Tae” he patted me on the side and I looked at him stunned.

“Dad will never put me ahead of Vante, Jun” I blurted as soon as I managed to assimilate what my brother had just said.

“Didn't you hear what he said to you as soon as he left?” Ye Jun looked confused for a second “Now it's up to you. You are the next CEO” he said in a firm tone.

I suddenly got embarrassed because it felt like I had just stolen my brother's job. “It doesn't make sense, we have opposite views on how to run a business” I looked away and stared at the floor.

“True, you do, but lately he started to realize that the world is changing and that Vante could be much better off if it started to adapt” Ye Jun stated by squeezing my shoulders and bringing me back to reality. “Of course, there is still a certain traditionalism in our field, but every now and then dad finds himself negotiating with foreign companies where the mindset is what sets them apart and he feels conflicted. Do you continue as you are and please national companies or do you adapt and gain visibility abroad? He wants Vante to remain as the leader in the segment but he is stuck in his own beliefs and he knows it”

After this conversation with my brother, things changed and I started to accept more confidently the responsibility that was placed upon me. However, regardless of how I felt, the criticism would come in full force. Many powerful people will question my father's decision and I wouldn’t be surprised if boycotts took place in the first year.

It was with all these possibilities in mind that my first act as CEO was to completely renew the staff, starting with the most strategic positions and closest to me. One of them was the operations manager, who would act as my right hand, valuing Vante's financial success and setting in motion the vision, strategic plan, and goals I set.

In theory, Y/N was perfect for it, but I wouldn't make it easier just because we knew each other. She was very smart and I was sure that the moment she walked through that door and came face to face with me, her demeanor would change and we would start playing a game of chess.

******

I dedicated the entire day Wednesday for the interviews and the first two had gone very well, exactly as I had planned and prepared — what a relief! It was almost 4:30 pm, Y/N’s appointment was the last one and I was extremely curious about her reaction, I don't know why. Maybe I wanted to prove something to her, like ‘Ha, look who’s running things now’ or ‘I bet you never thought you would see me sitting here'.

Y/N was always better at everything and I couldn't stand it. I had an obligation to excel at something. She was not perfect as everyone liked to think and, frankly, to worship. But, even if it bothered me to admit, we had things in common and she was qualified.

“Yes?” I said coming out of my reverie when the phone rang.

“Ms. Y/LN is here, Mr. Kim” Eun Ae announced.

“Let her in”

I heard a light knock on the door, followed by its closing and a few clicks of high heels on the floor coming towards me. I looked up and Y/N was dressed in a black midi-length v-neck dress with a stand-up collar that made her look formal but not old. Matter of fact, if I was actually paying attention I could even say that this specific fabric was made for her body type and hugged her in all the right places, but I wasn’t.

“Hello, Y/N” I said getting up from my chair, “Long time no see!” I smiled and took off my glasses, placing them in front of me next to the tablet I had been holding moments before.

Y/N shook her head holding a laugh as she bit her lip and stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world: “You’re so predictable. I’m amused”

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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 ❤ 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸! 𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ revised version: 09.25.2021