Closer Than This...(vsoo)

The atmosphere in the dining hall had changed from mischievous, lighthearted one to serious as Taehyung's phone buzzed sharply. It was an unexpected call, and the name on the screen sent a ripple of tension through him.

Taehwan.

He stared at it for a moment before answering, his voice clipped as he pressed the phone to his ear.

"What is it, Uncle?" Taehyung's tone was a warning, but his uncle's calculated calmness was something he had learned to expect by now.

On the other end, Taehwan's voice was smooth, deceptively polite. "Taehyung, I need you and your wife to attend an urgent stockholder meeting," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It's critical to the future of Hyung's. I am sure you understand the importance of being present for this one."

Taehyung's blood began to simmer. He knew better than to trust his uncle's "urgent" meetings...they always had a hidden agenda. Taehwan's power was in the manipulation of people, using them like pawns on a chessboard. But he wasn't going to back down this time. Not without Jisoo.

His grip tightened around the phone as he glanced over at her, noticing how she stood there, steady as ever, but the glint of concern in her eyes didn't escape him. She had been silent during the tension earlier, but Taehyung could feel the storm brewing inside him.

"I'll be there," Taehyung said, his voice sharper now. "But don't make the mistake of thinking I am just another one of your pawns."

Taehwan chuckled on the other end, a soft, menacing sound. "I never said you were, Taehyung. Just make sure your wife attends too. I think the stockholders will appreciate her... contribution."

The call ended abruptly, and Taehyung's grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching. He was seething, but his focus quickly shifted to Jisoo. She was looking at him, waiting for him to say something, and he didn't have to say much. She could see it in his eyes...the battle was about to escalate.

"Let's go," Taehyung said, his voice steady, despite the anger building inside him. "We have to face this together."

As they left there apartment, the weight of the moment hit Taehyung. His uncle's manipulation tactics were always calculated, but Taehyung wasn't the same man he had been when his uncle first started weaving his lies.

With Jisoo by his side, he knew there was nothing they couldn't face. He wasn't just walking into a battlefield...he was going in prepared.

The air in the conference room was thick with tension, as the stockholders gathered around the large, polished table. Taehwan sat at the head, wearing his usual smooth, calculated smile. His voice flowed with charm, attempting to cloak his true intentions in the guise of benevolence.

"Thank you all for your continued trust in Hyung's," he began, his tone calm, but there was an edge to it that the seasoned businessmen could sense. "We are at a crucial juncture, and with the right strategy, we can pull this company from the brink. I am confident that, together, we will not just survive...but thrive."

Taehyung, sitting at the far side of the room, barely concealed the frustration gnawing at him. His eyes followed Taehwan as he spoke, noticing the way the older man's words twisted and turned, manipulating the room with careful precision.

The more Taehwan spoke, the more Taehyung's fists clenched by his sides. His uncle's false bravado was sickening, and the thought of what he had done to their family...it was too much to bear.

A stockholder cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the meeting's quiet hum. "With all due respect, Mr. Kim, there are a few concerns about your proposal. The direction you're suggesting-"

Another voice joined in, one of the more seasoned investors who had started to grow skeptical of Taehwan's leadership. "It doesn't seem to take into account the long-term stability of Hyung's. We need to focus on sustainable growth, not short-term gains."

The room began to shift, the murmurs growing louder as more voices joined the opposition. Taehwan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes darkened, the subtle irritation beginning to show.

"I understand your concerns," Taehwan said smoothly, trying to regain control. "But I assure you, I have decades of experience...more than anyone in this room. I know what works. Trust me."

The arrogance in his words dripped like venom. But it was the next words that made Taehyung's blood boil. "Perhaps, Taehyung, if you weren't so distracted by your wife's antics, you would see the bigger picture. This is family business, not personal matters."

The room fell silent at his words, the weight of them hanging heavily in the air. Taehyung's eyes snapped to Taehwan, and for a brief moment, the two men locked gazes, each seeing the simmering animosity in the other's eyes.

"You're crossing the line, Taehwan," Taehyung's voice was quiet but lethal, a warning in his tone.

But Taehwan wasn't finished. His gaze slid to Jisoo, who had been sitting quietly by Taehyung's side, her elegance and calm demeanor only serving to heighten the venom in his words. "And as for your wife... What does she really understand about running this company? Perhaps it's time she remembered her place."

Jisoo felt the words like a slap, but before she could respond, Taehyung was already moving. He marched forward with an intensity that shocked even the room's most seasoned members. His fingers gripped Taehwan's collar, pulling him forward with a force that shook the table.

"Don't you ever speak to her like that again," Taehyung growled, his voice a low snarl that sent a ripple of unease through the room. "You want to play your games, but you won't use her as your pawn."

Taehwan's smile faltered for the briefest of moments, but he quickly regained his composure, pushing Taehyung's hand away. "You're making a mistake, Taehyung," he said, his voice laced with a mixture of amusement and warning. "You can't protect her forever."

Taehyung's hands trembled, his anger burning hot in his chest. But before he could do anything else, a gentle voice interrupted the storm within him.

"Taehyung, stop," Jisoo said, her voice steady and firm, yet soft. She stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm, her touch like a grounding force. "Don't let him bait you."

For a moment, Taehyung hesitated, his gaze flickering to Jisoo's face. The anger was still there, a wildfire beneath his skin, but Jisoo's calmness, the way she always found a way to steady him, made him pause. His grip loosened, and he slowly let go of his uncle's collar.

Jisoo looked up at him, her eyes full of quiet understanding, yet with a subtle strength. "You're not doing this alone," she whispered. "We'll face this together."

Taehyung closed his eyes briefly, taking in a deep breath, the weight of his frustration still pressing on his chest. He wanted to protect her, to shield her from all of this, but he had to trust her. He had to trust that together, they could stand against anything.

He turned back to Taehwan, his voice calm but with a finality that sent a chill through the room. "If you ever insult my wife again, I won't just walk away. I'll make sure you regret it."

The tension was palpable as Taehwan's eyes narrowed, but there was nothing more he could do. With a tight-lipped smile, he straightened his shirt and looked back at the stockholders.

"You'll see, Taehyung. You'll see that I am the one who has your best interests at heart."

But Taehyung wasn't listening anymore. His eyes were focused only on Jisoo, who was standing beside him, her presence a calming force in the storm of his emotions.

The room seemed to fade away as he took her hand in his, a silent promise passing between them.

They weren't done fighting. Not by a long shot.

"Let's go," Taehyung said quietly, his voice steady now. "Together."

And with that, they left the room, leaving Taehwan seething, but knowing that his games had only just begun. But Taehyung was no longer afraid of the storm. Not with Jisoo by his side.

They are together. Always now.