By Zephyria 
A sedan comes to a stop in front of the towering Myungjun Financial Group building. Secretary Park, stepping out from the passenger seat, opened the rear door. A pair of sleek shoes appeared first, followed by a tall silhouette standing firmly.
People cleared a path, bowing their waists and lowering their heads as Han Seung-jae stepped out of the car. It was an attempt to avoid any eye contact at all costs.
Though it wasn’t yet the peak of winter, a chill emanated from Han Seung-jae as he brushed past them in his black coat. Furthermore, his eyes were as cold as frost, and his gaze was the embodiment of indifference.
Han Seung-jae entered the elevator. Secretary Park followed and pressed the button. As the doors closed, the sight of the people lined up and bowing their upper bodies vanished in an instant.
Meeting Han Seung-jae’s gaze in the reflection of the elevator door, Secretary Park continuously listed the schedule they hadn’t finished discussing in the car. He flipped through his tablet PC, reciting the people Han Seung-jae needed to meet.
Despite Secretary Park carefully selecting and scheduling the appointments, Han Seung-jae’s schedule grew tighter as the end of the year approached.
When the elevator doors opened, Secretary Park stepped out first and moved to the side. Han Seung-jae strode forward. Suddenly, his chilling gaze landed on CEO Seo Young-hwan, who was standing in front of the door.
Seo Young-hwan, with his graying hair, spoke first.
“You’ve arrived.”
This was strictly Han Seung-jae’s office. He withdrew his gaze without a hint of lingering. As a staff member opened the door to the Director’s Office and bowed, Han Seung-jae stepped inside.
Secretary Park whispered to Seo Young-hwan, who was standing there blankly.
“I will try speaking with him again.”
“Thank you.”
Secretary Park had seen it with his own eyes just moments ago. Judging by Han Seung-jae’s intention, he knew the man had absolutely no desire to meet. In particular, CEO Seo Young-hwan hadn’t even made an appointment to meet Han Seung-jae. He had simply come unannounced and taken up space, hoping that if it were early enough, he might be able to exchange a few words. Thus, it was highly unlikely that Han Seung-jae would agree to see him.
Nevertheless, the reason Secretary Park spoke that way was that CEO Seo Young-hwan was related to Han Seung-jae’s family by marriage. Because of this, the staff were troubled and unable to kick him out.
Entering the Director’s Office, Secretary Park took the black coat Han Seung-jae was removing, hung it up, and turned around.
Sitting at his desk, Han Seung-jae picked up a folder for approval and habitually glanced at his wristwatch. There were about fifteen minutes left before the branch manager arrived to report. Secretary Park was well aware of this fact.
As Han Seung-jae reviewed the documents, Secretary Park began in a calm tone.
“Do you intend to keep him standing there?”
“And?”
Without even looking up, Han Seung-jae signed the signature line with a fluid motion. It was as if he were asking what the ulterior motive behind the comment was. Watching this, Secretary Park added.
“Many eyes are watching. Wouldn’t it be better to at least hear him out before sending him away?”
The contrast between CEO Seo Young-hwan’s appearance and Han Seung-jae’s attitude was enough to spark rumors. But was Han Seung-jae the kind of person to lend an ear to such noise? Knowing this, Secretary Park still scrutinized Han Seung-jae’s expression.
If he had no intention of meeting, Secretary Park planned to persuade Seo Young-hwan to leave. As expected, Han Seung-jae’s hand did not stop and he picked up another folder. It was no longer a good idea to press him. Just as Secretary Park was about to turn away.
“Tell him to come in.”
A momentary doubt flickered in Secretary Park’s eyes before quickly vanishing. He judged that even if it were a simple change of heart, it would be better than leaving CEO Seo Young-hwan at the door.
“Understood.”
Secretary Park turned on his heel and opened the firmly closed door of the Director’s Office. CEO Seo Young-hwan, who had been waiting in front of the door, stepped inside. Han Seung-jae turned his head as he watched him enter.
“Sit.”
He closed the approval documents he had been reading, slowly rose from his desk, and walked toward the sofa. He didn’t care at all what anyone said behind his back, but wasn’t there one person who did? The reason Han Seung-jae let CEO Seo Young-hwan in was because he thought of Seo Yi-kyung, whom he had seen at the breakfast table. The way he barely ate, yet gripped his chopsticks tightly. Anyway, since he was physically weak, it would be problematic if he heard some strange rumor and stopped eating altogether.
Step, step. The suit wrapping Han Seung-jae’s broad shoulders blended perfectly with his elegant and refined movements.
Han Seung-jae sat back languidly on the sofa. A staff member entered behind Secretary Park and placed teacups on the table. Han Seung-jae looked down at his watch.
“I’m fine. I don’t have time. I’m busy, so let’s keep this short.”
CEO Seo Young-hwan withdrew his hand, which had been reaching for the teacup. The staff member left after placing a cup only in front of him. Secretary Park closed the door and stood before them.
CEO Seo Young-hwan opened his parched lips.
“I heard our Yi-kyung is carrying your child?”
“And?”
Han Seung-jae’s face remained ordinary. There was no change in expression. He spoke as if he were talking about someone else’s business. Due to the completely unexpected reaction, CEO Seo Young-hwan’s voice wavered as he continued urgently.
“My wife has been ill, so she wants to see Yi-kyung often. That’s why I’m asking, if you could send Yi-kyung home for a bit…”
“You seem to be mistaken about something.”
“….”
The wrinkled Adam’s apple of CEO Seo Young-hwan, who had been speaking, bobbed. Han Seung-jae’s gaze had turned cold in the meantime.
“Anyone watching would think I’ve imprisoned him.”
As mentioned repeatedly, Han Seung-jae did not lock Seo Yi-kyung in the house. If he needed to, he could go outside. Furthermore, hadn’t Han Seung-jae personally spoken to him on the day he went out to see his sick mother?
—Did you have a good visit with your mother?
—….
—Did I come too early? If you’re going to make such a sad face, come again tomorrow.
He told him to go see her again if he was worried. It didn’t matter what he took from the house. Whether it was precious medicinal herbs or rare items. Han Seung-jae only heard about it through Secretary Park and never said a word regardless of what it was.
Han Seung-jae simply received reports on who Seo Yi-kyung met and what he did. This was something he had done for a very long time. He had tried to fix that habit, but decided to stop. It wasn’t a matter of trust or distrust. He simply wanted to know what Seo Yi-kyung was doing.
“That’s not what I meant, you must have misunderstood my words.”
As the flustered CEO Seo Young-hwan hurriedly reached out to grab Han Seung-jae’s arm, Han Seung-jae poured out scathing words.
“Why do you keep looking for someone who says they don’t want to go?”
Indeed, Han Seung-jae was well aware that Jin Seon-yu visited the house. There was only one reason he allowed it: so that Seo Yi-kyung, who stayed at home, wouldn’t feel suffocated.
And the two of them went to art supply stores, shopped for baby clothes, or went to the Ivory Pavilion to eat.
Judging by Seo Yi-kyung’s nature, if he missed his mother out of affection and worry, he would have visited. If he still didn’t go, there could only be one reason.
“Did he ask you for money?”
Thinking back now, that wasn’t a sad face. It was an exhausted face. Among the people who came to see Han Seung-jae, there were some who pretended to be composed on the outside but occasionally wore such an expression. And when they made requests with that face, it was always about money.
Having been hit where it hurt, CEO Seo Young-hwan’s mouth hung open.
“You truly have misunderstood me.”
Having finished his piece, Han Seung-jae gestured toward Secretary Park as if there were no further value in listening.
“Get him out, and make sure he never crosses my path again.”
“W-wait! I’ll explain properly!”
However, CEO Seo Young-hwan was grabbed by the arms by staff brought in by Secretary Park and dragged out. Secretary Park considered it lucky that it ended with just this, but CEO Seo Young-hwan, unaware of that, flailed his arms. However, he had no way to withstand the strength of two grown men.
Secretary Park followed them out, and the door closed. In the suddenly quiet office, Han Seung-jae slowly rose. He approached the desk and picked up the piled approval folders. Then, he sat down and scanned through them. With an expressionless face, he pressed the pen down firmly.
“….”
He had never been one to trust people. He was born that way, and the environment he grew up in pushed him further. Especially in this line of work, emotion was unnecessary. He only needed to review contracts coldly and calculate numbers accurately.
Nothing was as precise as the numbers written on paper when determining right from wrong.
Knock, knock. Secretary Park returned. He brought a white envelope and placed it on Han Seung-jae’s desk.
“There was some commotion, but I confirmed that CEO Seo Young-hwan left from the first floor.”
Han Seung-jae put the white envelope in the drawer.
“Good work.”
“The branch manager is at the door. I’ll tell him to come in.”
“Wait.”
Secretary Park stopped his moving feet. Han Seung-jae closed the drawer filled with neatly arranged envelopes and continued.
“Have some food packaged and sent to the house.”
Secretary Park straightened his posture.
“Is there a menu you desire?”
Usually, Han Seung-jae left all such matters to Secretary Park, but he still had to check. After all, it was for Seo Yi-kyung, who was carrying a child, not anyone else.
“The Ivory Pavilion would be good.”
The words that flowed from Han Seung-jae’s lips were clear and concise to the point of indifference.
The Ivory Pavilion was a place of such high class that Alphas held their gatherings there, and the taste of the food was superb. He had never seen anyone order takeout from such a place, but Secretary Park gave a serious response.
“I will make sure it is sent in time for lunch.”