Chains of Command// TK// ONGOING

Breaking Point

The hum of Jeon Enterprises carried on like any other day—phones ringing, pens scratching, voices murmuring. But inside Jungkook's office, time warped.

The board meeting had ended in a storm. Jungkook's fury was controlled, sharp as a blade, but Taehyung felt every cut. He had sat beside his boss, recording minutes, his pen trembling as Jungkook's voice lashed against incompetent board members. Calm to others—terrifying to him.

By the time the room cleared, Jungkook remained at the head of the table, fingers steepled, eyes smoldering with something darker than anger.

"Stay," he commanded when Taehyung tried to leave with the others.

The word froze Taehyung mid-step. His chest tightened, but he obeyed, lowering himself back into his chair.

For several minutes, Jungkook said nothing. He stared at the documents in front of him, unmoving. Taehyung's pen hovered over the page of his notepad, but his hand was stiff, useless.

Finally, Jungkook spoke. His voice was low, controlled. "Why do you keep doing this to me?"

Taehyung blinked, startled. "Sir?"

Jungkook's gaze snapped up, pinning him. "You look at me like I'm both a monster and something you can't resist. And then you run the moment I step close enough to test which one is true."

Taehyung's breath caught. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"Do you know how dangerous that is, Taehyung?" Jungkook pressed, leaning forward. His voice cracked at the edges, like it barely restrained something primal. "Do you know what you're doing to me?"

Taehyung forced himself to answer. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just—your secretary. Nothing more."

The lie tasted bitter.

Jungkook slammed his palm against the table, and Taehyung jumped. "Don't you dare reduce it to that." His voice was harsh, almost feral. "You think I look at every secretary this way? That I can't get your voice out of my head? That I dream of your silence—your obedience—until it twists into something I can't control?"

Taehyung's heart pounded violently. His lips trembled. "...Then why keep me here?"

Jungkook froze. His jaw clenched.

Taehyung pressed on, desperation cracking through his timid mask. "You've fired fifteen secretaries before me. You said one mistake and I'd be gone. I've made mistakes. I've slipped. I should have been gone by now. So why—why me?"

Silence.

Jungkook's stare was suffocating. His chest rose and fell heavily, like he was holding back a hundred unspeakable words. Then, with slow precision, he stood, walked around the table, and stopped just behind Taehyung's chair.

Taehyung's pulse raced. His hands tightened on the notepad.

"Because I can't let you go," Jungkook whispered.

The confession slammed into Taehyung's chest like a blow. His eyes widened. He wanted to move, to stand, to put space between them—but his body betrayed him, rooted in place.

Jungkook's hand touched the back of his chair, fingers brushing the fabric near Taehyung's shoulder. "Do you know how many nights I've thought of firing you? Ending this before it goes further? And yet—" His voice dropped, hoarse. "Every time I try, I imagine you gone. And it feels like losing air."

Taehyung turned slightly, enough to catch Jungkook's eyes over his shoulder. They were raw, unguarded—so unlike the ruthless CEO everyone else saw.

"You're cruel," Taehyung whispered, barely audible. "You say things like that, and then you act like nothing happened. You push me away. You pull me close. I can't..." His voice broke. "I can't keep up."