DISTORTED DESIRE | JIKOOK (DISCONTINUED)

2. THE HANDSOME STRANGER

Jimin emails the final copy of the advertising project to his department manager, sighing heavily as soon as he sees that it's been successfully submitted. His eyes wander the office and he feels immediate relief in knowing that he finished his work early and that for once, he isn't the last person to leave.

In spite of the chilly weather the day prior, tonight seems oddly nice. There isn't a single snowflake in sight and the weather looks promising. He packs his things into his bag, closing things down for the night before pushing his chair in.

Content. Jimin smiles to himself softly as he approaches the door to the office. His fingers curl around the handle with an eagerness to pull until a hand is felt on top of his own. He looks to his right at the familiar sight of a grumpy department manager. He pulls his hand out from beneath his, smile fading within a second.

"Sajangmin?" Jimin utters, holding the strap of his bag with both hands.

"Where are you going?" he asks, taking a glance at the expensive watch around his wrist.

"I finished all of my projects. I was hoping to head out a little bit early since I've been staying so late, recently," Jimin replies doubtfully.

He shakes his head and Jimin feels like a child being scolded. "That's not how it works. I'd like to have a word with you in my office. Follow me," he demands.

Jimin exhales quietly, trailing behind him. Despite his respectable level of confidence, every time he's having a conversation with his boss, he immediately feels inadequate. Not only in relation to his work, but simply as a person. He hasn't noticed this treatment with any of his other coworkers and it makes him wonder why he could be any different.

"Take a seat," he says as soon as they make it into his office.

Doing so stiffly, Jimin takes a seat on the small sofa in front of the man's desk. He watches with hooded eyes as he leans against the front of it, crossing his arms. If he was handsome, maybe the constant belittling would somehow be more tolerable. But he's an old, miserable man that finds joy in straining his employees.

"How have you been feeling lately?" he questions.

Jimin blinks at him, dumbfounded by such an odd question. He doesn't recall a time he's ever been asked, especially by his boss.

"Okay, I guess. I'm still a little sore, but it's nothing I can't handle," he replies, feeling his phone buzz from the inside of his pocket. He ignores it for now.

"That's good. Great, even," he adds. "I have a favour to ask of you. I believe that among your peers, you're the only one capable enough to reach my expectations."

Jimin has difficulty processing the man's words. Or maybe it's that he refuses to believe that he has yet another task to pawn off on him, only after just busting his ass - quite literally - to complete one.

"What is it?" he asks.

"It's something quite different than what we're used to and what we've done presently at the company," he answers while approaching the sofa, taking a seat next to Jimin.

Jimin scoots a little to the left, hoping that his boss won't notice. He flashes a weak smile, nodding his head in response, pushing him to continue.

"The company has done substantially well on it's own. But an opportunity has developed recently and we've been offered the opportunity to collaborate with another business that has extended it's organization outside of the country," he explains, eagerly awaiting a response.

The offer sounds tempting. Collaborating with a company that has a larger band of consumers could be incredibly advantageous to not only the business he's currently working for, but also himself. He glances as his boss who watches him fixedly.