Work Text:
Title Inspired By Thee Sacred Souls - Can I Call You Rose?
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
The conference room on the forty-second floor of Kim & Kim smelled like expensive leather, fresh coffee, and the particular brand of anxiety that came with knowing you were about to lose.
He sat at the head of the polished mahogany table, perfectly still in a way that took most people years to master. His hands rested lightly atop the merger agreement, fingers delicate, nails immaculate, and he watched Attorney Go Minseok across the table with patient attention. The kind of attention a cat might give a mouse before deciding whether it was worth the effort.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Seoul stretched endlessly beneath a hazy afternoon sky. Forty-two floors up, the city looked almost peaceful. Down there, people rushed through Gangnam's streets without knowing that in this room, Park Jimin was about to dismantle a man's entire legal argument with the same gentle precision he used to fold his pocket squares.
"I'm sorry," Jimin said, and his voice was soft. Always soft. He tilted his head just slightly, and the movement caught the light in his honey-blonde hair, expensively highlighted and perfectly styled to look effortlessly tousled. "Could you repeat that section about the non-compete clause? I want to make sure I understood you correctly."
Across the table, Minseok sat up straighter. He was older, mid-forties probably, with the kind of confidence that came from two decades of corporate law and a tendency to underestimate opposing counsel who wore baby blue cardigans to depositions.
Jimin knew the type.
He'd built his career on the type.
"As I stated," Minseok said, and there it was, that particular patronizing tone men often used when they thought they were explaining something complex to someone who wouldn't quite grasp it. "The non-compete extends for eighteen months post-acquisition across all Asian markets. This is standard industry practice, Mr. Park. I'm sure your client would prefer we not waste time on..."
"Standard," Jimin repeated softly.
The court reporter's fingers, which had been flying across her stenotype machine with practiced efficiency, suddenly stilled. She'd worked enough of Jimin's depositions to recognize that shift in his tone, the way silk could become a razor if you weren't careful.
Beside Minseok, his junior associate had gone very quiet.
Jimin reached for the stack of documents to his right without breaking eye contact, and his movements were unhurried. Graceful, even. He found the page he wanted, Tab 34, three-quarters of the way down, right column, and slid it across the glossy table surface.
The document whispered against the wood.
"Then perhaps," Jimin said, and now his voice had that tone it got in depositions, in courtrooms, in negotiations where the other side had mistaken his gentleness for weakness, "you can explain why the precedent case you cited in your brief, Daehan Industries v. Seoul Tech Ventures, actually ruled that non-compete clauses extending beyond twelve months in technology sector acquisitions were deemed unreasonably restrictive and legally unenforceable under Korean commercial law?"
Jimin leaned forward slightly. The Diptyque Eau Rose he wore, all white peony and lychee and the kind of spring morning that made you believe in beautiful things, drifted across the table.
"That was a Supreme Court ruling from 2019," he continued, voice still impossibly gentle. "Handed down by Justice Lee Myeong-su. Seven to two decision. I assume you read it when you cited it in your brief?"
The color drained from Minseok's face.
"Furthermore," Jimin said, and he was already reaching for another document because he always had another document, always had another case, another precedent, another carefully researched statute that he'd memorized and could recall with the kind of precision that made senior partners shake their heads in amazement, "the 'standard industry practice' you mentioned was specifically challenged and overturned in the 2022 amendment to the Commercial Act. Section 340-2, paragraph 3. The amendment explicitly limits non-compete clauses in M&A transactions to twelve months maximum for the technology sector, with allowances for six-month extensions only under specific circumstances, none of which apply to your client's situation."
He slid the second document across the table.
"Would you like me to read the relevant section aloud," Jimin asked, and he smiled, small, polite, devastating, "or would you prefer to revise your position during our afternoon recess?"
The silence in the conference room was absolute.
Minseok stared at the documents in front of him like they might spontaneously combust. His junior associate had developed a sudden fascination with his notepad. Even the court reporter looked uncomfortable, though she'd stopped being surprised by Park Jimin's depositions approximately three years ago.
Jimin simply waited.
He was good at waiting. Patient in the way that made opposing counsel nervous, made them rush to fill the silence with concessions they hadn't planned to make. He sat there in his baby blue cardigan, cashmere, because Jimin believed if you were going to do something, you should do it well, and let the weight of his research speak for itself.
Finally, Minseok cleared his throat.
"I think," he said, and his voice had lost all its patronizing confidence, "perhaps we should take a recess to... review our position."
"Of course," Jimin said graciously, as if he hadn't just destroyed the man's entire argument. "Please, take all the time you need. We're scheduled until five, but I'm happy to continue tomorrow if you'd prefer to consult with your client."
It wasn't really a question.
Minseok gathered his papers with hands that shook slightly, and his junior associate followed him out of the conference room with the hurried efficiency of someone who'd just witnessed a masterclass in litigation and desperately needed to rethink his career choices.
The door clicked shut.
Jimin waited three seconds, always three seconds, just to be safe, then let out a long breath and reached for his tea. It had gone lukewarm during the deposition, but he sipped it anyway, the honey he'd added earlier still sweet on his tongue.
"Holy shit," breathed Kim Sera, his junior associate, from her seat beside him.
Jimin glanced at her, amusement tugging at his lips. Sera was brilliant, Seoul National, top fifteen percent of her class, and eager in the way first-year associates always were. She'd been assigned to him three months ago, and he was trying very hard to train that eagerness into excellence.
"Language, Sera-ssi," he chided gently, but there was no heat in it.
"I'm sorry, but..." She gestured helplessly at the closed door. "You just eviscerated him. He cited the wrong case and you had the actual ruling memorized. Tab number and everything."
Jimin shrugged, began gathering his documents with meticulous care. Each page went back into its proper folder, each tab aligned perfectly. Organization was the foundation of good legal work, his professor had told him years ago, and Jimin had taken it to heart.
"He relied on outdated research," Jimin said simply. "That's not my fault."
"The Rose strikes again," Sera said, and there was reverence in her voice. "God, I want to be you when I grow up."
Jimin laughed, soft and a little embarrassed, the way he always was when people used that nickname. He'd never quite figured out who'd started calling him The Rose, but it had stuck. Something about the contrast, he supposed. The softness that hid sharpness. The beauty that came with thorns.
He didn't hate it, even if it made him feel slightly ridiculous sometimes.
"You'll get there," he assured Sera, tucking the last folder into his leather briefcase. "Just keep reading. Keep preparing. Never assume the other side did their homework."
"And wear cashmere cardigans to throw them off?"
Jimin's smile widened. "That doesn't hurt."
His phone buzzed, a text from Namjoon's assistant. Managing partners need to see you. 3 PM. Bring coffee, Jin-hyung says his afternoon is terrible.
Jimin checked his watch. 2:47 PM.
"I have to go," he told Sera. "Can you handle the post-deposition notes?"
"Absolutely." She was already opening her laptop, fingers flying across the keys.
Jimin left her there, briefcase in one hand, and made his way through Kim & Kim's sprawling forty-second floor. The firm took up floors forty through forty-three of the glass and steel tower in Gangnam's legal district, and every inch of it screamed expensive, exclusive, elite.
Jimin had been here for six years, ever since graduating top of his class from Seoul National Law, and he still sometimes felt like he was playing dress-up in someone else's life.
He stopped by the break room on forty-one to grab two coffees from the espresso machine, one Americano for Namjoon, extra shot, and one ridiculously sweet caramel monstrosity for Jin, and checked his reflection in the mirror by the entrance.
Hair: still perfect, even after three hours of depositions.
Cardigan: no wrinkles, because cashmere didn't wrinkle if you bought the right kind.
Perfume: probably faded, but he had a travel atomizer in his desk drawer.
He looked exactly like what he was: soft, pretty, underestimated.
And he was very, very good at his job.
pretty, underestimated.
And he was very, very good at his job.
Jimin balanced the coffee cups and headed for the elevator, completely unaware that two floors up, his entire carefully controlled life was about to become significantly more complicated.
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Jeon Jungkook had a problem.
The problem was currently standing in the break room on the fortieth floor of Kim & Kim, adding what appeared to be an genuinely unreasonable amount of honey to a cup of tea, and Jungkook couldn't stop staring.
He'd been at the firm for exactly four hours.
Four hours, and he was already compromised.
"That's Park Jimin," whispered Shin Minho, one of the associates who'd been assigned to show Jungkook around. Minho was young, eager, and apparently incapable of using his indoor voice. "The Rose. He's a legend."
Jungkook had heard about The Rose before he'd even signed his contract with Kim & Kim.
The name had come up over drinks two weeks ago, when he’d told his former colleagues at Lee & Partners that he was leaving. Cha Sungil, one of his fellow junior partners, had been in the middle of his second soju when he’d nearly choked
"You're going to Kim & Kim?" Sungil had demanded. "Do you know who works there?"
"Several hundred lawyers, I assume."
"Park Jimin works there."
Jungkook had waited, but Sungil seemed to think this was explanation enough.
"And?" Jungkook had finally prompted.
"And he's..." Sungil had gestured wildly with his glass. "He's The Rose. He's never lost a case, Jungkook-ah. Not once. Not even close. He destroyed our entire securities team last year in the Daesang merger. Made our senior partner literally cry during cross-examination."
"Everyone loses eventually," Jungkook had said, because statistically, it was impossible to maintain a perfect record.
"Not The Rose."
Sungil had said it with the kind of conviction usually reserved for religious experiences.
Jungkook had pictured someone severe. Older, maybe, hiding softness behind a ridiculous nickname. Someone who wore sharp suits and sharper expressions and probably had ice water in their veins.
He had been, in every possible way, completely and catastrophically wrong.
Park Jimin was beautiful.
Not handsome. Beautiful. There was a difference, and Jungkook's brain was currently short-circuiting trying to process it. Jimin stood by the coffee maker in a baby blue cardigan that looked expensive and impossibly soft, the kind of thing that probably cost more than Jungkook's entire suit. Underneath was a crisp white shirt, and his black slacks were tailored so perfectly they had to be bespoke.
But it was his face that made Jungkook forget how to function like a normal human being.
Delicate features, full lips that curved naturally into what looked like the beginning of a smile, and eyes that tilted up at the corners when he glanced at the associate talking to him. His hair was honey-blonde, highlighted professionally, styled to look carelessly perfect, and when he moved, reaching for a spoon from the drawer, the fluorescent lights caught gold undertones that probably cost a fortune to maintain.
Then there was the scent.
Jungkook was standing a good six feet away, and he could still smell it, floral, delicate, unmistakably perfume rather than cologne. Something expensive and spring-like that seemed completely at odds with the glass and steel corporate environment.
"Oh," Jimin said, and his voice matched everything else about him, soft, warm, the kind of voice that made you lean in to hear better. "You must be the new junior partner."
It took Jungkook's brain approximately three full seconds to realize Jimin was talking to him.
"Yes," he managed, and he sounded like an idiot. He cleared his throat. "Jeon Jungkook."
"Park Jimin." Jimin set down his tea and extended his hand, and when Jungkook took it, he was struck by the contrast. The grip was delicate but surprisingly firm, and Jimin's hand was smaller than his, fingers slim and elegant. "I specialize in M&A. Welcome to Kim & Kim."
This was The Rose?
This soft-spoken man who smelled like a garden and smiled like he'd never demolished a senior partner in cross-examination?
Jungkook held Jimin's hand a half-second too long, realized he was being weird, and dropped it.
"Thank you," he said. "I've heard a lot about the firm."
"All good things, I hope." Jimin's smile widened slightly, and there was something knowing in his eyes, like he was perfectly aware of his reputation and found it amusing.
"Mostly," Jungkook said, because honesty seemed important, and then immediately wanted to kick himself because what kind of answer was that?
But Jimin just laughed, soft and genuine, and picked up his tea again.
"Well, I hope you enjoy it here," he said. "The firm can be intense, but the work is excellent. If you need anything, my office is on forty-one."
Then he was walking away, and Jungkook stood there like an idiot, watching the way Jimin moved, graceful, unhurried, like he had all the time in the world, and tried to remember how to breathe normally.
The floral scent lingered even after Jimin disappeared around the corner.
"That's The Rose," Minho said again, unnecessarily, because Jungkook had figured that out. "Park Jimin. He's never lost a case. Six years at the firm, perfect record. The associates call him The Rose because he seems all soft and pretty, but he'll cut you to pieces in depositions."
Jungkook was still staring at the empty hallway.
"He wears perfume," he said, which was possibly the stupidest observation he could have made.
"Yeah, fancy stuff too. French, I think? One of the secretaries looked it up once. Like ₩200,000 a bottle." Minho grinned. "Throws opposing counsel off their game. They see this pretty guy who smells like flowers and assume he's going to be easy. Then he destroys them with case law they didn't even know existed."
Jungkook thought about the way Jimin had smiled at him, polite, warm, slightly amused, and felt something dangerous settle in his chest.
Oh, he thought. I'm in so much trouble.
By 2:55 PM, Jungkook had completed approximately forty-seven percent of his new hire paperwork, toured three floors of Kim & Kim's offices, and memorized the coffee preferences of both managing partners.
He'd also thought about Park Jimin roughly every four minutes, which was both unprofessional and completely unavoidable.
His new office was on the forty-first floor, junior partners got offices rather than cubicles, which was one of the many reasons he'd left Kim & Partners, and he was in the middle of unpacking his bar certificate when his phone buzzed.
Managing partners request your presence. Conference Room A, 43rd floor. 3 PM.
Jungkook checked his watch. Four minutes.
He grabbed his notepad and pen, always come prepared, his mentor had taught him, and headed for the elevator. The forty-third floor was executive territory: managing partners, senior partners, the kind of people who billed ₩5 million won per hour and had secretaries to manage their secretaries.
Conference Room A had a view that probably cost more than most people's apartments, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Gangnam, leather chairs that looked like they cost a year's salary, and a table that could comfortably seat twenty people.
Kim Namjoon sat at the head of that table, reading glasses perched on his nose as he reviewed what looked like a contract. He was younger than Jungkook had expected for a managing partner, maybe late thirties, with sharp features and the kind of quiet intensity that made you want to impress him.
Kim Seokjin stood by the windows, coffee cup in hand, looking every bit the managing partner who'd rather be anywhere else. He was older than Namjoon by a few years, devastatingly handsome in that way that probably made clients trust him immediately, and according to office gossip, had a tendency to make terrible jokes during depositions.
"Jungkook-ssi," Namjoon said warmly, looking up from his papers. "Come in, sit. How's your first day?"
"Excellent, thank you." Jungkook settled into one of the leather chairs. "The team has been very welcoming."
"Good, good." Namjoon removed his glasses, set them aside. "We wanted to talk to you about a case."
This was earlier than Jungkook had expected to be assigned meaningful work, usually new partners spent a few weeks getting acclimated, but he wasn't going to complain.
"Of course," he said. "What's the matter?"
"Hanseong Group," Jin said, turning from the window. His voice was casual, but there was weight behind it. "They're acquiring Mirae Tech. Five hundred billion won deal."
Jungkook's eyebrows rose slightly. Hanseong was one of the top ten chaebols in Korea, old money, traditional, the kind of conglomerate that had fingers in everything from shipping to semiconductors. Mirae Tech was smaller but innovative, known for their AI research and patents.
"That's a significant acquisition," Jungkook said carefully.
"It is," Namjoon agreed. "And it's going to be complicated. Mirae's CEO is second-generation, Kang Doyun, son of the founder. There's emotional attachment to the company, potential regulatory issues, shareholder concerns."
"We need our best on this," Jin added. "Which is why we're assigning Park Jimin as lead counsel."
Something in Jungkook's chest tightened.
"And you," Namjoon continued, "as supporting counsel. You'll work directly with Jimin on all aspects of the acquisition."
The door opened before Jungkook could formulate a response that wasn't absolutely not, I cannot be trusted around that man.
Park Jimin walked in carrying two coffee cups, and Jungkook's brain immediately forgot how to function.
Jimin had removed the cardigan at some point, it was draped over his forearm, and in just the white shirt, Jungkook could see the elegant line of his collarbones, the slim cut of his waist. He moved with the same unhurried grace, set one coffee in front of Namjoon and the other in front of Jin.
"Your three PM coffee delivery," Jimin said, and there was affection in his voice. "Though I maintain that Jin-hyung's sugar addiction is going to kill him."
"I'm sweet enough already," Jin said, and Namjoon groaned.
Then Jimin turned, and his eyes met Jungkook's.
For a moment, just a fraction of a second, something flickered across Jimin's face. Surprise, maybe. Recognition.
Then it smoothed into polite professionalism.
"Jungkook-ssi," he said softly. "I didn't realize you'd be joining us."
"Last minute addition," Namjoon said. "Jimin-ah, this is Jeon Jungkook, our new junior partner. He came from Lee & Partners, top of their securities division. Specializes in private equity and has a photographic memory."
Jimin's eyebrows rose slightly at that last part, and Jungkook saw the moment he processed it and recognized what it meant for case work, for research, for the hundreds of documents they'd need to review for an acquisition this size.
"Impressive," Jimin said, and he extended his hand again.
Jungkook stood and took it. Jimin's grip was just as he remembered, delicate, firm, devastating, and the floral scent was even stronger this close. Up close, Jungkook could see that Jimin's eyes weren't just brown but had flecks of amber when the light hit them right.
"Thank you," Jungkook managed. "I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise."
Jimin's hand lingered in his for half a second longer than strictly professional, and Jungkook wondered if he was imagining the slight curve of Jimin's lips.
They sat, Jimin across the table from him, which felt both too close and not close enough, and Namjoon slid a folder across the polished wood.
"The client meeting is Thursday," Namjoon said. "Two days from now. We'll meet with both Hanseong's executive team and Mirae's CEO to discuss terms, timeline, and concerns."
Jimin opened the folder with practiced efficiency, and Jungkook watched his eyes scan the first page. He read quickly, most good lawyers did, but there was something almost photographic about the way his gaze moved across the text.
"Mirae's patents are the primary asset," Jimin observed. "The AI technology specifically. Hanseong wants the innovation capacity without the operational headaches."
"Exactly," Jin confirmed. "But Kang Doyun is protective of his father's legacy. He's going to push back on any terms that he feels compromise the company's original vision."
"So we need to structure the deal to give him emotional security while still meeting Hanseong's practical needs," Jimin said, and he was already making notes in the margin with a pen that looked expensive. His handwriting was neat, precise. "Retain company name, preserve certain operational autonomy, possibly keep key personnel in place."
Jungkook found himself leaning forward slightly, watching Jimin work through the problem. There was something magnetic about the way his mind moved, quick, thorough, already three steps ahead.
"Jungkook-ssi," Namjoon said, and Jungkook jerked his attention back to the managing partner. "Your securities expertise will be crucial for the regulatory approval process. We'll need to navigate Fair Trade Commission review, possibly foreign investment regulations depending on Hanseong's international subsidiaries."
"I can handle that," Jungkook said, because he could. Securities law was his specialty, the reason Kim & Kim had recruited him so aggressively.
"Good." Namjoon smiled. "Jimin will brief you on everything you need to know about the clients. I trust you two will work well together."
Across the table, Jimin looked up from the folder, and his eyes met Jungkook's.
There was something careful in his expression. Assessing.
"I'm sure we will," Jimin said softly.
And Jungkook, looking at this beautiful man with his floral perfume and devastating smile and reputation for never losing, thought: I am so completely fucked.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Jimin's office was on the forty-first floor, corner position, with windows that overlooked both Gangnam's skyline and the Han River in the distance. He'd earned this office three years ago after closing the Samjin-Daehwa merger—₩300 billion, eighteen months of negotiations, and opposing counsel who'd tried every dirty trick in the book.
Jimin had won anyway.
He always won.
Now he sat at his desk, a sleek glass and chrome affair that he kept meticulously organized, and tried very hard not to think about the fact that Jeon Jungkook would be arriving any minute for their first official working session.
It was fine. This was fine.
Jungkook was a colleague. A junior partner, yes, which meant he had experience and expertise that would actually be useful, but still. Just a colleague. The fact that he was attractive was irrelevant. Jimin had worked with attractive people before. He was a professional.
He was The Rose, for god's sake. He didn't get flustered by handsome junior partners with photographic memories and shoulders that looked like they were personally tailored by a vindictive deity.
His phone buzzed. A text from Taehyung: heard you got assigned the hot new junior partner 👀
Jimin typed back: I'm working. Go away.
Taehyung: thats not a denial
Taehyung: hobi-hyung says he saw you two in the break room earlier and the TENSION
Taehyung: his words not mine
Taehyung: well
Taehyung: also my words
Jimin turned his phone face-down on his desk and took a long sip of his tea. It had gone cold again, but he drank it anyway, the honey sitting heavy and too-sweet on his tongue.
Taehyung and Hoseok were his closest friends at the firm, and had been since his first week as a terrified associate six years ago. Taehyung worked in IP law, representing everyone from K-pop idols to tech startups, and had the kind of brilliant, unconventional mind that made him either the best lawyer in the room or the most chaotic, depending on the day.
Hoseok was corporate contracts, all high energy and client schmoozing and the ability to close deals through sheer force of personality. He also had absolutely no filter and a terrible habit of pointing out when Jimin was attracted to someone.
Which was rarely.
Jimin didn't really do attraction. He'd dated in law school—a few relationships that had fizzled out under the pressure of studying and internships—but since joining Kim & Kim, his love life had been essentially nonexistent. He was too busy, too focused on making partner, too invested in maintaining his perfect case record to worry about romance.
And he certainly wasn't going to start worrying about it now, just because Jeon Jungkook had a jawline that could cut glass and had looked at Jimin like he was something out of a fairytale during their meeting with Namjoon and Jin.
The knock on his door was quiet, professional.
"Come in," Jimin called, and he absolutely did not check his reflection in his computer monitor before the door opened.
Jungkook stepped into his office, and Jimin's carefully constructed professionalism took a direct hit.
He'd changed since the partner meeting, or maybe Jimin just hadn't been paying attention to the details before. The black suit jacket was gone, leaving him in just a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. It should have been illegal, the way those rolled sleeves revealed forearms that were frankly obscene. Strong, veined, with an expensive watch that caught the light.
Jimin dragged his eyes back up to Jungkook's face and found him smiling.
Not a polite smile. A knowing one.
"Jimin-ssi," Jungkook said, and his voice was warm. "Thank you for making time."
"Of course." Jimin gestured to the chairs across from his desk, proud of how steady his voice sounded. "We have a lot to cover before Thursday's meeting."
Jungkook settled into the chair with easy confidence, and Jimin tried not to notice the way he moved, all controlled power and casual grace. He set down a leather portfolio and a coffee cup.
"I brought you this," Jungkook said, sliding the cup across Jimin's desk. "Iced americano. I remembered you mentioning you liked them."
Jimin blinked.
He'd mentioned iced americanos exactly once, in the break room that afternoon, in passing to Sera while Jungkook had been standing six feet away apparently not paying attention.
"You have a good memory," Jimin said carefully.
Jungkook's smile widened. "You have no idea."
There was something in his tone, something warm and focused, that made Jimin's stomach do a complicated flip. He picked up the coffee to give his hands something to do, and took a sip.
Perfect. Not too bitter, good quality beans, exactly how he liked it.
"Thank you," Jimin said, and set the cup down before he could do something stupid like ask how Jungkook had known to add just a little bit of milk. "Shall we start with the client backgrounds?"
"Please."
Jimin pulled up the files on his computer, then hesitated. "Actually, I have hard copies if you prefer. I find it easier to cross-reference physical documents."
"Whatever works best for you," Jungkook said easily. "Though I should mention, the photographic memory thing is literal. I can recite documents verbatim after reading them once."
Jimin looked up sharply. "Verbatim?"
"Word for word. Punctuation included." Jungkook leaned back in his chair, and the movement made his shirt pull slightly across his chest. "It's useful for case law. Less useful for remembering where I put my keys."
Despite himself, Jimin smiled. "That must make depositions interesting."
"It makes opposing counsel very nervous when I can quote their own briefs back to them." Jungkook's eyes were dark, warm, focused entirely on Jimin. "I imagine you have a similar effect."
"I do my research," Jimin said modestly.
"I heard about the deposition this morning. Attorney Go apparently cited the wrong case and you destroyed him."
"I didn't destroy him. I simply pointed out that his legal reasoning was flawed."
"With the exact page number and paragraph."
Jimin felt his cheeks warm slightly. "Like I said. Research."
Jungkook was looking at him with something that felt dangerously close to admiration, and Jimin needed to redirect this conversation immediately before he did something catastrophically stupid like blush.
He pulled out the physical files, two thick folders, one for Hanseong Group and one for Mirae Tech, and slid them across the desk.
"Hanseong is the acquirer," Jimin began, shifting into professional mode because this he could handle. This was safe. "Founded in 1952, they're one of Korea's oldest chaebols. Primary interests in shipping, construction, and semiconductor manufacturing. They've been diversifying into tech for the past decade, but their innovation pipeline has been slow."
Jungkook opened the Hanseong folder and began reading. His eyes moved across the page with that same focused intensity, and Jimin watched him process information at a speed that was genuinely impressive.
"They want Mirae's AI patents," Jungkook observed after approximately thirty seconds. "Specifically the natural language processing and machine learning algorithms. The rest of the company is almost incidental."
"Exactly." Jimin pulled up a chart on his laptop, turned it so Jungkook could see. "Mirae's patents are valued at roughly ₩400 billion. The company itself, without those patents, is worth maybe ₩100 billion. Hanseong is paying ₩500 billion total, which means they're essentially buying the IP and getting the operational infrastructure as a bonus."
"Smart," Jungkook murmured. He was still reading, fingers tracing down the page, and Jimin found himself watching those fingers with more attention than was strictly appropriate. "What's Mirae's position?"
"Desperate but proud." Jimin switched to the Mirae file. "They've been hemorrhaging money for three years. Brilliant research, terrible commercialization. The CEO, Kang Doyun, kept his father's vision of pure innovation over profit, which is admirable but financially unsustainable."
"So he needs the buyout, but he's going to hate every minute of it."
"Precisely." Jimin leaned back in his chair, pleased that Jungkook was following his analysis so quickly. "Our job is to structure the deal so he feels like he's preserving his father's legacy while Hanseong gets what they actually want."
"The patents and the talent."
"Yes."
Jungkook looked up from the folder, and his eyes met Jimin's. "You're very good at this."
It wasn't flirtatious, or at least, it didn't sound flirtatious. It sounded genuine. Respectful.
Somehow that made it worse.
"Thank you," Jimin said, and cleared his throat. "We should discuss the regulatory concerns. That's your area of expertise."
"Right." But Jungkook didn't look away. "Can I ask you something first?"
"Of course."
"The perfume you wear." Jungkook's voice was casual, curious. "What is it? I've been trying to figure it out all day."
Jimin's hand froze halfway to his teacup.
This was, this was definitely flirting. This was absolutely, unmistakably flirting, and Jimin needed to shut it down immediately because they were colleagues and professionals and this was completely inappropriate.
"Diptyque Eau Rose," he heard himself say instead.
Jungkook's smile was slow, devastating. "It suits you."
"I, thank you." Jimin picked up his teacup just to have something to do with his hands, even though it was empty. "We should really focus on the case."
"Of course." Jungkook's tone was perfectly professional, but his eyes were still warm, still focused on Jimin in a way that made breathing slightly difficult. "Regulatory concerns. The Fair Trade Commission will review the acquisition for potential monopoly issues."
Jimin grabbed onto the subject change like a lifeline. "Hanseong already has significant semiconductor holdings. Will the AI patents create competition concerns?"
"Potentially." Jungkook pulled out his laptop, sleek, expensive, efficiently organized. "But we can argue separate market segments. Hanseong's semiconductors are hardware-focused. Mirae's AI is software and algorithm development. Different applications, different customer bases."
"What about the foreign investment angle?"
"Hanseong has subsidiaries in the US and EU, but the controlling stake is still domestic. As long as the patents remain under Korean corporate control, we should be fine." Jungkook was typing as he talked, pulling up what looked like regulatory code. "The bigger issue is going to be shareholder approval on both sides."
Jimin nodded, making notes. This was better. This was safe. Just two lawyers discussing a case, nothing inappropriate about it.
Then Jungkook looked up and said, "You're beautiful when you're thinking," and Jimin's pen skidded across the page.
"I'm sorry?" His voice came out higher than intended.
"Your expression," Jungkook clarified, completely unrepentant. "When you're working through a problem. You get this little crease right here..." He gestured vaguely at his own forehead. "...and you bite your lower lip. It's distracting."
Jimin stared at him.
Jungkook smiled, easy and confident and completely shameless.
"I, that's..." Jimin searched for words, found none that were appropriate. "We're working."
"We are," Jungkook agreed. "I can multitask."
"Jungkook-ssi..."
"You can call me Jungkook. We're going to be working closely together." He leaned forward slightly, elbows on Jimin's desk, and the movement brought him closer. "Very closely, I imagine. Late nights, high stress. We should be comfortable with each other."
Jimin's brain was currently composed entirely of static and panic.
"I think," he managed, "we should maintain professional boundaries."
"Of course." Jungkook's expression was perfectly innocent. "Completely professional. I'm just saying you smell incredible and you have a brilliant legal mind and I'm very much looking forward to working with you. Nothing unprofessional about that."
It was the confidence that was truly devastating. Jungkook said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, like he complimented colleagues on their perfume and their beauty every single day, like he had no idea what he was doing to Jimin's carefully maintained composure.
Or, worse, like he knew exactly what he was doing.
"The shareholders," Jimin said desperately. "We should discuss the shareholder concerns."
Jungkook's smile widened, but he had mercy. "Of course. Hanseong has majority family control, so board approval should be straightforward. Mirae is more complicated."
They worked for another hour, and to Jungkook's credit, he was genuinely excellent at his job. He knew securities law inside and out, could cite regulations as easily as breathing, and had already identified three potential roadblocks that Jimin hadn't considered.
He was also, unfortunately, continuing to be devastating.
"You're staring at that clause like it personally offended you," Jungkook observed at one point, and there was warmth in his voice. Affection, almost.
"It's poorly written," Jimin defended.
"It's standard boilerplate."
"It's poorly written boilerplate." Jimin marked through an entire paragraph with his red pen. "If we're going to do this, we're going to do it properly."
"Perfectionist," Jungkook said, but he sounded pleased.
By the time they finished reviewing the initial documents, it was nearly seven PM. The sun had set, and Gangnam glittered below them, all neon and glass and endless light.
Jungkook stretched, and his shirt pulled tight across his shoulders, and Jimin looked away before he could be caught staring.
"We make a good team," Jungkook said.
"We've only worked together for two hours."
"Two very productive hours." Jungkook stood, began gathering his things with efficient movements. "Same time tomorrow? We should finalize our strategy before Thursday's meeting."
"Yes, that's, yes." Jimin stood as well, grateful for the desk between them. "My office, six PM?"
"Perfect." Jungkook headed for the door, then paused with his hand on the handle. He looked back, and his expression was softer now. Less playful. "Thank you for the coffee earlier. In the partner meeting."
Jimin blinked. "You're thanking me for coffee?"
"You didn't have to bring some for Jin-hyung and Namjoon-hyung. But you did, because you're thoughtful." Jungkook's smile was gentle. "I notice things like that."
Then he was gone, and Jimin stood alone in his office, heart racing, and thought: Oh no.
His phone buzzed. Taehyung, of course: hobi and i are getting drinks. you're coming.
Jimin: I have work.
Taehyung: you have FEELINGS and we need to discuss them
Taehyung: drinks. now. or i'm coming to your office
Jimin looked at his desk, covered in folders and notes and the empty coffee cup that Jungkook had brought him, and realized that he was absolutely, categorically, completely fucked.
He grabbed his coat and headed for the elevator.
He needed a drink. Possibly several.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
The bar was called Moonlight, tucked into a side street in Gangnam, the kind of place that catered to lawyers and bankers who needed to drink expensive whiskey and complain about their lives without running into clients.
Jimin found Taehyung and Hoseok in their usual corner booth, already two drinks deep based on the flush on Hoseok's cheeks and the way Taehyung was gesticulating wildly about something.
"—and I told them, if you want to sue for copyright infringement, you actually need to own the copyright, which they don't because—JIMIN-AH!" Taehyung spotted him and waved with his entire arm like Jimin might somehow miss them. "Finally! We've been waiting!"
"I texted you fifteen minutes ago," Jimin pointed out, sliding into the booth beside Taehyung.
"Fifteen minutes in crisis time is like three hours," Hoseok said seriously. He was already pouring Jimin a glass of wine, expensive, red, the kind they only ordered when someone was having a catastrophically bad day. "Drink. Then talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Lies," Taehyung said cheerfully. "Hobi-hyung saw you and the hot junior partner in the break room and said the sexual tension was so thick he could cut it with a knife."
"I did not say that," Hoseok protested.
"You said, and I quote, 'the way Jungkook was looking at Jimin made me feel like I was interrupting something'."
"Okay, I said that."
Jimin took a long drink of wine. It was very good wine. He was going to need all of it.
"There was no sexual tension," he said. "We are assigned to work together on the Hanseong-Mirae acquisition. That’s all."
"Uh-huh." Taehyung turned to face him fully, dark eyes bright with interest. He was wearing a Gucci sweater that probably cost more than Jimin's monthly rent and had his hair styled in that deliberately messy way that took an hour to achieve. "And the part where he brought you coffee in your office? Also professional?"
Jimin's head snapped toward Hoseok. "How do you know about that?"
"Sera texted the associate group chat. Apparently the new junior partner personally delivered an iced americano to The Rose's office." Hoseok grinned. "She used three exclamation points and the eyes emoji."
"I'm going to kill her."
"Don't kill your associate," Taehyung said. "Kill us with details instead. Is he as hot up close as he is from across the office?"
Jimin took another drink. Longer this time.
"Oh my god," Hoseok breathed. "He is. Look at Jimin's face!"
"I don't have a face."
"You absolutely have a face. You're doing the thing where you try to look unbothered but your ears are turning red." Taehyung poked his shoulder. "Spill. What happened?"
Jimin sighed and set down his wine glass. These were his best friends. They were going to drag it out of him eventually, and resistance would only prolong the suffering.
"He's very attractive," he admitted.
"AND?" Taehyung and Hoseok said in unison.
"And he's brilliant. Photographic memory, like actual photographic memory. He can quote documents verbatim after reading them once."
"Hot," Taehyung said.
"He's also completely shameless. He told me I'm beautiful when I'm thinking."
Hoseok choked on his whiskey. "I'm sorry, what?"
"During our work session. In my office. He just—" Jimin gestured helplessly. "—said it. Like it was a normal thing to say to a colleague."
"Oh, he's bold," Taehyung said, delighted. "I like him already."
"You can't like him. I barely know him."
"You know he's attractive and brilliant and brings you coffee and compliments you." Hoseok ticked off each point on his fingers. "That's basically a relationship already."
"That's absolutely not a relationship."
"What did you say?" Taehyung leaned in. "When he said you were beautiful?"
"I told him we should maintain professional boundaries."
Both Taehyung and Hoseok groaned.
"Jimin-ah," Hoseok said, pained. "Why?"
"Because we're colleagues! He's a junior partner, I'm trying to make senior associate, we're working on a massive case together and getting involved would be completely inappropriate!"
"Inappropriate is such a boring word," Taehyung said. "What did he do after you gave him the professional boundaries speech?"
"He smiled and agreed and then kept complimenting me."
Taehyung cackled. "Oh, he's not going to make this easy for you."
"There's nothing to make easy! I'm not interested!"
"Liar," Hoseok singsonged. "You wore your nice cardigan today. The cashmere one you save for important depositions."
"I had a deposition this morning!"
"And then you kept it on for the partner meeting," Taehyung pointed out. "Even though you usually change into something less soft for executive meetings. You wanted to look pretty."
Jimin opened his mouth to protest, then closed it.
He had wanted to look pretty.
He'd seen Jungkook in the break room, all confident energy and those shoulders, and some deeply stupid part of his brain had decided that baby blue cashmere was the appropriate response.
"I hate you both," he muttered.
"You love us," Taehyung corrected. "And we love you, which is why we're going to help you navigate this."
"There's nothing to navigate. I'm going to work with him professionally, close the case, and move on with my life."
"Boring," Taehyung declared. "You know what you should do instead?"
"I'm not asking for your advice."
"Flirt back."
Jimin stared at him. "Absolutely not."
"Why not?" Taehyung sprawled back against the booth, all casual elegance. "He's clearly interested. You're clearly interested even though you're in denial about it. You're going to be working late nights together on this case anyway. Why not have some fun?"
"Because it's unprofessional—"
"So is him telling you you're beautiful," Hoseok interjected. "He already broke the professional boundary. You're just evening the playing field."
"I don't want to even the playing field!"
"Yes you do," Taehyung said. "You're The Rose, Jimin-ah. You're brilliant and gorgeous and you never lose. Why should this be any different?"
"Because this isn't a case, Tae. This is—" Jimin gestured vaguely. "—a person."
"A person you want to kiss."
"I never said that!"
"You didn't have to." Taehyung's smile was knowing, fond. "I've known you for six years. I know what you look like when you're interested in someone. The last time was that associate from the banking division, and you spent three months in denial before you finally asked him out."
"And that ended terribly," Jimin pointed out.
"Because he was boring," Hoseok said. "All he talked about was interest rates and his gym routine. Jungkook is different."
"You don't even know him!"
"I know he noticed what coffee you drink after hearing you mention it once in passing," Hoseok said. "I know he gave you a genuine compliment that made you flustered. I know he's bold enough to shoot his shot even though you're The Rose and kind of terrifying."
"I'm not terrifying."
Taehyung and Hoseok exchanged looks.
"Jiminie," Taehyung said gently. "You made Attorney Go cry this morning. You have a perfect case record. Associates are scared to present you with documents because you'll find errors they missed. You're absolutely terrifying."
"In the hot way," Hoseok added quickly. "Very hot. But still terrifying."
Jimin picked up his wine glass and discovered it was empty. Taehyung immediately refilled it.
"The point is," Taehyung continued, "Jungkook isn't intimidated by you. He sees the brilliant, ruthless lawyer who never loses, and he still thinks you're beautiful. That's... kind of incredible, actually."
Something warm and dangerous bloomed in Jimin's chest.
"I can't," he said quietly. "The case is too important. If I get distracted, if I mess this up—"
"You won't." Hoseok's voice was firm. "You've never messed up a case in your entire career. You're not going to start now just because your co-counsel is hot and into you."
"But what if—"
"No what-ifs." Taehyung took both of Jimin's hands, squeezed. "Listen to me. You deserve good things. You deserve someone who looks at you like you're precious. And if that someone happens to be a brilliant junior partner with a photographic memory who brings you coffee, then maybe, just maybe, you should let yourself have that."
Jimin's throat felt tight.
"I don't know how," he admitted.
"Start small," Hoseok suggested. "Tomorrow, when he compliments you, because he absolutely will—don't deflect. Just say thank you. Smile. Let yourself enjoy it."
"And maybe compliment him back," Taehyung added with a grin. "See how he likes being on the receiving end."
"I'm not going to flirt with him."
"Not flirting. Just... appreciating. Professionally." Taehyung's grin widened. "Tell him he has good analytical skills. That his legal reasoning is sound. That his forearms are criminally attractive—"
"Tae!"
"What? They probably are! All junior partners have good forearms. It's like a requirement."
Despite himself, Jimin laughed. The tension in his chest eased slightly, and he felt some of his equilibrium return.
This was why he loved them. Taehyung and Hoseok had been there through law school anxiety and first-year associate terror and every case win and every rare moment of doubt. They knew him better than anyone, and they had never once let him hide from himself for long.
"Fine," Jimin said. "I'll... try. To be less weird about it."
"That's my boy!" Taehyung hugged him enthusiastically, nearly knocking over the wine bottle. "This is going to be amazing. The Rose finally has a romance arc!"
"It's not a romance arc. It's me being slightly less professionally rigid."
"Same thing," Hoseok said cheerfully. "Now, tell us everything about this case. Five hundred billion won? That's massive even for you."
Jimin let himself be drawn into the safer topic of work, describing the Hanseong-Mirae acquisition, the complications with Kang Doyun, the regulatory concerns. Taehyung and Hoseok listened with the kind of attention that came from years of friendship and genuine interest, asking smart questions and offering perspectives he hadn't considered.
By the time they stumbled out of Moonlight three hours later, Jimin felt steadier. Less panicked.
He could do this. He could work with Jungkook professionally, handle whatever shameless flirting came his way, and still close this case successfully.
He was The Rose.
He never lost.
His phone buzzed as he was climbing into a taxi. A text from an unknown number: This is Jungkook. Got your number from the firm directory. Hope that's okay? I was reviewing the Hanseong financials and found something interesting we should discuss tomorrow. Sleep well, Jimin-ssi.
Jimin stared at the message for a long moment.
Then, before he could overthink it, he typed back: That's fine. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Sleep well, Jungkook-ssi.
He hesitated, then added: Thank you again for the coffee today. It was thoughtful.
The response came almost immediately: Anytime. I'm good at noticing things. Especially when it comes to you.
Jimin's heart did something complicated in his chest.
From the front seat, the taxi driver asked, "Where to?"
Jimin gave his address and leaned back against the seat, phone still warm in his hand, and thought about what Taehyung had said.
You deserve someone who looks at you like you're precious.
Maybe—just maybe—he could let himself have this.
Just a little.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Jimin changed his shirt three times before the seven AM meeting with Jungkook.
This was ridiculous. He was a grown man, a successful lawyer, someone with a perfect case record and a reputation for being unshakeable. He did not get nervous about work meetings.
Except this wasn't just a work meeting, and he was absolutely nervous.
The first shirt, cream silk, perfectly professional, made him look too soft. The second, navy button-down, conservative, made him look too severe. He finally settled on the third: a fitted white shirt with subtle texture, paired with grey slacks and a thin silver watch that had been a gift from his parents when he passed the bar.
He looked professional. Put-together. Definitely not like someone who'd spent forty-five minutes overthinking his outfit because a certain junior partner had said he was beautiful.
His phone buzzed. Taehyung, naturally: good luck with your NOT DATE work meeting 😏
Jimin didn't dignify that with a response.
He'd spent the entire drive to the office trying to focus on other cases he had to review that day—a contract review for Yoongi, research for one of Jin's real estate deals—but his mind kept drifting back to Jungkook's text from last night.
I'm good at noticing things. Especially when it comes to you.
What did that even mean? Was it flirting? Professional interest? Both?
Jimin had been around enough to recognize attraction. He'd had his share of admirers over the years, associates with obvious crushes, opposing counsel who'd tried to use charm as a negotiation tactic, even a few clients who'd made their interest clear in ways that were flattering but ultimately inappropriate.
But Jungkook was different.
Jungkook was confident without being arrogant, direct without being pushy. He complimented Jimin like it was the most natural thing in the world, like he genuinely couldn't help himself. And there was something in the way he looked at Jimin, focused, appreciative, interested, that made Jimin feel seen in a way he hadn't experienced before.
It was terrifying.
It was also, if he was being honest with himself, kind of exhilarating.
The knock on his office door came at exactly seven AM.
"Come in," Jimin called, and he absolutely did not check his hair in his computer monitor's reflection.
Jungkook walked in, and Jimin's carefully constructed composure immediately wobbled.
He was wearing all black today, black slacks, black shirt with the sleeves rolled up again (those forearms should be illegal), and he'd clearly showered recently because his hair was still slightly damp and Jimin could smell his cologne. Something clean and masculine that mixed dangerously well with the Eau Rose Jimin had reapplied twenty minutes ago.
"Hi," Jungkook said, and his smile was warm. "Sorry I'm exactly on time. Traffic from my apartment was worse than expected."
"You're not late," Jimin assured him. "Please, sit."
Jungkook settled into the chair across from Jimin's desk, and this time he brought his own coffee, iced americano, same as Jimin's sitting beside his laptop, and set down a folder that looked well-organized and thoroughly tabbed.
"So," Jungkook began, pulling out his laptop. "I spent most of last night going through Hanseong's financial disclosures, and I found something concerning."
Work. They were talking about work. This was safe, professional, exactly what Jimin needed.
"Concerning how?" Jimin leaned forward, already shifting into attorney mode.
"Their semiconductor division took a major hit last quarter, almost fifteen percent revenue decline. They're attributing it to supply chain issues, but when I cross-referenced with their public statements..." Jungkook pulled up a spreadsheet, turned his laptop so Jimin could see. "The timeline doesn't match. The supply chain problems started in August. Their revenue decline started in June."
Jimin's eyes widened as he scanned the data. "They're hiding something."
"That's what I think. And if they're desperate enough to acquire Mirae's AI technology to offset losses in their core business, they might be more vulnerable to negotiation than we initially thought."
"Which gives us leverage with Kang Doyun." Jimin was already thinking three steps ahead, the way he always did when a case started coming together. "If Hanseong needs this deal more than they're letting on, we can push for better terms for Mirae. Preserve more autonomy, better retention packages for key employees..."
"Exactly." Jungkook was watching him with that focused intensity again. "You're brilliant, you know that?"
Jimin's fingers stilled on his keyboard.
"I, what?"
"The way your mind works." Jungkook's voice was genuine, appreciative. "I gave you one piece of information and you immediately saw the strategic implications. That's not common, even among senior partners."
Heat crept up Jimin's neck. He should deflect, change the subject, steer them back to professional territory.
Instead, he heard himself say, "Thank you. Your analysis was excellent too. I wouldn't have thought to cross-reference the financial timeline with public statements."
Jungkook's smile widened, and something shifted in his expression. Pleased. Almost surprised.
"Yeah?" he said softly.
"Yes." Jimin met his eyes, and Taehyung's advice echoed in his head. Don't deflect. Just say thank you. Smile. Let yourself enjoy it. "You have very sharp analytical instincts. I'm glad Namjoon assigned you to this case."
The air between them felt charged suddenly, and Jimin watched Jungkook's pupils dilate slightly, the way they did when someone was genuinely affected by something.
"I'm glad too," Jungkook said, and his voice had dropped lower. "I was hoping I'd get to work with you."
"Were you?"
"The Rose." Jungkook leaned back in his chair, but his eyes never left Jimin's face. "Everyone at Kim & Partners talked about you. The M&A specialist who never loses. I was curious."
"And now that you've met me?" The words came out before Jimin could stop them, braver than he felt.
"Now that I've met you," Jungkook said slowly, "I think the reputation doesn't do you justice."
Jimin's breath caught.
"The reputation is pretty impressive," he managed.
"It doesn't mention that you're kind. That you bring coffee to managing partners because you know they're having a long day. That you're patient with your associates even when they make mistakes." Jungkook's gaze was steady, warm. "Or that you wear perfume that costs more than most people's suits and somehow make it work in a corporate law firm."
"You looked up my perfume?"
"I was curious," Jungkook admitted without a trace of embarrassment. "Diptyque Eau Rose. ₩185,000 for 100ml. I might have gone to the Shinsegae flagship store during lunch to smell it."
Jimin blinked. "You, what?"
"I wanted to understand it better. The scent." Jungkook smiled, a little sheepish now. "It's interesting. Floral but not sweet. Delicate but substantial. Kind of like you, actually."
"That's—" Jimin's brain was currently composed entirely of static. "That's a very detailed analysis of perfume."
"I pay attention to details." Jungkook's eyes dropped briefly to Jimin's lips, then back up. "Especially when it comes to things I find interesting."
The office felt too warm suddenly. Jimin reached for his iced americano just to give his hands something to do, and took a long sip.
"We should," he said, and his voice came out rougher than intended. He cleared his throat. "We should work on the client presentation for Thursday."
"Of course." Jungkook's smile suggested he knew exactly what effect he was having, but he had mercy. "I drafted an outline based on your notes from yesterday. Want to see?"
"Please."
They spent the next hour working through the presentation strategy, and it was genuinely productive despite the undercurrent of tension that Jimin couldn't quite ignore. Jungkook was good at this—structuring arguments, anticipating questions, finding creative solutions to potential problems.
He was also, Jimin was discovering, tactile when he worked.
"Here," Jungkook said at one point, coming around to Jimin's side of the desk to point at something on the laptop screen. His arm brushed Jimin's shoulder, and the scent of his cologne got stronger. "If we move this section earlier, it creates a better narrative flow."
Jimin tried to focus on the screen and absolutely did not notice how close Jungkook was standing, or the way his rolled sleeves revealed those frankly obscene forearms, or the fact that he was warm and solid and—
"What do you think?" Jungkook asked, turning his head, and suddenly they were very close.
Close enough that Jimin could see the individual lashes framing Jungkook's dark eyes, could count the subtle variations in their color. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body.
"I think," Jimin said carefully, "that's a good idea."
"Yeah?" Jungkook didn't move away. "You sure? You look a little distracted."
"I'm not distracted."
"No?" Jungkook's smile was knowing. "Because your breathing just changed."
Jimin's face flamed. "That's—you can't just—"
"Just making an observation." Jungkook straightened but didn't step away entirely. "I notice things, remember?"
"You mentioned that."
"Did I mention I also notice when you're trying very hard not to look at something?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Mm." Jungkook finally—finally—moved back to his own chair, and Jimin could breathe again. "If you say so."
They worked in silence for a few minutes, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Just... charged. Aware. Jimin kept sneaking glances at Jungkook—the way he typed with efficient precision, the slight furrow between his brows when he was concentrating, the way he absently ran his tongue over his lower lip when he was thinking.
Then Jungkook looked up and caught him staring.
Jimin should have looked away. Should have pretended he was looking at something else, should have maintained plausible deniability.
Instead, he held Jungkook's gaze and let himself smile. Small. Deliberate.
Jungkook's eyes widened slightly, and something heated flashed across his face.
"Jimin-ssi," he said, and his voice was rougher than before.
"Hmm?"
"Are you—" Jungkook paused, seemed to recalibrate. "Are you flirting with me?"
"I'm smiling at my colleague," Jimin said innocently. "Is that not allowed?"
"That wasn't just a smile."
"No?" Jimin leaned back in his chair, and he felt something shift in himself. A kind of reckless confidence he usually reserved for depositions and courtrooms. "What was it then?"
Jungkook stared at him like he was trying to solve a particularly complex equation.
"You're going to drive me crazy," he said finally. "You know that, right?"
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Yes you do." Jungkook's smile was slow, appreciative. "You absolutely do, and you're enjoying this."
Maybe he was. Maybe Taehyung had been right, maybe there was something empowering about being on the receiving end of Jungkook's focused attention, about knowing he could affect him the same way.
"We should finish the presentation," Jimin said, but he was still smiling.
"We should," Jungkook agreed. "Though I'm significantly more distracted now than I was five minutes ago."
"I'm sure you'll manage. You seem very... capable."
Jungkook made a sound that was half-laugh, half-groan. "You're killing me."
"I thought you liked challenges?"
"I do." Jungkook's eyes were dark, intense. "I really, really do."
They managed to finish the presentation outline by eight PM, though it took longer than it should have because they kept getting derailed, by lingering looks, by comments that toed the line between professional and personal, by the way Jungkook's hand would brush Jimin's when they were both reaching for the same document.
By the time Jungkook finally packed up his things, Jimin felt wrung out and exhilarated in equal measure.
"Same time tomorrow?" Jungkook asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "We should do a full run-through before Thursday."
"Yes, that makes sense."
Jungkook headed for the door, then paused. Turned back.
"Jimin-ssi?"
"Mmm?"
"That shirt." Jungkook's eyes traveled over him slowly, appreciatively. "It's a good choice. The texture catches the light when you move."
Then he was gone, and Jimin was left sitting at his desk, heart racing, face warm, and utterly unable to deny that he was in serious trouble.
His phone buzzed approximately thirty seconds later. The 95z group chat was exploding.
Taehyung: hobi said he saw jungkook leaving your office looking DAZED
Taehyung: WHAT DID YOU DO
Hoseok: i didn't say dazed i said he looked like he'd been hit by a truck
Hoseok: in a good way
Hoseok: JIMIN WHAT HAPPENED
Taehyung: did you flirt back
Taehyung: please tell me you flirted back
Taehyung: I NEED DETAILS
Jimin looked at the messages, looked at his empty office where Jungkook's cologne still lingered faintly in the air, and typed: I might have smiled at him.
The response was immediate.
Taehyung: PARK JIMIN
Hoseok: OUR BOY IS GROWING UP
Taehyung: tell us EVERYTHING
Taehyung: and i mean everything
Taehyung: what kind of smile
Taehyung: did he combust
Taehyung: DID YOU COMBUST
Jimin laughed, the sound echoing in his quiet office, and started typing out the full story.
He had a feeling he was going to need all the help he could get.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Wednesday, 7:42 AM
Jimin arrived at Kim & Kim earlier than usual, which was saying something considering he was normally at his desk by 8 AM sharp.
But today was different. Today was the day before the biggest client meeting of his career, and he needed everything to be perfect. The presentation had to be flawless, the financial projections airtight, every possible question anticipated and answered.
It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he'd spent half the night thinking about Jungkook's parting comment about his shirt, or the way Jungkook had looked at him like he was something precious and devastating all at once.
Nothing at all.
The forty-first floor was nearly empty this early, just a few associates who'd pulled all-nighters, and the cleaning staff finishing their rounds. Jimin liked the office at this hour. Quiet. Calm. The kind of peace that let him think without distraction.
He was halfway to his office, mentally running through the presentation outline, when he heard a familiar voice.
"You're here early."
Jimin nearly jumped out of his skin.
Min Yoongi stood in the doorway of his office, coffee cup in hand, looking exactly like someone who hadn't slept but was too stubborn to admit it. He was one of the senior partners, specialized in tax law and regulatory compliance, and had the kind of brilliant, methodical mind that made him terrifying in negotiations and utterly unflappable in every other context.
He also had an uncanny ability to notice things other people tried to hide.
"Yoongi-hyung," Jimin said, pressing a hand to his chest. "You scared me."
"Clearly." Yoongi took a slow sip of his coffee, dark eyes assessing. "Big day tomorrow?"
"The Hanseong-Mirae meeting, yes." Jimin shifted his briefcase to his other hand. "I wanted to get an early start on final preparations."
"Mm." Yoongi's gaze was steady, unreadable. "How's working with Jungkook?"
Jimin's heart did something complicated.
"Fine," he said, aiming for casual. "He's very competent. Good instincts."
"Uh-huh."
That was it. Just "uh-huh." But somehow Yoongi managed to infuse those two syllables with enough knowing amusement that Jimin felt his ears heat.
"What?" Jimin asked defensively.
"Nothing." Yoongi's expression didn't change, but there was the ghost of a smile around his lips. "Just... be careful."
"Careful of what?"
"You know what." Yoongi turned back toward his office. "You're not as subtle as you think you are, Jimin-ah."
Then he was gone, and Jimin stood in the empty hallway wondering exactly how much Yoongi had noticed and how screwed he actually was.
Very screwed, probably.
He made it to his office, set down his briefcase, and had just powered on his computer when his phone buzzed.
Jungkook: Good morning. Did you sleep well?
Jimin stared at the text. It was 7:47 AM. Who texted their colleagues at 7:47 AM just to ask if they slept well?
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, and he heard Taehyung's voice in his head: Don't deflect. Just be honest.
Jimin: Not really. Too busy thinking about the meeting.
The response was immediate.
Jungkook: Same. Want to run through the presentation one more time this morning? I'm already at the office.
Jimin: You're here?
Jungkook: Couldn't sleep. Figured I might as well be productive. I'm on 41 - should I come to you?
Jimin's office was on 41. Jungkook was on 41.
They were on the same floor, possibly just a few doors apart, and Jimin hadn't even known.
Jimin: Give me 20 minutes to review my notes. Then yes.
Jungkook: Perfect. I'll bring coffee.
Of course he would.
The knock came exactly twenty minutes later, and when Jimin called "come in," Jungkook entered carrying two coffee cups and looking unfairly good for someone who'd allegedly not slept well.
He was in a charcoal suit today, perfectly tailored, with a white shirt that made his skin look warm and a burgundy tie that Jimin immediately wanted to wrap his fingers around and...
Professional thoughts. Professional.
"Good morning," Jungkook said, and his smile was warm, genuine. He set an iced americano on Jimin's desk. "You look nice today."
Jimin glanced down at himself. He was wearing a soft pink shirt under a grey suit, nothing particularly special, but the way Jungkook was looking at him made him feel like he'd put on something extraordinary.
"Thank you," Jimin said, and this time he didn't deflect. Just smiled. "You look good too. I like the tie."
Jungkook's eyes widened slightly, and something pleased flashed across his face.
"Yeah?" He touched the tie absently. "I wasn't sure about the color."
"It suits you."
They stared at each other for a moment, and Jimin felt that same electric charge from yesterday, the sense that they were having two conversations at once, one with words, one with everything else.
Then Jungkook cleared his throat and pulled out his laptop.
"So," he said, settling into the chair across from Jimin's desk. "I was thinking about Kang Doyun's potential objections..."
The door burst open.
Kim Seokjin stood in the doorway, coffee cup in hand, eyebrows raised so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline.
"Well," Jin said, looking between them with undisguised interest. "Isn't this cozy?"
Jimin felt his face heat. "Jin-hyung. Good morning."
"Good morning indeed." Jin's gaze dropped to the two iced americanos on Jimin's desk, then back up to Jungkook. "Jungkook-ah, you're here early."
"Couldn't sleep," Jungkook said easily. "Wanted to make sure we're completely prepared for tomorrow."
"Mm-hmm." Jin's smile was knowing. "And the coffee delivery service is part of that preparation?"
"Just being a good colleague," Jungkook replied, and he sounded so sincere that Jimin almost believed he didn't know exactly what Jin was implying.
Almost.
"Right. Colleagues." Jin took a slow sip of his coffee. "Well, don't let me interrupt. I just wanted to check if you two needed anything before tomorrow's meeting. Resources, additional associates, moral support..."
"We're fine, hyung," Jimin said firmly. "Thank you."
"Excellent." Jin headed for the door, then paused. "Oh, and Jimin-ah? There's a partners' lunch today at noon. Don't forget."
Jimin had absolutely forgotten.
"I'll be there," he promised.
"Bring your appetite." Jin's smile turned mischievous. "Namjoon ordered from that Italian place you like. The one with the carbonara."
Then he was gone, and Jimin dropped his head into his hands.
"That was subtle," he muttered.
"Was it supposed to be subtle?" Jungkook sounded amused. "Because I'm pretty sure he just gave us the most unsubtle knowing look I've ever seen."
"Jin-hyung has no filter."
"I like him." Jungkook was grinning now. "Also, partners' lunch? Does that mean I'll see you at noon?"
"You're invited to partners' lunches?"
"Junior partners are, apparently. Got the email last night." Jungkook leaned forward slightly. "Will you save me a seat?"
This was dangerous territory. Saving seats implied... things. Implications. But Jimin found himself nodding anyway.
"Sure," he said. "Though fair warning, these lunches can get chaotic. Everyone tries to talk over each other, Jin-hyung makes terrible jokes, and Yoongi-hyung judges everyone silently from the corner."
"Sounds perfect," Jungkook said, and the way he was looking at Jimin suggested he wasn't talking about the lunch at all.
By the time noon rolled around, Jimin was more than ready for a break.
The partners' dining room was on the forty-third floor, all floor-to-ceiling windows and a view that probably violated some kind of showing-off ordinance. A long table dominated the center of the room, already laden with Italian food that smelled incredible and probably cost more than Jimin's monthly grocery budget.
Jimin arrived to find most of the partners already seated. Namjoon at the head of the table, Jin beside him, Yoongi in his usual corner spot looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. A few other senior partners Jimin knew mostly by reputation—the corporate litigation team, the international trade specialists.
And Jungkook, standing by the windows with a glass of water, looking slightly out of place in the way new people always did at these events.
Their eyes met across the room, and Jungkook's expression brightened immediately.
Jimin made his way over, very aware of how many people were watching.
"Hi," Jungkook said softly. "Saved you a seat?"
"I thought I was saving you a seat."
"We can save each other seats. Team effort."
Despite himself, Jimin smiled. "Efficient."
They settled into chairs near the middle of the table, close enough to the managing partners to be respectful, far enough away to have their own conversation. Jungkook immediately started serving food onto Jimin's plate before his own, and Jimin tried very hard not to notice how domestic it felt.
He failed.
"So," came a voice from across the table, and Jimin looked up to find Park Jinyoung, one of the corporate litigation partners, watching them with interest. "You two are handling the Hanseong acquisition?"
"Yes," Jimin confirmed. "The client meeting is tomorrow."
"Big case for a senior associate," Jinyoung observed. "Though I suppose with your record, Jimin-ssi, Namjoon knows you can handle it."
"Jimin's brilliant," Jungkook said, and there was no hesitation in his voice. "I've never seen anyone prep a case as thoroughly as he does."
The table went very quiet.
Jimin felt approximately fifteen pairs of eyes turn toward them.
"High praise," Jin said mildly, "coming from Kim & Partners' former star junior partner."
"Just stating facts," Jungkook replied easily, and he reached for the water pitcher to refill Jimin's glass without being asked.
Yoongi made a small sound that might have been a cough or might have been a laugh.
"How are you finding Kim & Kim so far, Jungkook-ah?" Namjoon asked, clearly trying to redirect the conversation to safer territory.
"Excellent," Jungkook said. "The culture is great, the work is challenging, and my colleagues—" His eyes flicked to Jimin briefly. "—are very inspiring."
"Inspiring," Jin repeated, and his tone suggested he was enjoying this far too much. "That's a nice word."
"Jin-hyung," Jimin said quietly. A warning.
"What? I'm just making conversation!"
"You're making implications."
"Am I?" Jin's expression was pure innocence. "I have no idea what you mean."
From the corner, Yoongi muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "please" and took a long drink of his wine.
The lunch continued, and Jimin tried very hard to focus on the conversation, updates on ongoing cases, discussion of potential new clients, the usual partner politics. But he was hyperaware of Jungkook beside him, the way their shoulders almost touched when they both reached for the bread basket, the way Jungkook laughed at Jin's terrible puns and asked Namjoon thoughtful questions about firm strategy.
He fit in already. Easy and confident and somehow making Jimin feel like they were in this together even though they'd known each other for less than a week.
"You're quiet," Jungkook said softly, leaning slightly closer so only Jimin could hear. "Everything okay?"
"Fine," Jimin assured him. "Just thinking about tomorrow."
"Nervous?"
"A little," Jimin admitted. "It's a big case."
"We're going to be great," Jungkook said, and his confidence was steadying. "You've prepared everything perfectly. I've memorized every document. We know this case inside and out."
"You're very sure of yourself."
"I'm very sure of us," Jungkook corrected, and the way he said "us," warm and certain, made Jimin's chest feel tight.
Across the table, Yoongi was watching them with an expression that clearly said I told you so.
The rest of the afternoon disappeared into final preparations for the meeting. By six, most of the partners had gone home. By eight, the associates had started trickling out too.
Jimin stayed.
And stayed.
Until eventually, the forty-first floor had gone quiet around him and the windows of his office reflected more of the room than the city beyond them.
He should have gone home hours ago.
The office was nearly empty now, just security and the few associates desperate enough or dedicated enough to pull all-nighters. His eyes hurt from staring at his computer screen, and he'd had so much coffee that his hands were starting to shake slightly.
But the presentation needed to be perfect.
He was adjusting the formatting on slide seventeen, again, when his office door opened and Jungkook walked in carrying two paper bags that smelled like heaven.
"I brought food," Jungkook announced. "Because I passed your office an hour ago and you were still here, and I'm willing to bet you haven't eaten since lunch."
Jimin blinked at him. "What time is it?"
"Almost midnight." Jungkook set the bags on Jimin's desk and started unpacking containers. "Which means you've been working for... what, sixteen hours straight?"
"I lost track."
"Clearly." Jungkook opened a container to reveal jjajangmyeon, the rich black bean sauce still steaming. "Eat. You're not going to be brilliant tomorrow if you pass out from low blood sugar."
"I'm fine—"
"Jimin-ssi." Jungkook's voice was gentle but firm. "Eat. Please."
And because Jimin was tired and hungry and Jungkook was looking at him with such genuine concern, he took the container.
The noodles were perfect, savory and rich and exactly what he needed. Jungkook had also brought tangsuyuk, fried rice, and some kind of soup that was probably too fancy for midnight takeout.
"You didn't have to do this," Jimin said around a mouthful of noodles.
"I wanted to." Jungkook settled into his usual chair, his own container of jjajangmyeon in hand. "Besides, I was still here too. Couldn't sleep."
"Nervous about tomorrow?"
"A little," Jungkook admitted. "But mostly just... thinking."
"About the case?"
"Among other things." Jungkook's smile was soft. "How's the presentation looking?"
"Good. I think. I've been staring at it so long that I can't tell anymore."
"Want a fresh pair of eyes?"
They ate and worked in comfortable silence, Jungkook reviewing the slides while Jimin made notes on their talking points. It felt natural, this late-night rhythm they'd fallen into. Easy in a way that Jimin hadn't experienced with a colleague before.
"This is really good," Jungkook said eventually, gesturing at the presentation. "Seriously, Jimin-ssi. This is partner-level work."
"That's the goal," Jimin said quietly.
"Making partner?"
"Eventually. If I keep my record perfect." Jimin set down his pen, suddenly exhausted. "That's why this case is so important. Five hundred billion won, high-profile clients—if I close this successfully, it proves I can handle the pressure."
Jungkook was quiet for a moment, studying him with those dark, perceptive eyes.
"Can I ask you something?" he said finally.
"Of course."
"Why law? Why M&A specifically?"
Jimin leaned back in his chair, considering. Most people asked about his case record, his strategy, his success. No one really asked about the why.
"My parents own a small business," he said slowly. "A cafe in Busan. When I was in high school, a bigger company tried to buy them out. Not because they wanted the cafe, but because they wanted the location. They offered my parents a fraction of what the property was worth, and when my parents refused, they tried to force them out through legal channels."
Jungkook's expression softened.
"We couldn't afford a good lawyer," Jimin continued. "We tried to fight it ourselves, but we didn't understand the contracts, the loopholes. We almost lost everything." He smiled, but it felt tight. "Then this lawyer, this brilliant M&A specialist from Seoul, took our case pro bono. He destroyed the other company's argument, found irregularities in their acquisition attempt, and not only saved our cafe but got us a settlement that let my parents expand."
"So you wanted to be that person," Jungkook said softly. "For other people."
"I wanted to make sure that people like my parents never felt helpless again." Jimin met Jungkook's eyes. "That's why I love M&A. It's not just about the money or the deals. It's about protecting people's legacies, their life's work. Making sure the powerful don't just steamroll everyone else."
"That's—" Jungkook's voice was rough. "That's really beautiful, Jimin-ssi."
"It's probably naive."
"It's not naive. It's principled." Jungkook leaned forward. "And it's part of why you're so good at this. You actually care about the people behind the contracts."
Jimin felt his chest tighten with something warm and dangerous.
"What about you?" he asked. "Why securities law?"
"Honestly? I liked the puzzles." Jungkook smiled sheepishly. "The regulations are complex, the financial structures are intricate, and I liked figuring them out. It wasn't until I started practicing that I realized it actually mattered—that good securities law protects investors, prevents fraud, keeps markets fair."
"So we're both secretly idealists pretending to be corporate lawyers."
"I think that's the best kind of corporate lawyer."
They smiled at each other, and in the quiet of Jimin's office with Seoul glittering below them and the presentation finally perfect, something shifted.
"Jimin-ssi," Jungkook said softly.
"Mmm?"
"I really like working with you."
It wasn't a confession. It wasn't a proposition. It was just... honest. Simple. But the way Jungkook said it, warm and sincere and focused entirely on Jimin, made it feel like more.
"I like working with you too," Jimin admitted.
"Yeah?"
"You're brilliant and thorough and you bring me coffee without being asked." Jimin's smile turned playful. "Also, you're not intimidated by my reputation, which is... refreshing."
"Should I be intimidated?"
"Most people are."
"I'm not most people." Jungkook's gaze was steady. "I see The Rose, yes. But I also see Park Jimin who stays at the office until midnight to make sure everything is perfect, who tells stories about his parents' cafe with so much love, who wears expensive perfume because it makes him feel confident."
Jimin's breath caught.
"You see a lot," he managed.
"I told you. I pay attention." Jungkook stood, started gathering the empty food containers. "Especially to things that matter."
"And I matter?"
The question came out smaller than Jimin intended, more vulnerable.
Jungkook stopped, turned to face him fully.
"Yes," he said simply. "You matter."
The air between them felt charged, heavy with things unsaid. Jimin could feel his heart beating too fast, could see the way Jungkook's pupils had dilated, the way his hands had tightened slightly on the takeout bag.
This was the moment. The moment where one of them would step forward or step back, where this thing between them would either become real or stay safely professional.
Jimin stood up.
Jungkook's eyes tracked the movement, and Jimin watched his throat work as he swallowed.
"We should—" Jimin started.
His phone rang.
The shrill sound shattered the moment, and they both jumped. Jimin grabbed it, saw Namjoon's name on the screen.
"I should take this," he said, apologetic.
"Of course." Jungkook was already heading for the door, the moment broken. "I'll see you tomorrow. Nine AM, right?"
"Yes. Nine AM."
Jungkook paused at the door, looked back.
"Get some sleep, Jimin-ssi," he said softly. "We're going to be brilliant tomorrow."
Then he was gone, and Jimin answered Namjoon's call with shaking hands and a heart that wouldn't slow down.
He was in so much trouble.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Thursday, 8:47 AM
Jimin stood in front of the mirror in the executive bathroom on the forty-third floor and tried to calm his racing heart.
He looked good. He knew he looked good. The navy Tom Ford suit fit him perfectly, tailored to emphasize his slim waist, cut to make his shoulders look broader than they were. Underneath was a crisp white shirt, and he'd chosen a silver tie that caught the light when he moved. His hair was styled carefully, his perfume applied with precision, and he'd even let himself wear the Cartier cufflinks his parents had given him when he made senior associate.
He looked like success. Like confidence. Like someone who absolutely had not spent half the night replaying the moment in his office when Jungkook had said you matter with such devastating sincerity.
Professional. He needed to be professional.
This was the biggest meeting of his career. Hanseong Group's executive team, Mirae Tech's CEO, both managing partners, and ₩500 billion on the line. He couldn't afford to be distracted by the way Jungkook's eyes had gone dark last night, or the way they'd almost—
His phone buzzed.
Jungkook: Conference Room A. I'm here early setting up. The presentation looks perfect on the big screen.
Jungkook: You're going to be amazing today.
Jimin's chest felt tight.
Jimin: Thank you. See you in a few minutes.
He took one last breath, checked his reflection one final time, and headed out.
Conference Room A was Kim & Kim's crown jewel, the room they used for their most important clients, with a view that showcased all of Gangnam, a table that could seat thirty people, and technology that probably cost more than a luxury car.
Jungkook was already there, and Jimin's breath caught.
He was wearing all black, black suit, black shirt, black tie, and he looked devastating. Sharp and professional and so handsome that Jimin nearly forgot how to walk. He was setting up the presentation on the large screen, movements efficient and focused, and when he turned and saw Jimin, his entire face transformed.
"Wow," Jungkook said softly. "You look incredible."
"Thank you." Jimin walked further into the room, set down his briefcase. "You look very professional yourself."
"Professional." Jungkook's smile was amused. "That's one word for it."
"What would be another word?"
"Trying very hard to match your level of sophistication and failing miserably."
Despite his nerves, Jimin laughed. "You're not failing."
"No?" Jungkook came closer, and Jimin could smell his cologne, clean and masculine and mixing dangerously with the Eau Rose. "Because I feel like I'm about to walk into the most important meeting of my career at Kim & Kim, and all I can think about is how good you look in that suit."
"Jungkook-ssi..."
"I know, I know. Professional." Jungkook held up his hands in surrender, but he was smiling. "I'll behave. Mostly."
"Mostly?"
"I make no promises about what happens after we close this deal."
Jimin's heart skipped several beats.
Before he could formulate a response that wasn't completely inappropriate, the door opened and Namjoon walked in, followed by Jin and Yoongi.
"Good morning," Namjoon said, and if he noticed the way Jimin and Jungkook immediately stepped apart, he didn't comment. "Everyone ready?"
"Presentation is loaded," Jungkook confirmed, shifting seamlessly into professional mode. "Financial projections are in the appendix, and we have hard copies of all documents prepared."
"Excellent." Jin surveyed the room with approval. "Hanseong's team will arrive at nine. Kang Doyun should be here by 9:05, he's always fashionably late."
"Strategic power play," Yoongi observed from his position by the windows. "Wants them to wait for him."
"Good," Jimin said. "It means he's not going to roll over easily. We can use that."
Namjoon smiled. "This is why you're leading this deal, Jimin-ah. You understand the psychology."
The clients started arriving at 8:58 AM.
Hanseong's team came first, three executives in expensive suits, led by Executive Director Choi Minsik, a man in his fifties with silver hair and the kind of polished confidence that came from decades of closing billion-won deals. With him was CFO Park Sunhee, sharp-eyed and precise, and their head legal counsel, Attorney Kwon Jihoon.
Jimin greeted them with perfect professionalism, shaking hands and making small talk while internally cataloging everything, Choi's firm handshake that lingered just slightly too long (testing him), Park's assessing gaze that lingered on his wedding ring (wondering if he was married), Kwon's dismissive glance at his age (underestimating him).
Good. Let them underestimate him.
Kang Doyun arrived at 9:07 AM, and he was exactly what Jimin had expected, late forties, wearing a suit that was expensive but slightly rumpled, with the kind of distracted genius energy that suggested he'd rather be in a lab than a conference room. His handshake was brief, his smile polite but distant.
This was a man who didn't want to be here.
This was a man who was about to lose his father's company.
Jimin felt that familiar surge of protectiveness, the same feeling he got whenever he represented clients who were being forced into corners by larger, more powerful entities.
"Thank you all for coming," Namjoon said once everyone was seated. "We're here today to discuss the proposed acquisition of Mirae Tech by Hanseong Group. Kim & Kim is representing both parties in structuring a deal that serves everyone's interests."
"A challenging position," Choi observed, and there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "Representing both the buyer and seller."
"We prefer to think of it as finding common ground," Jin said smoothly. "Our job is to create a structure that achieves Hanseong's strategic goals while honoring Mirae's legacy."
"Legacy." Kang Doyun's voice was quiet, almost bitter. "Is that what we're calling it?"
Jimin leaned forward slightly, drawing Doyun's attention.
"Your father built Mirae Tech from nothing," he said softly. "Thirty years of innovation, of pushing boundaries in AI research. That's not just a legacy—that's a life's work. And our job is to make sure that work continues, even as the company evolves."
Something shifted in Doyun's expression. Interest. Maybe respect.
"You've done your research," he said.
"I always do." Jimin smiled. "Shall we begin?"
He nodded to Jungkook, who dimmed the lights and brought up the first slide of their presentation.
And then they were off.
Jimin had given hundreds of presentations in his career. He knew how to command a room, how to modulate his voice for emphasis, how to make complex financial structures sound not just comprehensible but inevitable.
But this—this was different.
Because Jungkook wasn't just supporting him. They were performing together.
Jimin would explain the strategic rationale, and Jungkook would seamlessly transition into the regulatory framework. Jimin would outline the deal structure, and Jungkook would have the exact financial projection pulled up before he even asked. They moved around each other with a coordination that felt almost choreographed, anticipating needs, filling gaps, building on each other's points.
"The core issue," Jimin said, twenty minutes into the presentation, "is preserving Mirae's innovative culture while integrating with Hanseong's infrastructure. We propose a hybrid structure—"
"—where Mirae operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary," Jungkook continued, pulling up the organizational chart, "maintaining separate branding and significant operational autonomy, while benefiting from Hanseong's distribution networks and capital resources."
"Essentially," Jimin added, "Mirae keeps its soul. Hanseong gets its innovation pipeline."
Choi leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "And the patents?"
"Joint ownership," Jungkook said immediately, pulling up the relevant documentation. "Mirae retains the rights to continue developing the technology. Hanseong gets licensing rights for commercial applications in their existing business sectors. Any new patents developed post-acquisition are automatically co-owned with profit-sharing based on utilization."
"That's—" Park Sunhee looked genuinely surprised. "That's more generous than we discussed."
"It's fair," Jimin corrected gently. "Mirae's value isn't just in the patents they currently hold. It's in their capacity to continue innovating. If you strip that away, you're buying a static asset. This structure incentivizes continued research while protecting Hanseong's investment."
He could see Doyun leaning forward now, actually engaged.
"What about my team?" Doyun asked. "The researchers who've been with me since the beginning?"
"Retention packages." Jungkook had the slide ready before Jimin even turned. "Five-year guaranteed employment contracts for all senior researchers, with compensation increases tied to patent development. Additionally, Mirae maintains its own R&D budget, approved by but not controlled by Hanseong's executive team."
"You're giving us autonomy," Doyun said slowly.
"We're preserving your father's vision," Jimin said. "The vision that made Mirae worth acquiring in the first place."
The room was quiet for a moment.
Then Choi spoke. "This is well-structured. More thoughtful than I expected." He looked between Jimin and Jungkook with something like respect. "You two work well together."
"Thank you," Jimin said, and tried not to notice the way Jungkook's lips curved into a small smile.
They continued through the presentation, regulatory approval timeline, shareholder vote procedures, integration schedule, risk mitigation strategies. And with every slide, every transition, they fell into a rhythm that felt almost intimate.
Jungkook would lean in to point at something on Jimin's laptop, and his shoulder would brush Jimin's. Jimin would gesture toward the screen, and Jungkook would be right there with the laser pointer, anticipating exactly where he wanted to direct attention. When Kwon asked a complex question about securities regulations, Jungkook answered with such precise confidence that even the opposing counsel looked impressed, and Jimin felt a surge of pride that had nothing to do with professional achievement.
By the time they reached the final slides, Jimin could feel the shift in the room. This wasn't just a good presentation. This was a brilliant one.
"The proposed timeline," Jungkook said, bringing up the schedule, "has us closing the deal in four months, pending regulatory approval. We've built in contingencies for potential delays—"
"—but we're confident in the structure," Jimin finished. "This deal protects everyone's interests while creating genuine value for both companies."
Silence.
Then Kang Doyun spoke.
"I came here today," he said quietly, "expecting to feel like I was betraying my father. Like I was selling his life's work to a corporate machine that would strip it for parts."
Jimin's chest tightened.
"But this—" Doyun gestured at the presentation. "This actually honors what he built. The autonomy, the research focus, the protection for my team. This is..." He paused, and his voice was rough. "This is more than I hoped for."
"That's our job," Jimin said softly. "Making sure everyone walks away from this feeling like they gained something, not like they lost something."
Choi was watching them with undisguised interest now. "I have to say, when Namjoon-ssi told us Kim & Kim was assigning a senior associate to lead this deal, I had concerns. No offense intended."
"None taken," Jimin said easily.
"But you've—" Choi shook his head. "This is exceptional work. Both of you. The research, the structure, the understanding of what both sides actually need. I'm impressed."
"Thank you," Jungkook said, and under the table, his foot brushed against Jimin's.
It could have been an accident.
It absolutely wasn't an accident.
Jimin's heart raced, but he kept his expression perfectly professional.
"So," Jin said, sensing the moment. "Are we ready to move forward with term sheet negotiations?"
"Yes," Doyun said, and he actually smiled. "Let's do this properly."
"Agreed," Choi said. "Though I want these two—" He gestured at Jimin and Jungkook. "—handling the details. They clearly understand the vision."
Namjoon's smile was proud. "That can absolutely be arranged."
The meeting lasted another hour, discussing specific terms, timelines, next steps, but the hard part was over. By the time the clients left, handshakes all around and promises to have the first draft of the term sheet by Monday, Jimin felt like he could finally breathe.
The conference room emptied slowly. Namjoon and Jin walked the clients out, Yoongi disappeared back to his office with a small nod of approval in Jimin's direction, and then it was just him and Jungkook, alone in the big room with the presentation still glowing on the screen and Seoul stretching out below them.
"We did it," Jungkook said softly.
"We did." Jimin felt almost dizzy with relief and residual adrenaline. "That was—"
"Brilliant. You were brilliant." Jungkook was looking at him with so much warmth, so much admiration, that Jimin felt his breath catch. "The way you read Kang Doyun, the way you structured the emotional appeal while I handled the technical details—we were perfect together."
"It was a team effort."
"It was more than that." Jungkook took a step closer. "Jimin-ssi, I've worked with a lot of lawyers. I've never—I've never felt that kind of connection with someone. The way we just knew what the other person needed, how to complement each other's strengths."
"Jungkook—"
"Choi was right. We work really well together."
They were standing close now, close enough that Jimin could see the flecks of amber in Jungkook's dark eyes, could feel the warmth radiating from his body.
"We do," Jimin admitted quietly.
"And not just professionally."
It wasn't a question, but Jimin nodded anyway.
"Not just professionally," he agreed.
Jungkook's smile was slow, devastating. "So what are we going to do about that?"
Before Jimin could answer, before he could do something catastrophically stupid like close the distance between them and kiss Jungkook right here in the conference room, the door burst open.
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
Taehyung stood in the doorway, Hoseok right behind him, both of them grinning like maniacs.
Jimin jumped back from Jungkook so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.
"Tae, what are you..."
"Namjoon-hyung told us you crushed it," Hoseok said, bouncing on his toes with barely contained excitement. "Kang Doyun apparently almost cried, and Choi Minsik wants you two specifically handling everything going forward!"
"We were listening outside," Taehyung added completely shamelessly. "Well, the last part. The part where you made that emotional appeal about honoring Doyun's father's legacy? Chef's kiss."
"You were listening outside?" Jimin's voice came out strangled.
"The door was slightly open!"
"That doesn't make it better!"
"Actually, it kind of does," Hoseok said. "Anyway, we're taking you to lunch. Both of you. Celebratory lunch for the brilliant legal team."
"I don't think..." Jimin started.
"Not optional," Taehyung said cheerfully. "Come on. You can't close a five hundred billion won deal and not celebrate."
Jungkook was watching this entire exchange with barely concealed amusement.
"I like your friends," he said to Jimin.
"Don't encourage them."
"Too late!" Taehyung grabbed Jimin's arm. "Come on, The Rose. Let's go eat expensive food on the firm's dime."
And because resistance was futile when Taehyung and Hoseok decided on something, Jimin let himself be dragged toward the elevator, very aware of Jungkook following behind them and the fact that whatever had almost happened in the conference room was far from over.
They ended up at an upscale Korean restaurant in Gangnam, the kind of place where everything was beautifully plated and probably cost more per person than Jimin's weekly grocery budget. Taehyung had somehow convinced Jin to approve it as a "client development expense," which was absolutely not what this was, but Jin had just smiled and told them to have fun.
The table was round, which meant Jimin ended up sitting between Jungkook and Taehyung, with Hoseok across from them looking like he was watching the most entertaining show of his life.
"So," Taehyung said the moment they'd ordered, leaning forward with unholy glee in his eyes. "Jungkook-ssi. Tell us everything."
Jungkook blinked. "Everything about what?"
"About working with our Jiminie. Is he as terrifying up close as he is from across a courtroom?"
"Tae," Jimin warned.
"What? I'm being friendly! Getting to know your colleague!"
"You're being nosy."
"Same thing." Taehyung turned back to Jungkook, chin in his hands. "Well?"
Jungkook's lips twitched with amusement. "Terrifying isn't the word I'd use."
"No?" Hoseok leaned in too. "What word would you use?"
"Inspiring. Brilliant. Meticulous." Jungkook's gaze slid to Jimin, warm and focused. "Beautiful."
Taehyung made a sound like a kettle boiling over.
Jimin's face was absolutely on fire.
"Beautiful," Taehyung repeated slowly. "You think Jimin is beautiful."
"Yes," Jungkook said simply, like this was a completely normal thing to say in front of your colleague's best friends at a professional lunch.
"Oh my god," Hoseok breathed. "Oh my god, Jimin-ah, I like him."
"Can we please talk about literally anything else?" Jimin begged.
"No," Taehyung and Hoseok said in unison.
"How long have you been working together?" Hoseok asked Jungkook. "Four days? Five?"
"Five days," Jungkook confirmed.
"And in five days you've determined that our Jiminie is beautiful."
"It didn't take five days," Jungkook said. "I thought that the first time I saw him. The rest of the week just confirmed it."
Jimin was going to die. He was going to actually combust right here in this restaurant.
"I'm going to the bathroom," he announced, standing up.
"Running away won't help!" Taehyung called after him.
Jimin fled anyway.
The bathroom was blessedly empty and air-conditioned and far away from Jungkook's devastating honesty and Taehyung's complete lack of filter. He braced his hands on the sink and stared at his reflection.
His face was flushed, his eyes too bright, and he looked exactly like someone who was losing control of a situation very, very quickly.
The door opened.
"I'm not coming back until they promise to behave," Jimin said without turning around.
"They're not going to promise that," Jungkook's voice said behind him. "I don't think they're capable of it."
Jimin spun around.
Jungkook stood just inside the bathroom door, hands in his pockets, expression soft and slightly apologetic.
"Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to embarrass you out there."
"You didn't—" Jimin paused. "Okay, you did, but it's fine."
"Is it?" Jungkook took a step closer. "Because you looked like you wanted to disappear into the floor."
"That's just my default state around Taehyung and Hobi when they're being chaotic."
"They care about you."
"Too much, sometimes."
"I don't think that's possible." Jungkook was close now, close enough that Jimin could smell his cologne again. "Caring too much about you."
Jimin's breath caught. "Jungkook—"
"I meant what I said out there. About you being beautiful." Jungkook's voice was quiet, sincere. "I know it's probably not professional to say it, and I know we're colleagues and we should maintain boundaries, but I can't—I can't seem to stop myself around you."
"You don't have to stop," Jimin heard himself say.
Jungkook's eyes widened. "What?"
"I—" Jimin took a breath. This was it. The moment he could either retreat back to safety or step forward into something terrifying and unknown. "I like it. When you say things like that. When you look at me like you are right now."
"How am I looking at you?"
"Like I matter."
"You do matter." Jungkook's hand came up, hesitated an inch from Jimin's face. "Can I—"
The bathroom door slammed open.
"—and I'm telling you, the carbonara at that place is better than—OH." Taehyung froze in the doorway, Hoseok running into his back. "Oh. Are we interrupting?"
"YES," Jimin and Jungkook said in unison.
"Excellent!" Taehyung grinned. "We'll just, we'll be at the table. Take your time. Use protection!"
"TAE!"
"I mean, be professional! Very professional! So professional!"
He disappeared in a flurry of laughter and chaos, dragging Hoseok with him.
Jimin dropped his head forward until his forehead rested against Jungkook's chest.
"I'm going to kill them," he muttered.
He felt Jungkook's laugh rumble through his chest, felt gentle hands settle on his shoulders.
"Your friends are a lot," Jungkook said.
"That's the understatement of the century."
"But they love you." Jungkook's thumb was stroking small circles on Jimin's shoulder, and it felt so good that Jimin didn't want to move. "And they want you to be happy."
"I am happy."
"Are you?"
Jimin pulled back just enough to look up at Jungkook's face.
"Right now?" he said softly. "Yes. I'm happy."
Jungkook's smile was bright, genuine, and so beautiful that Jimin's chest ached with it.
"Good," Jungkook said. "That's, that's really good."
They stood there for a moment longer, close enough to kiss, both of them aware of it, both of them not quite brave enough to close the distance.
Then Jimin's phone buzzed.
Taehyung: if you two dont come back soon we're ordering dessert and putting it on your tab
Taehyung: also hoseok wants to know if jungkook has a brother
Taehyung: i told him to let you have this one but he's persistent
Jimin showed Jungkook the messages, and they both laughed.
"We should go back," Jimin said reluctantly.
"Probably." But Jungkook didn't move. "Though I'm kind of enjoying having you to myself."
"We work together. You can have me to yourself literally any time."
The words came out more suggestive than Jimin intended, and Jungkook's eyes darkened.
"Can I?" he asked softly.
"I—yes." Jimin's heart was racing. "Yes, you can."
"Good to know."
They walked back to the table together, and if they sat a little closer than before, if Jungkook's hand brushed Jimin's under the table more than was strictly accidental, if Taehyung and Hoseok exchanged knowing looks that Jimin steadfastly ignored—
Well.
They'd just closed the biggest deal of their careers.
They were allowed to celebrate.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Friday, 9:23 AM
Jimin had exactly four hours before his deposition in the Samyang contract dispute, two briefs that needed to be filed by end of day, and a conference call with a client in Singapore at 2 PM.
He also had approximately seven hundred emails about the Hanseong-Mirae deal, three requests from associates who needed his review on their work, and a text from his mother asking when he was coming home to Busan because she hadn't seen him in two months.
This was normal. This was fine.
This was the life of a senior associate trying to make partner.
He was reviewing discovery documents for the Samyang case, a contract dispute over software licensing that should have been straightforward but had devolved into accusations of IP theft, when Sera knocked on his door.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said, looking harried. "But Attorney Min needs you in his office. Something about the Jeil Pharma audit."
Jimin's head snapped up. "The what?"
"The pharmaceutical company audit? He said you consulted on their M&A deal last year and he needs your insight on some irregularities they found."
Right. Because of course Yoongi would need him for a completely different case in the middle of everything else.
Jimin saved his document and headed for the elevator.
Yoongi's office was exactly what you'd expect from someone who specialized in tax law and regulatory compliance, meticulously organized, full of filing cabinets with color-coded labels, and decorated in shades of grey that matched his perpetually unimpressed expression.
He was at his desk when Jimin knocked, surrounded by what looked like several years' worth of financial statements.
"Jimin-ah," Yoongi said without looking up. "Close the door."
Jimin did, and settled into one of the chairs across from Yoongi's desk.
"What's going on with Jeil Pharma?"
"Audit turned up some concerning discrepancies in their R&D expenditures." Yoongi finally looked up, and his eyes were sharp. "You worked on their acquisition of that biotech startup last year, right? SeoulBio?"
"Yes. We closed in August." Jimin's mind was already shifting gears, pulling up memories of that deal. "The acquisition was clean, proper valuations, fair market terms, no red flags."
"What about their R&D pipeline? Did you review their research expenses as part of due diligence?"
"Of course. Standard practice for pharmaceutical M&A." Jimin frowned. "Why? What did the audit find?"
Yoongi slid a spreadsheet across the desk. "Their reported R&D spending for the last three years doesn't match their actual research output. They're claiming ₩50 billion in development costs, but we can only trace about ₩30 billion to actual projects."
Jimin scanned the numbers, and his stomach sank.
"That's a ₩20 billion discrepancy."
"Exactly."
"Could be accounting errors. Misclassified expenses..."
"Could be," Yoongi agreed. "Or it could be embezzlement. Or they're funneling money somewhere they don't want to report. Either way, it's a problem."
Jimin rubbed his temples. "If this is fraud, and it connects back to the SeoulBio acquisition..."
"...then the entire deal could be compromised, and Kim & Kim could be liable for not catching it during due diligence."
"Shit."
"Eloquently put." Yoongi leaned back in his chair. "I need you to pull everything from the SeoulBio acquisition. Every document, every financial statement, every piece of correspondence. If there's anything we missed, I need to find it before the regulatory board does."
"When do you need it?"
"Yesterday."
Of course.
Jimin stood. "I'll have Sera pull the files. Do you need me to..."
"I need you to review everything with fresh eyes. You were too close to it during the deal. See if there's anything that looks different with hindsight."
"I'll start this afternoon."
"Thank you." Yoongi paused, and his expression softened slightly. "I know you're swamped with Hanseong-Mirae. If you need associate support..."
"I'll manage," Jimin said automatically.
"Jimin-ah." Yoongi's voice was quiet but firm. "You can't do everything yourself."
"I know, but..."
"Delegate. It's not a weakness. It's smart resource management."
Jimin nodded, even though the thought of handing off any part of his work made his chest tight with anxiety. Control meant perfection. Perfection meant never losing.
"I'll consider it," he said.
Yoongi's expression suggested he saw right through that deflection, but he let it go.
"One more thing," Yoongi said as Jimin reached the door. "About Jungkook."
Jimin froze.
"What about him?"
"He's good. Sharp instincts, excellent technical knowledge." Yoongi's gaze was steady. "But he's also new to the firm. And you're trying to make partner."
"I'm aware."
"Are you?" Yoongi stood, walked around his desk to lean against it. "Because the entire forty-first floor is talking about how you two looked at each other during yesterday's client meeting. Jin-hyung said the chemistry was 'palpable.' His word, not mine."
Jimin's face heated. "We were professional."
"You were brilliant," Yoongi corrected. "You were also looking at each other like no one else existed in the room."
"That's, we were focused on the presentation..."
"Jimin-ah." Yoongi's voice was gentle now. "I'm not telling you not to pursue this. I'm telling you to be careful. Office relationships are complicated, especially when you're both working on high-stakes cases. If things go wrong..."
"They won't."
"You can't know that."
"I..." Jimin paused. "I know. You're right. I just..."
"You like him."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Jimin admitted quietly. "I like him."
Yoongi sighed. "Just be careful. Protect yourself. Both professionally and personally."
"I will."
"Good." Yoongi returned to his desk, already pulling up more documents. "Now go. You have a deposition in three hours, and knowing you, you'll want to review your notes seventeen more times."
"Eighteen," Jimin said. "I review eighteen times."
"Of course you do."
By the time Jimin made it back to his office, the morning was already disappearing faster than he could keep up with it.
He sent Sera instructions to pull everything they had on the SeoulBio acquisition, added the Jeil Pharma review to an already impossible list of things he needed to finish, and buried himself back in the discovery documents for the Samyang deposition.
Somewhere between preparing questions, answering emails, and trying not to think too hard about Yoongi's warning regarding Jungkook, eleven became nearly noon.
Jimin was still at his desk, buried in discovery documents for the Samyang deposition, when someone knocked.
"Come in," he called without looking up.
"Brought you lunch."
Jimin's head snapped up.
Jungkook stood in his doorway holding two takeout containers and wearing what Jimin was starting to recognize as his "visiting Jimin" smile, warm, slightly mischievous, and far too attractive for a Friday morning.
"You brought me lunch," Jimin repeated.
"You skipped breakfast. I saw you in the break room at seven AM with just coffee." Jungkook set the containers on Jimin's desk. "Kimbap and japchae from that place on the corner. The associate group chat says it's your favorite."
"The associate group chat talks about my food preferences?"
"The associate group chat talks about everything regarding you. You're like their celebrity." Jungkook settled into the chair across from Jimin's desk like he belonged there. "Eat. You have a deposition in two hours."
"How did you know about my deposition?"
"I looked at your schedule."
"You looked at my schedule?"
"It's in the firm system. Publicly available." Jungkook's smile widened. "Also, I might have asked Sera what your afternoon looked like because I wanted to know if you'd have time to review the Hanseong contract amendments with me."
Despite everything, the stress, the multiple cases, the conversation with Yoongi, Jimin felt himself smile.
"You're very persistent."
"I prefer 'attentive.'" Jungkook leaned forward. "Eat, Jimin-ssi. Then tell me why you look stressed."
"I always look stressed. I'm a lawyer."
"You look more stressed than usual. Which, given your baseline stress level, is concerning."
Jimin opened the kimbap container and took a bite. It was perfect, exactly the kind he liked, with extra pickled radish.
"Yoongi-hyung pulled me into a case," he said between bites. "Pharmaceutical company audit. Potential fraud, possible connection to a deal I closed last year. If there's anything we missed during due diligence..."
"...Kim & Kim could be liable," Jungkook finished. "That's serious."
"Very serious."
"What do you need?"
Jimin looked up, surprised. "What?"
"What do you need? An extra pair of eyes on the documents? Help tracking down financial records? I'm good at finding discrepancies, it's literally what securities lawyers do."
"You have your own cases."
"Nothing as urgent as potential fraud." Jungkook's expression was serious now, focused. "Let me help."
"Jungkook, you don't have to..."
"I want to." Jungkook's voice was firm. "We're a team, remember? That doesn't just apply to Hanseong-Mirae."
Something warm bloomed in Jimin's chest.
"Okay," he said softly. "Thank you."
"Good. Send me the files. I'll start reviewing tonight."
"Tonight? It's Friday."
"So?"
"So most people have lives outside the office on Friday nights."
Jungkook's smile was soft. "Most people aren't trying to impress The Rose."
Before Jimin could formulate a response that wasn't completely inappropriate, his phone buzzed. A text from Namjoon: Conference call with Hanseong moved to Monday 9 AM. Kang Doyun wants to discuss patent licensing terms. You and Jungkook should prep over the weekend.
Jimin showed Jungkook the message.
"Guess we're both working this weekend," Jungkook observed.
"Guess so."
"Want to work together? Your place or mine?"
The casual way he said it, like it was completely normal to suggest spending the weekend together, made Jimin's heart race.
"Office might be better," Jimin said carefully. "More professional."
"Professional," Jungkook repeated, and there was amusement in his voice. "Right. Because we're very professional."
"We are!"
"Jimin-ssi, I brought you lunch because I was worried you weren't eating. That's not professional. That's caring about you."
"You can care about colleagues professionally."
"Is that what we are? Colleagues?"
The question hung in the air between them, heavy with implication.
"I..." Jimin paused. "I don't know what we are."
"Want to find out?"
"Is that a good idea?"
"Probably not." Jungkook's smile was warm. "But I'm willing to risk it if you are."
Jimin's phone buzzed again, a reminder about his deposition prep. Reality crashing back in.
"I have to go," he said reluctantly. "The Samyang deposition..."
"I know." Jungkook stood. "Good luck. You're going to be brilliant."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're always brilliant." Jungkook headed for the door, then paused. "Oh, and Jimin-ssi?"
"Yes?"
"That shirt? The pale blue one? It brings out your eyes."
Then he was gone, and Jimin sat at his desk with half-eaten kimbap and a racing heart, thinking that maybe, just maybe, Yoongi's warning had come too late.
He was already in too deep.
Unfortunately, Jimin didn't have time to examine exactly how deep.
The Samyang deposition was less than two hours away, and there were still documents to review, questions to refine, and approximately eighteen passes through his notes standing between him and being satisfied that he was prepared.
So Jimin did what he always did when his personal life threatened to become inconveniently complicated.
He worked.
By the time he walked into one of Kim & Kim's smaller conference rooms that afternoon, fifteen minutes early and carrying a meticulously organized briefcase, Jungkook had been firmly shoved into a corner of his mind labelled deal with later.
Opposing counsel was the same firm as the disastrous Go Minseok from last week, which meant they'd probably done their research this time.
Good. Jimin preferred when opposing counsel actually tried.
Attorney Sung Miyeon was leading for the other side, sharp, competent, with a reputation for aggressive cross-examination. She arrived exactly on time with a junior associate and their client, the CEO of the software company claiming Samyang had stolen their source code.
"Attorney Park," Miyeon said with a tight smile. "Ready to begin?"
"Of course."
The deposition lasted three hours.
Miyeon was good, she'd clearly done her homework, knew the technical details of the software in question, and asked pointed questions designed to trip up Jimin's client. But Jimin was better.
Every trap she set, he saw coming. Every aggressive question, he deflected with precise objections and calm redirection. When she tried to confuse his client with technical jargon, Jimin was right there with clarification. When she implied malfeasance, Jimin had documentation proving the opposite.
By hour two, Miyeon was visibly frustrated.
By hour three, she was done.
"I think that's sufficient for today," she said, gathering her papers with sharp movements.
"Agreed," Jimin said pleasantly. "We'll send over the corrected deposition transcript by Wednesday."
The clients left, then the court reporter, and finally Miyeon and her associate.
Jimin stayed behind to pack up his materials, and he was sliding the last folder into his briefcase when his phone buzzed.
Jungkook: How did it go?
Jimin: Well. Opposing counsel looked like she wanted to throw something by the end.
Jungkook: That's my boy
Jungkook: *That's my colleague
Jungkook: Professional colleague
Jungkook: Who I definitely don't think about constantly
Jimin's face hurt from smiling.
Jimin: You're terrible at being subtle.
Jungkook: I'm not trying to be subtle
Jungkook: Are you still at the office? I'm on 41 reviewing the Jeil Pharma files you sent
Jimin: Just finished. Heading back to my office now.
Jungkook: Stop by mine? I found something interesting
Jimin's office was on the opposite end of the forty-first floor from Jungkook's, but he found himself walking that direction anyway.
Jungkook's office was smaller than Jimin's, junior partner perks weren't quite as nice as senior associate corner offices, but it was already distinctly his. Organized but not obsessively so, with a few personal touches: a photo of what looked like his family, a small succulent on the windowsill, and an impressive collection of legal reference books.
Jungkook was at his desk, absorbed in something on his laptop, and he didn't notice Jimin in the doorway immediately.
It gave Jimin a moment to just... look.
Jungkook had removed his suit jacket at some point, and his white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows again (those forearms, god). His hair was slightly mussed like he'd been running his hands through it, and he had reading glasses perched on his nose that Jimin had never seen before and were doing absolutely devastating things to his composure.
Then Jungkook looked up, and his entire face brightened.
"Hi," he said, removing the glasses. "Come in, close the door."
Jimin did, and settled into the chair across from Jungkook's desk.
"You wear glasses," he observed.
"Only when I'm reading for long periods. Contacts get uncomfortable." Jungkook smiled. "Why? Do they look bad?"
"No," Jimin said honestly. "They look good. Really good."
Jungkook's eyes widened slightly, and Jimin felt a surge of satisfaction. Two could play at the compliment game.
"I, thank you," Jungkook said, and was that a slight flush on his cheeks? "Anyway, the Jeil Pharma files. I think I found your discrepancy."
He turned his laptop so Jimin could see, and just like that they were back in work mode.
Except not quite.
Because as Jungkook explained what he'd found, shell companies, circular transactions, money that disappeared and reappeared in ways that suggested someone was trying very hard to hide something, Jimin was acutely aware of how close they were sitting. How Jungkook would lean in to point at something on the screen and his shoulder would brush Jimin's. How he could smell Jungkook's cologne mixed with coffee and something uniquely him.
"...so if we trace this transaction here," Jungkook was saying, "it leads back to this subsidiary that was supposedly dissolved three years ago but clearly wasn't..."
"Jungkook," Jimin interrupted.
"Hmm?"
"You're brilliant."
Jungkook blinked. "What?"
"This research. The connections you found." Jimin met his eyes. "You did in three hours what would have taken me days. You're brilliant."
"I..." Jungkook's ears were definitely red now. "It's just pattern recognition. Securities law training..."
"It's more than that." Jimin leaned back in his chair, and he let himself smile. Slow. Deliberate. "You're exceptional at this, Jungkook-ssi. I'm very glad you're on my team."
"Your team," Jungkook repeated, voice slightly rough.
"Mmm."
"Jimin-ssi." Jungkook's eyes were dark. "Are you flirting with me?"
"What if I am?"
"Then I'd say it's about time you flirted back."
"Back implies you've been flirting with me."
"I've been shamelessly flirting with you since day one," Jungkook said. "I told you your perfume was incredible. I brought you coffee. I said you were beautiful when you're thinking."
"Those could all be interpreted as professional courtesy."
"No they couldn't."
"No," Jimin agreed softly. "They couldn't."
They stared at each other, and the air felt charged, heavy.
"What are we doing?" Jungkook asked quietly.
"I have no idea."
"Is that okay?"
Jimin thought about Yoongi's warning. About the firm gossip. About the fact that they were colleagues working on multiple high-stakes cases together and this could complicate everything.
Then he thought about the way Jungkook looked at him. The way he brought him lunch because he was worried Jimin wasn't eating. The way they worked together like they'd been partners for years instead of days.
"Yes," Jimin said. "It's okay."
Jungkook's smile was bright, relieved.
"Good," he said. "That's, that's really good."
Jimin's phone buzzed. The 95z group chat.
Taehyung: EMERGENCY 95Z DRINKS
Taehyung: moonlight. 8pm
Taehyung: jimin you're coming even if i have to drag you
Hoseok: we have GOSSIP
Hoseok: about YOU
Taehyung: the entire firm is talking about the client meeting
Taehyung: apparently you and jungkook were "magnetic"
Taehyung: JIN HYUNG'S WORD NOT MINE
Hoseok: okay also my word
Hoseok: you were very magnetic
Hoseok: MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTIVE
Taehyung: DRINKS. NOW. SPILL EVERYTHING.
Jimin showed Jungkook the messages.
"Your friends are very enthusiastic," Jungkook observed.
"That's one word for it."
"Are you going?"
"I probably should. If I don't, Tae will show up at my apartment."
"He seems like the type." Jungkook hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"Tomorrow. Working on the Hanseong prep." Jungkook's voice was casual, but his eyes were intent. "Want to do it at my place? I make really good coffee, and my apartment is quieter than the office on weekends."
This was crossing a line. Office was professional. Apartments were personal.
"Okay," Jimin heard himself say.
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Your place. What time?"
"Ten AM? I'll make breakfast."
"You don't have to..."
"I want to." Jungkook's smile was soft. "I like taking care of you."
And that, that was too much honesty, too much vulnerability, too much everything.
"I should go," Jimin said, standing quickly. "The 95z will send a search party if I'm late."
"Have fun." Jungkook stood too. "And Jimin-ssi?"
"Yes?"
"Wear something comfortable tomorrow. You don't have to be The Rose at my apartment. Just be Jimin."
Jimin's heart did something complicated in his chest.
"I'll try," he said softly.
Then he fled before he did something stupid like kiss Jungkook right there in his office.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Jimin arrived at Moonlight to find Taehyung and Hoseok already occupying their usual corner booth, and they were not alone.
Jung Wheein from the litigation department was there, along with Park Hyungsik from corporate contracts, and, oh god, even some of the associates had apparently been invited. Kim Sera sat at the end of the table looking like all her dreams had come true, flanked by two other first-years who Jimin vaguely recognized from the bullpen.
"What is this?" Jimin demanded, sliding in beside Taehyung. "I thought this was 95z drinks."
"It was," Taehyung said cheerfully. "Then word got out that we were meeting to discuss the Jimin and Jungkook situation, and suddenly everyone wanted to come."
"There is no Jimin and Jungkook situation!"
"Jimin-ah," Hoseok said gently. "The entire firm watched you two present to Hanseong yesterday. You looked at each other like you were the only people in the room."
"We were focused on the case..."
"You finished each other's sentences," Wheein interjected. She was one of the senior associates in litigation, brilliant and terrifying in court, and apparently very invested in Jimin's love life. "Multiple times. It was like watching a married couple."
"We'd worked extensively on the presentation! Of course we were in sync!"
"Jimin-ssi," Sera said, and her voice was reverent. "He brought you coffee three days in a row. Everyone noticed."
"Colleagues bring each other coffee!"
"Not like that," Hyungsik said. He was grinning, clearly enjoying this. "Not iced americanos made exactly how you like them. Not with that soft look on his face when he sets them on your desk."
Jimin dropped his head into his hands. "I hate all of you."
"No you don't," Taehyung said, sliding a glass of wine in front of him. "You love us. Now drink and tell us everything."
"There's nothing to tell!"
"Lies," Hoseok singsonged. "We have witnesses. Multiple witnesses. Jin-hyung said, and I quote, 'the way Jungkook looked at Jimin during that presentation made me feel like I was watching a romance unfold in real-time.'"
"Jin-hyung has an overactive imagination."
"Namjoon-hyung said the same thing," Wheein added. "He told the partners' lunch table that you two had 'remarkable chemistry' and that he'd 'never seen such natural collaboration.'"
"That's about our work..."
"And then," Taehyung said, leaning in with gleeful malice, "there's what happened at lunch yesterday."
Oh no.
"When Jungkook followed you into the bathroom," Hoseok continued, "and you were both in there for seven minutes..."
"We were talking!"
"And when you came out, you looked completely flustered and he looked like he'd won the lottery."
"That's not, we didn't..."
"What happened in that bathroom?" Sera asked, eyes wide.
"Nothing! We talked about the case!"
"For seven minutes? In a bathroom?"
"He was apologizing for embarrassing me!"
"That's actually kind of sweet," Wheein observed.
"It's very sweet," one of the other associates agreed. "And then today..."
"Oh god, what about today?"
"He brought you lunch," Sera said. "Kimbap and japchae from your favorite place. He asked me what you liked."
"He's just, he's being thoughtful..."
"Jimin-ah." Hoseok's voice was gentle now. "Why are you fighting this so hard?"
"Because it's complicated!" Jimin finally snapped, and the table went quiet. "Because he's my colleague, and I'm trying to make partner, and if this goes wrong it could ruin everything I've worked for!"
Silence.
Then Taehyung put a hand on his shoulder.
"Or," he said softly, "it could be the best thing that ever happened to you."
Jimin took a long drink of wine.
"I'm going to his apartment tomorrow," he admitted quietly.
The table erupted.
"WHAT?"
"HIS APARTMENT?"
"PARK JIMIN!"
"To work on the Hanseong case!" Jimin said quickly. "We're prepping for Monday's conference call!"
"At his apartment," Hoseok repeated slowly. "On a Saturday morning."
"He offered! He said it would be quieter than the office!"
"Uh-huh." Taehyung's grin was wicked. "And I'm sure that's the only reason."
"It is!"
"Did he invite you for breakfast?"
Jimin's silence was answer enough.
"He invited you for breakfast," Wheein said, delighted. "Jimin-ah, he's courting you."
"Lawyers don't court..."
"This one does," Hyungsik said. "And honestly? Good for him. You deserve someone who sees how incredible you are."
"I..." Jimin's throat felt tight. "I don't know what I'm doing."
"None of us do," Sera said earnestly. "But from what I've seen? Jungkook-ssi is brilliant and kind and he looks at you like you hung the moon. That seems like a pretty good place to start."
"What if it ruins our working relationship?"
"What if it doesn't?" Taehyung countered. "What if it makes you both happier and better at your jobs because you're not spending all your energy pretending you don't want each other?"
"You're the one who told me to flirt back," Jimin pointed out.
"And you did! I heard from Sera that you told him he looked good in his glasses today."
Sera nodded enthusiastically. "He was flustered for like twenty minutes after you left. It was adorable."
Despite everything, Jimin smiled.
"He does look good in glasses."
"There it is!" Hoseok crowed. "Admit it. You like him."
"Fine. Yes. I like him." Jimin took another drink. "I like him a lot, and it's terrifying."
"Good terrifying or bad terrifying?" Wheein asked.
"I don't know yet."
"Well," Taehyung said, raising his glass. "Here's to finding out. To Jimin finally letting himself have something good."
"To Jimin and Jungkook," Hoseok added.
"To The Rose getting a romance arc!" Sera chimed in.
They all clinked glasses, and Jimin let himself be pulled into the warmth of their affection and support.
His phone buzzed. A text from Jungkook: Hope drinks with your friends is fun. See you tomorrow at 10. I'm already looking forward to it.
Jimin showed the message to Taehyung, who made a sound like a dying seal.
"He's already looking forward to it," Taehyung read aloud to the table. "JIMIN. He's smitten."
"We don't know that..."
"We absolutely know that," Wheein said. "Question is: are you going to do something about it?"
Jimin looked at the message again, at those simple words that somehow made his chest feel warm and tight all at once.
I'm already looking forward to it.
"Maybe," he said softly. "Maybe I am."
The table erupted in cheers.
A few hours and several glasses of wine later, Jimin was home, in his pajamas, standing in front of his closet and contemplating his life choices.
What did one wear to a colleague's apartment for a work session that was definitely just professional but also maybe wasn't?
The navy suit felt too formal. The casual jeans and sweater felt too casual. Everything in between felt like it was trying too hard.
His phone rang. Taehyung, naturally.
"Stop overthinking what to wear," Taehyung said without preamble.
"I'm not, how did you know?"
"Because I know you. You're standing in front of your closet having an existential crisis about clothing."
Jimin sat on his bed. "What if I'm making a mistake?"
"What if you're not?" Taehyung's voice was gentle. "Jiminie, I've known you for six years. I've never seen you like this about anyone."
"Like what?"
"Happy. Nervous. Excited. Like you're letting yourself want something instead of just achieving things." Taehyung paused. "You deserve this. You deserve to be wanted, to be cared for, to have someone who brings you coffee and looks at you like you matter."
"Yoongi-hyung warned me to be careful."
"Yoongi-hyung worries about you. We all do. You work yourself to death trying to be perfect." Taehyung's voice was soft. "But maybe Jungkook is good for you. Maybe he'll help you remember that you're allowed to be human too."
Jimin's eyes stung.
"I'm scared," he admitted.
"I know. But you're also brave. You're The Rose. You never back down from a challenge."
"This feels different."
"It is different. It's scarier than any case because your heart is involved." Taehyung paused. "But that's also what makes it worth it."
After they hung up, Jimin pulled out his comfortable jeans, dark, well-fitted, and a soft cream sweater that was casual but still looked put-together. Then he set three alarms for 8 AM because he absolutely could not be late.
He lay in bed staring at the ceiling, thinking about tomorrow, about Jungkook's apartment, about breakfast and work and all the ways this could go wonderfully right or terribly wrong.
His phone buzzed one last time.
Jungkook: Good night, Jimin-ssi. Sleep well.
Jimin stared at the message for a long moment, then typed back: Good night, Jungkook. See you tomorrow.
He hesitated, then added: I'm looking forward to it too.
The response was almost immediate: :)
Just an emoji. Just a simple, happy face.
But somehow it made Jimin's entire chest feel warm.
He fell asleep smiling.
By the next morning, the nerves were back.
Jimin changed his mind about his outfit twice, checked that he had his laptop three times, and still managed to arrive in Hannam-dong thirteen minutes early.
Jungkook lived in one of those modern apartment buildings that screamed "successful young professional." The lobby was all glass and marble, with a concierge who eyed Jimin's casual outfit with subtle approval before directing him to the elevators.
Fourteenth floor, apartment 1403.
Jimin checked his reflection in the elevator mirror. Hair: good. Sweater: not too casual, not too formal. Perfume: applied lightly because this was Jungkook's personal space and he didn't want to be overwhelming.
He was absolutely not nervous.
He was terrified.
The elevator dinged, and Jimin found apartment 1403. Took a breath. Knocked.
The door opened almost immediately, and Jungkook stood there in joggers and a simple black t-shirt that should have been illegal, hair soft and unstyled, feet bare, smiling like Jimin's arrival had made his entire morning.
"Hi," Jungkook said. "Come in."
Jimin stepped into the apartment and stopped.
It was beautiful.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Han River, filling the space with morning light. The apartment was open-concept, living room flowing into kitchen, decorated in clean lines and warm neutrals. There were personal touches everywhere: photographs on the walls, books stacked on the coffee table, a guitar in the corner that Jimin hadn't known Jungkook played.
And it smelled like coffee and something baking.
"You're baking?" Jimin asked, turning to find Jungkook watching him with soft eyes.
"Croissants. They're almost done." Jungkook gestured toward the kitchen. "Coffee's ready. How do you take it?"
"You don't have to..."
"I want to." Jungkook's smile was gentle. "How do you take your coffee, Jimin-ssi?"
"Just a little milk. No sugar."
"Got it. Make yourself comfortable."
Jimin set down his bag and laptop on the dining table, but he couldn't help gravitating toward the windows. The view was spectacular, the Han River sparkling in the morning sun, the city stretching endlessly in all directions.
"It's beautiful," he said when Jungkook returned with two mugs.
"That's why I took the apartment. The commute is longer, but the view is worth it." Jungkook handed him the coffee, and their fingers brushed. "Sometimes after a long day, I just sit here and watch the river. Helps me decompress."
"I can see why."
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, drinking coffee and watching the river, and Jimin felt something settle in his chest. This felt right. Natural. Like he was supposed to be here.
The oven timer beeped.
"Croissants," Jungkook said. "Come on, let's eat before we work."
The kitchen was as beautiful as the rest of the apartment, all sleek appliances and granite countertops. Jungkook pulled fresh croissants from the oven, plated them with butter and jam, added fresh fruit, and gestured for Jimin to sit at the breakfast bar.
"You didn't have to go to all this trouble," Jimin said.
"It's not trouble." Jungkook settled onto the stool beside him, close enough that their knees almost touched. "I like cooking. And I wanted you to feel welcome."
"I do," Jimin said honestly. "This is, your home is lovely."
"Thank you." Jungkook tore off a piece of croissant, and Jimin watched his hands, strong, capable, with long fingers that would probably feel amazing...
Professional thoughts. Professional.
"So," Jungkook said, "the Hanseong call Monday. Kang Doyun wants to discuss patent licensing terms. I reviewed the current draft last night, and I think there are some areas we can improve."
And just like that, they shifted into work mode.
Except it didn't feel like work.
It felt like two people who enjoyed each other's company, who happened to be very good at their jobs, sharing breakfast and ideas in the morning light.
They talked through the licensing structure while eating croissants. Discussed regulatory concerns over second cups of coffee. By the time they moved to the living room with their laptops, Jimin felt energized in a way he usually only felt after winning a case.
Jungkook settled on one end of the couch, and Jimin took the other end, both of them with laptops balanced on their knees and documents spread across the coffee table.
"Okay," Jungkook said, pulling up a file. "Current structure gives Hanseong exclusive licensing for semiconductor applications, but Mirae retains rights for all other sectors. The issue is defining 'semiconductor applications' broadly enough to protect Hanseong's interests without restricting Mirae's future development."
"We need specific language about AI integration in chip design versus AI as a standalone software product," Jimin said, already typing notes. "Mirae should retain rights to develop consumer-facing AI applications even if they use similar underlying algorithms."
"Agreed. And we should build in a review mechanism, maybe annual assessment of what constitutes semiconductor versus software applications, with both parties having input."
They worked for an hour, the conversation flowing easily between technical details and strategic considerations. Jungkook was brilliant at this, seeing the legal structures clearly, anticipating problems, finding elegant solutions.
But he was also distracting.
Because he'd pulled his knees up on the couch, looking comfortable and domestic in a way that made Jimin hyperaware of how attractive he was. Because he'd occasionally run his hand through his hair when he was thinking, making it stick up adorably. Because he'd make small sounds of satisfaction when he found the right phrasing, and Jimin's brain kept supplying very unprofessional contexts for those sounds.
"Jimin-ssi?"
Jimin blinked. "Sorry, what?"
"I asked what you thought about the profit-sharing ratio for co-developed patents." Jungkook was watching him with amusement. "But you were staring at my hair."
"I was not..."
"You were." Jungkook's smile was warm. "It's okay. I don't mind."
"I was thinking about the licensing terms."
"While staring at my hair."
"It's, you keep running your hands through it. It's distracting."
"Distracting how?"
Jimin set down his laptop.
"You know how," he said quietly.
Jungkook's eyes darkened. He set down his own laptop, shifted slightly closer on the couch.
"Do I?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
"Tell me anyway."
This was it. The moment where Jimin could deflect, retreat to safety, maintain professional boundaries.
Or he could be brave.
"You're distracting," Jimin said, "because you're beautiful and brilliant and you look at me like I'm something precious, and I can't stop thinking about what it would feel like to..."
He cut himself off, but Jungkook had gone very still.
"To what?" Jungkook's voice was rough.
"To kiss you," Jimin admitted. "I can't stop thinking about what it would feel like to kiss you."
The silence stretched between them, charged and heavy.
Then Jungkook said, "Can I tell you something?"
"Always."
"I've been thinking about that since the first day I met you." Jungkook's gaze was intense, focused entirely on Jimin. "Since I saw you in the break room with your baby blue cardigan and your floral perfume, looking like you'd never demolished opposing counsel in your entire life. I wanted to know what you'd taste like. What sounds you'd make. If you'd be as devastating up close as you are from across a conference room."
Jimin's breath caught.
"And now?" he managed.
"Now I know you're more devastating up close. Because I've seen you work, seen your brilliant mind in action, seen the way you care about people behind the cases." Jungkook shifted closer, and now they were inches apart. "And I want to kiss you even more than I did that first day."
"Jungkook..."
"Tell me no," Jungkook said softly. "Tell me this is a bad idea, that we should maintain professional boundaries, that we're colleagues and nothing more. Tell me no, and I'll back off. I'll be professional. I'll never bring it up again."
"And if I don't tell you no?"
"Then I'm going to kiss you." Jungkook's hand came up, hovering near Jimin's face. "And I don't think I'll want to stop."
Jimin's heart was racing so fast he could hear it in his ears. This was reckless. Potentially career-damaging. Definitely unprofessional.
"Good," Jimin breathed, and closed the distance between them.
The first touch of Jungkook's lips against his was soft, tentative, like Jungkook was giving him one last chance to back out.
Jimin responded by threading his fingers into Jungkook's hair and pulling him closer.
Jungkook made a low sound in his throat and deepened the kiss, his hand coming up to cup Jimin's jaw with surprising gentleness. He kissed like he did everything else, focused, thorough, like he was memorizing every detail.
Jimin's laptop slid forgotten onto the couch as he shifted closer, and Jungkook's other hand found his waist, pulling him in until there was no space between them.
It was perfect. It was overwhelming. It was everything Jimin had been trying not to think about for the past week.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Jungkook's eyes were dark and his lips were kiss-swollen and he looked at Jimin like he'd just discovered something precious.
"Wow," Jungkook breathed.
"Yeah," Jimin agreed shakily.
"Can I do that again?"
Instead of answering, Jimin kissed him.
This time it was less tentative, more confident. Jungkook's hands tightened on Jimin's waist, pulling him closer until Jimin was practically in his lap. The kiss was deeper, more demanding, and when Jungkook's tongue traced his lower lip, Jimin opened for him without hesitation.
They kissed until Jimin was dizzy with it, until his hands were fisted in Jungkook's t-shirt and Jungkook's fingers were tangled in his hair, until the world narrowed down to just this, breath and heat and the way Jungkook held him like he was something infinitely valuable.
When they finally broke apart again, Jimin was half in Jungkook's lap, thoroughly debauched, and completely incapable of regret.
"We should..." Jungkook's voice was wrecked. "We should probably talk about this."
"Probably."
"Set boundaries. Discuss what this means."
"Mm-hmm."
"Figure out how to handle this professionally."
"Yes."
Neither of them moved.
Then Jungkook laughed, soft and helpless, and pulled Jimin fully into his lap.
"Later," he said against Jimin's lips. "We'll talk about it later."
"Later," Jimin agreed, and kissed him again.
They made out on Jungkook's couch for twenty minutes before Jimin's phone started buzzing incessantly.
Taehyung, of course.
Taehyung: how's the WORK SESSION going
Taehyung: is it very PROFESSIONAL
Taehyung: are you being APPROPRIATE
Jimin: I'm going to kill you.
Taehyung: THAT DOESNT ANSWER THE QUESTION
Taehyung: OH MY GOD DID SOMETHING HAPPEN
Taehyung: JIMIN DID YOU KISS HIM
Jimin looked at Jungkook, who was reading over his shoulder and grinning.
"You should probably answer that," Jungkook said. "Before he sends a search party."
"He absolutely would."
Jimin typed: Maybe.
His phone immediately started ringing. He declined the call.
Taehyung: MAYBE?????
Taehyung: PARK JIMIN
Taehyung: DETAILS IMMEDIATELY
Jimin: Later. Working now.
Taehyung: WORKING HE SAYS
Taehyung: AS IF WE BELIEVE THAT
Jimin turned his phone face-down and looked at Jungkook.
"We really should work," he said reluctantly.
"We should," Jungkook agreed, but he was still holding Jimin in his lap, hands warm on his waist. "The Hanseong call is Monday. We need to finalize the patent licensing language."
"And review the profit-sharing structure."
"And prepare for Kang Doyun's potential objections."
"Right."
They stared at each other.
"I don't want to stop kissing you," Jungkook admitted.
"I don't want you to stop kissing me."
"But we have work to do."
"We do."
"Okay." Jungkook took a deep breath. "Okay. Work now. More of this later?"
"Later," Jimin agreed.
He reluctantly climbed out of Jungkook's lap, retrieved his laptop from where it had fallen on the couch, and tried very hard to remember what they'd been working on before everything had gone wonderfully, perfectly sideways.
Patent licensing. Right. They were discussing patent licensing.
Except now every time Jungkook leaned over to point at something on Jimin's screen, Jimin was intensely aware of how close he was, how good he smelled, how his lips were still slightly swollen from kissing.
This was going to make working together significantly more complicated.
And significantly more rewarding.
They managed to finish the licensing language by early afternoon, both of them determinedly professional despite the lingering heat between them. When Jimin's stomach growled around 2 PM, Jungkook ordered Thai food and they ate on the couch, reviewing documents and stealing glances at each other like teenagers.
It was perfect.
By the time Jimin left at 5 PM, later than planned and with both of them reluctant to end the day, they had a solid strategy for Monday's call and Jimin had a playlist of what it felt like to be wanted, cared for, seen.
"Thank you," he said at the door, laptop bag over his shoulder. "For breakfast. For the work space. For everything."
"Thank you for coming." Jungkook leaned against the doorframe, smiling soft and fond. "Same time tomorrow? We should run through the presentation one more time before Monday."
"Are you just looking for an excuse to see me again?"
"Yes," Jungkook said honestly. "Absolutely yes."
Jimin's heart skipped.
"Tomorrow," he agreed. "But maybe we should actually work this time."
"We did work! We got a lot done!"
"We made out for twenty minutes in the middle."
"Productive break," Jungkook said, grinning. "Essential for maintaining focus."
"That's not how breaks work."
"It should be."
Jimin laughed, and before he could think better of it, he leaned in and kissed Jungkook one more time. Quick, sweet, perfect.
"Tomorrow," he said against Jungkook's lips.
"Tomorrow," Jungkook echoed, and watched Jimin all the way to the elevator with that same soft smile.
Jimin made it to the lobby before pulling out his phone.
Jimin: Emergency 95z meeting. My place. One hour.
Jimin: Bring wine.
Taehyung: OH MY GOD
Taehyung: WHAT HAPPENED
Hoseok: WE'RE COMING
Hoseok: DONT YOU DARE START WITHOUT US
Jimin smiled all the way home.
He'd barely had time to change and put a bottle of wine in the fridge before his doorbell rang.
Jimin's apartment in Seongsu-dong was smaller than Jungkook's, a one-bedroom he'd rented straight out of law school and never bothered to upgrade because he was never home anyway. But it was his, decorated in soft creams and warm woods, with bookshelves full of legal texts and a small balcony that overlooked the Han River in the distance.
Taehyung and Hoseok arrived within three minutes of each other, both carrying wine and wearing expressions of barely contained glee.
"Spill," Taehyung demanded the moment he was through the door. "Spill everything immediately."
"Let him breathe," Hoseok said, but he was already opening the wine with frantic efficiency. "Okay, breathing time is over. What happened?"
Jimin took the wine glass Hoseok thrust at him and settled onto his couch. Taehyung and Hoseok flanked him immediately, both leaning in like they might miss a single word.
"We kissed," Jimin said.
Taehyung screamed.
Like, actually screamed. High-pitched and delighted and so loud that Jimin's neighbor probably thought someone was being murdered.
"I KNEW IT," Taehyung crowed. "I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT..."
"Tae, you're going to break my eardrums."
"I don't care! You kissed him!" Taehyung grabbed Jimin's shoulders. "Tell us everything. Every single detail. Start from the beginning."
So Jimin did.
He told them about arriving at Jungkook's apartment, about the view and the croissants and how domestic it all felt. About working on the couch and how natural it was, how easy. About the way Jungkook looked at him like he was something precious.
"And then," Jimin said, taking a fortifying sip of wine, "I told him I couldn't stop thinking about kissing him."
Hoseok made a sound like a dying animal.
"You WHAT?" he managed. "Park Jimin, the king of professional boundaries, just, just told him you wanted to kiss him?"
"Yes."
"And then what happened?" Taehyung was practically vibrating with excitement.
"He said he'd been thinking about it since the day we met. And then..." Jimin felt his face heat. "Then he said if I didn't tell him no, he was going to kiss me and he didn't think he'd want to stop."
"Oh my god," Hoseok breathed. "That's so hot."
"It was," Jimin admitted. "So I kissed him."
"AND?" Taehyung and Hoseok said in unison.
"And it was perfect." Jimin couldn't help smiling. "He kisses like he does everything else. Focused. Thorough. Like he's trying to memorize every detail."
"I'm going to combust," Taehyung said. "This is the most romantic thing I've ever heard."
"We made out on his couch for twenty minutes before you texted."
"TWENTY MINUTES?" Hoseok looked impressed. "Jiminie, you have more game than I thought."
"I don't have game. I have..." Jimin paused. "I have feelings. A lot of feelings."
"About Jungkook," Taehyung said softly.
"Yes."
"Good feelings?"
"Terrifying feelings." Jimin set down his wine glass. "I like him so much it scares me. We've known each other for a week, and I, I can't stop thinking about him. About the way he looks at me, the way he remembers things I mention in passing, the way we work together like we've been partners for years."
"That's called chemistry," Hoseok said gently. "And it's a good thing."
"But what if it ruins everything? What if we try this and it doesn't work and then we can't work together anymore?"
"What if it does work?" Taehyung countered. "What if this is the start of something really beautiful?"
Jimin dropped his head onto Taehyung's shoulder.
"I don't know how to do this," he admitted quietly. "I don't know how to be The Rose and also be someone's... whatever I am to Jungkook."
"You don't have to choose," Hoseok said. "You can be both. Brilliant lawyer and person who gets to be wanted and cared for."
"Yoongi-hyung said to be careful."
"Yoongi-hyung worries," Taehyung said. "But he also wants you to be happy. We all do."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the three of them tangled together on the couch the way they'd been since law school when everything was terrifying and uncertain and they only had each other.
"You're going to his place again tomorrow?" Hoseok asked finally.
"To prep for Monday's call. We need to finalize the presentation."
"Mm-hmm. Prep." Taehyung's voice was knowing. "Is that what we're calling it?"
"We're actually going to work this time!"
"Sure you are."
"We are!"
"Okay, but also," Hoseok said, "maybe kiss him again? Because you look happier than I've seen you in months and I'm pretty sure that's because of him."
Jimin's phone buzzed.
Jungkook: Made it home safely. Thank you for today. I can't stop thinking about you.
Jungkook: That probably sounds too intense for someone I've known for a week. Sorry.
Jungkook: Not sorry for kissing you though. That was perfect.
Taehyung, reading over his shoulder, made soft cooing noises.
"He can't stop thinking about you," he singsonged. "Jiminie, he's so gone for you."
"Stop reading my messages!"
"Then stop having the most romantic text conversation in history where I can see it!"
Jimin pulled his phone to his chest protectively and typed back: Don't apologize. I can't stop thinking about you either. See you tomorrow.
He hesitated, then added: The kissing was perfect. We should do it again.
The response was immediate: Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow.
Jimin showed them the exchange, and both Taehyung and Hoseok looked like they might cry.
"You're so soft for him," Hoseok said, delighted. "I love this for you."
"This is chaos," Jimin protested. "This is my life becoming chaos."
"This is you finally letting yourself be happy," Taehyung corrected. "There's a difference."
By the time Taehyung and Hoseok finally left that night, Jimin had heard every possible variation of Jungkook is completely gone for you and had done absolutely nothing to convince them otherwise.
The next morning, he returned to Hannam-dong with his laptop, a folder of notes, and a determination to actually be productive this time.
That determination lasted approximately forty-five seconds.
Because Jungkook opened the door in joggers and a soft grey henley that made him look unfairly attractive, and the first thing he said was "Hi" in that rough morning voice, and then he smiled like Jimin's arrival was the best part of his day.
"Hi," Jimin managed.
"Come in." Jungkook stepped back, and as Jimin passed him in the doorway, Jungkook's hand found the small of his back. Just briefly. Just a touch. "Coffee's ready. I made French toast."
They made it through breakfast. Barely.
Jungkook kept looking at him with soft eyes, and Jimin kept catching himself staring at Jungkook's hands, his lips, remembering what it felt like to kiss him.
"We should work," Jimin said when they'd finished eating.
"We should," Jungkook agreed.
They set up at the dining table this time, more professional than the couch, with the table between them creating a safe barrier.
Except Jungkook kept leaning over to point at things on Jimin's laptop, and every time he did, his cologne would hit Jimin and his shoulder would brush Jimin's and it was extremely distracting.
"The profit-sharing ratio," Jungkook was saying, "should probably be weighted toward Mirae for the first three years, since they're bringing the existing patents. Then we can shift to equal distribution for co-developed IP..."
"Jungkook," Jimin interrupted.
"Hmm?"
"Can I kiss you?"
Jungkook blinked. "What?"
"I'm trying to focus on profit-sharing ratios, but all I can think about is kissing you, and it's very distracting." Jimin met his eyes. "So can I kiss you now, get it out of my system, and then we can actually work?"
Jungkook's smile was slow, devastating.
"You think kissing me once is going to get it out of your system?"
"Probably not," Jimin admitted. "But I'd like to try."
Jungkook stood, came around the table, and pulled Jimin up into his arms.
"For the record," he said against Jimin's lips, "I don't think this is ever getting out of my system."
Then he kissed him, and Jimin forgot all about profit-sharing ratios.
They kissed until Jimin was backed against the table, until Jungkook's hands were in his hair and Jimin's were fisted in his henley, until they were both breathing hard and definitely not thinking about work.
"Okay," Jungkook said, pulling back with visible effort. "Okay. Work. We're working now."
"Working," Jimin agreed breathlessly.
"Patent licensing. That's, that's what we're doing."
"Right. Patents."
They stared at each other.
"This is going to be a problem," Jungkook said.
"A big problem."
"We're professionals. We can handle this."
"Absolutely," Jimin said, and pulled him back in for another kiss.
They eventually managed to work, in between stolen kisses and lingering touches and moments where they'd both forget what they were doing because they were too busy looking at each other.
By the time Jimin left that afternoon, they had a solid presentation for Monday's call, Jimin's lips were swollen from kissing, and they'd had at least three serious conversations about what this meant and how to handle it professionally.
The conclusion: they were doing this. Whatever "this" was. They'd be discreet at the office, maintain professional boundaries in front of clients and colleagues, but they were done pretending there was nothing between them.
"Tomorrow's going to be interesting," Jungkook said at the door.
"The call?"
"The call, yes. But also seeing you at the office knowing what you taste like." Jungkook's eyes were dark. "That's going to be very difficult."
"We'll be professional."
"We will," Jungkook agreed. "But I'm still going to be thinking about this."
He kissed Jimin one more time, slow and thorough, and Jimin left feeling like he was floating.
That feeling lasted all the way through Sunday evening and followed him into Monday morning.
Jimin arrived at the office thirteen minutes earlier than usual because he needed time to compose himself before seeing Jungkook in a professional context.
He made it to his office, closed the door, and had approximately three minutes of peace before someone knocked.
"Come in," he called, expecting Sera with the morning briefing.
Namjoon walked in instead.
Jimin shot to his feet. "Namjoon-hyung. Good morning."
"Good morning, Jimin-ah." Namjoon settled into one of the chairs, and his expression was kind but serious. "Do you have a few minutes before the Hanseong call?"
"Of course."
Namjoon was quiet for a moment, studying him with those sharp, perceptive eyes.
"You and Jungkook did excellent work on the presentation last week," he said finally.
"Thank you. Jungkook's contributions were invaluable..."
"I'm not here to talk about the case." Namjoon's voice was gentle. "I'm here to talk about you."
Jimin's stomach dropped.
"The entire firm is talking about you two," Namjoon continued. "The associates, the partners, even the secretaries. Everyone saw the way you worked together during the client meeting. The chemistry."
"We were professional..."
"You were brilliant," Namjoon corrected. "You were also clearly connected in a way that goes beyond professional collaboration."
Jimin couldn't quite meet his eyes.
"I'm not telling you to stop," Namjoon said. "I'm telling you to be careful. Office relationships are complicated, Jimin-ah. Especially when you're working on cases together, especially when you're both trying to build your careers here."
"I know."
"Do you?" Namjoon leaned forward. "Because I've watched you work yourself to exhaustion for six years trying to make partner. I've seen you maintain perfect professionalism, build an impeccable reputation. I don't want you to jeopardize that."
"I won't," Jimin said quietly. "Jungkook and I, we've talked about this. We know it's complicated. We're going to be discreet."
"Good." Namjoon's expression softened. "I also want you to know that I'm not opposed to this. Jungkook is brilliant and kind, and he clearly cares about you. I just want you to protect yourself."
"I will."
"And if anyone gives you trouble, anyone at all, you come to me or Jin-hyung immediately."
Jimin's throat felt tight. "Thank you, hyung."
"Of course." Namjoon stood. "Now, let's go close this deal. Show me that brilliant teamwork again."
Less than fifteen minutes later, Jimin walked into Conference Room A.
The conference call was already set up, laptop connected to the large screen, documents organized, water glasses filled. Jungkook was there too, looking devastating in a navy suit, and when he saw Jimin, his entire face brightened.
Then he seemed to remember where they were, and the brightness shifted into something more controlled. Professional.
But his eyes were still warm when he said, "Good morning, Jimin-ssi."
"Good morning, Jungkook-ssi."
They took their seats, Jimin at the head of the table, Jungkook beside him, and Namjoon and Jin filed in shortly after.
At exactly 9 AM, the video call connected.
Hanseong's team appeared on screen, Choi Minsik, Park Sunhee, and their legal counsel. A moment later, Kang Doyun's video window opened, and he looked significantly more relaxed than he had at the initial meeting.
"Good morning, everyone," Jimin began. "Thank you for making time today. We're here to discuss the patent licensing structure and finalize the terms before we move to drafting the formal agreement."
"We reviewed your proposal over the weekend," Choi said. "It's thorough. More generous to Mirae than we initially discussed."
"It's fair," Jungkook corrected gently. "The structure protects both parties' interests while incentivizing continued innovation."
"Walk us through it again," Park Sunhee requested. "Specifically the profit-sharing ratios."
And they were off.
Jimin and Jungkook fell into their rhythm immediately, Jimin explaining the strategic rationale, Jungkook diving into the technical details, both of them anticipating each other's points and building on them seamlessly.
"The key innovation," Jimin said twenty minutes in, "is the tiered licensing structure. Hanseong gets exclusive rights to semiconductor applications, but the definition is narrow enough that Mirae retains flexibility for other AI development."
"And the profit-sharing," Jungkook added, pulling up a chart, "weights toward Mirae for the first three years at a 60-40 split, recognizing that they're bringing existing IP. After three years, it shifts to 50-50 for any co-developed patents, creating equal incentive for collaboration."
"What about dispute resolution?" Kwon, Hanseong's legal counsel, asked. "If there's disagreement about what constitutes semiconductor versus software application?"
"Built-in arbitration mechanism," Jimin said smoothly. "Annual review by a neutral third-party expert, with both companies having input on expert selection. Decisions are binding but can be appealed through a structured process we've outlined in Appendix C."
On screen, Choi was nodding slowly.
"This is good," he admitted. "Really good. You two have clearly thought through every potential complication."
"That's our job," Jungkook said, and under the table, his foot brushed against Jimin's.
Jimin didn't move away.
"Mr. Kang," Jimin said, addressing Doyun directly. "How do you feel about this structure? Does it adequately protect your team's ability to continue innovating?"
Doyun was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was thoughtful.
"When my father started Mirae," he said, "he had one goal: push the boundaries of what AI could do. Not for profit, though we needed that to survive. For the pure joy of discovery." He paused. "This structure, the way you've built in autonomy, the protection for my research team, the incentive for continued development, it feels like it honors that vision."
"That was our intention," Jimin said softly.
"I know." Doyun smiled, and it was genuine. "You two have done something remarkable here. You've made me believe that selling my father's company doesn't mean betraying his legacy."
Jimin's chest felt tight.
Beside him, Jungkook's hand found his under the table, squeezed once, then withdrew.
"So we're agreed on the licensing structure?" Jin asked, steering them back to logistics.
"Agreed," Choi confirmed.
"Agreed," Doyun echoed.
They spent the next hour finalizing details, timeline for drafting formal agreements, next steps for regulatory approval, communication protocols. Through it all, Jimin and Jungkook maintained perfect professionalism.
But their feet kept touching under the table. Their shoulders would brush when they both leaned forward to make a point. They'd share small smiles when a particularly difficult negotiation point resolved smoothly.
And everyone noticed.
"You two work very well together," Park Sunhee observed toward the end of the call, and there was something knowing in her tone.
"We do," Jungkook agreed easily.
"How long have you been partners?"
"Just over a week," Jimin said.
"A week?" Choi looked genuinely surprised. "You have the rapport of people who've worked together for years."
"We're very compatible," Jungkook said, and the word "compatible" hung in the air with slightly more weight than strictly professional.
Jimin felt his ears heat.
After the call ended and the clients had disconnected, Jin turned to them with barely contained amusement.
"Well," he said. "That was educational."
"The licensing structure is solid," Namjoon agreed. "We should have the first draft of the formal agreement by Friday."
"I wasn't talking about the licensing structure," Jin said. "I was talking about the way you two..."
"Jin-hyung," Jimin interrupted. "Please."
"What? I'm just saying you have very good chemistry! Very professional chemistry! The kind of chemistry that makes clients comfortable and confident in your abilities!"
"We're leaving now," Jungkook said, standing and gathering his laptop with barely suppressed amusement. "Before Jin-hyung says something even more embarrassing."
"I'm not embarrassed!" Jin called after them as they fled. "I'm delighted! This is delightful!"
They made it to the hallway before Jungkook started laughing.
"He's terrible," Jimin muttered.
"He's observant," Jungkook corrected. "Everyone's observant. We're not as subtle as we think we are."
"We were professional!"
"We were." Jungkook's voice was warm. "We were also holding hands under the table."
"You started that!"
"You didn't stop me."
They'd reached Jimin's office, and Jungkook followed him inside, closing the door behind them.
"That was good, though," Jungkook said. "The call. We're really going to close this deal."
"We are." Jimin set down his laptop, turned to face Jungkook. "You were brilliant. The way you explained the profit-sharing structure, the arbitration mechanism..."
"You were brilliant," Jungkook interrupted. "The way you connected with Kang Doyun, made him feel like we understand his father's vision..." He paused. "You're really good at this, Jimin-ssi. At seeing the people behind the deals."
"Thank you," Jimin said softly.
They stared at each other, and the air felt charged.
"I want to kiss you," Jungkook admitted. "But we're at the office and anyone could walk in and..."
Jimin crossed the distance between them and kissed him.
Just briefly. Just a soft press of lips that tasted like victory and promise and the reckless joy of not caring who might see.
When he pulled back, Jungkook was staring at him with dark, heated eyes.
"Jimin-ssi," he said roughly. "You can't do that and then expect me to go back to work."
"Sure I can." Jimin smiled, deliberately playful. "Consider it motivation. Close the Jeil Pharma case with me, and you can kiss me properly."
"That's, that's evil."
"That's incentive." Jimin moved toward his desk, putting safe distance between them. "Now go. I have a deposition to prep for, and you have discovery documents to review."
"You're killing me."
"I'm motivating you."
Jungkook headed for the door, then paused with his hand on the handle.
"For the record," he said, "you're the most beautiful when you're being ruthless."
Then he was gone, and Jimin stood alone in his office, heart racing, wondering when exactly he'd become the kind of person who kissed colleagues in his office and used it as motivation.
He decided he didn't mind.
His phone buzzed. The associate group chat.
Sera: JIMIN-SSI AND JUNGKOOK-SSI JUST CAME OUT OF THE CONFERENCE ROOM TOGETHER
Sera: LOOKING VERY PLEASED WITH THEMSELVES
Associate Kim: The call went well?
Sera: THE CALL WENT WELL BUT ALSO THEY HAVE A VIBE
Associate Park: What kind of vibe?
Sera: THE VIBE
Sera: YOU KNOW THE VIBE
Jimin closed the group chat without reading further.
Then opened the 95z chat instead.
Jimin: I kissed him at the office.
Taehyung: PARK JIMIN
Hoseok: IN YOUR OFFICE???
Jimin: In my office. With the door closed.
Taehyung: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU
Hoseok: our baby's all grown up and taking risks
Jimin: I might have a problem.
Taehyung: you have a ROMANCE
Taehyung: thats not a problem thats a GIFT
Jimin smiled and got back to work, feeling lighter than he had in years
Jimin was elbow-deep in discovery documents for the Samyang case when Yoongi appeared in his doorway looking even more exhausted than usual.
"Conference room," Yoongi said without preamble. "Jeil Pharma situation just got worse."
Jimin's stomach sank. "How much worse?"
"Regulatory investigation worse. Financial crimes unit is involved."
"Shit."
"Exactly." Yoongi was already walking away. "Bring Jungkook. We need his securities expertise."
Jimin fired off a quick text to Jungkook, grabbed his laptop, and headed for the conference room.
He found Yoongi, Namjoon, and Jin already assembled, with stacks of documents spread across the table that looked ominous. Jungkook arrived thirty seconds later, slightly breathless like he'd run from his office.
Their eyes met across the room, and something warm passed between them before they both shifted into professional mode.
"Situation," Yoongi began once they were all seated. "The Financial Services Commission received an anonymous tip about Jeil Pharma's R&D expenditures. They've opened a formal investigation into potential securities fraud."
"Securities fraud?" Jungkook's expression sharpened. "That's serious. What's the allegation?"
"That Jeil Pharma has been inflating their R&D spending in public disclosures to make their innovation pipeline look stronger than it is," Namjoon explained. "Artificially boosting stock prices."
"And if they've been doing that," Jimin said slowly, feeling sick, "then the SeoulBio acquisition we facilitated..."
"...was potentially based on fraudulent financial representations," Yoongi finished. "Which means Kim & Kim could be liable for not catching it during due diligence."
The room went quiet.
"How bad is our exposure?" Jin asked.
"Depends on what the investigation finds." Yoongi pulled up a spreadsheet on his laptop. "If it's just accounting errors, we're fine. If it's deliberate fraud and we missed obvious red flags, we could be facing malpractice claims."
"We need to review everything from the SeoulBio acquisition," Namjoon said. "Every financial statement, every disclosure, every piece of due diligence we conducted."
"I'll handle it," Jimin said immediately.
"You're swamped with Hanseong-Mirae," Yoongi pointed out.
"I closed the SeoulBio deal. I know it better than anyone."
"That's why I want fresh eyes on it too." Namjoon looked at Jungkook. "Can you assist? Your securities background will be valuable."
"Of course," Jungkook said without hesitation.
"Good." Namjoon stood. "I want a full report by Friday. Everything we did right, everything we might have missed, and our recommended strategy for responding to the FSC investigation."
"We'll have it," Jimin promised.
After Namjoon and Jin left, Yoongi lingered.
"This is serious, Jimin-ah," he said quietly. "If the FSC finds that we missed obvious fraud indicators, it could damage the firm's reputation. Your reputation."
"I know."
"I'm not saying this to pressure you. I'm saying it because I need you to be thorough. More thorough than you've ever been."
"I will be," Jimin said. "I promise."
Yoongi nodded and left, and then it was just Jimin and Jungkook in the conference room surrounded by evidence of a deal that might have been built on lies.
"Hey," Jungkook said softly. "We'll figure this out."
"What if I missed something?" Jimin's voice was tight. "What if there were red flags and I was so focused on closing the deal that I didn't see them?"
"Then we'll find them now and fix it." Jungkook came around the table, stood close enough that Jimin could feel his warmth. "You're the most thorough lawyer I've ever met. If there was something to find, you would have found it."
"You don't know that."
"I do." Jungkook's hand found Jimin's shoulder, squeezed gently. "I've watched you work, remember? I've seen how meticulous you are. How much you care about getting things right."
Jimin leaned into the touch, just for a moment, before straightening.
"We should start reviewing documents," he said.
"We should," Jungkook agreed. "But first, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Jimin-ssi."
Jimin met his eyes, and the concern there made his chest tight.
"I'm scared," he admitted quietly. "This deal was supposed to be a success story. If it turns out to be fraud..."
"We'll handle it," Jungkook said firmly. "Together. Okay?"
"Okay."
They worked for six hours straight, reviewing every document from the SeoulBio acquisition. Financial statements, legal disclosures, email correspondence, meeting notes. Jungkook's photographic memory was invaluable, he could cross-reference information instantly, spot inconsistencies that would have taken Jimin hours to find.
By 9 PM, Jimin's eyes were burning and his head was pounding.
"There," Jungkook said suddenly, pointing at a financial statement from eighteen months ago. "Look at this R&D expenditure line item. ₩8.2 billion claimed for 'advanced AI research protocols.'"
"That's consistent with their other quarterly reports," Jimin said.
"But look at this." Jungkook pulled up another document, an internal research memo. "According to this, they only had three active AI projects at that time with a combined budget of ₩5.1 billion. Where did the other ₩3.1 billion go?"
Jimin leaned closer, scanning the documents. "Could be misclassification. Maybe they counted infrastructure costs..."
"Or maybe they're fabricating expenses." Jungkook was already pulling up more files. "If we can find a pattern of inflation..."
"...we can prove we couldn't have caught it during normal due diligence because they were actively hiding it." Jimin felt a surge of hope. "Jungkook, you're brilliant."
"We're brilliant," Jungkook corrected. "You found the discrepancy in the first place. I'm just connecting the dots."
They worked until midnight, building a timeline of suspicious expenditures, cross-referencing public disclosures with internal documents. By the time they finished, they had evidence that Jeil Pharma had been systematically inflating their R&D spending for at least three years, long before Kim & Kim got involved.
"This protects the firm," Jimin said, relief flooding through him. "We can show that the fraud predated our involvement and that they took active steps to hide it."
"We still need to report it to the FSC," Jungkook pointed out. "Cooperate fully with their investigation."
"I know. But at least we won't be liable for malpractice."
Jungkook was watching him with soft eyes. "You okay now?"
"Better." Jimin rubbed his face, exhausted. "Thank you. For staying late, for helping with this."
"Of course." Jungkook started packing up his laptop. "Come on. I'll walk you to your car."
"You don't have to..."
"I want to."
The forty-third floor was deserted at this hour, just the cleaning crew and the emergency lighting. They walked to the elevator in comfortable silence, and when the doors closed, Jungkook immediately pulled Jimin into his arms.
"Hi," he said softly.
"Hi." Jimin melted into the embrace, letting himself be held. "We shouldn't do this at the office."
"No one's here." Jungkook's hand was gentle in his hair. "And you looked like you needed a hug."
"I did," Jimin admitted. "Today was stressful."
"I know." Jungkook pulled back just enough to see his face. "But we figured it out. Like we always do."
"We've known each other for nine days."
"Feels longer."
"Yeah," Jimin said softly. "It does."
The elevator dinged for the parking garage, and they reluctantly separated. But Jungkook's hand found Jimin's as they walked to the cars, fingers interlacing naturally.
"Tomorrow," Jungkook said when they reached Jimin's car. "Lunch? There's a place in Itaewon I want to take you to."
"Is this a date?"
"Yes," Jungkook said without hesitation. "Definitely a date. If you want it to be."
Jimin's heart skipped. "I want it to be."
"Good." Jungkook smiled, warm and genuine. "Pick you up at noon?"
"I'll meet you there. Less conspicuous."
"Right. Discreet." Jungkook's thumb traced circles on the back of Jimin's hand. "I'm not very good at discreet when it comes to you."
"I've noticed."
"Is it a problem?"
"No," Jimin said honestly. "It's kind of amazing, actually."
Jungkook's smile widened, and he leaned in slowly, giving Jimin time to pull away.
Jimin didn't pull away.
The kiss was soft, sweet, tasting like coffee and exhaustion and the relief of solving a problem together. When they broke apart, Jungkook rested his forehead against Jimin's.
"Text me when you get home?" he asked.
"I will."
"Good." One more quick kiss. "Sleep well, Jimin-ssi."
"You too."
Jimin drove home with a smile on his face and his phone buzzing with messages from the 95z demanding updates, and for the first time in his career, he felt like maybe, just maybe, he could have both things. The perfect case record and someone who looked at him like he hung the moon.
The next day, a little after noon, Jimin found himself standing outside a small restaurant tucked into a side street in Itaewon, suddenly far more nervous than he'd been facing down the Financial Services Commission problem the night before.
Jungkook had called it a date.
An actual date.
Jimin had deliberately arrived seven minutes late because he didn't want to seem too eager, only to find Jungkook already seated at a corner table, looking unfairly handsome in a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up.
"Hi," Jungkook said, standing when he saw Jimin. "You look beautiful."
Jimin had agonized over his outfit for twenty minutes that morning, finally settling on grey slacks and a soft pink sweater that he knew looked good on him. The fact that Jungkook's eyes had gone dark the moment he saw him suggested it was the right choice.
"Thank you," Jimin said, sliding into his seat. "You look good too."
"Just good?"
"Very good." Jimin let himself smile, playful. "Distractingly good."
"Yeah?" Jungkook leaned forward, eyes bright. "You're flirting with me."
"I am."
"I like it."
"I know."
They ordered, Jungkook apparently already knew the menu and requested things in Italian that sounded impressive and delicious. When the waiter left, Jungkook reached across the table and took Jimin's hand.
"So," he said. "First official date."
"First official date," Jimin agreed. "Are you nervous?"
"Terrified."
"Really?"
"Really." Jungkook's thumb traced patterns on Jimin's palm. "I really like you, Jimin-ssi. Like, embarrassingly much for someone I've known for barely over a week. I don't want to mess this up."
"You're not going to mess this up."
"You don't know that."
"I do." Jimin squeezed his hand. "You're kind and brilliant and you bring me coffee without being asked. You stayed at the office until midnight to help me with a case that isn't even yours. You look at me like I'm..."
"Like you're precious," Jungkook finished softly. "Because you are."
Jimin's breath caught.
"See?" he managed. "Not messing it up."
They talked through lunch, about everything and nothing. Jungkook told him about growing up in Busan (they'd both grown up there, had probably walked the same streets without knowing it), about his family (parents who owned a small restaurant, an older brother who was a doctor), about why he'd gone into law (his father had been cheated in a business deal and Jungkook had wanted to make sure it never happened to anyone else).
Jimin told him about his parents' cafe, about law school stress and the 95z keeping him sane, about the terror of his first case and the exhilaration of his first win.
"When did you know you were good at this?" Jungkook asked.
"At law?" Jimin considered. "Probably my second year of practice. I won a case everyone said was unwinnable, opposing counsel had better resources, more experience, everything. But I'd done my research, and I found a precedent they'd missed. When the judge ruled in my favor, I..." He paused. "I felt like maybe I belonged here. Like maybe I could actually do this."
"You're more than good at it," Jungkook said. "You're exceptional. The Rose isn't just a nickname. It's recognition of how brilliant you are."
"You're just saying that because you like me."
"I'm saying it because it's true." Jungkook's gaze was intense. "And yes, because I like you. A lot."
"I like you a lot too," Jimin admitted.
"Good." Jungkook's smile was bright. "Because I'm pretty sure I'm falling for you, and it would be awkward if it was one-sided."
Jimin's heart stopped.
"You're, what?"
"Falling for you." Jungkook said it easily, like it was the simplest thing in the world. "I know it's fast. I know we barely know each other. But I can't help it. You're, everything. You're brilliant and kind and beautiful, and when you smile at me like you are right now, I forget how to think."
"Jungkook..."
"You don't have to say it back," Jungkook said quickly. "I just wanted you to know. No pressure, no expectations. Just, honesty."
Jimin stared at him, at this man who'd walked into his life barely over a week ago and turned everything upside down in the best possible way.
"I think I'm falling for you too," he heard himself say. "Which is insane because we've known each other for nine days and I don't fall for people this fast. But I can't stop thinking about you. Can't stop wanting to be around you. Can't stop..."
Jungkook kissed him.
Right there in the restaurant, leaning across the table, one hand cupping Jimin's jaw.
It was brief, they were in public, but it was perfect.
"Sorry," Jungkook said when he pulled back. "You were listing reasons why this is crazy, and I needed you to stop so I could kiss you."
"That's a terrible argument strategy."
"But effective."
"Very effective," Jimin admitted.
They finished lunch in a haze of happiness, stealing touches under the table and smiling at each other like idiots. When the check came, they argued over who would pay (Jungkook won by virtue of having his card out faster), and then they were standing on the street in Itaewon, not wanting the date to end.
"I should get back to the office," Jimin said reluctantly. "I have a conference call at two."
"I know. I checked your schedule."
"You're obsessed with my schedule."
"I'm obsessed with you." Jungkook pulled him into a side alley where they were less visible, pressed him gently against the wall. "Can I kiss you properly before we go back to being professional colleagues?"
"Please."
Jungkook kissed him thoroughly, deeply, until Jimin was dizzy with it and his hands were fisted in Jungkook's shirt and he'd completely forgotten about his conference call.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Jungkook rested his forehead against Jimin's.
"This is going to make working together very difficult," he murmured.
"Impossible," Jimin agreed.
"Worth it though."
"Definitely worth it."
They made it back to the office separately, Jungkook first, then Jimin ten minutes later, and Jimin managed to get through his conference call without anyone noticing that his lips were slightly swollen and he couldn't stop smiling.
His phone buzzed as soon as the call ended.
Jungkook: That was the best lunch I've ever had.
Jimin: The food was good.
Jungkook: I wasn't talking about the food.
Jimin: I know.
Jungkook: Dinner Friday? My place? I'll cook.
Jimin: Are we still pretending that's just a work session?
Jungkook: We've never been good at pretending.
Jimin: Friday. Your place. Yes.
Jungkook: Can't wait.
Neither could Jimin.
The rest of the week passed in a blur of work and stolen moments.
Jungkook kept bringing Jimin coffee. Jimin kept finding excuses to stop by Jungkook's office. They worked late together on the Jeil Pharma report for Yoongi, on the Hanseong-Mirae contract drafting, on their individual cases.
And every time they were alone, they kissed.
In Jimin's office with the door closed. In the parking garage late at night. Once in the empty break room on the forty-first floor when everyone had gone home.
The firm gossip reached fever pitch.
"I heard they're dating," one associate whispered in the elevator.
"No way. The Rose doesn't date."
"Well, he's doing something with Jungkook. Sera saw them leaving together at midnight on Tuesday."
"Working late, probably."
"That's not a work face. That's a 'I'm falling in love' face."
Jimin pretended not to hear, but his ears were burning.
By Thursday afternoon, he was reviewing discovery documents when Sera knocked on his door looking simultaneously excited and terrified.
"Jimin-ssi," she said. "The associates want to know if it's true."
"If what's true?"
"That you're dating Jungkook-ssi."
Jimin set down his pen. "And why do the associates think that's any of their business?"
"Because..." Sera faltered. "Because you're The Rose. Everything you do is kind of our business. You're like our inspiration."
"I'm a person, Sera. Not a role model."
"You're both," she said softly. "And we're happy for you. If it's true. Which we think it is. Because you smile more now."
Jimin's expression softened. "I'm not confirming or denying anything."
"That's basically a confirmation."
"Sera..."
"It's okay!" She was grinning now. "We're not going to make it weird. We just, we like seeing you happy. You work so hard, and you deserve good things."
After she left, Jimin texted the 95z.
Jimin: The associates know.
Taehyung: of course they know
Taehyung: you two look at each other like you're in a romance novel
Hoseok: the entire FIRM knows jiminie
Hoseok: embrace it
Jimin: I'm trying to be professional!
Taehyung: you are professional
Taehyung: professionally in love
Taehyung: professionally about to combust from sexual tension
Hoseok: speaking of which
Hoseok: dinner at jungkook's tomorrow???
Hoseok: DINNER. AT. JUNGKOOK'S.
Jimin: How do you know about that?
Taehyung: sera told the associate chat
Taehyung: who told the paralegal chat
Taehyung: who told everyone
Jimin: I hate this firm.
Hoseok: you love this firm
Hoseok: and you love jungkook
Taehyung: OH MY GOD DOES HE LOVE JUNGKOOK
Taehyung: JIMIN DO YOU LOVE HIM
Jimin: I'm not discussing this over text.
Taehyung: THATS NOT A DENIAL
Hoseok: EMERGENCY DRINKS TONIGHT
Jimin: I have work.
Taehyung: DRINKS. NOW.
Jimin sighed and started packing up his laptop.
He was going to need all the help he could get.
By Friday evening, all that help had apparently done nothing to stop him from standing in front of his closet for the third time in twenty minutes and contemplating his life choices.
This was a date. A real date. At Jungkook's apartment. Where Jungkook was cooking dinner.
Which probably meant this was going somewhere beyond just dinner.
His phone rang. Taehyung, naturally.
"Stop overthinking," Taehyung said without preamble.
"I'm not..."
"You're standing in front of your closet having a crisis about what to wear and whether tonight is going to be the night you sleep with him."
Jimin sat heavily on his bed. "How do you do that?"
"Because I know you." Taehyung's voice was warm. "And I know that you've been dating Jungkook for exactly ten days and you're completely gone for him and you're terrified."
"I am terrified."
"Why?"
"Because..." Jimin took a breath. "Because what if I'm bad at this? I haven't been with anyone in two years, Tae. What if I..."
"Stop." Taehyung's voice was firm. "Jimin-ah, listen to me. That man is so stupidly in love with you that he could barely function during yesterday's partner meeting. Namjoon-hyung said he spent the entire time staring at you."
"He was not..."
"He was. Everyone noticed. And you know what? No one cares. Everyone's happy for you because you're finally letting yourself have something good."
"What if it ruins everything?"
"What if it doesn't?" Taehyung paused. "What if this is the start of something really beautiful and you're about to miss it because you're scared?"
Jimin was quiet for a moment.
"What do I wear?" he asked finally.
"Something that makes you feel confident. Something comfortable. And Jiminie?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget the expensive perfume. He loves it when you smell good."
After they hung up, Jimin pulled out dark jeans that fit him perfectly and a soft black cashmere sweater that was casual but still made him look put-together. He showered, applied his Eau Rose with careful precision, and spent longer than necessary on his hair.
By the time he left his apartment at 7:15, he looked effortlessly beautiful and felt absolutely terrified.
His phone buzzed as he was getting into his car.
Jungkook: Can't wait to see you. Drive safe.
Jimin: On my way.
Jungkook: Good. I made your favorite.
Jimin: You don't know my favorite.
Jungkook: Japchae, kimbap, and that specific kimchi from the place in Seongsu. Also I bought the wine you ordered at lunch on Wednesday.
Jimin: You're paying too much attention.
Jungkook: Impossible. There's no such thing as too much attention when it comes to you.
Jimin drove to Hannam-dong with a smile on his face and butterflies in his stomach.
Less than twenty minutes later, Jungkook opened the door wearing black joggers and a grey t-shirt, hair soft and slightly damp like he'd just showered, and Jimin forgot how to breathe.
"Hi," Jungkook said, and his smile was so warm, so genuine, that Jimin felt something in his chest crack open.
"Hi."
"Come in." Jungkook stepped back, and as Jimin passed him, Jungkook's hand found the small of his back. "You look incredible."
"Thank you. You look..." Jimin turned to face him properly. "Really good. Comfortable."
"Is that okay? I wasn't sure if I should dress up..."
Jimin kissed him.
Just pulled him in and kissed him right there in the entryway, because Jungkook looked soft and domestic and nervous, and Jimin needed him to know that this was perfect.
Jungkook made a surprised sound that melted into something pleased, and his arms came around Jimin's waist, pulling him closer.
When they broke apart, both breathing slightly harder, Jungkook's eyes were dark.
"Hi," he said again, voice rough.
"Hi." Jimin smiled. "What's for dinner?"
"I..." Jungkook blinked, visibly trying to refocus. "Right. Dinner. I made japchae and bulgogi and there's kimbap and, I might have made too much food."
"You're nervous," Jimin observed.
"Terrified."
"Why?"
"Because I really want tonight to be perfect." Jungkook's hand came up to cup Jimin's face, thumb brushing his cheekbone. "Because I really like you, and I want you to have a good time, and I'm scared I'm going to mess it up."
"You're not going to mess it up."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true." Jimin leaned into the touch. "Just be yourself. That's all I want."
Jungkook's smile was soft. "Okay. Being myself. I can do that."
He led Jimin into the apartment, and Jimin noticed immediately that things were different from last time. Candles on the dining table (unlit, but present). Soft music playing in the background. The lighting dimmed to something warm and intimate.
"You went to a lot of trouble," Jimin said.
"I wanted it to feel special." Jungkook was in the kitchen now, checking something in the oven. "Wine?"
"Please."
Jungkook poured two glasses, the same wine Jimin had ordered on Wednesday, and handed one to Jimin. Their fingers brushed, and the contact felt electric.
"To us," Jungkook said, raising his glass.
"To us," Jimin echoed, and they drank.
Dinner was perfect.
Jungkook had made everything from scratch, and it was all delicious. They ate at the dining table with Seoul glittering below them, and the conversation flowed easily between work gossip (the associates had apparently started a betting pool on when Jimin and Jungkook would make things official) and personal stories (Jungkook's disastrous first year of law school, Jimin's parents' reaction when he told them he wanted to be a lawyer).
"They were worried," Jimin admitted. "Law school is expensive, and they'd already put everything into the cafe. But I was determined."
"You're always determined," Jungkook said fondly. "It's one of my favorite things about you."
"What are the other things?"
"Fishing for compliments?"
"Maybe." Jimin smiled over his wine glass. "Tell me anyway."
Jungkook set down his fork, and his expression turned serious.
"Your mind," he said. "The way you see connections other people miss. The way you care about the people behind the cases, like Kang Doyun, making sure his father's legacy was protected. Your kindness, even when you're being ruthless in depositions. The way you smell like flowers and carry yourself like you own every room you walk into."
Jimin's chest felt tight.
"The way you smile when you think no one's looking," Jungkook continued. "The way you're patient with associates even when they make mistakes. The way you love your friends so fiercely. The way you..." He paused. "The way you look at me. Like I'm someone worth knowing."
"You are worth knowing," Jimin said softly. "You're brilliant and kind and you make me feel..."
"What?"
"Seen." Jimin's voice was barely above a whisper. "You make me feel seen. Not just as The Rose, not just as the lawyer who never loses. As Jimin."
Jungkook stood, came around the table, and pulled Jimin to his feet.
"Come here," he said, and led Jimin to the couch.
They settled together, Jimin tucked into Jungkook's side, and it felt so natural that Jimin wondered how they'd ever existed as just colleagues.
"Can I tell you something?" Jungkook asked.
"Always."
"I knew I was in trouble the first day I met you." Jungkook's hand was gentle in Jimin's hair, fingers threading through the strands. "You were in the break room making tea, and you were wearing that baby blue cardigan, and you smiled at me like I wasn't a stranger. Like I was already someone you were happy to see."
"I remember."
"I went back to my office and couldn't focus for three hours. Kept thinking about your smile, your perfume, the way you moved. And then I saw you in that partner meeting, saw how brilliant you were, how Namjoon and Jin respected you..." Jungkook's voice was rough. "I was already gone for you. Before I even knew your name properly."
Jimin shifted, turning to face Jungkook properly.
"I thought you were beautiful," he admitted. "That first day. I saw you in the break room and thought you were the most attractive person I'd ever seen. And then you started being kind and brilliant and bringing me coffee, and I..." He paused. "I tried so hard not to fall for you."
"Why?"
"Because I was scared. Because office relationships are complicated and I'm trying to make partner and I thought if I let myself want you, it would ruin everything."
"And now?"
"Now I think maybe you're worth the risk." Jimin's hand came up to cup Jungkook's face. "I think maybe we're worth the risk."
Jungkook's eyes were so dark, so intense.
"Jimin-ssi," he said. "Can I kiss you?"
"You never have to ask."
Jungkook kissed him slowly, thoroughly, like they had all the time in the world. His hands were gentle, one cupping Jimin's jaw and the other at his waist, pulling him closer until there was no space between them.
Jimin's hands fisted in Jungkook's shirt, and he made a soft sound when Jungkook's tongue traced his lower lip. The kiss deepened, became more urgent, and suddenly Jimin was in Jungkook's lap, straddling him, both of them breathing hard.
"Jimin," Jungkook groaned against his lips. "We should, we should slow down..."
"Do you want to slow down?"
"No. God, no. But I don't want to rush you..."
Jimin kissed him again, harder this time, grinding down slightly, and Jungkook's hands tightened on his waist with a sound that went straight to Jimin's core.
"I don't want to slow down," Jimin said against his lips. "I want you. Is that okay?"
"Is that—" Jungkook pulled back just enough to see his face, and his expression was wrecked. "Jimin-ssi, I've wanted you since the moment I met you. But I need to know you're sure."
"I'm sure." Jimin's hands moved to the hem of Jungkook's shirt. "I've never been more sure of anything."
"Bedroom," Jungkook said roughly, and stood, lifting Jimin with him.
Jimin wrapped his legs around Jungkook's waist, and Jungkook carried him through the apartment like he weighed nothing. The bedroom was as beautiful as the rest of the space, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a massive bed, and everything done in warm neutrals that felt intimate and safe.
Jungkook set Jimin down on the bed gently, like he was something precious, and stood back for a moment.
"You're so beautiful," he said, voice rough with want. "So fucking beautiful."
"Come here," Jimin said, reaching for him.
Jungkook came.
They took their time.
Jungkook mapped every inch of Jimin's skin like he was memorizing it—kissing down his neck, his collarbones, his chest. He took off Jimin's sweater with reverent hands, made soft sounds of appreciation when he saw the expanse of golden skin beneath.
"Perfect," Jungkook murmured against Jimin's stomach. "You're perfect."
Jimin's hands were in Jungkook's hair, and he was making sounds he'd never made before—needy, desperate, completely uninhibited.
When Jungkook's mouth found his nipple, Jimin arched off the bed with a gasp.
"Sensitive," Jungkook noted, voice dark with satisfaction. "Good to know."
"Jungkook—"
"Tell me what you want."
"You. I want you."
"You have me." Jungkook kissed his way back up to Jimin's mouth. "You've had me since day one."
They shed the rest of their clothes in a tangle of limbs and breathless laughter, and then they were skin to skin, and Jimin felt like he might combust from how good it felt.
"Condom?" Jungkook asked, reaching for the nightstand.
"Yes. Please. Jungkook, please—"
"I've got you," Jungkook promised, and he did.
He took his time preparing Jimin, fingers gentle and thorough, watching his face for every reaction. And when Jimin was ready, when he was begging for it, Jungkook finally—finally—pushed inside.
They both gasped at the sensation.
"Okay?" Jungkook asked, voice strained with the effort of holding still.
"So good," Jimin managed. "Move. Please move."
Jungkook moved.
It was perfect. It was overwhelming. It was everything Jimin had been trying not to think about for the past week and a half.
Jungkook fucked him slowly at first, deep and thorough, watching Jimin's face like he was trying to memorize every expression. But as Jimin got more desperate, more vocal, Jungkook's control started to slip.
"Harder," Jimin gasped. "Jungkook, harder—"
Jungkook moaned breathily and shifted the angle, hitting something inside Jimin that made him see stars.
"There," Jimin moaned. "Right there, don't stop—"
"Not stopping," Jungkook promised. "Never stopping. You feel so good, Jimin, so fucking good—"
The dirty talk pushed Jimin closer to the edge, and when Jungkook's hand wrapped around his cock, stroking in time with his thrusts, Jimin came with a cry that was probably too loud.
Jungkook followed moments later, Jimin's name on his lips, and they collapsed together in a tangle of sweaty limbs and racing hearts.
"Wow," Jungkook breathed after a long moment.
"Yeah," Jimin agreed shakily. "Wow."
Jungkook pulled out carefully, disposed of the condom, and came back to gather Jimin into his arms.
"Hi," he said softly.
"Hi." Jimin was already half-asleep, boneless and satisfied.
"That was. . ."
"Perfect," Jimin finished. "That was perfect."
"Yeah." Jungkook pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Stay? Tonight?"
"Okay."
"Okay," Jungkook echoed, sounding pleased.
They lay there in comfortable silence, Jungkook's fingers tracing lazy patterns on Jimin's skin, and Jimin felt something settle deep in his chest.
This was right. This was where he was supposed to be.
"Jungkook?" he said quietly.
"Hmm?"
"I think I'm falling in love with you."
Jungkook went very still.
Then he tightened his arms around Jimin and said, "I know I'm falling in love with you. Have been since day one."
Jimin's chest felt too full, too warm.
"That's fast," he said.
"I don't care."
"Me neither."
They fell asleep like that, tangled together, and when Jimin woke up at 3 AM slightly disoriented, Jungkook was still holding him like he was something infinitely valuable.
Jimin's phone was buzzing on the nightstand.
Taehyung: you didn't come home
Taehyung: JIMIN DID YOU STAY OVER
Taehyung: OH MY GOD YOU STAYED OVER
Taehyung: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU
Hoseok: OUR BABY IS ALL GROWN UP
Hoseok: wait is he awake
Hoseok: JIMIN ARE YOU READING THESE
Taehyung: if you're reading these it means you're not sleeping
Taehyung: if you're not sleeping there are only two reasons
Taehyung: 1. cant sleep (boring)
Taehyung: 2. ROUND TWO
Hoseok: TAE
Taehyung: WHAT we're all thinking it
Jimin: Go to sleep.
Taehyung: OH MY GOD HE'S AWAKE
Taehyung: DETAILS IMMEDIATELY
Jimin: Absolutely not.
Hoseok: was it good though
Jimin: ...yes.
Taehyung: YES????
Taehyung: JIMIN THATS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION
Jimin: It was perfect. He's perfect. I'm happy. Good night.
Taehyung: HE'S HAPPY
Hoseok: I'm actually tearing up
Taehyung: same
Taehyung: okay go back to your perfect man
Taehyung: we love you
Hoseok: so much
Hoseok: you deserve this jiminie
Jimin set his phone down and turned back to find Jungkook watching him with sleepy, fond eyes.
"Your friends?" Jungkook asked.
"Demanding details I'm not giving them."
"Good." Jungkook pulled him closer. "Come here. I'm not done holding you yet."
Jimin settled back into his arms, and Jungkook's hand immediately found his hair, fingers threading through the strands.
"Can't sleep?" Jungkook murmured.
"Just processing."
"Processing what?"
"How happy I am." Jimin pressed a kiss to Jungkook's chest. "How much I like you. How scared that makes me."
"Don't be scared." Jungkook's voice was soft. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They fell back asleep like that, and when Jimin stirred sometime later to sunlight beginning to stream through the windows, Jungkook's arms were still around him.
He lay there for a while, warm and comfortable and more content than he could remember being in a long time, and thought maybe, just maybe, he could have this.
The perfect case record and the perfect person.
Maybe he could have both.
He must have drifted off again, because the next time Jimin opened his eyes, the other side of the bed was empty and the clock on the nightstand read 9:17 AM.
The smell of coffee drifted in from the kitchen, accompanied by the faint sound of someone moving around beyond the bedroom.
Jimin sat up, disoriented for a moment, before remembering.
Jungkook's apartment. Friday night. Everything that had happened.
A smile had barely begun to form when he noticed his phone buzzing on the nightstand.
Multiple missed calls from Namjoon.
Three texts from Yoongi.
And an emergency notification from the firm's system.
URGENT: Hanseong-Mirae deal complications. Client meeting Monday 9 AM moved to Saturday 2 PM. All parties required.
Jimin's stomach dropped.
He grabbed his phone and called Namjoon back.
"Jimin-ah," Namjoon answered immediately. "Where are you?"
"I—at home. What's going on?"
"Kang Doyun is threatening to pull out of the deal."
"What? Why?"
"He found out about Hanseong's semiconductor division losses, the ones Jungkook discovered. He thinks they misrepresented their financial position and he's calling the entire acquisition into question."
"Shit."
"Emergency meeting at 2 PM. We need you and Jungkook here to salvage this."
"We'll be there."
Jimin hung up and found Jungkook standing in the bedroom doorway with two cups of coffee, looking concerned.
"What's wrong?" Jungkook asked.
"The Hanseong deal. Kang Doyun wants to pull out. Emergency meeting in..." Jimin checked his watch. "Less than five hours."
"Okay." Jungkook set down the coffee and immediately shifted into work mode. "What do we know?"
"He found out about the semiconductor losses. Thinks Hanseong lied about their financial position."
"They didn't lie. They disclosed everything properly. The losses were in their public filings..."
"But we used that information to negotiate better terms for Mirae," Jimin realized. "He thinks we knew Hanseong was desperate and we leveraged it."
"Which we did. That was good negotiating."
"But now he thinks we manipulated him." Jimin stood, already looking for his clothes. "We need to fix this."
"We will." Jungkook was already getting dressed. "Shower, coffee, then we'll strategize on the way to the office."
They moved with practiced efficiency, showering separately because they didn't have time for distractions, dressing in the clothes from last night, grabbing coffee to go.
In the car on the way to Kim & Kim, they built their strategy.
"We need to be honest with him," Jimin said. "Show him that yes, we used Hanseong's financial weakness to negotiate better terms for him. That was our job. Protecting his interests."
"And we need to reassure him that the deal still makes sense," Jungkook added. "Hanseong's losses don't change the fundamental value proposition."
"Right. They still need his AI patents. He still needs their capital and distribution."
"This is salvageable," Jungkook said, and his hand found Jimin's across the center console. "We've got this."
"Together," Jimin agreed.
"Always together."
They pulled into the Kim & Kim parking garage, and before they got out, Jungkook pulled Jimin in for a quick, fierce kiss.
"For luck," he said against Jimin's lips.
"We don't need luck," Jimin said. "We have each other."
"Even better."
They walked into the building holding hands, and Jimin realized he didn't care who saw.
This was worth fighting for.
Both the case and the person beside him.
They spent the next three hours reviewing every document from the Hanseong-Mirae deal, building their argument and anticipating every possible objection Kang Doyun might raise.
By the time they gathered in Conference Room A shortly before two, the building had the strange stillness of a Saturday afternoon. Without the usual hum of associates moving through the halls and phones ringing behind office doors, the tension in the room felt even sharper.
Namjoon and Jin were already there, both looking stressed in a way Jimin rarely saw.
"Status?" Namjoon asked immediately.
"We have a strategy," Jimin said, setting down his laptop. "But we need to know exactly what Doyun said. What specifically is he objecting to?"
"He feels manipulated," Jin said. "He found an article from last week about Hanseong's semiconductor losses and realized we used that information to negotiate better terms. He thinks we knew they were desperate and leveraged it without telling him."
"Which is literally our job," Jungkook pointed out. "We're supposed to use every advantage to protect our client's interests."
"Try explaining that to someone who feels like his father's company is being sold under false pretenses," Namjoon said tiredly. "He's emotional, not rational."
"Then we need to speak to the emotion," Jimin said. "Not just the logic."
Yoongi appeared in the doorway. "Clients are arriving. Hanseong's team is already in Conference Room B. Doyun just pulled into the parking garage."
"Okay." Jimin took a breath, centered himself. This was what he was good at, reading people, finding the emotional core of a negotiation, making everyone feel heard. "Let me talk to Doyun first. Alone."
"Jimin-ah..." Namjoon started.
"Trust me," Jimin said. "I can reach him. But I need to do it one-on-one, without Hanseong's team in the room making him defensive."
Namjoon and Jin exchanged glances.
"You have fifteen minutes before Hanseong expects us in there," Namjoon said finally. "Make it count."
Jimin nodded and headed for the elevator.
Jungkook caught his hand in the hallway.
"You've got this," he said quietly. "You're brilliant at this. Just be yourself."
"What if it's not enough?"
"It will be." Jungkook squeezed his hand. "And if it's not, we'll figure it out together."
Jimin kissed him quickly, just a brief press of lips, and then headed down to meet Kang Doyun in the lobby.
Doyun was already there when Jimin stepped out of the elevator a few minutes later, and he looked exactly like someone who'd spent the night convincing himself he was making a terrible mistake. His suit was rumpled, his eyes were tired, and when he saw Jimin approaching, his expression turned guarded.
"Mr. Kang," Jimin said gently. "Thank you for coming."
"I'm not sure why I did," Doyun said. "I've already made my decision."
"Have you?" Jimin gestured toward a quiet seating area in the corner of the lobby. "Can we talk for a moment? Just the two of us?"
Doyun hesitated, then nodded.
They settled into the expensive leather chairs, and Jimin took a moment to just observe. Doyun's hands were shaking slightly. His jaw was tight. This wasn't anger. This was fear.
"You feel like we manipulated you," Jimin said softly. "Like we used information about Hanseong's financial position to push you into a deal that benefits them more than you."
Doyun's eyes snapped to his. "You knew they were struggling. You knew they needed my patents desperately. And you didn't tell me."
"You're right," Jimin said. "We did know. Jungkook found the discrepancies in their semiconductor division during our due diligence. And we absolutely used that information."
"So you admit it."
"We used it to negotiate better terms for you," Jimin said. "The autonomy clauses, the patent co-ownership structure, the retention packages for your research team, all of that exists because we knew Hanseong was desperate enough to agree to terms they never would have accepted otherwise."
Doyun was quiet, processing.
"We didn't manipulate you, Mr. Kang," Jimin continued. "We protected you. That's our job. Finding every possible advantage for our client and using it to get the best possible deal."
"But they lied..."
"They didn't lie. Everything about their financial position was in their public disclosures. We just actually read them and understood what they meant." Jimin leaned forward. "And yes, we used that knowledge. But we used it for you. Every single concession we got from Hanseong, the things that made you feel like your father's legacy was being honored, only happened because we had leverage."
Doyun's hands had stopped shaking.
"I'm scared," he admitted quietly. "I'm scared that I'm making the wrong choice. That my father would be disappointed."
"Can I tell you something about my father?" Jimin asked.
Doyun nodded.
"My parents own a cafe in Busan. Small place, nothing fancy. When I was in high school, a big corporation tried to force them out so they could build a luxury hotel. They offered my father a fraction of what the property was worth and when he refused, they tried to destroy him with legal challenges."
Jimin's voice was steady, but there was emotion underneath.
"We almost lost everything. The cafe, our home, my parents' entire life's work. And I was terrified. But then this lawyer, this brilliant M&A specialist, took our case pro bono. He found every loophole, every weakness in the corporation's position, and he used it ruthlessly to protect my family."
"Did you win?" Doyun asked.
"We won. We kept the cafe and got a settlement that let my parents expand. And do you know what my father said when it was over?"
"What?"
"He said that lawyer was a warrior. That he fought for us like we were family, even though we'd never met before. That he honored the fight itself by fighting smart, not just hard."
Jimin met Doyun's eyes.
"Your father built Mirae from nothing. He pushed boundaries, took risks, innovated in ways people said were impossible. He was a warrior too. And I think, I think he'd be proud that you're fighting smart. That you found lawyers who would be ruthless in protecting his legacy, even if it meant using information against the other side."
Doyun's eyes were wet.
"This deal still makes sense," Jimin said gently. "Hanseong's semiconductor losses don't change the fundamental value. They still need your AI patents desperately. You still need their capital and distribution networks. And you have a contract that protects your autonomy, your team, your father's vision, protections that only exist because we fought for them."
"I just—" Doyun's voice cracked. "I don't want to betray him."
"You're not betraying him. You're honoring him by making sure his life's work continues. By making sure Mirae keeps innovating, keeps pushing boundaries, keeps being exactly what he built it to be." Jimin's voice was soft. "But with the resources to actually succeed this time."
The silence stretched between them.
Then Doyun said, "Tell me honestly. Do you think this is the right decision?"
"Yes," Jimin said without hesitation. "I think this deal is the best possible outcome for Mirae, for your team, and for your father's legacy. And I think walking away now would be letting fear win over strategy."
Doyun took a shaky breath.
"Okay," he said. "Okay. Let's go back in there."
By the time Jimin and Doyun returned to Conference Room A half an hour later, Hanseong's team was already seated and waiting.
Every head turned as they walked in.
Choi Minsik looked irritated, Park Sunhee looked concerned, and their legal counsel looked ready for a fight.
Jungkook stood by the windows, and when he saw Jimin, his entire expression brightened with relief.
"Mr. Kang," Choi said, standing. "I'm glad you reconsidered..."
"I'm here to renegotiate," Doyun interrupted. "Not to walk away. But I have concerns that need to be addressed."
Choi's eyebrows rose. "What kind of concerns?"
"Sit," Jimin said gently, gesturing Doyun to a chair. "Let's talk through this properly."
For the next two hours, they negotiated.
Doyun raised every concern, the financial disclosures, the timing of the semiconductor losses, whether Hanseong could actually deliver on their promises. And every time, Jimin was there with an answer, a reassurance, a solution.
When Doyun worried about research funding, Jungkook pulled up projections showing exactly how Hanseong's capital would accelerate development.
When Doyun questioned the autonomy clauses, Jimin walked through the contract line by line, showing how they'd protected his decision-making authority.
When Doyun asked about his team, Jin outlined the retention packages and protection mechanisms in detail.
And slowly, gradually, Doyun's shoulders relaxed. His questions became less defensive, more genuinely curious. He started asking about implementation timelines, about integration strategies, about the future.
"I want one more thing," Doyun said finally.
"What's that?" Choi asked warily.
"My father's name stays on the building. The Mirae Tech headquarters keeps the original signage, the original name. Forever."
Choi looked at Park Sunhee, who nodded.
"Done," Choi said. "Agreed. The building keeps your father's name in perpetuity."
Doyun's eyes welled up again.
"Then I'm in," he said. "Let's do this properly."
The relief in the room was palpable.
They spent another hour finalizing details, and through it all, Jimin and Jungkook worked in perfect sync. Jimin handled the emotional negotiations, the relationship management. Jungkook covered the technical details, the legal precision.
When they finally had everything documented and signed, when Doyun and Hanseong's team were shaking hands and making plans for the formal closing, Namjoon pulled Jimin aside.
"That was exceptional," he said quietly. "What you did with Doyun, bringing him back from the edge like that, that's partner-level work, Jimin-ah."
Jimin's chest felt tight. "Thank you, hyung."
"I mean it. We'll be discussing your partnership track at the next partners' meeting." Namjoon's smile was warm. "You've more than earned it."
After the clients left, after the contracts were locked away and the conference room was cleaned up, it was just Jimin, Jungkook, and the managing partners.
"You two," Jin said, "are terrifyingly good together."
"We make a good team," Jungkook agreed, and his hand found Jimin's under the table.
"More than good," Yoongi said from his position by the windows. "That was some of the best client management I've seen in twenty years of practice."
"Thank you, hyung," Jimin said softly.
"Also," Jin added with a grin, "the entire firm knows you're dating, so you can stop trying to hide it."
Jimin's face flamed. "We're not—"
"You came in together this morning holding hands," Namjoon said, amused. "Wearing the same clothes from Friday. It's not exactly subtle."
"Oh god," Jimin muttered.
"It's fine," Jin assured him. "More than fine. You're both adults, you're not violating any policies, and honestly? You work better together than most partners who've been here for decades."
"Just be professional in front of clients," Namjoon added. "Which you already are. Everything else is your business."
Once the managing partners had left, the door clicking shut behind them, Jimin sagged against Jungkook with relief.
"We did it," he breathed.
"You did it," Jungkook corrected. "That conversation with Doyun, the way you reached him, that was all you."
"You backed me up perfectly. The projections, the technical details..."
"We're a team," Jungkook interrupted. "That's what makes us work. We're better together than separate."
"Yeah," Jimin agreed softly. "We are."
They stood there for a moment, just holding each other, until Jimin's phone buzzed.
The 95z group chat, naturally.
Taehyung: SERA SAID YOU SAVED THE DEAL
Taehyung: AND THAT YOU CAME IN HOLDING HANDS
Taehyung: WEARING YESTERDAY'S CLOTHES
Hoseok: PARK JIMIN
Hoseok: DID YOU DO THE WALK OF SHAME AT THE OFFICE
Taehyung: THE WALK OF GLORY YOU MEAN
Jimin: We saved a 500 billion won deal. Can we focus on that?
Taehyung: no
Taehyung: we're focusing on the fact that you're clearly in love and everyone knows it
Hoseok: emergency celebration drinks tonight
Hoseok: both of you
Hoseok: we're claiming jungkook as part of the 95z now
Taehyung: 95z + jk
Taehyung: we're a whole squad
Jimin: He might not want to hang out with my chaotic friends.
Jungkook, reading over his shoulder, typed a message from Jimin's phone:
Jungkook (from Jimin's phone): I'd love to. What time?
Taehyung: OH MY GOD HE'S RIGHT THERE
Taehyung: AND USING YOUR PHONE
Taehyung: DOMESTIC
Hoseok: moonlight, 8pm, don't be late
Hoseok: we have SO many questions
Jungkook handed the phone back to Jimin with a grin.
"Your friends are intense," he observed.
"They're the worst," Jimin agreed fondly.
"I like them."
"They like you too. Probably too much."
"Impossible," Jungkook said, pulling Jimin closer. "There's no such thing as liking me too much."
"Cocky."
"Confident." Jungkook kissed his forehead. "Come on. Let's go home, shower, and prepare for whatever chaos your friends have planned."
"Home," Jimin repeated. "Your place or mine?"
"Ours," Jungkook said softly. "Wherever we're together."
And that, that felt exactly right.
A few hours later, freshly showered and considerably less stressed than either of them had been that morning, they walked into Moonlight together.
The celebration was already exactly as chaotic as Jimin had expected.
Taehyung and Hoseok had apparently invited half the firm's associates, plus Wheein, Hyungsik, and several other lawyers who'd been following the Hanseong-Mirae drama. The corner booth had expanded to take over half the bar, and everyone was already tipsy and loud.
"THE ROSE!" Sera shouted when she saw Jimin and Jungkook walk in together. "And his... boyfriend? Are we calling him boyfriend?"
"We haven't discussed..." Jimin started.
"Boyfriend works," Jungkook interrupted, and Jimin's heart did something complicated.
"BOYFRIEND!" Taehyung screamed, and pulled them both into enthusiastic hugs. "Welcome to the family, Jungkook! You're stuck with us now!"
"I'm okay with that," Jungkook said, laughing.
They settled into the booth, Jimin between Jungkook and Taehyung, with Hoseok across from them looking delighted by everything.
"So," Wheein said, leaning forward with undisguised interest. "Tell us everything. How did you save the deal?"
Jimin walked them through it, the emergency call from Namjoon, the strategy session, the conversation with Doyun. Jungkook filled in details about the technical negotiations, the financial projections.
"You two are like a legal power couple," Hyungsik observed. "It's actually kind of intimidating."
"Good," Jimin said. "Intimidating is good."
"Also," Sera added, "the way you work together is like watching a perfectly choreographed dance. It's beautiful."
"We're compatible," Jungkook said, and his hand found Jimin's under the table.
"That's the understatement of the century," Taehyung muttered.
They drank and laughed and celebrated late into the night. Jungkook fit in perfectly with the group, laughing at Taehyung's chaos, matching Hoseok's energy, charming everyone with stories about his cases.
At one point, when Jimin excused himself to the bathroom, Taehyung apparently cornered Jungkook.
"If you hurt him," Taehyung said, "I will end you. Legally and personally."
"I'm not going to hurt him," Jungkook said seriously. "I'm in love with him."
"Good. Because he's in love with you too, even if he hasn't said it out loud yet."
When Jimin returned, Jungkook was smiling at him with such warmth that Jimin's chest ached.
"What?" Jimin asked, settling back into his seat.
"Nothing. Just happy."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Jungkook kissed his temple, completely unselfconscious about the public display. "Really happy."
By the time the bar began closing around midnight, everyone was pleasantly drunk and the celebration had dissolved into the loose, affectionate chaos of people who had been talking too loudly for hours.
They stumbled out onto the street together.
"Home?" Jungkook asked.
"Yours or mine?"
"Whichever has the closer bed. I'm exhausted."
They ended up at Jungkook's apartment, closer, bigger, and already feeling like home in a way that terrified and thrilled Jimin in equal measure.
They collapsed into bed still in their clothes, too tired for anything except holding each other.
"Jimin-ssi?" Jungkook murmured into the darkness.
"Mmm?"
"I love you."
Jimin's breath caught.
"I love you too," he said. "So much it scares me."
"Don't be scared." Jungkook's arms tightened around him. "I've got you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They fell asleep like that, tangled together.
When Jimin woke the next morning, sunlight was spilling through the windows and Jungkook was already awake beside him, smiling.
For a few quiet seconds, Jimin simply looked at him.
Maybe this was what happiness felt like.
The perfect case, the perfect person, the perfect life.
Maybe he really could have it all.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
EPILOGUE: THREE MONTHS LATER
February - Seoul Central District Court
Jimin slipped into the back of the courtroom as quietly as possible, not wanting to distract anyone from the proceedings.
The gallery was packed—this was a high-profile securities fraud case, and Jeon Jungkook representing the defendant had drawn significant media attention. Kim & Kim's rising star junior partner going up against the Financial Services Commission's best prosecutors.
Jimin found a seat in the last row and let himself just... watch.
Jungkook stood at the defense table in a sharp black suit, and even from the back of the courtroom, Jimin could see the confidence in his posture. This was Jungkook's case—his first major solo litigation since joining Kim & Kim—and he'd been preparing for three weeks with an intensity that Jimin recognized because he'd seen it in himself.
They'd spent countless late nights together, Jimin helping him prep. Running through arguments, anticipating the prosecution's strategy, fine-tuning every detail. But this moment, this was all Jungkook.
The prosecutor was mid-cross examination of Jungkook's expert witness, a financial analyst who'd testified about the defendant's accounting practices.
"Isn't it true," the prosecutor said, "that your client deliberately misrepresented the company's R&D expenditures to inflate stock prices?"
"Objection," Jungkook said, standing smoothly. "Assumes facts not in evidence. The prosecution hasn't established deliberate intent, only accounting discrepancies."
"Sustained," the judge said. "Rephrase, counsel."
The prosecutor tried again, and again Jungkook was right there with precise objections, strategic redirects, protecting his witness with the kind of skill that came from both natural talent and meticulous preparation.
When it was Jungkook's turn for redirect examination, Jimin watched him transform.
Gone was the soft, gentle man who brought Jimin coffee every morning and kissed him goodbye at the door. This was Attorney Jeon Jungkook—sharp, focused, devastating in his precision.
"Mr. Kim," Jungkook addressed his expert witness, "the prosecution suggests my client deliberately inflated R&D expenditures. Can you walk us through the actual accounting treatment of these expenses?"
"Of course." The witness pulled up a chart. "The expenditures in question were classified according to standard GAAP principles—"
"And are those principles subject to interpretation?"
"Yes. Particularly when it comes to capitalizing versus expensing research costs."
"So reasonable accountants could disagree on the proper classification?"
"Absolutely."
Jungkook pulled up a document on the screen—a memo from the defendant's accounting firm. "This is a memo from Samil PwC, one of the Big Four accounting firms in Korea, advising my client on proper R&D expense classification. Does this appear to follow standard practices?"
The witness reviewed it. "Yes. This is entirely consistent with accepted accounting standards."
"So my client consulted with one of the most reputable accounting firms in the country, followed their advice to the letter, and is now being prosecuted for fraud?" Jungkook's voice was calm but there was steel underneath. "Where exactly is the criminal intent?"
The prosecutor objected, but the damage was done. The jury was nodding, and even the judge looked thoughtful.
Jungkook continued his examination for another twenty minutes, systematically dismantling the prosecution's entire case. He quoted accounting regulations from memory, cross-referenced previous case law, and made complex financial concepts understandable for the jury.
He was brilliant.
Jimin felt a surge of pride so strong it made his chest ache. This was what Jungkook had been working toward—the chance to show everyone what he could do when given the spotlight.
When the judge called for a recess, Jungkook gathered his notes with efficient movements. He glanced toward the gallery, probably looking for his client's family, and his eyes caught on Jimin in the back row.
His entire face transformed.
That brilliant, intimidating lawyer became the soft man Jimin loved, just for a moment. Jungkook's smile was bright, genuine, and so full of happiness that several people in the gallery turned to see what he was looking at.
Jimin smiled back, small and proud, and mouthed: You're amazing.
Jungkook's ears turned red, but his smile widened.
Then the moment passed, and he was back to being Attorney Jeon, professional and focused, but Jimin could see the pleased energy in his movements as he headed toward his client.
Jimin slipped out of the courtroom before the recess ended. He had his own work to do, and Jungkook didn't need the distraction.
But he texted as he walked back to the office:
Jimin: You were incredible. The jury loves you. The judge respects you. And I'm so proud I could burst.
Jungkook: You came.
Jimin: Of course I came. Wouldn't miss it.
Jungkook: I saw you in the back and almost forgot my next question.
Jimin: You didn't miss a beat. You were perfect.
Jungkook: Because I knew you were there.
Jungkook: Dinner tonight? I want to celebrate with you.
Jimin: Your place. I'll bring wine.
Jungkook: Can't wait. I love you.
Jimin: I love you too. Now go win your case.
Three days later, it was Jimin's turn to have his career hanging in the balance.
He sat in the chair outside the partners' conference room and tried not to throw up from nerves.
The partnership decision meeting had been going for forty minutes. Inside that room, every senior partner at Kim & Kim was reviewing his case record, his billable hours, his client relationships, everything he'd accomplished in six and a half years at the firm.
His phone buzzed.
Jungkook: How are you doing?
Jimin: Terrified.
Jungkook: You're going to get it. You've earned it ten times over.
Jimin: You don't know that.
Jungkook: I do. I believe in you.
Taehyung (95z chat): WE'RE WAITING IN YOUR OFFICE
Taehyung: WITH CHAMPAGNE
Hoseok: LOTS OF CHAMPAGNE
Taehyung: because you're going to make partner and we're going to CELEBRATE
Jimin: You're going to jinx it.
Taehyung: impossible to jinx something that's inevitable
The conference room door opened.
Namjoon stood there, expression unreadable.
"Jimin-ah," he said. "Come in."
Jimin stood on shaking legs and walked into the room.
Every senior partner was there—Namjoon and Jin at the head of the table, Yoongi in his usual corner, plus a dozen others Jimin had worked with over the years. All of them watching him with expressions he couldn't quite read.
"Sit," Jin said, gesturing to the chair at the foot of the table.
Jimin sat.
Namjoon pulled out a thick folder, presumably full of Jimin's entire professional history at the firm.
"Park Jimin," Namjoon began formally. "You joined Kim & Kim six and a half years ago as a first-year associate. In that time, you've worked on seventy-three cases."
Jimin's heart was pounding so hard he could hear it.
"You've maintained a perfect win record," Namjoon continued. "Zero losses. Zero settlements that weren't in our client's favor. You've brought in ₩2.3 trillion won in closed deals, mentored fifteen junior associates, and established yourself as one of the premier M&A specialists in Seoul."
Jin picked up the narrative. "You've also demonstrated exceptional client relationship management, as evidenced by the Hanseong-Mirae acquisition, where you personally prevented a ₩500 billion won deal from collapsing."
"Your peer reviews are outstanding," Yoongi added from his corner. "Associates call you demanding but fair. Junior partners respect your expertise. Senior partners trust your judgment."
Namjoon closed the folder and looked directly at Jimin.
"The partnership has voted," he said.
The silence stretched for what felt like eternity.
Then Namjoon smiled.
"Welcome to partnership, Jimin-ah. Congratulations."
The room erupted in applause.
Jimin sat there in shock, unable to quite process the words.
Partner.
He'd made partner.
"I—" His voice cracked. "Thank you. I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll keep making us look good," Jin said, grinning. "And that you'll mentor the next generation of associates with the same excellence you've shown."
"I will," Jimin promised. "I—thank you. All of you."
Yoongi stood and came around the table, pulling Jimin up into a rare hug.
"Proud of you," he said quietly. "You've earned this."
The other partners came forward with congratulations, handshakes, promises of celebration. By the time Jimin made it out of the conference room, his face hurt from smiling and his eyes were suspiciously wet.
He pulled out his phone immediately.
Jimin: I made partner.
The 95z chat exploded instantly.
Taehyung: OH MY GOD
Taehyung: OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD
Hoseok: WE KNEW IT
Hoseok: GET TO YOUR OFFICE NOW
Hoseok: WE'RE POPPING CHAMPAGNE
And then, his personal chat with Jungkook:
Jungkook: I knew you would. So proud of you.
Jungkook: Partner Jimin has a nice ring to it.
Jungkook: I'm in trial but I'm sneaking this text
Jungkook: Can't wait to celebrate with you properly tonight
Jungkook: I love you so much
Jimin: I love you too. Win your case and then come celebrate with me.
Jungkook: Already planning on it.
Jimin made it to his office to find Taehyung, Hoseok, and half the associates from the forty-first floor crammed inside with champagne and a banner that read "CONGRATULATIONS PARTNER PARK!"
"You made a banner?" Jimin asked, laughing through tears.
"Sera made the banner," Taehyung corrected. "We brought the champagne. Now drink and celebrate because you're a fucking PARTNER!"
They drank champagne straight from the bottle and took ridiculous photos and made way too much noise for a law office at 3 PM on a Thursday. Associates kept stopping by to offer congratulations, and Jimin felt overwhelmed by how much people cared.
At 5 PM, Jungkook appeared in the doorway, still in his suit from court, and the entire room went quiet.
"Hey," he said softly, eyes only on Jimin. "Heard there was a celebration."
"You won?" Jimin asked, already knowing the answer from his expression.
"Unanimous not guilty verdict. Took the jury forty minutes." Jungkook's smile was bright. "But that's not why I'm here."
He crossed the room and pulled Jimin into his arms, lifting him slightly off the ground in a hug that was definitely not professional and definitely didn't care who was watching.
"Congratulations, Partner Park," Jungkook murmured against his ear. "I'm so fucking proud of you."
"Thank you," Jimin said, and he was crying again. "We both won today."
"We did." Jungkook set him down but didn't let go. "Best day ever."
From across the office, Taehyung made exaggerated kissing noises.
"Okay, lovebirds," Hoseok said. "As much as we love this, we have reservations at the fancy restaurant in thirty minutes. Everyone's going. No arguments."
"Everyone?" Jimin asked.
"The whole squad," Taehyung confirmed. "95z plus Jungkook, Wheein, Hyungsik, Sera, half the associates—basically everyone who likes you, which is everyone."
"That's too many people," Jimin protested.
"Too bad!" Taehyung was already herding them toward the elevator. "You made partner! We're celebrating!"
Four hours later, the celebration had finally wound down, and Jimin and Jungkook stumbled into Jungkook's apartment at nearly midnight, both pleasantly tipsy from dinner and drinks.
They collapsed onto the couch in a tangle of limbs.
"We both won this week," Jimin said, snuggling into Jungkook's side. "You with your case, me with partnership."
"Power couple," Jungkook agreed, pressing a kiss to his hair. "The firm's legal dream team."
"I'm still so proud of you," Jimin said seriously. "That case was huge, Jungkook. Your first major solo litigation since joining Kim & Kim, and you walked away with a unanimous not guilty verdict."
"Took the jury forty minutes," Jungkook said, sounding just a little smug.
Jimin laughed. "Yes, you've mentioned that approximately seventeen times."
"Forty minutes is impressive."
"It is." Jimin tilted his head to look at him. "You were incredible. I knew you were going to win when I watched you in court."
Jungkook's expression softened. "Having you there meant more than you know."
"I wouldn't have missed it."
"And now look at you." Jungkook shifted so he could see Jimin's face properly. "Partner Park Jimin. God, that sounds good."
"It does," Jimin agreed, still slightly shocked. "I can't believe it's real."
"You earned it. Six and a half years of perfect work, of being brilliant and kind and exceptional." Jungkook's hand cupped his face gently. "You deserve every good thing."
"I have you," Jimin said softly. "That's the best thing."
"Yeah?" Jungkook's smile was warm. "Even better than making partner?"
"Different kind of good. Partnership is professional achievement. You..." Jimin paused, searching for words. "You're everything else. You're happiness and support and someone who sees all of me, not just The Rose."
"I love all of you," Jungkook said. "The brilliant lawyer and the soft man who stress-bakes at midnight and wears expensive perfume and lets himself be vulnerable with me."
"I love you too." Jimin kissed him, soft and slow. "So much."
They made love that night with a tenderness that spoke of celebration and commitment and futures being built together. And afterward, wrapped in each other's arms, Jungkook said something that made Jimin's heart stop.
"Move in with me."
Jimin pulled back to look at him. "What?"
"Move in with me," Jungkook repeated. "You're here most nights anyway. Your apartment lease is up next month. And I—I want to wake up with you every morning. Want to come home to you every night. Want to build a life with you, not just steal moments between work."
"Jungkook—"
"Too fast?" Jungkook's voice was uncertain now. "We've only been together for three and a half months. If it's too soon—"
"It's not too soon," Jimin interrupted. "It's—yes. Yes, I'll move in with you."
Jungkook's smile was brilliant, devastating.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Jimin kissed him again. "I want to build a life with you too."
They fell asleep making plans—which furniture to keep, how to combine their book collections, whether they needed a bigger closet for Jimin's suits and Jungkook's collection of graphic t-shirts.
And when Jimin woke up the next morning to sunlight, coffee smells, and Jungkook humming in the kitchen, he thought about how far they'd come.
From colleagues to something more. From stolen kisses in empty offices to shared mornings and quiet domestic routines.
Life, it turned out, moved quickly when it was full.
🐰🌷🌪️🩷🌸
Kim & Kim Summer Associate Orientation
Jimin stood at the front of the conference room, looking at twenty nervous first-year associates who had just joined the firm, and remembered being exactly where they were eight years ago.
Fresh out of law school. Terrified of making mistakes. Trying very hard not to look terrified of making mistakes.
"Welcome to Kim & Kim," he began. "I'm Park Jimin, partner in the M&A division. I'll be overseeing your training for the next three months."
Twenty pairs of eyes stared back at him.
Some nervous. Some eager.
A few openly awestruck.
Jimin had gotten used to that last one.
Apparently, The Rose had become something of a legend among law school graduates over the years, which was deeply embarrassing considering he'd spent most of his first year surviving on convenience store kimbap and crying in bathroom stalls between depositions.
"You're all wondering if the stories are true," Jimin said, smiling slightly. "If I've really never lost a case. If I'm really as demanding as people say. If the nickname is deserved."
Nervous laughter moved through the room.
"The answer is yes to all three."
That got a little more laughter.
"But here's what the stories usually leave out." Jimin rested his hands lightly against the edge of the table. "Being good at this job isn't about never making mistakes. You will make mistakes. Probably sooner than you'd like."
Several shoulders visibly relaxed.
"It's about preparation. It's about knowing your case better than anyone else in the room. It's about asking questions when you don't know something instead of pretending you do. And most importantly, it's about remembering that somewhere underneath all the contracts and numbers and statutes, there are people trusting you with something that matters to them."
The door at the back of the conference room opened quietly.
Jimin glanced up.
Jungkook slipped inside.
He was still dressed for whatever client meeting he'd escaped from, charcoal suit, dark tie, leather folder tucked beneath one arm. He caught Jimin's eye as he took an empty chair in the back row.
And smiled.
It was ridiculous that after two years, that smile could still do something to Jimin's chest.
Apparently, some things didn't become less devastating with familiarity.
Jimin looked away before twenty extremely observant junior lawyers noticed.
He made it approximately thirty seconds.
"Partner Park?"
Jimin looked toward the associate who'd spoken.
She looked like she was trying very hard not to smile.
"Yes?"
"Is that Junior Partner Jeon?"
Behind her, someone coughed suspiciously.
Jimin narrowed his eyes. "Yes."
Another hand went up.
Oh no.
"Is it true you're dating?"
The room went completely silent.
At the back, Jungkook looked delighted.
Traitor.
Jimin folded his arms. "I see we've reached the most important section of your orientation."
The room broke into laughter.
"Technically," Jimin continued, "dating would be an inaccurate description."
Twenty faces somehow became even more interested.
Jimin lifted his left hand.
The platinum band caught the light.
"We're engaged."
The room erupted.
Actually erupted.
Someone gasped. Someone else whispered, "I knew it," with enough conviction that Jimin suspected there might already be an associate group chat he absolutely did not want access to.
At the back of the room, Jungkook raised his own hand, showing the matching band.
"Two months," he supplied helpfully. "Wedding's next spring."
"Junior Partner Jeon."
"Yes, Partner Park?"
"Stop encouraging them."
"I'm providing relevant information."
"You're disrupting my orientation."
Jungkook smiled innocently. "Sorry."
He was not sorry.
Jimin turned back to the associates, several of whom were still staring between them with poorly concealed delight.
"Now that Kim & Kim's apparently very important internal gossip has been addressed, can we return to your actual employment?"
They laughed again.
And Jimin continued.
He talked them through case assignments and mentorship structures, billable expectations and client protocols. He told them where to find resources, who to call when they were drowning, and why asking for help at nine in the morning was infinitely preferable to admitting something had gone wrong at nine at night.
He told them to read everything twice.
Then once more.
He told them never to assume opposing counsel had done their homework.
And when one nervous associate asked what he considered the most important quality in a good lawyer, Jimin thought about it.
"Care," he said finally.
The room quieted.
"You can teach someone procedure. You can teach them how to research, negotiate, draft, argue. But you have to care enough to do all of those things well." He paused. "Care about your work. Care about the people trusting you to do it. Care about the people working beside you."
His eyes found Jungkook's before he could stop them.
Jungkook's expression softened.
Jimin smiled.
"Everything else," he said, looking back at the associates, "you'll learn."
An hour later, the last first-year finally disappeared through the conference room doors.
Jimin exhaled.
"Twenty."
"Twenty," Jungkook agreed from behind him.
"Was I that young when I started here?"
"You were probably terrifying even then."
Jimin turned.
Jungkook was walking toward him now, hands in his pockets, looking far too pleased with himself.
"You disrupted my orientation."
"I sat quietly."
"You announced our wedding."
"Someone asked."
"You could've let me answer."
"You were taking too long."
Jimin stared at him.
Jungkook smiled.
There it was.
That smile.
Two years, one shared apartment, an engagement ring, approximately four thousand cups of coffee, and more cases than Jimin cared to count, and somehow Jungkook could still smile at him and make him feel exactly like he had that first week.
Seen.
Wanted.
"You're impossible," Jimin said.
"You love me."
"I tolerate you."
"You're marrying me."
"Administrative error."
Jungkook laughed and reached for him, fingers catching lightly around Jimin's wrist before sliding down to lace with his.
"Come have lunch with me."
"I have a deposition at two."
"I know."
"Of course you know."
"I made the reservation for twelve fifteen. It's six minutes away. I'll have you back by one thirty."
Jimin blinked. "You made a reservation?"
"Yesterday."
"You didn't know when orientation would finish."
"I asked Sera."
"Traitor."
"She's very helpful."
Jimin shook his head, but he was already reaching for the jacket draped over the back of his chair.
"Where?"
"The Italian place."
Jimin stopped.
"The one with the truffle pasta?"
"Obviously."
A smile tugged at his mouth.
"Fine."
"Fine?"
"Don't make me reconsider."
Jungkook took his briefcase before Jimin could reach for it.
"I can carry my own bag."
"I know."
"Then give it back."
"No."
"Jungkook."
"Jimin."
They were still arguing when they stepped into the elevator.
Jimin reached for his briefcase.
Jungkook moved it behind his back.
"Give me my bag."
"No."
"I'm perfectly capable of carrying it."
"I know."
"Then why are you carrying it?"
Jungkook looked at him like the answer should have been obvious.
"Because I want to."
And there it was.
Something small.
Something ordinary.
Something that shouldn't have mattered nearly as much as it did.
Jimin stopped reaching for the bag.
The elevator doors slid shut.
Jungkook pressed the button for the lobby, then reached for Jimin's hand with his free one.
Their rings clicked softly together.
Jimin looked down at them.
"Truffle pasta?" he asked.
"Truffle pasta."
"And you'll have me back by one thirty?"
"One twenty-five."
"Coffee after?"
"I already ordered it."
Jimin looked up. "You already ordered my coffee?"
"Baby."
That was all Jungkook said.
Just baby, with that particular expression that suggested Jimin had asked an exceptionally stupid question.
Jimin laughed.
Eight years ago, he'd walked into Kim & Kim determined to become the kind of lawyer nobody could underestimate.
He'd done that.
Somewhere along the way, he'd found someone who never had.
The elevator doors opened.
Jungkook squeezed his hand.
"Come on. You're going to be late for lunch."
And Jimin let himself be pulled forward, laughing, into the rest of their life.