Chapter Text
Taehyung wouldn’t have thought 10 years ago that he would be standing in front of her door waiting for her to open it and accept his proposal. He would have never imagined he would have to do this to save his image in front of people. Being a mega-billionaire comes with its pros and cons. Standing at Arisa’s door, he doesn’t know whether it’s a pro or a con. He doesn’t want to do this. He doesn’t want her. He wants to return to his house and get the much-needed sleep he has missed for the week. He doesn’t want a marriage. So he calls the first person he can think of.
“Jimin, will you marry me?”
Park Jimin, 29, single, young, healthy, and, unfortunately, Kim Taehyung’s secretary. According to most of Kim Taehyung’s friends, he is childish and charming, but to Jimin, he is a snob, rude, and obnoxiously hot. He didn't have a special bond with Taehyung per se, but spending 7 years under his wing and doing everything for him has made Jimin an expert on Taehyung and his characteristics. But in these 7 years of life, he would never have imagined getting a call as such from Taehyung.
“Park Jimin, will you marry me?”
“What the fuck? Oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Kim, but what are you talking about? Are you drunk? Do I need to pick you up from anywhere? Are you okay?” Jimin nervously rambled on as he was significantly taken aback by what his boss had asked him.
“Jimin-ssi, calm down. No, I am not drunk, and neither am I hurt, but this is an emergency. Can you meet me at my apartment in 30 minutes? That’ll be much appreciated. Thank you, Jimin. See you soon.”
Before Jimin could reply, Taehyung hung up, and Jimin rushed out of the house because he had to meet his boss within 30 minutes. Jimin took his car out and rushed to have a /conversation/ regarding whatever the heck Taehyung meant.
Park Jimin was a minimalistic person who enjoyed an entire weekend to himself, no work, just him, his kitten Mimisan and his hot cocoa. 7 years ago, he finished grad school and looked for a job that would suffice for his house and meals. He instead landed in a better one with Kim Enterprises- a tech company, as the CEO’s assistant. Needless to say, both of them were young and inexperienced, but he liked being there. Just the job, yeah, didn’t like the CEO, nope, totally not.
What he didn’t expect in his wildest dreams was a fuckass marriage proposal. Look, he knew Taehyung never had any willpower to marry anytime soon. He might have a little friendship going on with his boss, but he also knew what was brewing with the Japanese model from his family. Yagi Arisa is popular and successful so is her family. He knew they were supposed to get married to expand their business or some cliche shit like that. At that moment, none of it was his concern as it wasn’t Arisa whom his boss had proposed. It was Jimin himself.
Jimin put his head on the steering wheel for 2 minutes to gather his thoughts. Everything was unusual and unexpected, extremely out of the ordinary. He has to go up the elevator to face the man. He hated not knowing anything; at that moment, he knew nothing.
Taehyung knew that his impulsive call to Jimin had started something dangerous that was now out of his control. What would he tell Jimin? “Oh, I don’t want to marry this girl because I just don’t want to, and I am gay?” Definitely Not. He knows Jimin is not homophobic, quite the opposite actually. He has heard Jimin talking about having a boyfriend someday. He paced his living room back and forth enough times for a whole (half) workout routine. He was anxious. Just when he was about to rip his hair, the doorbell rang.
Jimin, honest to God, wanted to /run/. He wiped his hands on the jeans he had hastily put on before leaving the house. He rang the bell with confidence, and it took Taehyung surprisingly 5 seconds to open the door. The moment was very tense, and they both could feel it. Jimin’s eyes met Taehyung's. For a change, he looked like a boy in his 20s, not a high-tech industry CEO. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes looked…lost. Taehyung wore a plain white Celine t-shirt with the brand name in the middle and gray sweatpants. Jimin found himself running out of breath just by looking at his boss there.
“Hi Jimin, welcome please come in. Do you need anything to drink? I know it was a sudden call but…yeah” Taehyung was rambling. The oh-so-confident Kim Taehyung was a blabbering mess and to put him out of this misery, Jimin spoke up.
“It’s okay Mr.Kim. We can sit here and talk if you want or we can keep standing. Your call, boss.” Jimin tried to lighten the mood by a light-hearted conversation. He was nervous himself and in all 7 years here, he never saw Taehyung nervous. This was new and it terrified him.
Taehyung led them to his (expensive) sofa and sat down. Jimin turned around sideways to look at Taehyung while he talked. He was playing with the ring on his index finger, a nervous tick he had. Jimin gently but hesitantly put one of his hands on Taehyung’s to bring him out of the reverie he was in. Taehyung shot his eyes up to look at Jimin. Jimin’s smile and eyes were suddenly very comforting to him. He let out a large breath he didn’t know he was holding.
“Jimin, I know it is bizarre, but I was not kidding when I called you. I, um-,” Taehyung paused again. Jimin could understand it wasn’t easy for him, neither was it for himself, but they were trying to have this conversation. Jimin encouraged Taehyung to continue with his eyes. He was feeling this strange urge to hold Taehyung and protect him. Jimin was confused about what he was feeling at that moment.
“Look, Jimin, I don’t want to marry Arisa. Marriage was never on my to-do list anytime soon, and a stranger at that is so unfit. But my parents have been very persistent. They know I am gay and not interested, but they want this for business. I do not want to be a loveless marriage and that too a stranger. I called you because if there is anyone I trust my life with, it’d literally be you. You have always been around me, Jimin. I know it’s a lot to take in, but I have to do this.” Taehyung released a heavy sigh that he had been holding between his endless ramble.
Taehyung looked up to meet Jimin’s eyes which were round like saucers at this brand new side of his boss. “Look, Jimin, this marriage would be nothing more than a marriage of convenience. You will live your life your way, and I will live mine like we have done all these years. You don’t have to say anything now, you can take your time and think before making a decision, but please do think about it, yeah? I will be responsible for you, and that includes every little expense of yours. Please?”
Jimin was shocked; that was a small word to describe his feelings. When the shock dissipated, Jimin was furious. He was mad at Taehyung, and rightfully so. He stood up and clenched his fists by his side.
“I am sorry, Mr. Kim but are you listening to yourself? What the hell is wrong with you? If you don’t wanna marry, then /don’t marry/ for crying out loud! Stop trying to tangle me in this mess that you are creating!’
Jimin was panting heavily and ran his hands through his freshly dyed blonde hair. Taehyung stood up with him and tried to muster up some courage. This was not him. This was not the Kim Taehyung everyone knew. A nervous wreck, however, he had to get his point across.
“Jimin, please listen; this will be just for the sake of keeping myself a taken man for the sake of the society. If you marry me, we can show people that now I am taken, and the whole Arisa chaos will be over. If you want, you can divorce me a year later, and then it will be all over. I am sorry, Jimin, but please try to understand.” Taehyung was almost on the point of begging.
“Taehyung, stop it. You are being a selfish prick right now. What am I getting out of this? It’s all about you. Your life, your family, your deals. Am I your little plaything, Kim Taehyung? Look, I respect you as my boss, but I think that should be the limit. I will see myself out. Goodnight, Mr.Kim.”