Stigma Love's Algorithm [ A BTS x Reader Poly ]

Chapter 49: Proof, Power, and Payback ⚠️

His voice was almost amused.
Then-softly, cruelly-

"Tell me, how reasonable were you when you turned a broken boy away because he had less money than his abusers?"

Silence.

Seokjin tilted his head. "Did you think there'd be no consequences?"

He exhaled, straightening his cuffs.

"Let me make something clear."

He met their eyes.

"I am not a very patient person."

Silence.

Thick. Unforgiving.

"Try me."

Yi Jun trembled.
CEO Lim swallowed.

The temperature in the room dropped.

Kim Seokjin stood tall-unmoving, unyielding, untouchable.

Yi Jun wiped his damp palms against his slacks, his breathing shallow. Across from him, CEO Lim struggled to keep his composure, his lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line.

Their arrogance had evaporated.
What remained was fear.

"Mr. Kim," Lim finally managed, voice forced into something almost resembling diplomacy. "We understand that this is a sensitive situation, but surely there is room for-"

"For what?"

Seokjin's voice cut through the air like a blade.

The CEO swallowed. "For- for negotiation."

Seokjin's lips curled, slow and deliberate.
"Negotiation."

He let the word sit between them, stretching the silence until it hurt.
Then-he took a step forward.

Yi Jun and CEO Lim visibly tensed.

Seokjin exhaled, slow and controlled, his voice silken and lethal.
"Tell me, gentlemen... what do you believe is left to negotiate?"

Yi Jun licked his lips, scrambling for something-anything-to regain footing. "Mr. Kim, we are more than willing to reassess Mr. Kim Taehyung's case."

Seokjin's gaze remained cold, deadly.
"Oh?"

Yi Jun nodded, seizing the small opening. "Yes, in fact-if he still requires legal representation, we would be happy to provide our-"

Seokjin's eyes flicked to him, and Yi Jun immediately shut his mouth.

Because that single glance was enough.

Enough to crush the illusion that they had any control over this conversation.
Enough to remind them exactly who they were dealing with.

Seokjin exhaled, his fingers trailing along the polished edge of the conference table.

"I almost didn't come here myself," he mused, voice smooth, unhurried.

CEO Lim's brows furrowed.

"I could've sent someone else," Seokjin continued, his words lazy, thoughtful. "A representative from my firm, maybe. An associate. A message through a third party."

His fingers tapped once against the wood, the soft sound echoing in the heavy silence.
"But then I thought... no."

He tilted his head, finally meeting their eyes. "This... I should handle myself."

A chill crawled down Yi Jun's spine.
CEO Lim shifted uneasily in his seat.

This was different.
This wasn't just a warning.
This was personal.