Closer Than This...(vsoo)

Jisoo stood in the middle of the imposing glass-walled cabin, her eyes fixed on Taehyung, who seemed to exude an aura of power and control that made her feel both small and unsettled.

The tall CEO, dressed in his signature black turtleneck, towered over her with an intensity that made her heart race. She had walked into this meeting with a clear goal in mind—to figure out what he truly wanted from this arranged marriage.

But now, she was second-guessing herself, wondering if she'd made a mistake in coming here. The tension between them was palpable.

Taehyung leaned against the back of the couch, his posture commanding yet casual, and his eyes never once left her. Jisoo, feeling both uncomfortable and defensive, couldn't bring herself to sit just yet. She was caught between her desire to protect her family’s legacy, Bliss, and her growing frustration with the situation.

The whispers she had overheard earlier, the gossip about her supposed relationship with him, only added to her unease. She had known Hyung's as a powerful and calculating company, one that wasn't afraid to manipulate others for its own benefit. But she had never imagined herself being dragged into the middle of it like this.

"Isn't she Kim Jisoo, the chairwoman of Bliss?"

"She's pretty."

"I heard that she’s dating our vice president."

Jisoo shook her head, trying to shake off the invasive thoughts as she faced Taehyung. He had made his intentions clear, but she wasn't ready to accept them.

"What are you getting from this marriage? Why me?" she finally asked, her voice steady but filled with tension. She needed answers, needed to understand why he had agreed to this so easily, so readily.

Taehyung’s expression flickered with uncertainty before he straightened up, exhaling a low sigh.

"Your grandfather must have offered something huge to seal this deal. Or maybe you planned to take advantage of our situation yourself?" Her words must have stung him, but Jisoo didn’t back down. She needed the truth, not vague responses and insinuations.

"Why me?" she repeated, trying to pierce through his defenses.

"Why not you?" His eyes narrowed as he moved closer, his towering presence becoming even more intimidating. Jisoo instinctively recoiled, but he was faster, his large hand reaching for her chin, his fingers pressing gently into her skin.

The touch sent a jolt through her, but she kept her composure, refusing to let him see her discomfort. "You think I’m just some pawn in your game, don’t you?" she said, her voice sharp.

"Don’t play tough with me, Jisoo-shi," he murmured, his tone low and chilling. "Just do what you’re told. I’ll protect your company, and I’ll protect you, if you stop questioning me. If you keep resisting, there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to help you."

His grip tightened for a moment before he released her, his expression unreadable as he stepped back. Jisoo’s heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of anger, confusion, and fear flooding her senses. She wanted to fight back, to refuse his demands, but deep down, she knew she didn’t have that luxury.

She had no choice but to consider the consequences of defying him.

"What if I say I don’t want this? What if I tell Chairman Taehwan I won’t marry you?" Jisoo asked, though she already knew the answer. It wasn’t that simple. Her aunt’s decision was final, and the ramifications of refusing would be disastrous for Bliss. She knew her aunt had warned her about this, that going against the alliance would bring down everything they had worked for.

Taehyung's expression darkened. "Go ahead, tell him. But if you do, you’ll regret it. Bliss will fall, and so will you. I’m not here to play games."

Jisoo’s thoughts spun in circles. This wasn’t the life she had envisioned, but it was the life that had been thrust upon her. Taehyung wasn’t offering her a choice—he was offering her a contract, a partnership, one she couldn’t easily escape from.

"Tell me the truth, Taehyung. Is this really just business for you?" Jisoo asked, trying to read him, trying to figure out if there was something deeper behind his cold demeanor.

He met her gaze with unwavering intensity, his grey eyes cold and unfeeling. "I don’t care about your past, Jisoo. I don’t care about your family’s history. All I care about is the future. This is a mutual deal. Your company needs help, and I’m offering it. If you’re smart, you’ll take the deal and stop questioning it."

Jisoo felt the weight of his words pressing down on her, and for a moment, the room felt suffocating. She wanted to reject him, to fight back, but everything she had worked for, everything her family had worked for, was at stake. If she walked away from this deal, everything she had fought to protect would be lost.

"Fine," she said, her voice quieter now, resignation settling over her like a heavy cloak. "But I want a contract. I want something more than just your word. If this is really about business, then we need an agreement that protects both sides. No more games."

Taehyung’s lips curled into a smile, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I thought you’d understand eventually, Jisoo-shi," he said, as if he had been waiting for her to come to this conclusion. "A contract is just the beginning. But remember, you’re playing with fire."

As Jisoo sat across from him, her heart heavy with the decision she had just made, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than just a business deal. But for now, she had no choice but to go along with it.