HEARTBEAT | VKOOK - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

"Mr. Kim has hired a new assistant— a twenty-one year old male, Jeon Jeongguk." A monotonous robotic voice ricocheted through the speakers, bouncing off the dull grey walls and reaching the man who sat amidst the room, dressed in a pitch black suit as he leaned back in his seat behind a desk.
The room was almost pitch black. If it weren't for the lights fixed to the ceiling of the room that emitted a soft glow, illuminating the dark room which was almost the size of a meeting hall, or perhaps, even wider than that to be precise. Rows of computers neatly fixed to the walls on either side played a different footage of their company, due to the cameras fixed on different floors and areas that is.
The computer sitting on his large desk, however, played a completely different footage than the rest, and it being the main office of the CEO. His sharp malicious eyes were glued to the screen from where he sat, focused on the young male shuffling in the screen, minding his own business and oblivious to the secret camera installed in his office that captured every moment of him.
He had no idea that someone was watching him.
And had no damn clue that the man knew everything of him, every single move or plan he made.
"Tell me something I don't know, Ren. What do you know of him?" His raspy deep voice cut through the piercing silence of the room like a knife, a mundane expression etched on his face as he watched the CEO pick up some files from the shelves and flip through them, as though searching for a specific one in his mind.
"According to my research, Jeon Jeongguk has been rejected several times due to an unknown reason. Apparently, he comes from a destitute family, however, doesn't stay with them anymore— reason unknown. There's not much to know about him for he's your average local boy hired for such a reputive company."
"You don't get it, do you? Tell me why has he been chosen out the list of candidates? What's so special about him?" A frown settled on his face as a sigh emerged from his nose, lips pursed as his eyes glared at the screen of his computer located across him.
"I'm not sure what to say to that. Perhaps, it's a personal choice? Or perhaps Taehyung randomly picked him out of the list, not giving it much of a thought. I wouldn't be able to know what's in his head, Mr. Kim." The monotonous voice answered, resonating throughout the room— which caused the male's lips to twitch slightly, a pissed off frown evident on his face.
"Ren, do you really not know of anything rather useful? What else have you done in your foolish research?" The man's eyes then darted to one of the speakers connected to the computers in the room. Lips pursed as he heaved a deep breath. Deep auburn eyes then flickered to the computer screen across him again, scrutinizing the male who ran his fingers through the keyboard in a swift motion.
"Of course. Aside my research on Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jeongguk, there's a problem, I'd name it a major one since it hasn't ever been done before if we take history into account." This peaked the man's interest as he nodded in approval with a small hum, an indication for the robotic voice, who was known to be Ren, to continue.
"Through the past few weeks, there's been frequent cyber attacks, meaning that the Kim Corporations main server has been hacked several times in the last few weeks. Although there are no traces of who's been doing it, I've certainly found a replacement of the footage of the meeting that was supposed to take place on Friday. Turns out Kim Taehyung cancelled the meetings of that very day for an unknown reason."
"I'm not sure why the hacker would replace the footages of the meeting or what they have to do with Mr. Kim Taehyung himself. But suprisingly, they haven't done anything major that could possibly harm our system. However, I know for a fact that there were no meetings hosted on that very day, which is pretty suspicious if I say." This had the old man frowning as he placed his elbow on the arm-rest and stroked his chin tenderly, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.
"So you mean to say that my son cancelled the meetings without my approval? And that, the hacker or whoever it is, is related to him?" His gaze then darted to the screen, brows pulled down to a deep frown, unable to believe the voice's words. As he watched the male, who happened to be his so-called son, scribbling down something on a notepad.
"Yes." Ren answered, which had the man pursing his lips for a split second as he contemplated his thoughts. And not even a moment had passed when he spoke up again, "I hope you're sure of what you're saying. Find the hacker and bring them to me."
"I apologise, Mr. Kim. But whoever it is, they're apparently a professional at this considering how they've left no traces of their existence in our server. I'm not sure if—"  Ren was then cut off abruptly by a deep and raspy voice that belonged to their boss who rose from his seat, hands folded behind his back neatly as he glared at the screen, or most likely, at the person behind the screen who seemed to be oblivious of the dark eyes that followed him like a hawk eyeing it's prey.
"It's an order, Ren. I don't care whatever it takes. Get them to me. You must know better than any foolish hacker who decided to hack my system. You must know of everything, Ren. That's expected of you. As a matter of fact, that's why you were made." His menacingly sharp voice cut through the air, silencing the other's futile excuses.
Anger burned within his deep auburn orbs, a dead giveaway that the male was only infuriated further by his words, the more he tried to convince him of the situation.
"Yes."
"I must know who it is that tried to hack into my company's server. And their true intentions, of course." His monotonous voice bounced off the walls, reaching back at him as the robotic voice no longer replied, signifying that he had left. Leaving the male alone to dwell in his own thoughts as he stared at the screen.
"No, you need to put that on top." He heard Minjun say, watching how the small boy picked up the piece of block and place it on top of the tower he and Jeongguk had created with the tiny blocks. The two sat together across Taehyung in the break room, giggling to each other and playing with the toy blocks the chief guard, Minho had bought him.
And there sat Taehyung, silently watching the two play with the colourful toy blocks. Or more likely glaring at the younger male who sat next to his own son and made him laugh hysterically at his sorry excuse of a joke. And although Jeongguk could feel the burning gaze of the older onto his back, he chose to substantially ignore it and play with the boy.
He could feel the jealousy surging through his body as he watched the two giggle at something Minjun had said, that Taehyung wasn't paying attention to. He could only focus on the ravenette who had his back turned to the older, and wonder what he did wrong for Minjun to hate him.
Perhaps it was because he prioritised his work more than his son, who was his family. Of course, it had to be, Minjun craved to be showered with affection and love, he craved the attention Taehyung simply couldn't provide. Something he found in Jeongguk, who seemed to always listen to him attentively even when he'd babble about nonsense.
Taehyung couldn't stand Jeongguk. He couldn't stand how Jeongguk managed to make his own son laugh heartedly. He couldn't bring himself to believe the fact that Minjun got attached to the bunny boy so easily and so quickly. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he was approachable and awfully friendly. Or perhaps, Minjun was infatuated by the male's charms. Oh no, Taehyung wouldn't want to think of it that way.
Taehyung couldn't comprehend on why his son was so attached to the boy. He couldn't seem to figure out on why his son loved him more than Taehyung, who was his own father. For even if Taehyung would make his utmost attempts at showing his adoration and affection for the boy, it was as though Minjun didn't see it. Or perhaps, Taehyung wasn't trying hard enough.
Hence, now as he sat in the almost vacant break room, signifying that the others had left already to resume their work. Taehyung found himself scrunitizing the raven haired male, attempting to figure out what it was in him that made Minjun so, so attached to him. As though he had known Jeongguk since forever.
Taehyung would never admit the fact that Jeongguk was handsome. From his doe eyes, small button nose and bunny teeth, Jeongguk was beyond perfection. His eyes seemed like they held the entire galaxy in them. It was as though they possessed the entire night sky in them, for how they shone brighter than the stars in the night. And it made Taehyung think why he had these so, so beautiful eyes, that could be the very antidote to the ruthlessness of this cruel world. So bright, like the lovely heavens above, which clearly contrasted along with Taehyung's delinquent somber orbs.
He then glanced at the time in his wrist watch before flickering his eyes to the bulky muscular guard who stood beside him like a stone, frozen in his spot and seemingly not moving. Taehyung then gestured for him to come closer, to which he compiled, leaning over to his boss who muttered, "Take him home."
With a single nod, the aforementioned guard walked over to the boy who seemed to be telling a story to the ravenette, only to be interrupted by the guard who politely told him of the time, and escorted him out of the room. However, not without difficulty of course. As Minjun refused to leave, wanting to spend more time with him.
He had only left after Jeongguk reassured him that they'd see each other again. And Taehyung nearly scoffed at that, finding it rather amusing how his son was desperate to see Jeongguk again— as though he was someone he couldn't seem to live without.
Taehyung then rose from his seat, hands slipping into his pockets elegantly. His eyes fixated on Jeongguk, who seemed to be the only one left in this vacant break room. A moment of silence lingered between the two as Taehyung approached him slowly, deciding to break the silence.
"He seems to like you more than me." This caught Jeongguk's attention as he darted his ebony eyes to the male who stood afront him, piliantly and poised as ever. He then scoffed slightly in utter amusement at the older's words, "Of course, 'cause I'm not like you."
"How so?" Taehyung quirked up a brow elegantly, delinquent eyes staring into Jeongguk soft ebony orbs that seemed to shine like diamonds in the sky.
"Isn't it obvious? You're an asshole." He snickered, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, which had the man glaring at the younger not-so-subtly. "This isn't funny, Jeongguk."
"Of course it isn't. You made me pull all-nighters for the ridiculous amount of pending work you had left, only due to firing assistants continuously for no apparent reason." Jeongguk grumbled, a frown etching on his face as he folded his arms over his chest.
"I didn't fire them unnecessarily, Jeongguk." A grim look embedded on his face, eyes darkening, which made frown slightly. "They deserve it."
"You're ridiculous, Kim." Jeongguk scoffed slightly, chuckling rather mockingly. He then glared at the male with equal intensity, attempting to ignore how he felt awfully small under his heated gaze and how it sent tingles down his spine. "Nobody deserves to be fired unnecessarily. Do you even know how hard it is to get a job? Of course, you don't. For you're filthy rich. But not everyone's like you, Kim Taehyung. You're just too stupid to get it."
It all occurred too fast for Jeongguk to comprehend. For the next second, he found himself pinned to the wall behind him by Taehyung who dangerously hovered over him, delinquent orbs menacingly glaring daggers into his own wide doe eyes. His hot breath fanning over Jeongguk's lips which had his knees weakening, and heart pounding vigorously against his chest.
"I warned you before, darling. Show me respect if you wanna be spared from the consequences." His deep voice rang in his ears, sending shivers down his spine and Jeongguk's breath hitched in his throat at the way his obsidian orbs gazed into his own. So, so intensely. Their lips inches away from brushing one another's, which had Jeongguk's heart pounding rapidly in his chest. And he was almost certain that Taehyung could hear it.
"Whatever happens, happens for a reason, Jeongguk. Never speak of what you don't know." He stared at the trembling wide eyed male for a brief moment before releasing him from his hold and leaving the vacant room. Leaving Jeongguk to dwell in his ocean of a mind as he attempted to register what had just happened.