Indebted...

Part-17

Jungkook's pov

I lifted my highball glass and sipped at my drink; the fruity taste burst on my tongue.

Mouthing the lyrics to the song playing, I glanced around the upscale bar. It was trendy with its red, gold, and black color scheme. It wasn't crowded, but it was busy. Patrons drank, talked, laughed, and even sang along to the music.

As I'd arranged the previous day, I'd come here straight from work with Jimin and some of our coworkers. Since I'd forgotten to tell Sam and Taehyung about it, I'd earlier rattled off a quick text message to the driver, informing him that I'd be taking a cab home tonight. I'd also texted Taehyung— who was attending another late dinner meeting—to say that I wouldn't be back at his house until late.

Jimin took my hand and admired my rings. "I just love these. I don't know why you won't let me try them on. I'll give them straight back."

"You don't think Taehyung-sshi would freak?"

"He'd never know."

"We're surrounded by coworkers who'd totally tell him."

His shoulders lowered. "Yeah, you're right." He leaned closer and said, "Sorry that some of them are being weird toward you—I didn't expect that. They don't act that way at work."

They did; Jimin just hadn't been around to see it. "But now they're not at Kim-Verse and there's no Taehyung around to fire them, so they feel comfortable being rude."

The two women who usually gave me attitude at work, Rosie and Lily, were now leaning into each other and whispering while staring at me. They also let out the occasional snicker. Ugh. Whatever. The guys were worse. A few of them kept making passive aggressive remarks and jokey comments that weren't actually funny.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that the ones being rude are either guys/girls you and Taehyung turned down. They're just bitter. And jealous. And having an ego-related crisis because they were rejected in favor of someone else."

"Hmm-mmm." I shifted slightly, making the red leather cushion beneath me squeak a little. The sofa was long and stylish, much like many of the others that lined the walls of the bar. Not comfier than the furniture at Taehyung's place, though. Speaking of which ... "When are you finally going to get over your aversion to my house? Every time Jin hyungie and I try and plan for the three of us to have a guys' night there, you put us off."

"I don't have an aversion to your house. I've told you, it would just feel weird to hang out in my boss's home."

"It's my home, too." I placed my glass on the square napkin beside the lemon wedge I'd fished out of the drink. "And it's not like you'll have to hang with him. He'll make himself scarce to give us privacy."

"I know, but ... I would just find it super hard to relax there. It's Taehyung's haven. He doesn't even like having people in his office much. I'd feel out of place. Like I shouldn't be there. Also, I'm not really in a rush to step into the home of a psych—"

"And we're done."

Jimin gave a little huff. "Look, if you don't want to see the dark side of him, that's fine. But blinding yourself to it won't change that it's there."

"People can have a dark side without also having asocial personality disorder. Now stop trying to change the subject and tell me you're going to get over your issues to enjoy a night in with me and Jin hyungie."

Just then, the two obnoxious Kim-Verse guys who'd disappeared to the bar returned to our group. One of them, Jeff, stumbled backwards, almost knocking into a server who held a tray of colorful drinks above her head. Laughing at himself, Jeff slumped into the chair opposite me. His eyes hardened when they met mine. "Ah, Jungkookie, Jungkookie, Jungkookie. You know, I really didn't take you for a gold-digger." Wow, he'd really gone there.