The Million-Dollar Lie || Taekook

1

The top-floor corner office of Jeon Group Headquarters felt freezing, despite the afternoon sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass.

Jeon Jungkook sat behind his dark mahogany desk, his icy, unyielding gaze locked on the energetic man pacing across his Persian rug.

"I'm not doing it," Jungkook said, his deep voice carrying a flat, dangerous edge.

"Jungkook-ah, listen to me for two minutes!" Jung Hoseok, the firm's PR Director, insisted, slamming his tablet onto the desk. "The board vote is in ninety days. Chairman Kang's conservative faction is running a smear campaign, claiming you're too cold, ruthless, and emotionally detached to hold majority control. They want a reliable family man at the helm!"

Min Yoongi, Chief Legal Counsel, leaned casually against the window frame, taking a slow sip of his iced Americano. "Hoseok's right for once. If you show up to the annual gala alone, Kang will use your bachelor status to block our European expansion."

Jungkook leaned back, steepling his tattooed fingers. "So what's your brilliant idea? I go on blind dates with chaebol heirs?"

"God no," Hoseok laughed. "Chaebol heirs bring messy family politics. What you need is a temporary, legally controlled contract marriage. Three months. Just long enough to secure the board's vote and host a few galas. Zero feelings. Zero legal risk."

Yoongi nodded, pulling out a sleek black fountain pen. "I've drafted the NDA templates. If we find the right candidate, your personal fortune stays untouched. You play the devoted partner in public, and after ninety days, we file for an amicable separation."

Jungkook closed his dark eyes, his sharp jawline tightening. He hated corporate games, but losing control of his company was not an option.

"Fine," Jungkook opened his eyes, his dark gaze cutting through the room. "Find someone. But they must be completely unconnected to high society, discreet, and capable of keeping their mouth shut. Hoseok, set up a test night with an agency companion at The Velvet Room tonight. I want to see how this setup works before I sign anything."

"Consider it done," Hoseok smirked.

Later That Night — The Velvet Room

The rain over Gangnam fell in heavy sheets, blurring the city lights into smeared ribbons of gold and purple.

Inside the ultra-exclusive VIP lounge, Jeon Jungkook sat alone at a secluded corner booth, swirling an ice cube in his whiskey. His dinner meeting had been cancelled, and he was already thoroughly annoyed. He checked his gold watch. 8:45 PM.

"He's late," Jungkook muttered.

Three floors down, Kim Taehyung was frantically running through the lobby, wiping rain off his oversized cream sweater.

Taehyung was twenty-four, a broke SNU medical student living on instant ramen, black coffee, and four hours of sleep. He wasn't supposed to be anywhere near a luxury club. But his senior, Min Yoongi, had left a critical legal flash drive on Taehyung's desk, texting him in a total panic:

Take the VIP elevator to the top floor lounge. Drop the flash drive at the corner booth. HURRY!

Taehyung swiped the VIP pass Yoongi had sent him and rode the elevator up. When the brass doors opened, the lounge was dimly lit, smelling of ridiculously expensive sandalwood cologne.

He spotted a single, broad-shouldered man sitting by the glass windows. Taehyung walked over awkwardly, clutching his canvas bag. "Um... hyung?"

The man turned around, and Taehyung's brain completely short-circuited.