No one has provoked me with impunity.
Those who fool me will surely pay the price.
***
The courtroom was silent. If someone dropped a needle, the sound would surely be heard as a deafening roar. In the silence, where even breathing felt restricted, the plaintiff trembled, his face pale. His eyes darted wildly, but his gaze remained fixed on one spot.
The verdict that would determine his life was about to be delivered. The man, his hands clasped together as if in prayer, looked as if he would collapse from tension, but he barely managed to hold himself together. As all eyes in the courtroom focused on him, the judge’s lips finally moved.
“…Therefore, the plaintiff’s claim of X month X day, 20XX, is dismissed.”
“Ah!”
That short sigh was all that escaped the man’s lips. He collapsed into his chair, covering his face with his hands, as the judge continued to mechanically read the verdict.
“The court clerk will deliver the verdict for the defendant and close the case…”
The judge’s closing remarks seemed to fall on deaf ears. His eyes, wide open between his fingers, were visible. The man, trembling like a leaf in the winter wind, soon burst into tears and clutched his head. A grown man sobbed like a child, “Hwaaa…”
Dominic L. Miller quietly watched the plaintiff, who sat there in despair, tears streaming down his face. The expression on his face, his lips loosely parted as if savoring the moment, and his eyes narrowed, even seemed like a smile.
Most wouldn’t believe what they saw, but it was true. In his otherwise boring life, the only time he could truly enjoy feeling alive was now. He felt a faint thrill coursing through his veins, a subtle heat rising in his lower body, but that was it. This meager pleasure was the limit of what he could experience, a truly dull life indeed.
After sitting there for a while, he leisurely rose to his feet when he confirmed that the judge had left and the trial was completely over.
“Mr. Miller, thank you. You truly are the best lawyer in the East, no, in the entire country. The Chairman will be very pleased.”
The client, pushing aside the other lawyers, grasped Dominic’s hand tightly and smiled brightly. Dominic glanced at the few men who had attended the trial as representatives of the company, celebrating with joy, then cast a brief glance at the other lawyers instead of greeting them, and left.
“Mr. Miller, are you leaving already?”
At the client’s question, seeing his departing figure, the other lawyers answered, “Yes.”
“Miller always leaves right after the trial. We can discuss the remaining details.”
“I see…”
The man, still looking at his departing figure with a hint of regret, muttered to himself.
“He seems like a difficult person to get close to.”
“Get close? To Miller? Why? For what?”
The lawyers reacted as if startled, and the man, embarrassed, gave an awkward laugh.
“No, well, it wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
“Well, yes, maybe, but…”
One of the lawyers, looking around cautiously, reluctantly opened his mouth.
“Miller doesn’t build friendships with anyone. He’s never even had a cup of coffee with us, and we work with him.”
“Maybe it’s because he hates people?”
Someone whispered in a small voice. As they exchanged glances as if trying to identify the source, one of them blurted out.
“It’s probably more that he doesn’t want to associate with ordinary people like us, being such a noble ultra-alpha.”
His sarcastic tone was quite rude, but no one pointed it out. In fact, everyone secretly felt the same way.
That man is laughing at everyone but himself.
In the uncomfortable atmosphere that flowed between them, one of the clients stepped forward to change the mood.
“Alright, alright, let’s stop with the useless talk. We’ll head back to the company first. I already told the Chairman the results over the phone, but I need to report to him in person. We’ll proceed with the remaining procedures separately. Thank you all for your hard work.”
“You’re welcome. It’s our job.”
Behind the scene of lawyers and clients mingling, shaking hands, and exchanging pleasantries, the defeated plaintiff sat blankly, staring into the distance. His lawyer was offering words of comfort, but he couldn’t hear them at all. Unable to stop the overflowing tears, he continued to cry.
“I thought releasing pheromones was prohibited in the courtroom?”
At the sudden voice, Dominic, who was walking down the hallway, turned his head. A man with a stubbly chin due to his untrimmed beard grinned and approached him. Dominic turned his head back and continued on his way. The man, almost running to catch up with him, deliberately inhaled the sweet scent that permeated the surroundings and added with a sly smile.
“Well, I guess it’s okay now that the trial is over?”
Dominic didn’t answer and just kept walking. His face still showed no expression, but the man could tell that he was annoyed.
“If you want to talk about the trial, schedule an interview separately.”
At the cold voice, the man confirmed that his guess was correct.
“Oh, no. I saw you win in person, so why would I ask anything more? It’s not that I’m curious about.”
The man deliberately paused before asking.
“I heard that H&J Law Firm is planning to scout you. Are you aware of that?”
He cautiously broached the subject, watching Dominic’s reaction as he continued.
“H&J Law Firm is currently the largest lobbying firm, so they’ll probably offer you a considerable amount of money, right? There are predictions that it’ll be the best offer in the industry.”
His eyes narrowed, and his prying gaze revealed the unwelcome curiosity unique to his profession. Dominic responded briefly in his still-cold tone.
“Well, shouldn’t a reporter confirm that himself?”
The reaction was embarrassingly cold, but the reporter wasn’t fazed at all and instead grinned.
“Isn’t that what I’m doing now?”
Dominic, who had stopped in front of the elevator, looked down at him for the first time. To the reporter, who was looking up with great anticipation, he gave a faint smile and said.
“No comment.”
Ah, a sigh escaped involuntarily. The reporter, showing the limits of his patience, spat out irritably.
“Don’t be like that, tell me. If it’s true, it’s a huge scoop.”
“Since when do reporters confirm facts before writing articles?”
At the question that seemed to mock him, the reporter readily replied.
“From now on.”
He grinned and added.
“I’m going to try from now on.”
Dominic’s handsome eyebrows twitched for a moment. He didn’t seem to like the reporter’s provocation very much, but his only reaction was to exhale a short “Ha.” As if wasting time on such trivial matters was pointless. Just then, the elevator arrived, and Dominic moved his feet as if he had been waiting for it. Even from beyond the closing doors, the reporter didn’t give up and shouted.
“If you ever have something to report, feel free to contact me anytime!”
The doors closed as soon as he finished speaking. With that, the reporter let out a deep sigh and slumped his shoulders.
“You did pretty well against that arrogant man.”
A man in the same industry spoke to him as he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a muscle ache. When he turned his head, he saw a group of reporters looking at him. Knowing that they had all been watching him being thoroughly ignored just now, even he, who was known for his thick skin, couldn’t help but blush.
“I’d say that was a good defense.”
At someone’s encouragement, another man said.
“Yeah, I was worried you might get strangled.”
“Hey, we’re still inside the courthouse.”
When the reporter pointed it out with a jest, someone else replied.
“But that man is capable of anything, isn’t he?”
“There’s nothing impossible for ultra-alphas.”
Following the agreeing voices, another voice added.
“That man has killed someone, I’m serious.”
At the words whispered deliberately in a low voice, someone else asked.
“A reporter? Or someone else?”
“Either one.”
His ears perked up for a moment, but the reporter shook his head.
“Why bother? He can do it legally, right?”
Dominic L. Miller could imprison someone for life, or even lead them to the death penalty. There’s no need to get his hands dirty. Moreover, he wouldn’t bother with such a troublesome thing against a reporter who chases scandals.
“Ultra-alphas are narcissists, right? They value themselves so much that they don’t easily commit acts that harm others, unless they’ve thoroughly calculated what kind of negative impact it would have on them.”
Everyone fell silent at someone’s words. There could be no disagreement. It was such an obvious fact. More than that, one of them changed the subject and said.
“Shall we bet on whether Miller will go to another law firm or not?”
Screech, the violinist made a jarring sound. Then, as if trying to quickly bury the sound, those who had grabbed other instruments hurriedly began to play music.
Amidst this, a man lightly raised his hand to a passing waiter, beckoning him to approach, then selected a champagne glass from the tray and gestured as if toasting towards those gathered.
“For another victory.”
“Congratulations, Miller.”
A woman standing next to him smiled elegantly and added a word. At the following words, Dominic gave a stereotyped smile and nodded briefly.
“Thank you.”
“Everyone thought this trial would be quite difficult.”
At someone’s words, the woman who had first offered congratulations blinked her eyes as if feigning surprise.
“Really? I didn’t think so at all. Miller losing a trial? That’s impossible, isn’t it?”
“Th-that’s right, haha.”
The man who had spoken earlier gave an awkward laugh and glanced at Dominic. He seemed inwardly anxious that he might have offended him, but Dominic himself was not at all interested in their conversation. Seeing him quietly tilting his champagne glass, the man hurriedly changed the subject and asked.
“Has everyone decided who to support in this election? There’s a fundraising party coming up soon…”
Dominic let the continuous stream of words flow in one ear and out the other as he slowly surveyed the party venue. As always, it was an extremely boring gathering. It was a charity party in name only, but the real intention was to pretend to build friendships while sniffing around like hyenas for some good money-making opportunity. He was getting tired of the conversations that seemed to be quickly exploring which politician’s election would benefit them.
Should I just go back?
“Now…”
He was about to open his mouth to give a simple greeting when suddenly someone bumped into his back with a thud. The unexpected impact caused Dominic to stagger and spill the champagne he was holding.
“Ah.”
A short, almost scream-like exclamation was heard from below. The first thought that came to Dominic’s mind as he unconsciously embraced the swaying body was, ‘Light.’ The feeling of emptiness in his arms made him frown as he looked down, and he met the eyes of a man who had just raised his head.
The man had light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was probably of average height for a man, but because Dominic was over 2 meters tall, he didn’t even reach his shoulders.
His body was slender, and his limbs were long, reminiscent of a ballet doll, and he slowly blinked his eyes. Ah, the moment a sigh-like exclamation escaped from his slightly parted lips, all the noise of the world that had been tormenting his ears disappeared.
It was only a fleeting moment of a few seconds, but he felt an eternity as if time had stopped. Because of that, when the man in his arms moved his eyebrows as if embarrassed, the noise suddenly rushed in, and time began to flow breathlessly, even making him feel slightly dizzy.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Dominic straightened up, apologizing. The warmth he had felt instead of weight vanished instantly, leaving only emptiness. Dominic glanced at his empty arms before slowly shifting his gaze. The man’s clear sky-blue eyes, not even reaching his shoulder, were looking up at him.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going…”
Offering a polite smile, he took out a handkerchief and reached towards Dominic. Dominic wordlessly pushed away the hand that was extended as if to wipe the stain from his suit. As he looked down at the man, who paused and blinked, he suddenly felt annoyed by everything.
“It’s fine.”
“Ah, excuse me.”
Just as he was about to leave, the man called out to him again from behind. Dominic tried to ignore him and walk away, but the man quickly caught up and offered something. Dominic glanced down at the small piece of paper, and the man said to him.
“I’d like to compensate you for dirtying your suit. Please contact me.”
It was clear he was trying to give him his business card, but Dominic paid it no mind. Instead of accepting the thin paper, he stared at the man’s face and asked.
“Compensate?”
“Yes.”
The man smiled at Dominic, who slowly repeated the word.
“Dry cleaning, or even a new suit if you need it.”
The corners of Dominic’s mouth slowly twisted.
“You’re going to give me money? To me?”
He wasn’t smiling at all, but his eyes were full of contempt. Dominic, seeing the man falter for a moment, lost interest and left. The man didn’t follow him anymore. But he knew very well that he was watching his back.