Closer Than This...(vsoo)

Late that evening, Taehyung sat in his office, the faint glow of city lights spilling in through the glass windows. The golf match had been a surprising success, but he couldn’t shake the lingering weight of responsibility.

His phone buzzed on the desk, and his uncle’s name flashed on the screen.

Reluctantly, Taehyung answered. “Uncle.”

“Taehyung,” Taehwan’s smooth, controlled voice came through, laced with an undertone of mockery. “I hear congratulations are in order. You and your charming wife made quite the impression today.”

Taehyung stiffened, his grip on the phone tightening. “Is there something you need, Uncle? I am busy.”

Taehwan chuckled lightly. “Busy? Oh, I can imagine. Balancing work and a beautiful young wife must be…distracting. Tell me, nephew, have you forgotten about the bigger picture?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything,” Taehyung replied curtly. “I am doing exactly what needs to be done to secure Hyung’s future.”

“Are you now?” Taehwan’s tone sharpened slightly, though he maintained his calm facade. “Because from where I am standing, it looks like you’re playing house instead of playing the game.”

Taehyung’s jaw clenched, but he refused to let his uncle’s words rattle him. “What I do with my personal life is none of your concern.”

“Oh, but it is, Taehyung,” Taehwan said, his voice dropping to a dangerously smooth whisper. “You see, I’ve always been the one watching your back, guiding you, protecting you. And now? You’re letting a woman, someone you barely know...cloud your judgment.”

Taehyung’s eyes narrowed. “Jisoo is my wife. She’s part of my life now, and that’s not going to change.”

Taehwan chuckled again, the sound colder this time. “Ah, love. Or is it simply infatuation? Be careful, Taehyung. Women like her—young, ambitious, clever, they can make you forget what really matters. Don’t let her turn you into something soft.”

“I am not soft,” Taehyung snapped, his composure slipping for a moment.

“Good,” Taehwan replied smoothly. “Because Hyung’s needs strength, not sentimentality. Remember that. You have a legacy to uphold, and you can’t afford distractions. Not now, not ever.”

There was a pause, and then Taehwan added, his tone almost snobby, “But of course, you know that already, don’t you? After all, I raised you better than that.”

Before Taehyung could respond, the line went dead.

Taehyung sat in silence for a moment, the phone still pressed to his ear. The weight of his uncle’s words settled over him like a dark cloud, bringing with it a familiar sense of doubt.

He glanced at the framed photo on his desk...a candid shot of him and Jisoo from the golf match earlier that day.

She was laughing, her eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and warmth, while he stood beside her, looking uncharacteristically relaxed.

Taehyung exhaled sharply, setting the phone down.
“Don’t let her turn you soft,” his uncle’s voice echoed in his mind.

But as he stared at the photo, another thought surfaced, unbidden and persistent. What if Jisoo wasn’t a distraction? What if she was his strength?

Still, doubt lingered. Taehwan’s words always had a way of burrowing deep, planting seeds of insecurity that Taehyung struggled to uproot.

The atmosphere in the Kim household had shifted. Jisoo could feel it in Taehyung’s demeanor. A subtle heaviness in his eyes, the way his usual confidence seemed guarded.

Something was gnawing at him, and though he tried to hide it, Jisoo’s growing understanding of him didn’t miss a thing.

Taehyung had spent most of the morning pacing his office, his phone clutched in his hand. Jisoo, meanwhile, busied herself with minor tasks, pretending not to notice his restlessness.

She had her own plans brewing, but the unease in Taehyung’s posture made her pause.

By afternoon, Taehyung finally approached her, his expression unreadable.

“I need to head out,” he said abruptly, avoiding her gaze.

Jisoo set down the book she was flipping through. “To where?”

“Hyung’s headquarters,” he replied, already slipping on his jacket.

“Are you meeting someone important?” she asked casually, though her instincts told her otherwise.

Taehyung hesitated for a fraction of a second, and that was all Jisoo needed to confirm her suspicion.

“Just work,” he said flatly. “I’ll be back late. Don’t wait up.”

Jisoo watched him leave, her mind racing. There was a storm in his eyes, one she’d only seen after conversations with his uncle.

Taehyung arrived at Hyung’s headquarters just as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The sprawling building was quiet, save for the soft hum of activity from the lower floors. In the executive lounge, Taehwan was waiting, a glass of whiskey in hand.

“Ah, Taehyung,” he greeted, his voice smooth as ever. “You’ve come.”

Taehyung’s jaw tightened. “You said it was urgent.”

“It always is,” Taehwan said with a sly smile, gesturing for him to sit. “Have a drink.”

“I’m not here to drink, Uncle,” Taehyung said sharply. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Taehwan leaned back, feigning disappointment. “Always so serious. But fine, I’ll get to the point. I’ve been hearing things, Taehyung. About you and your young wife. Word is, the shareholders were quite impressed with your little…performance at the golf match.”

Taehyung’s eyes narrowed. “It wasn’t a performance.”

“Of course not,” Taehwan said smoothly, though his tone suggested otherwise.

“But don’t let their approval go to your head. You’re still inexperienced, Taehyung. Running a company like Hyung’s isn’t about impressing shareholders at social events. It’s about control, power, and keeping your emotions in check.”

Taehyung bristled. “I don’t need a lecture.”

“No,” Taehwan agreed, his voice suddenly cold. “What you need is to remember who you’re up against. The business world isn’t kind to men who let their guard down. And marrying that girl, charming as she may be, is a risk. She’s a distraction, Taehyung. One you can’t afford.”

“She’s my wife,” Taehyung said firmly, his voice low.

“Don’t be naive,” Taehwan snapped. “Women like her have their own agendas. You think she married you out of love? Don’t fool yourself. She’s playing the long game, just like everyone else in this world.”

Taehyung stood abruptly, his fists clenched. “This conversation is over.”

Taehwan smiled faintly, as if he’d expected this reaction. “Suit yourself. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Kim Taehwan sat back in his chair, a smug smile on his face. He swirled the glass of wine in his hand, satisfied with the conversation.

"Foolish boy," he muttered to himself. "So easy to manipulate. As long as he's doubting himself, he'll never be strong enough to stand against me."

Taehwan's expression darkened as he thought about Jisoo."She's clever, though. Too clever. I'll need to keep an eye on her."

He set his glass down and picked up his phone, dialing a number. "Make sure you gather every piece of dirt on Jisoo and her family," he instructed coldly. "I want to know every move she's making. And if she tries to meddle in my plans, we'll deal with her."

Hanging up, Taehwan leaned back, his smile returning.

"This game is far from over."