Episode 2 — Crack In The Mask

The executive floor was colder than Taehyung expected.

Not because of the air-conditioning.

But because of him.

Throughout the morning, Taehyung tried to focus on his new tasks. Papers. Reports. Meetings. Everything felt overwhelming, yet he refused to make mistakes. He didn’t want V to regret letting him work here.

Across the glass walls of the CEO office, V could see everything.

And he noticed.

He noticed the way Taehyung bit his lip when concentrating.

The way he politely bowed to every senior staff member.

The way some employees whispered when they realized the new hire looked exactly like their CEO.

“Is that his brother?”

“They look identical…”

“Why is he working as a regular employee?”

The whispers didn’t go unnoticed.

During lunch break, a female manager approached Taehyung with a bright smile.

“If you need help adjusting, I can guide you,” she said sweetly. “You don’t have to struggle alone.”

Taehyung smiled politely. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

From inside his office, V’s jaw tightened.

He told himself it didn’t matter.

Taehyung was just an employee.

Just his brother.

But when the manager lightly touched Taehyung’s arm while laughing at something he said—

V stood up.

The sudden movement startled his secretary.

“CEO Kim?”

“Call Manager Lee to my office. Now.”

—

A few minutes later, Manager Lee stood nervously in front of V’s desk.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

V leaned back in his chair, eyes cold and unreadable.

“I don’t remember assigning you to mentor the new employee.”

“I was only helping—”

“You are here to work,” V interrupted calmly. “Not socialize.”

Her face paled. “Y-Yes, CEO Kim.”

“You may leave.”

As she walked out, she avoided Taehyung’s eyes.

Taehyung felt confused.

What just happened?

—

Later that evening, the office had mostly emptied.

Taehyung was still at his desk, rechecking documents.

A shadow fell over him.

“You’re staying late?” V asked.

Taehyung looked up, surprised. “I made a few mistakes. I want to fix them.”

V sighed quietly. “You don’t need to prove yourself.”

“I do,” Taehyung replied softly. “Especially to you… hyung.”

The word slipped out again.

V’s expression changed.

The office lights reflected in his dark eyes as he stepped closer.

“At work,” V said quietly, “I told you not to call me that.”

Taehyung stood slowly.

“Then stop acting like my hyung,” he whispered.

The words hung in the air.

For the first time, Taehyung looked hurt.

“You say I’m just an employee. You act cold. But when someone gets close to me… you react.”

V froze.

Silence stretched between them.

“Why?” Taehyung asked, his voice barely steady. “Why do you care so much?”

V’s composure cracked.

He reached out without thinking, gripping Taehyung’s wrist gently but firmly.

“Because,” V said, his voice lower than ever, “I don’t like seeing anyone touch what’s mine.”

Taehyung’s breath caught.

“Mine?” he whispered.

V realized what he had said.

Slowly, he released him.

“You’re my responsibility,” V corrected quickly. “As your hyung.”

But his eyes told a different story.

Taehyung felt it.

The truth V refused to say.

And as they stood there, too close once again, both of them understood—

This wasn’t just brotherhood anymore.

And the cracks in V’s perfect mask were starting to show.

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