CEO's Wife Is A Problematic Bunch
Chapter 1 : The CEO's Perfect Life
Author Yamiko
Hello guyss!
Author Yamiko
So, I decided to start a new story...
Author Yamiko
I’ve been working on this for a bit and I’m so excited and a little nervous to post it..
Author Yamiko
I truly hope you guys enjoy it!!!
Chapter 1 : The CEO’s Perfect Life...
At 28 years old, Kim Taehyung was the undisputed King of Seoul’s financial district.
His office was a glass walled fortress perched high above the city’s skyline, served as a cold, shimmering testament to his discipline.
He was sharp, smart, and according to every high society magazine in the country, the most eligible bachelor in South Korea.
The legacy of the Kim Corporation was a heavy inheritance.
It had been built from the ground up by Mr. Kim, a man of immense reputation who had transformed a local venture into a household name across the peninsula.
However, Taehyung had done more than just inherit a throne, he had fortified it.
Under his leadership, the company’s reputation had reached unprecedented heights, making the Kim name synonymous with power.
Yet, despite his professional triumphs, the Kim parents were haunted by a singular, traditional concern.
Every parent dreams of seeing their child settled, of witnessing the continuation of the bloodline and holding grandchildren in their twilight years.
And so, within the suffocatingly elegant walls of his father’s private study, the same old conversation began to loop once more.
But today, the atmosphere was different.
Taehyung didn't feel like a king here, but felt like a man being slowly backed into a corner.
I said maintaining the same professional silkiness in my voice that I used during board meetings as I reached up to loosen my tie.
It felt like the collar was shrinking.
Kim Taehyung
I’ve told you a dozen times..
Kim Taehyung
I don’t have time for a wife..
Kim Taehyung
I have a high stakes merger with Japan next week that requires my absolute focus..
Father didn't even bother looking up from his tea.
He blew a gentle cloud of steam off the surface, looking entirely too relaxed.
Mr. Kim
It isn’t about time, Taehyung...
Mr. Kim
It’s about our legacy...
Mr. Kim
Every beautiful socialite in this city is sitting by their phone, waiting for a call from this house..
I took a sharp breath, the irritation had started to bubble up just beneath my skin.
I was tired of these conversations.
Kim Taehyung
They can wait until they grow old, Father...
Kim Taehyung
I’m not interested in socialites..
Kim Taehyung
In fact, I don't think I want to get married at all just yet..
I looked at them both, trying to make them see my reasons.
Kim Taehyung
Besides, we all know what those girls want..
Kim Taehyung
They don't want me, they want the title of 'Mrs. Kim' and the bank account that comes with it..
Mother glanced at my father, a small sigh escaping her.
Mrs. Kim
I think he won't listen to us, no matter what we say..
She murmured, though her eyes were unreadable.
Mrs. Kim
Let’s just find him a pretty woman and be done with it..
That was the breaking point.
I snapped rising my voice just enough to show my teeth.
Kim Taehyung
I can't marry someone I don't know, and I especially won't marry a woman..
Father finally set his teacup down, his gaze lifting to mine.
Mr. Kim
And why is that..?
I braced myself, expecting the air to turn cold.
I expected a lecture on family duty, or perhaps the shock of a father who had built an empire on tradition.
I stood tall and looked him in the eye.
Kim Taehyung
Because I’m not interested in women at all..
Kim Taehyung
I have never been..
I waited for the explosion.
Instead, my mother let out a small, soft sigh, not of disappointment, but of relief.
Father, on the other hand, didn't look angry.
He actually looked... proud.
A knowing smirk played on his lips.
Father said, leaning back in his chair.
Mr. Kim
That certainly makes things easier..
Mr. Kim
We already knew, Taehyung..
Mr. Kim
We were just waiting for you to trust us enough to say it out loud..
My hand, which had been mid motion against my tie, dropped.
Mrs. Kim
We’re your parents, Taehyung.. not your business rivals..
She rose from her seat, walking over to give my cheek a light, affectionate pat.
Mrs. Kim
And since we’ve finally cleared the air... we’ve already spoken to your father's oldest friend, Mr. Jeon..
Mrs. Kim
His youngest son, Jungkook.. just finished his studies.
Mrs. Kim
He’s energetic, handsome, and most importantly.. he's available...
My brain felt like it was short circuiting.
Kim Taehyung
You’ve already picked someone..?
Kim Taehyung
I haven’t seen him or heard a single word about him..
Kim Taehyung
Who is this..?
Mr. Kim
He is the son of Mr Jeon..
Father explained as a glint returned to his eyes.
Mr. Kim
You’ve met the family before, Taehyung, but the boy doesn't care much for the public eye, so he’s stayed out of the spotlight..
Mr. Kim
He’s... well, he’s a lot to handle..
Mr. Kim
The wedding is in two months..
Kim Taehyung
Two months..?
I stammered, the world spinning.
Kim Taehyung
But I don't know him!!
Kim Taehyung
I haven't even seen a picture!!
Mother walked back to the sofa, sitting elegantly beside my father.
She picked up her tea, taking a slow sip of her afternoon tae as if we were discussing the weather rather than my forced marriage.
Mrs. Kim
We’ll just have to arrange a meeting for you two, then..
I opened my mouth to launch a thousand more complaints, to tell them this was insane, that I was a CEO, not a pawn, but the universe wasn't on my side.
Father’s phone began to ring, and he immediately turned his attention to the screen.
Mother, meanwhile, picked up a fashion magazine that had been sitting on the table all morning, suddenly finding it the most interesting thing in the room the moment I tried to argue.
I had no choice but to let out a long, defeated sigh and head for the door, my perfect life had already started crumbling behind me.
Chapter 2 : A Boy Who Dreams of Witches
Chapter 2 : A Boy Who Dreams of Witches...
While the Kim household was a place of iron clad schedules and black suits, the Jeon residence operated on a much more fluid, and significantly louder, frequency.
If Taehyung’s life was a perfectly plotted graph, Jungkook was a fairy left out in the rain, vibrant, messy, and blissfully indifferent to the lines.
The youngest Jeon was currently in his natural habitat, sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling, and contemplating whether a goblin would choose to live in a high rise penthouse, mansion or a traditional village.
At twenty-four, Jeon Jungkook had successfully navigated his way through university with a degree he rarely thought about and a heart that had been broken once by a college boyfriend, a relationship his parents had supported with the kind of open mindedness that Jungkook took for granted.
To him, the world was a vast, strange playground, and he was simply an observer in no hurry to participate in the real world.
His peace was, however, interrupted by the booming voice of his father echoing from the ground floor, shattering his deep thoughts on supernatural architecture.
Mr. Jeon
We need to talk to you!!
I groaned, rolling onto my stomach and burying my face in the duvet.
My bed looked like a mountain of soft blankets and half finished fantasy novels, and the trek downstairs felt like an epic quest I wasn't prepared to undertake.
Jeon Jungkook
I’m coming!!!
Jeon Jungkook
I just have to make sure my soul is properly attached to my body first!!!
I yelled back, my voice muffled by the pillows.
Jeon Jungkook
You wouldn't want to see me body less!!!
Jeon Jungkook
It’s very bad for the feng shui!!
I finally slid off the mattress and made my way down the stairs with the grace of a newborn giraffe, stumbling over my own feet and nearly taking out a priceless vase in the hallway.
When I finally reached the living room, my parents were sitting there with the kind of Serious Face that usually meant I had either forgotten to pay the cab driver again or they were about to ask me to get a real job.
Mr. Jeon
Jungkook-ah, sit..
Dad said, gesturing to the armchair.
Jeon Jungkook
If this is about the microwave incident, I’ve already explained that metal shouldn't be that shiny or metallic, if it isn't supposed to go in there..
I said, plopping down and tucking my legs under me.
Jeon Jungkook
You know how scared I am of pressure cookers and the microwave..
Jeon Jungkook
They’re like tiny, ticking dragons in the kitchen..
My mom laughed, shaking her head.
Mrs. Jeon
It’s not about the microwave, you brat.
Mrs. Jeon
We’ve been thinking..
Mrs. Jeon
You’ve graduated a while ago, and you’re just... floating around the house like a 'fairy'..
Mrs. Jeon
It’s time you settled down..
Jeon Jungkook
Settled down..?
Jeon Jungkook
Like a rock..?
I tilted my head, my mind immediately drifting.
Jeon Jungkook
Oh, no wait, like a river... but a river flows... so maybe a rock...?
Jeon Jungkook
But rocks have very boring lives, Mom..
Jeon Jungkook
They don't even get to see the trees and stars properly..
Jeon Jungkook
You don't want me to be a rock, do you..?
Jeon Jungkook
Just sitting there getting mossy..?
Dad corrected, leaning forward with a sigh.
Mr. Jeon
She meant to settle down... like a husband..
Mr. Jeon
We’ve spoken with an old friend of mine, Mr. Kim.
Mr. Jeon
His son, Taehyung, is looking for a partner..
Mr. Jeon
We think you’d be a good match..
That was a very 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 thing, not that i wasn't an adult.
I remembered dating that guy in college, and that had been a lot of work, lots of feelings and sharing fries, and ice cream, and strawberries.
But marriage sounded... permanent.
Like a curse in a fairy tale, or a very long contract.
And everyone knows witches love a good contract.
Jeon Jungkook
Is he a warlock..?
Jeon Jungkook
Because I don't think I can live with a warlock..
Jeon Jungkook
The herb smells are way too much for my nose..
Father breathed out a long suffering sigh, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
Mr. Jeon
He’s the CEO of Kim Corp..
Mr. Jeon
He’s probably the most successful businessman in the country..
He slid a tablet across the coffee table.
On the screen was a photo of a man who looked like he had been carved out of marble.
Dark, sharp eyes, a nose that could cut paper, and a suit that probably cost more than my entire education.
He looked like he was about to fire the person taking the picture just for breathing too loudly.
I whispered, picking up the tablet and bringing it closer to my face.
Jeon Jungkook
He looks like the King of the Underworld.
Jeon Jungkook
Is he an enigma..?
Jeon Jungkook
Or maybe a demon from the dark forest..?
Jeon Jungkook
Does he ever eat...?
Jeon Jungkook
Or does he just consume the souls of his employees for breakfast..?
Mrs. Jeon
He's very handsome, isn't he..?
Mom asked, her voice hopeful.
I shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.
Jeon Jungkook
He’s definitely pretty.
Jeon Jungkook
A bit stiff, though..
Jeon Jungkook
He looks like he needs someone to tell him a joke... or maybe hide his shoes until he's late for a big office meeting..
Jeon Jungkook
Just to see what his angry face looks like..
I looked back at the picture.
He looked like he lived in a castle, and I lived in a treehouse.
Well, treehouses are much more fun anyway.
But the idea didn't scare me..
If life wanted to throw a CEO at me, who was I to argue with the universe..?
Or maybe a very weird prank.
I said, tossing the tablet back onto the table..
Jeon Jungkook
I’ll marry the Underworld demon King..
Jeon Jungkook
It sounds like a fun plot twist..
Jeon Jungkook
Does this mean I get a cool cape..?
Jeon Jungkook
Or maybe a cloak..?
Jeon Jungkook
I’ve always wanted a cloak for dramatic exits..
My parents looked at each other, a mix of relief and "what have we done" written all over their faces.
I didn't care tho, what's a life without fun.
I was going to be the official burden of the demon king, and I had huge responsibilities as a 'wife'.
I'd have to make sure he never had a boring day again..
Mr. Jeon
No cape or cloak, Jungkook..
Mr. Jeon
Just a wedding in two months..
Mr. Jeon
And please... try to act normal when you meet him..?
Jeon Jungkook
Normal is a social construct, Dad..
Jeon Jungkook
That's way out of my syllabus..
I chirped, already hopping up and heading back to the stairs.
Jeon Jungkook
But I’ll try to wear matching socks for the big day!!
Jeon Jungkook
No promises, though!!
I was halfway up the stairs, already imagining what kind of snacks the Underworld King might keep in his pantry, when my mom's voice pulled me back to earth.
Mrs. Jeon
Don’t go disappearing into your dream world just yet..
I paused, leaning precariously over the banister.
Jeon Jungkook
Yes, Mama..?
Jeon Jungkook
Does the King require a blood sacrifice before the first date..?
Jeon Jungkook
Because I only have some slightly wilted celery in my mini fridge..
Dad chuckled, rubbing his temples as if a headache were already forming.
Mr. Jeon
But we’ve already coordinated with the Kims..
Mr. Jeon
You’re meeting him this Sunday evening..
Mr. Jeon
We’re all going to dinner together to make it official..
I wrinkled my nose, doing some quick mental math.
Jeon Jungkook
That’s only two days away!!
Jeon Jungkook
That barely gives me enough time to find my matching socks...
Jeon Jungkook
Or to practice my 'serious wife' face in the mirror..
Mrs. Jeon
Just be yourself, Jungkook..
My mom said, though her tone suggested she was actually praying for the exact opposite.
Mrs. Jeon
But maybe... a slightly quieter version of yourself..?
Mrs. Jeon
Just for the first hour..?
I gave her a thumbs up and a wink that was definitely not reassuring.
Jeon Jungkook
Sunday evening..
Jeon Jungkook
I'll be there with bells on!!
Jeon Jungkook
Or maybe just the matching socks..
Jeon Jungkook
We’ll see how the universe feels that day..
As I bounced the rest of the way up to my room, I couldn't help but giggle..
Sunday was going to be a catastrophe, and I couldn't wait to see the look on the Demon King's face when he realized exactly what kind of 'problem' he was marrying.
Chapter 3 : Mr. CEO and his To-Be-Wife
Chapter 3 : Mr. CEO and his To-Be-Wife...
The private dining room of the Hotel was a place filled with minimalist luxury.
It had silk screened walls, the faint scent of aged pine, and a silence so thick it felt suffocating.
For Kim Taehyung, this was HIS natural habitat, unlike his To Be Wife.
He sat with his spine perfectly straight, his hands were folded over the table, looking every bit the formidable CEO the world knew him to be.
Across from him, both his and jungkook's parents sat, engaged in a symphony of polite laughter and compliments.
The Jeon's and the Kim's were merging their legacies, and on paper, it was a masterpiece of diplomacy.
But Taehyung’s focus was fixed on the empty chair beside Mr. Jeon.
His future husband was late.
In Taehyung’s world, being late was a cardinal sin, a sign of a disorganized mind and a lack of respect for the clock that governed his life.
Then, the sliding doors groaned open.
I had spent the last forty-eight hours rearranging my entire board schedule just so I could make it to this dinner on time.
I had rushed through three improtant meetings and skipped lunch, all to ensure that the King of Seoul was punctual for his own engagement.
For my groom to be twenty minutes late.
I didn't turn my head towards the doors.
I wanted to maintain the upper hand, the aura of a man who was not easily ruffled by the tardiness of others.
But when the person finally sat down, the scent of heavy cologne I expected was replaced by something that smelled suspiciously like... strawberry bubblegum?
I shifted my gaze and I felt my mental processor stall the very moment my eyes fell on him.
The man sitting across from me wasn't wearing a suit.
He was submerged in an oversized knit sweater that made him look twice as small and ten times more ridiculous.
His dark hair was a mess of soft curls that looked like they hadn't seen a comb all day, and a silver piercing glinted in his lower lip, a direct and sparkling defiance of the "CEO's Wife" image I had spent the last two days of my life imagining.
Jeon Jungkook
Sorry, sorry!!
He chirped, sounding remarkably unbothered.
He patted his chest as if checking to see if his heart was still there, beating against his ribs.
Jeon Jungkook
The elevator had a very strange aura today..
Jeon Jungkook
I think it’s haunted by a grumpy bellhop from the 1920s..
Jeon Jungkook
I had to wait for the next one to make sure I didn't get possessed..
Father cleared his throat, a sound of pure physical pain.
Mr. Kim
Taehyung, this is Jungkook..
Mr. Kim
Jungkook... this is your fiancé..
I forced my facial muscles into a rigid mask of politeness.
Kim Taehyung
It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Jungkook-ssi..
Kim Taehyung
I trust your... spiritual journey through the hotel was successful..?
Jungkook tilted his head, his big, round eyes scanning me with an intensity that made me want to button my blazer all the way to my chin.
Jeon Jungkook
You’re very shiny... For a husband..
He whispered, but it was loud enough for the whole room to hear.
Jeon Jungkook
You look like you’ve been polished with a microfiber cloth..
Jeon Jungkook
Do you ever breathe, or does the starch in your shirt do that for you..?
I felt a vein in my temple throb at his comments.
Kim Taehyung
I assure you, I am functioning quite well..
He muttered, reaching for a piece of sashimi with his bare fingers before his mother wiped his hand with a napkin.
He just laughed, it was a bright, bubbly sound that felt like a firecracker going off in the middle of a silent library.
The Demon King was even more polished than I thought he would be in person.
Up close, Taehyung didn't just look successful, he looked like he had been manufactured in a factory that only made Perfect and Important People.
He was gorgeous, sure, in a scary, untouchable sort of way, but he was so stiff I half expected to hear his joints creak when he moved.
I was much better at being a human.
As the waiters began to lay out the course, tiny, artistic portions of food that looked too pretty to eat, the parents started talking about 'Finance' and 'Market structures.'
Totally out of my syllabus.
I leaned forward, propping my chin on my palm, and stared directly at Taehyung.
He was trying his best to look interested in what dad was saying, but I could see his eyes darting toward me, tracking my every move like I was a ticking time bomb.
I couldn't help but hold back a giggle.
He looked so stressed just by my existence.
Jeon Jungkook
So, King Taehyung..
I said, cutting right through a very serious sentence about real estate investments.
He paused, his silver chopsticks frozen midway to his mouth.
Jeon Jungkook
If a Globin offered you a pot of gold in exchange for your favorite tie, would you take it..?
I asked, keeping my face completely serious.
Jeon Jungkook
Or are you the type of person who tries to sue the goblin for trespassing in your company..?
Taehyung’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits.
I could practically see the gears in his head grinding to a halt as he searched for a corporate friendly answer to a question about folklore.
Kim Taehyung
I don't deal with goblins, Jungkook-ssi..
He said dropping his voice into a low warning.
Kim Taehyung
I deal with reality...
Jeon Jungkook
I feel bad for you...
I sighed, picking up a hand forged mushroom and waving it at him like a magic wand.
Jeon Jungkook
Reality is just a lack of a person's imagination..
Jeon Jungkook
Here, eat this..
Jeon Jungkook
You look like you're about to faint from all that reality you're carrying around on your shoulders..
I reached across the table, hovering the mushroom inches from his mouth.
The look of pure horror on his face was the best thing I’d seen all day.
Our parents gasped in unison, but I just gave him my best, innocent 'CEO's Wife' smile.
Jeon Jungkook
Come on, open up, Mr. CEO..
Jeon Jungkook
Consider it our first action of love..
He looked at the mushroom, then at me, then at our parents who were watching with bated breath.
His face turned a delicious, deep shade of pink, his jaw tightening so hard I thought it might actually snap.
Slowly and painfully, he took the mushroom from my chopsticks with his own, his movements looked as stiff as a robot.
He bit out through clenched teeth.
I leaned back in my chair, totally satisfied.
This was going to be so much better than I thought.
I wasn't just marrying a CEO, I was marrying a project of my own.
By the time I was done with him, the Demon King wouldn't know what hit him.
The rest of the dinner was all about business talk from the parents and increasingly bizarre commentary from Jungkook.
While Father and Mr. Jeon finalized the arrangements for the press release, Jungkook spent ten minutes explaining to a bewildered waiter that the mineral water tasted like it had been harvested during a full moon.
Finally, the bill was settled, and the two families stood up to move toward the entrance of the restaurant.
Father said, clasping a hand on my shoulder with a look of triumph.
Mr. Kim
I think this went exceptionally well..
I looked at Jungkook, who was currently trying to see if he could balance a toothpick on the tip of his nose.
Kim Taehyung
Exceptionally..
I replied, the word feeling like lead in my mouth.
As we reached the valet stand, the cool evening cold air of the city felt refreshing.
My parents exchanged warm hugs with the Jeon's, promising to call the next morning to discuss the wedding arrangements for the ceremony.
Then, it was just us, the 'CEO' and the 'Wife'.
The evening was winding down, and the Demon King looked like he was about to deflate from the sheer effort of staying upright.
I stepped closer to him, invading his bubble just to watch him instinctively pull back an inch.
Jeon Jungkook
So, Taehyungie..
I chirped, giving him a little wave.
Jeon Jungkook
It’s been a slice of heaven..
Jeon Jungkook
Or maybe a slice of that weird mushroom..
Jeon Jungkook
Either way, I had fun..
He looked down at me, his expression made it looked like he was caught between annoyance and genuine confusion.
Kim Taehyung
It was... informative, Jungkook-ssi..
Kim Taehyung
I’ll see you at the dress fitting on Wednesday..
Kim Taehyung
Please... try to arrive on time.
Kim Taehyung
And perhaps without any haunted elevators..
I giggled, poking his arm, which was, as expected, as hard as a rock.
Jeon Jungkook
No promises!
Jeon Jungkook
If a dragon blocks the Han River bridge, I might be a little delayed..
Jeon Jungkook
You understand, right..?
Jeon Jungkook
CEO things..?
Kim Taehyung
I really don't..
He sighed, though he didn't pull his arm away as fast as I thought he would.
Kim Taehyung
Goodbye, Jungkook..
I said, feeling my voice finally softening just a fraction.
Despite everything that has happened, there was something about the way he looked in the dim street lights, messy hair and mischievous eyes, that made the prospect of the next two months feel less like a prison sentence and more like a very unpredictable storm.
He gave me one last, blindingly bright grin before hopping into his father’s car.
As the taillights disappeared into the Seoul traffic, I stood on the sidewalk and finally, finally let out the breath I had been holding since he first sat down.
My life was no longer a perfectly plotted graph.
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