The executive meeting was supposed to be routine. Reports stacked neatly across the table, project slides glowing against the screen while senior managers and partner executives settled into their seats. Jaemin almost relaxed—until he noticed Director Seo sitting among them, smiling like nothing was wrong.

Whispers followed Jaemin as he sat down. The rumor clearly hadn’t died overnight.

Across the table, Jeno didn’t look at him at first. Perfect posture. Calm expression. Too calm.

The presentation began. Numbers, projections, expansion plans. Jaemin focused hard enough to ignore the tension crawling under his skin.

"Manager Na." Seo’s voice cut smoothly through the discussion. "I reviewed your proposal again last night. Very impressive."

"Thank you," Jaemin replied politely.

Several coworkers glanced up immediately.

"I was hoping we could continue discussing it privately later," Seo added easily. "Perhaps dinner."

The room shifted. Someone coughed. Someone whispered.

Jaemin opened his mouth to respond.

"That won’t be necessary." The interruption landed sharp and flat.

Every sound stopped.

Jeno stood slowly, chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"Manager Lee?" the senior director warned.

"Further discussions regarding Manager Na’s proposal should involve the full project team," Jeno said evenly.

Seo tilted his head, amused. "I believe Manager Na can decide that himself."

Before Jaemin could speak, Seo leaned closer and rested a casual hand on Jaemin’s shoulder.

Friendly.

Normal.

Wrong.

The sound of a chair slamming backward echoed through the room.

Jeno crossed the distance in seconds, grabbing Seo’s wrist—not violent, but unmistakably firm.

"Don’t."

Gasps filled the silence.

"Manager Lee!" someone snapped.

Seo slowly pulled his hand back. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes," Jeno replied without hesitation. "You’re making him uncomfortable."

Jaemin blinked. He hadn’t even said anything.

"That’s quite an assumption," Seo said coolly.

Jeno didn’t step away.

"You invited him outside office hours yesterday. You allowed rumors to spread. And now you’re touching him during a professional meeting."

Voices erupted immediately.

"Enough!" the senior director slammed his hand down. "Sit down!"

For a moment, Jeno didn’t move.

Jaemin grabbed his sleeve under the table.

"Stop," he whispered.

Jeno inhaled slowly. Anger flickered across his face before disappearing behind practiced composure.

"My apologies," he said calmly, stepping back and adjusting his cuffs like nothing had happened.

The meeting ended early. No one even pretended otherwise. Conversations exploded the moment people stepped outside, whispers spreading faster than footsteps.

Jaemin left quickly, heat still burning across his face.

He almost reached the hallway corner before someone grabbed his wrist.

"Jaemin."

Of course.

"What was that?" Jaemin asked sharply, turning around.

Jeno looked exhausted now. The anger was gone, replaced by something tighter. More dangerous.

"He shouldn’t touch you."

"That wasn’t your decision."

"He keeps asking you out."

"That’s work."

"That doesn’t look like work."

Employees passed nearby, slowing just enough to listen.

"You embarrassed me in front of executives," Jaemin muttered.

"I know."

"And?"

Jeno hesitated.

"I hated watching it."

Silence stretched between them.

Jaemin didn’t know what to do with that answer.

"You’re unbelievable."

"Probably."

Another employee walked past, pretending not to stare.

Jeno’s voice lowered.

"Did you accept dinner?"

Jaemin stared at him.

"You really want to ask that right now?"

Jeno didn’t answer.

Which somehow said everything.