i'm sorry for the late update :( and oh! warning. there's a lot of cursing in this chapter —xoxo, nick ♥

SCENE XV - ACT II

ARTHUR'S BREAKING POINT

you're okay, keep yourself together.

calming her shaky nerves, the woman bit the insides of her cheek to keep herself focused. to say that jiho was indifferent was an understatement. jiho was shaken – shaken to the core and nowhere indifferent.

you're okay, you can do this.

like a mantra, jiho kept replaying the words as she continued typing away. the report she was working with was already due a week from now, she had long finished the reports for this week but she couldn't help but burry herself to more paper-works to prevent her mind from drifting to unnecessary thoughts which is—

the satan himself, cough—jeongguk.

the moment jiho had stepped inside her office after running away from jeongguk, all the walls and mask that she held so tight in the eyes of people slowly faded as it crumbled into pieces. the woman's legs betrayed her as she collapsed on her knees as finally; she let the treacherous tears cascade in her soft skin while making sure that she kept her sobs as quiet as possible. it took all bits of her guts to pull herself together and get back to work.

one can say that jiho was best at faking her emotions in other people's eyes but, kim taehyung just so happens to be too keen and observant for pete's sake. one can never settle for less in the gucci-man, he was nothing but pure mystery.

"hey, jiho"

snapping the woman out of her train of thoughts, she flinched at the way her name was called and was only able to utter a simple word of "yes?" before her head snapped to where the voice came from only to find taehyung's face dangerously close on hers.

oh my gucci—breath getting caught up inside her throat, her bright emerald orbs widened through the millimeter proximity of their faces. the woman's cheeks dramatically reddened as her eyes had been blessed for seeing the flawless and perfectly chiseled face of the kim taehyung. "mind a drink with me?" breath fanning her lips, that was enough for jiho to flip.

what in the mother of dolphins— too occupied to get away from the mysterious, yet dangerously sexy and unreadable gucci-man, jiho almost fell off of her office chair when she forced to pull away from the heated gaze of her boss.

"yah! careful!" as if on slow motion, taehyung caught her hand as he pulled jiho on his arms and the woman met the man's hard rock chest. damn you, gucciman and your sweet perfume. heart on the edge, jiho's eyes widened as her heart hammered as if ready to jump outside of her ribcage. right on time before the chair could've directly flipped on the floor, taehyung had successfully held her or jiho would be in broken limbs.

"that was close" taehyung's voice were scruffy and panicked but jiho could only care about the loud drumming sounds on her ears as she heard the crazy beating of taehyung's heart and ehem, hers too. it's beating so wild, so fast— warmth seeping on her face like a kettle flaming up, before she could comprehend it, jiho found her soft cheeks being cupped by taehyung's slender and shaky ones.

and oh, did i mention how close their faces were? in what mother of gucci and dolphins—only an inch apart, taehyung's breath fanned on jiho's lips.

"were you hurt?!" jiho could care less of anything as she didn't even hear the words that came out of tae's lips, she could only see how impossibly flawless and beautiful taehyung was this close.

ethereal. it was like having a breath up-close of an angel (the golden hair adding factor to the feeling). kim taehyung aka the man who has the perfect side profile slash long eyelashes, piercing gaze and adonis like body that can make women say ohlala! take me, please! had his face this super duper close to jiho.

eyes meeting taehyung's, jiho couldn't help but let her eyes wander to the man's features. the woman knew how risky her actions were as she tried to— act normal. act normal, jiho. i swear— but god, how can he be this beautiful? look at those eyes, how can they be so mesmerizing? that flawless skin, does he even have pores? and let's not talk about his lips, oh my go—

"jiho?" the woman tried to shake her thoughts of checking him out and snapping on her embarrassing and lalaland as her eyes finally met tae's once again. "oh, um—i—" blushing like a highschool student, at that moment, jiho found all the words of no use and there was just one thing running on the woman's mind – when god made kim taehyung, the whole bottle of charisma and perfect looks mixed with mystery spilled on his mixture and viola the million worth man was made.

"you're not hurt, right?" face leaning closer to jiho's (if that was even possible), taehyung's worried expression didn't wore off as their faces were riskily close. oh my god, what is personal space.

"god, what were you thinking! you could've been hurt!" not even having the chance to respond to the previous question, she was yet again crushed into an embrace as taehyung let his head rest on jiho's crown.

warm. it was undeniably warm and the feeling made jiho's heart swell inside. heart drumming against her chest, this was the first in a long time that jiho had felt she was important. the way taehyung's heart beat for her was making her euphoric. for the past two years, ever since jeongguk became so cold and distant, this was the very first time she had felt this loved and treasured. the woman knew that what she was feeling was quite wrong in different places but right now it didn't matter. it didn't matter if someone saw her being embraced by her boss, she could care less of what gossips could erupt. it didn't matter if she get into trouble as she felt like she wanted this moment to last forever.

all that mattered was her and taehyung's warmth against her skin.

"god, i don't know what i'd do with myself if something happened to you" the man whispered as his breath fanned jiho's earlobe delicately. feeling her insides tingling with warmth, a blooming sensation started to erupt in her tummy and she couldn't help but hum and nuzzle on the man's neck.

smiling on taehyung's grasp, jiho reciprocated taehyung's hug, "nothing happened, you silly gucci-man" she murmured before slightly pulling away and looking up to meet the man's worried eyes.

"you saved me, again" smile gracing her pink lips, she couldn't help but want to say her thanks. jiho wasn't best at words and she wasn't best at thinking of any surprises to reciprocate taehyung's kindness so the first thing that crossed her mind was the first thing she did – and oh, was taehyung in for a heart attack. standing on her tippy toes, she clutched taehyung's collar and stole a peck on the man's nose. "you're always there, tae"

blinking once, twice and thrice before it slowly widened on its sockets as cheeks burning red like a kettle whistling, taehyung's lips quivered as if he wanted to speak of something only to find no words to explain the turmoil that jiho set ablaze in his heart. "i—you—" fingers touching the tip of his own nose before he cupped his own cheeks, taehyung pulled away as if he was so shocked of jiho's actions.

jiho couldn't help but find taehyung's action adorable and she let out a giggle and oh, was it music to taehyung's ears. "you just made my day, you tsundere boss"

cheeks burning even more, taehyung almost felt his mind becoming hazy as the feelings that seemed to erupt in his chest were too much to handle and before he knew it, his mouth just started to move on its own accord, "oh my god, don't pull that on me. please you cutie patootie hyena slash vixen and how can you be so cute while just saying thank you to me and like how—oh god, you—" taehyung stopped, finding himself rambling before he crouched down hiding his face.

cutie-patootie? jiho questioned and in that day for the second time around – she burst into a feat of laughter. "oh my god, taehyung that's so adorable!"

"stob it"

giggles erupting in her lips, jiho couldn't help but meet taehyung's eye level as she kneeled on the floor before making her way on the man's personal space. "you cuddly bear" she cooed, reaching out to peel taehyung's hand as she cupped the man's cheeks. "thank you so much again, tae"

cheeks red and eyes not meeting hers, "i—i hate you, you're a tease" the man mumbled whiningly, resembling a child on tantrums and once again a flowering feeling bloomed in jiho's heart. "oh puhlease, we both know you love me" she'd joked.

"well" giggles coming into a halt on taehyung's husky voice, jiho felt warmth spread on her own hands as taehyung held it close to him. heart hammering and not missing the way taehyung closed the gap between their faces, his gaze and tone suddenly became serious. "i can't argue with that, cause i really really love you"

and this time, it was taehyung's turn to make jiho flustered.

"i—" jiho's lips opened as if wanting to speak but when taehyung leaned even closer she felt herself getting weak on her bones as taehyung's nose touched hers.

"you thought i'd still deny it?" the man pressed and that was enough to drive the whole zoo roar in the pits of jiho's stomach. "s—stop—"

"—teasing you?" taehyung cut as their eyes locked on one another. jiho felt like melting under the man's intense gaze. she'd wanted to pull away and push the man far from her but, the warmth that lingered in heart were so addicting. "i—"

"i'll say this right now, loud and clear—" closing their gaps impossibly close, jiho couldn't help but shut her eyes tight. finding no ways to escape in tae's grasp, she felt like she was turning into a puddle – the feeling, the touch and the gaze were so much to handle for her poor heart. no, stop. she knew what the next words taehyung were bound to say and as much as it makes her feel grateful—

"taehyung—" "shh, listen to me"

—she was undeniably scared. i'm not worthy and i—

i am unworthy. "i love you" as the words escaped on taehyung's lips, jiho found herself opening her eyes before it became clouded with tears.

"i—taehyung—"

"i don't care even if you're still married. i don't care if there's still a big space of him inside your heart. i don't care if you don't feel the same way now but please, please don't push me away. i—" a pause before a sigh escaped on taehyung's lips, "i really treasure you, a lot"

"but i'm not worthy" gaze on the floor, she'd whispered almost mistaken as a simple noise.

"yes, you are" cupping her cheeks, taehyung held her delicately as their gazes met once again. "and i'll make you feel you're worthy of it"

"i—" "wow, am i watching a real-time drama?"

shock slowly painting jiho's features, even before she could've uttered her next words to reply on taehyung, an oh so familiar and irritatingly annoying voice rang inside the room – the spawn of evil herself.

"lilia"

"yes, that's me"

wiping the corners of her eyes, taehyung helped her get steady on her feet. "what are you doing here?" jiho asked, voice seemingly calm but a hot mess running inside her system as the urge to pull the strands of the mistress' hair itched on her hands.

"come with me" lilia muttered smugly and jiho couldn't help but let her eyebrows furrowed. just who is she to order me around? an insurmountable amount of anger seeping in her skin, the urge to slap the woman slowly consumed her and the words flew on her lips before she could even think twice. "and what gives you the right to order me around?" she'd tried to keep her words civilized but the tone in her voice dramatically changed.

"because i'm your husband's lover and—" what the fuck? and that was the cue for jiho as she had enough. "fuck you!" scream erupting on her lips as her hand raised, jiho hadn't realized that she had marched her way towards the filthy woman and sent a tight thunderous slap on the other's left cheek.

"you have the audacity to storm in here to tell me that?!" red flashing in her vision, jiho couldn't calm her nerves anymore and the rationality in her mind long vanished as it was only replaced with complete hatred. jiho was upset, mad and breaking and she couldn't help but let out her frustrations as she shouted, not minding the way her voice echoed around the building.

people outside of the office started flocking on the door, too prying to know the hot issue. alarmed of the sudden situation, taehyung tried to calm jiho to stop the fight and the impending humiliation but it was of no use.

"you have the face to come in here all high and mighty when you're the main reason why my family's wrecked? how dare—" chuckle escaping on lilia's lips, jiho's words found no voice as she felt her heart losing its conviction the moment lilia opened her mouth and, all of jiho's nightmares came back hurting her again. "not my fault you're not capable of pleasuring your husband"

cracking. eyes turning glossy, the words hit jiho like a damn truck as she felt like she was ripped of dignity leaving her wrecked and bleeding.

"it's not my fault i'm more capable than you are. jeongguk wouldn't even come looking for another woman if you truly cared for him. i'm not the home-wrecker, you are. jeongguk left you because you were never there for him, your family is broken because of you. you're useless " i'm useless?

useless? she'd questioned and everything just felt so void in her grasp. i'm the one who . . . tore our family apart? she felt so lost, earlier that day she had an argument with jeongguk and it was also about what lilia had said.

maybe, i am the one.

i'm the one who tore our family apart.

tears cascading in her precious and soft skin, the anger that used to fuel her heart were now replaced with shame and self-pity. blaming herself and wallowing in the misery, the words that lilia spoke were like poisonous ivies wounding her heart.

it's because of me.

"i—"

"if you truly want to do something right on your miserable life, sign the damn papers, you useless bitch! jeongguk never—" useless. i am—

a shrilling, low and angry voice echoing in the vicinity."shut the fuck up, you crazy damn whore" shushing the mistress out of her proud speech, taehyung's voice were dripping with threat. grounding jiho from her shaky legs, taehyung held her tight as he shielded her eyesight away from lilia.

"whore, you fucking good for nothing whore" completely livid, taehyung was beyond pissed "if there's someone who's worth is nothing more than an algae, that fucker is you—"

"what did you—" lilia tried to cut but the mockery in taehyung's tone interrupted her.

"you're nothing but a woman who's best at spreading her legs at any man you find interesting. you're nothing compared to jiho, you're the one that's useless. fair warning, if you have any decency left in that disgusting body, which i presume you don't have, you should get out of my damn building before i call the security and make sure you won't have that fucking cakeface suitable enough to pleasure the fucking man-slut named jeon jeongguk"

"i—" skin turning pale, lilia found no words to counter the anger that taehyung brought. "do i have to repeat myself, you algae?" disbelief crossing her features, "why are you even siding with that—"

"you're really testing me?" face crumpling into fear, the woman turned on her heels as she found herself on an uptight situation. "oh!" but before she could fully escape, taehyung spoke once again and this shocked the whole population of onlookers and even lilia himself.

"tell your goddamn vice president named jeon jeongguk that the partnership's off thanks to you, you useless fucker"