Shim Soocheon, the Team Leader of Team 1 at Jiwoo (馶遇), was humming a tune when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. The omega standing in front of the Director’s office caught his attention. Quickly composing himself, he reached into his pocket, rummaging around for a snack to give to Jung Heeyeon. His fingers brushed against a crinkly wrapper, just what he needed.
Like many of the other alphas at the company, Shim Soocheon had long since made a habit of carrying snacks with him, all because of the omega who stood there now, glued to the wall and idly staring out the window.
“Heeyeon-ssi.”
“Oh, Team Leader.”
It had been three weeks since Director Yeon had started bringing Jung Heeyeon to the office. That meant it had also been three weeks since the alphas at Jiwoo began to familiarize themselves with Jung Heeyeon’s face. In that time, Jung Heeyeon had unofficially become Jiwoo’s beloved cutie.
“Are you waiting for the Director?”
“Yes.”
Jung Heeyeon could’ve just answered with words, but he made sure to nod politely as well.
Although Jiwoo was known as a security company, calling it an ordinary company would be misleading. It was no secret in the industry that Director Yeon dealt with firearms and advanced weapons. Occasionally, the company even sourced items through illegal channels. This made working at Jiwoo far more dangerous than being a regular bodyguard. As a result, Jiwoo was staffed with only the most combative and sharp-tempered alphas. In such an environment, Jung Heeyeon’s presence was like a ray of light.
“Want to have this?”
“Oh… I already got one earlier. The director said I could only have one a day.”
It seemed he was too late. With a slight look of regret, Shim Soocheon returned the snack to his pocket. The director wasn’t monitoring Jung Heeyeon every second of the day—he could’ve just taken it and eaten it. But Jung Heeyeon, lacking any greed, always declined additional snacks once he had received his daily allotment from another.
“Would you like this instead, Team Leader?”
Jung Heeyeon pulled out a pack of jelly candy from his pocket, its sky-blue packaging covered with drawings of fluffy clouds. The sight made Shim Soocheon feel a strange, sentimental pang. Was this what it felt like for an uncle to be offered candy by an adorable nephew? It was an odd feeling, considering he was unmarried and not much older—less than 10 years— than Jung Heeyeon, but it felt like he unknowingly had a nephew.
“I’ll give you three.”
“Thank you.”
His lips twitched as Jung Heeyeon handed him three of the four candies in his palm. Thrilled by the idea of showing off the candy to his team, Shim Soocheon pocketed them with a grin.
With such an endearing personality, it was no wonder the alphas at Jiwoo adored Jung Heeyeon. Their fondness wasn’t the instinctive sexual attraction alphas often felt for omegas, but something more akin to the affection one might feel for a small, helpless animal they wanted to protect. Besides, if they would get aroused or adore someone due to the influence of omega pheromones, they wouldn’t have been able to work at Jiwoo.
“Make sure to share these, Team Leader. Don’t eat them all yourself like last time.”
“Haha, who told on me?”
“They said you just bragged about them and didn’t share.”
Jung Heeyeon didn’t overtly act cute or overly polite, yet Shim Soocheon, like the other alphas, found himself charmed by him. Perhaps it was natural to feel attached to something pure when surrounded by people who had long abandoned such qualities.
Feeling proud, like an uncle being doted on by his nephew, Shim Soocheon was basking in the moment when he noticed Jung Heeyeon’s faint smile as he looked over Shim Soocheon’s shoulder. He realized immediately it was Director Yeon who had prompted it. Only in front of the director did Jung Heeyeon’s usually serene face show any expression.
“It’s not like you’re an old man who offers snacks to win over a baby.”
Shim Soocheon turned around to see Director Yeon walking with a composed posture toward them, his voice tinged with light humor. His perfectly tailored suit clung to him as he moved, tightening and relaxing with each step.
“Director. I heard you were looking for me.”
“The items from Chief Nam’s side are taking too long. Go check on them properly.”
Director Yeon’s voice was calm, almost indifferent, but the underlying annoyance was clear.
“I’ll meet with her personally.”
As Shim Soocheon turned to leave, Director Yeon held out his hand, palm up, like someone asking a dog to give its paw. Shim Soocheon blinked, confused.
“Hand it over.”
“What? Hand over what? …My hand?”
When Shim Soocheon dumbly placed his hand on the dominant alpha’s palm, Director Yeon raised an eyebrow in mild irritation.
“Are you stealing snacks from the baby because you don’t have anything to eat yourself, Team Leader?”
It was clear he was demanding the jelly candies Jung Heeyeon had given Shim Soocheon earlier.
“I didn’t steal them. I swear…”
Director Yeon merely tilted his head slightly, unimpressed by the excuse. Under the weight of the silent pressure, Shim Soocheon had no choice but to pull the candies out of his pocket and hand them over, swallowing his tears.
“Director, I gave those to him. The team leader didn’t steal it…”
Jung Heeyeon, slightly flustered, reached out and tugged at the hem of Director Yeon’s suit jacket. His touch was barely noticeable—only his thumb and forefinger pinched the edge of the fabric. However, the man was quick to notice even that faint gesture, leaning his head down toward Jung Hee-yeon.
“Hmmm, you did?”
“Yes.”
Even as he cooed gently to Jung Heeyeon, Director Yeon didn’t lower the hand he had extended to Shim Soocheon.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
Shim Soocheon, sighing in resignation, placed the candies into Director Yeon’s hand and trudged off. Director Yeon promptly handed the candies back to Jung Heeyeon, though they looked like they might spill from the omega’s small hands.
Jung Heeyeon glanced at the candies in his hands, then at Shim Soocheon’s retreating back, hesitating. It was clear he was debating whether to run after him and return the sweets.
“Heeyeon.”
The tender call brought Jung Heeyeon’s attention back to Director Yeon. Completely oblivious to the subtle ploy to capture his focus, Junh Heeyeon turned with his usual innocent expression.
“Yes?”
“Why do you give away what’s yours so easily?”
“Oh…”
“I told you to be more selfish, didn’t I?”
Director Yeon spoke lightly, motioning toward the elevator with a tilt of his head. Following his lead, Jung Heeyeon fidgeted with the candies rather than putting them in his pocket.
The crinkling wrappers echoed in the quiet corridor as they walked. Oblivious to Director Yeon quietly staring at his hands, he fidgeted with the candies for quite a while.
“But, Director.”
“Hmm?”
“What if I want to give something away?”
“You want to share now, after I told you to be greedy?”
Amused by the omega’s complete lack of selfishness, Director Yeon chuckled as he pressed the elevator button.
“I told you not to give it to just anyone. So, who do you think you should give it to?”
Jung Heeyeon mulled over the question before hesitantly moving his lips.
“To you… Director?”
It felt acceptable since Director Yeon wasn’t ‘just anyone’.
“Yeah.”
Director Yeon plucked one of the jellies from Jung Heeyeon’s hand. Only after Jung Heeyeon quietly tucked the remaining candies into his pocket did Director Yeon unwrap the jelly, pulling out the soft, marshmallow-like treat. Then, he pressed it against Jung Heeyeon’s lips.
“Don’t give anything to anyone else.”
The jelly slipped between Jung Heeyeon’s slightly parted lips, cutting off his reply. Chewing on the soft treat, Jung Heeyeon nodded obediently.
“Yes.”
Director Yeon stepped into the elevator, watching the omega as he eagerly nibbled on the candy like a baby bird being fed. The elevator doors closed softly, and the elevator began its descent, carrying both of them.
“Heeyeon.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know who we’re meeting today?”
“Yes, I also know he’s an alpha.”
“It’s your first time meeting an alpha outside of Jiwoo, isn’t it?”
Until now, Jung Heeyeon had thought all alphas were violent and domineering. That’s what he had been taught—alphas were inherently aggressive, and as an omega, he should simply follow their lead. But the first alpha he’d met had been kinder than anyone Jung Heeyeon had ever known. The alphas in Director Yeon’s company were the same. None of them had ever threatened or intimidated him like Lee Yootae had claimed alphas would.
“Are you nervous?”
“No.”
Jung Heeyeon shook his head. He didn’t naively believe all alphas would be as kind as Director Yeon. Though sheltered from much of the world, he wasn’t foolish enough to expect a stranger to show him goodwill. That said, he wasn’t scared or nervous, either. Whatever would happen, he would just get used to it.
“You’re not?”
Director Yeon let out a languid smile. He thought Jung Heeyeon’s calm response, claiming he wasn’t nervous, held little significance.
“Yes, I’m fine. Even if he hit me, I can just take it.”
The omega, completely desensitized to violence, offered the explanation with a serene expression. No matter if someone shouted, threw objects, or raised a hand against him, Jung Heeyeon’s role was simply to endure. That’s what he had done when Chairman Jung or Lee Yootae treated him that way. His calm acceptance of inevitable violence and punishment came from a lifetime of familiarity with such behavior.
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