“…What was that?”
Director Yeon’s previously relaxed gaze sharpened in an instant. Jung Heeyeon only realized he had misspoken when he saw Director Yeon’s face harden.
“That’s not what I meant…”
Jung Heeyeon fumbled, nervously fiddling with his fingers. He didn’t know how to recover from his blunder. To fix it, he first needed to understand what he’d said wrong, but he couldn’t quite grasp it.
“Haa.”
Director Yeon let out a hollow laugh, running a hand through his hair as he composed himself. He didn’t want to show his anger in front of the oblivious omega. Even if his anger wasn’t directed at Jung Heeyeon, the only person who might get frightened here was him.
“Heeyeon.”
After regaining his composure, Director Yeon softened his expression and called out gently, his voice carefully controlled.
“…Yes?”
“I told you to forget what those bastards said.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? They’re the ones who were wrong.”
Turning fully to face Jung Heeyeon, Director Yeon reached out a hand toward the omega’s round, soft-looking head.
“And, Heeyeon.”
“Yes?”
Because of their height difference, Jung Heeyeon ended up snugly pulled into Director Yeon’s arms, his voice muffled. Though he wanted to lift his head, the gentle pressure of the hand holding him in place made it impossible. It felt slightly awkward, while they’d held hands before, being embraced like this was new.
– The doors are opening.
The elevator doors slid open, but Director Yeon didn’t move. Jung Heeyeon, too, stayed quietly nestled against him, making no effort to wriggle free. The familiar scent of cigarettes lingered at the edge of his nose, layered with a faint, unfamiliar fragrance.
Is this the Director’s cologne? The soothing scent melted away the tension in Jung Heeyeon’s body caused by his earlier slip of the tongue. Leaning into the alpha’s arms felt natural, as if it was the right thing to do. Without realizing it, Jung Heeyeon buried his nose in Director Yeon’s suit. It was an unfamiliar scent, but it somehow still made him calm.
“I’m here, no one will be able to lay a hand on you.”
A low chuckle rumbled above him.
–
“Director. You’re here.”
“Where’s Managing Director Kang?”
“I deeply apologize. Something urgent came up at headquarters… He’ll be here within ten minutes.”
At the secretary’s flustered response, Director Yeon raised one corner of his mouth in a loose smirk.
“Is Managing Director Kang trying to play power games with me?”
“Pardon? Absolutely not! It’s just that an unexpected issue came up on our end… My deepest apologies.”
“I’m not the one who needs to be waiting. If he’s not here in ten minutes, consider this meeting canceled.”
“I’ll contact Managing Director Kang again. Please come this way first.”
Jung Heeyeon followed Director Yeon into the room the secretary had indicated. Inside, a spacious office opened up before them. The interior was similar to the executive office at Jiwoo.
To the left of the door was a low table paired with a sofa, while a large desk sat in the center against a backdrop of glass walls. The nameplate on the desk read ‘Kang Seoui, Managing Director’.
The secretary, still cautiously watching Director Yeon, placed a tray with warm tea and an assortment of desserts on the table before hurriedly leaving. Jung Heeyeon’s gaze inevitably drifted toward the pretty desserts.
“Heeyeon. Curious?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead. They’re for you to eat.”
Director Yeon personally handed him a plate with a slice of cake. After a moment’s hesitation—wondering if it was okay to eat before the office’s owner arrived—Jung Heeyeon decided to take a small bite. A rich cheese flavor spread across his tongue.
As he quietly ate his cake, the sound of a vibrating phone broke the silence. Director Yeon glanced at the screen and clicked his tongue before standing up.
“Wait here for a little.”
“Yes.”
It sounded like he was heading outside as the door opened. Shortly after, there was the click of a lock behind him, followed by silence.
Jung Heeyeon took another bite of the cake before setting the plate down. On the plain white plate, the cake sat neatly, reduced by just one bite.
As he quietly sat, taking in the mundane scenery of the office, the door suddenly burst open. His hunch told him it wouldn’t be Director Yeon and he was correct. Before he could even turn his head, a stranger strode in with large, deliberate steps.
Judging by his commanding presence, this must be the owner of the room.
The unfamiliar alpha spotted Jung Heeyeon and immediately made a casual comment.
“Wow, you’re drenched in Director Yeon’s pheromones.”
“…?”
Jung Heeyeon silently blinked at the stranger, unsure of what to say. This must be the person Director Yeon was supposed to meet.
Kang Seoui, Managing Director of Sunha Group, flopped onto the sofa opposite him and narrowed his eyes in amusement. To be fair, it wasn’t exactly a strong scent, but considering it came from Director Yeon—a man notorious for suppressing his pheromones—being ‘drenched’ wasn’t entirely an exaggeration.
The alpha seemed sure Director Yeon had released it intentionally.
“So you’re Chairman Jung’s grandson.”
Leaning casually into the sofa, Kang Seoui crossed one leg over the other. His sharp gaze scanned Jung Heeyeon’s pale face, but there wasn’t even a faint resemblance to the chairman. Instead, Jung Heeyeon’s youthful, gentle features were almost childlike.
“How old are you?”
Kang Seoui stroked his chin as he asked offhandedly.
“I’m nineteen years old.”
The expressionless but striking face moved only slightly as he answered in a soft voice.
“Nineteen? You’re totally a baby.”
At the word baby, Jung Heeyeon fidgeted with his fingers. It reminded him of what Director Yeon had said when they first met.
“I’m not a baby…”
“Hey, I’m thirty-two. At nineteen, you’re definitely a baby.”
Kang Seoui waved dismissively, his tone light. Jung Heeyeon hesitated, falling into brief contemplation.
‘If someone else calls you a baby, tell them not to.’
The stranger seated across from him was unmistakably an Alpha at first glance. A fleeting thought crossed his mind—Is it okay to tell an Alpha not to do something? Lee Yootae had been very clear: “Never tell an Alpha ‘no’ or that they can’t do something.”
But then again, Director Yeon told him to forget everything the butler had ever said.
After a brief hesitation, Jung Heeyeon slowly spoke up.
“Please don’t… call me a baby.”
Kang Seoui, who had been watching him with curiosity to see what he’d say, burst into laughter at the firm tone that escaped Jung Heeyeon’s lips. He wasn’t offended by the Omega’s assertiveness—if anything, he found it fascinating. He even felt entertained.
“Haha. This one’s quite feisty.”
Kang Seoui examined the Omega in front of him more closely. Despite the sunlight pouring in through the window, the pale face didn’t even squint. His smooth and gentle features, coupled with his expressionless demeanor, created a strangely fresh impression.
“Hmm.”
Kang Seoui thought of his eldest brother, who had once tried to buy this omega from Chairman Jung. Now that he looked at him, Jung Heeyeon was exactly his brother’s type.
The kind of face you’d want to break, to see it crumble.
While Director Yeon wasn’t exactly a good man, Jung Heeyeon’s fate had likely been sealed much brighter by ending up in his hands.
“So, what does this baby want to be called?”
“My name is Jung Heeyeon…”
Subtly furrowing his brows in response, Jung Heeyeon was unsure if the other purposefully called him ‘baby’ again. Even so, his expression still appeared mild and gentle. Kang Seoeui tapped his toes lightly and rubbed his temples. A fleeting curiosity and the brief amusement that would follow spurred the Alpha’s impulses.
“Alright, Jung Heeyeon.”
Straightening his posture, Kang Seoeui exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.
“Cough!”
Suddenly, Jung Heeyeon let out a small cough, raising his sleeve to cover his mouth. The scent of pheromones drifting from the man opposite him was unmistakable.
Lee Yootae and the household staff were all Betas. His grandfather, Chairman Jung, was an Alpha, but there had never been a reason for the man to reveal his pheromones around Jung Heeyeon. In actuality, the first Alpha he had ever encountered was Director Yeon. Even then, neither Director Yeon nor the Alphas he’d met at Jiwoo had ever released their pheromones so blatantly.
“Cough, cough!”
Though it was his first time being exposed to an Alpha’s pheromones so overtly, Jung Heeyeon instinctively recognized Kang Seoui’s intent. It wasn’t accidental—this was deliberate. Jung Heeyeon frowned as he continued to cough, burying half his face into the oversized sleeve of Director Yeon’s jacket. With every breath he took, the director’s scent lingered.
Still in that position, Jung Heeyeon discreetly glared at Kang Seoui from across the room. Then, suddenly, his vision went dark.
“Oh.”
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