Chapter 3
Y/n's pov.
The office cafeteria swirled with noise and activity, resembling a beehive on crack. I found myself seated with Hana and Jungkook, our little trio huddled together at a corner table. Lunch breaks were our saving grace, a temporary escape from the soul-sucking monotony of work. We seized the opportunity to shoot the breeze, exchange banter, and let loose for a while.
Lost in thought, I absentmindedly chewed on my sandwich, my mind seemingly disconnected from reality. Hana nudged me with a concerned expression etched on her face.
"Y/n, sweetheart, what's with that look?" Hana probed, her eyes filled with genuine worry.
Letting out a sigh, I briefly lifted my gaze from my plate. "I can't help but worry about who I'll be forced into marriage with."
Jungkook, engrossed in an odd combination of dipping his fries into his coffee, looked up. "Do you even know their name?"
I shook my head, a sense of uncertainty clouding my thoughts. "No, Jimin said he'd send me the details today."
As if on cue, my phone pinged, indicating the arrival of a new message. With anticipation coursing through me, I reached for my phone, knowing it was likely from Jimin, possibly containing the long-awaited details.
Before I could lay my eyes on the message, Jungkook swiftly snatched my phone from my grasp, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw the message. Hana, who was leaning beside him, couldn't help but wear a mischievous smirk.
"Damn girl. You got yourself a catch. I hope his personality is as good as his face," Hana commented, playfully taking the phone from Jungkook's still-shocked face.
Eager to see for myself, I leaned forward and extended my hand, requesting the phone from Hana. With a knowing smile, she handed it over to me.
In the midst of our conversation, Jungkook, recovering from his initial surprise, casually resumed his unique ritual of dipping his fries into coffee before taking a bite, seemingly unbothered.
So there I was, stuck between these two total weirdos, questioning my life choices and praying for a swift escape. But you know what? Screw it! Hana said this guy was hot, and who am I to question her impeccable taste? (Note: heavy sarcasm detected.)
Taking a deep breath, I unlocked my phone and opened the message. The screen illuminated, revealing Jimin's name and a preview of the text. Time seemed to stand still as I hovered my finger over the screen, contemplating the revelation about to unfold.
In that instant, the cafeteria's incessant chatter and clatter faded into the background, drowned out by the pounding of my own heart. The room felt suspended in silence, as if the universe itself held its breath, awaiting the revelation of my uncertain future.
With a mix of curiosity and caution, I tapped the screen, opening Jimin's chat. The seconds ticked by, elongating into an eternity, before the photo finally materialized before my eyes. My gaze locked onto the screen, devouring the photo he had sent.
As the image loaded on my screen, my breath hitched in my throat, and my eyes widened in awe. There, before me, stood a man who could only be described as strikingly handsome. Clad in a sleek black suit, he exuded an air of confidence that seemed to radiate from within.
His jet-black hair was perfectly styled, accentuating his chiseled jawline and sharp features. Dark, mesmerizing eyes gazed directly into the camera, holding a captivating intensity that sent shivers down my spine. Every angle of his face seemed carefully sculpted, and a hint of a mischievous smile played at the corners of his lips, hinting at a magnetic charm that could easily captivate hearts.
The suit clung to his well-defined physique, emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame. With an aura of elegance and power, he stood tall, a true embodiment of grace and charisma. It was as if the universe had handcrafted him to be the epitome of allure.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the image, feeling a mixture of fascination and nervous excitement wash over me. This man, whose name I had yet to discover, had a presence that demanded attention, drawing you in with an irresistible magnetism.
I took a moment to check out the man's details on my phone.
Jimin Park.
Kim Taehyung.
I'll spill the beans in the cafeteria later.
I switched off my phone, staring at the black screen, then glanced at Jungkook. He had that deer-in-the-headlights look, as if he was caught red-handed.
"You know who Kim Taehyung is, right?" I asked, but he just sipped his coffee at a torturously slow pace.
"Wait, Kim Taehyung?! Y/n, that's the young CEO and heir of Kim Groups," Hana chimed in, giggling like she aced a tough question.
I turned my gaze back to Jungkook, raising an eyebrow, demanding the tea to be spilled.
"Alright, fine! Yeah, I know him. We've been good friends for a while," Jungkook confessed, placing his coffee cup on the table, his hands raised in surrender.
"You never told us," Hana mockingly voiced her faux-offense.
"You never asked," Jungkook shrugged, playing it cool.
Jimin strolled into the cafeteria like he was carrying the weight of the entire universe on his shoulders. He flopped down next to me and shamelessly snatched my coffee, taking a huge sip.
"Well, if you leave too, I might as well just drop dead," Jimin moaned, wiping his face with his hands.
"What do you mean, 'when I leave'?" I asked, utterly bewildered.
Jimin stared at me as if I were spouting nonsense, when clearly it should be the other way around.
"Wait, you seriously have no idea?" Jimin asked, sitting up straight now.
"What?"
"Oh, you'll be working as his secretary after you get married. It's one of the fabulous deals," Jimin explained sarcastically.
I looked at him with a hurt expression. It wasn't his fault, but I couldn't bring myself to hate my parents. They were the ones responsible for this mess, but I could never turn my back on them.
The idea of this marriage didn't sit well with me, but I had no say in the matter. If they had bothered to ask my opinion, I wouldn't have dared to decline. Obviously, I would've said, "Sure, go ahead, ruin my life," because my parents mean everything to me. But no, they didn't even bother to ask.
"Y/n, want to run away with me? Screw this marriage. Let's live happily ever after," Hana said, pulling her chair next to me and holding my face in her hands.
I snapped out of my thoughts and realized tears were streaming down my cheeks. Hana wiped them away with her thumb. I managed to smile.
"If things get too unbearable, count me in. I'll be packed and ready to escape this misery," I said, hugging her tightly and letting out a relieved giggle. It felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders.
I'm so grateful to have Hana by my side. If someone asked me who the most amazing person in my life was, the answer would obviously be Hana. She's my soulmate, my best friend.
"Anyway, do you want to hear more about him or should I read the room and come back later?" Jimin asked, casually sipping my coffee like he owned it.
"Before you spill the beans about him, enlighten me about these wonderful deals in this marriage," I said, sitting up straight and staring directly at Jimin.
"I don't have all the juicy details, but I'll give you the lowdown on what I know," he paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "The Kim Group has been itching for a joint venture project for ages, and they couldn't find the right partner."
"Oh, here comes the cliché story," Jungkook chimed in, earning a death glare from Jimin. Jungkook just shrugged and went back to dipping his fries in his coffee.
"So, as you all know, our company is on the verge of collapse, and we desperately needed a lifeline to survive. That's when the chairman of the Kim Group came up with this brilliant idea: his precious son marrying you," Jimin continued.
"Why, though? Can't they just go ahead with the venture without involving me?" I sighed and groaned in exasperation.
"Beats me, but Uncle jumped at the opportunity. Another delightful part of the deal is that you get to work with Taehyung on this project," Jimin commented, giving me a look as if I had more burning questions to be answered.
"Great, thanks for the enlightening details," I replied with a sigh.
"Now, now, spill the tea about him," Hana said, wiggling her eyebrows eagerly.
"Well, let's see. He's 28 years old, just a year older than you. Oh, and he's pretty smart. Anything else?" Jimin asked Jungkook, who let out a sigh.
"Oh, yeah. He has two siblings named Namjoon and Jieun. Namjoon is the big shot running Kim Entertainment, and Ji-eun is off doing her thing in college," Jungkook continued, while Jimin took over the storytelling duties.
"We actually became friends back in college. Gotta be honest, though, his personality isn't exactly top-notch. It's like being friends with a walking red flag, but hey, we're not looking to date him, right? You feel me?" Jimin questioned.
"Oh totally. Take Kook here, for example. He's a walking red flag, but we still hang out with him," Hana chimed in, pointing at Jungkook, who gave her an offended look.
"Got it!" I interjected, rolling my eyes and contemplating the absurdities of life.
"Oh, and by the way, Jin hyung wanted me to tell you that there's a date scheduled for tomorrow with Mr. Red Flag over there," Jimin dropped the bombshell, and I stared at him in disbelief.
"What? Seriously?"