By Zephyria 
Twenty minutes later, Kwon Young-je, having finished his conversation, drew back the curtain and appeared first. As soon as he came out, he looked for Kim Hui-won, who was standing in front.
“Secretary Kim, about next Wednesday’s schedule….”
He was giving instructions as usual, but stopped talking for a moment when he saw Hui-won.
Hui-won was puzzled by this, but said nonchalantly.
“Yes, Executive Director Kwon. Please, go on.”
“…Did anything happen while I was away?”
“Nothing happened. Ah, the Hanbit Medical Foundation came to greet you, Executive Director. Kim Hyun-shik, the administrator, I believe.”
“……”
He was acting brazenly, but Kwon Young-je could see that Hui-won’s face had turned pale. In fact, it was such a subtle change that others wouldn’t have noticed, but Kwon Young-je’s keen eyes caught it.
He sighed briefly and swept back his hair. Didn’t he expect this to happen? It was fortunate that Secretary Kim wasn’t a weak-willed person.
“Kim Hyun-shik, the administrator? Was there anyone else?”
“…He was the only one who came to see you, Executive Director.”
So, there were other riffraff as well. That figures. Kwon Young-je could easily predict what had happened in his absence.
This was just the beginning. It was a shame, but there wasn’t much he could do to help. It was a problem he had to bear himself. Just like right now.
Still, he deserved praise for maintaining his composure without losing his posture. He had even offered Kim Hui-won the position of executive secretary because he liked this boldness. And even now, much later, he felt that the choice had not been wrong.
“Let’s go. We can finish the conversation on the way.”
It wasn’t exactly a reward, but it seemed best to get Kim Hui-won out of this place today.
When he ordered them to leave without hesitation, Hui-won showed a rare sign of embarrassment.
“The event has only been going on for an hour.”
“I can tell time too.”
“If we leave like this, there will definitely be gossip.”
“When have I ever cared about that?”
Executive Director Kwon strode ahead, leaving Hui-won far behind. Hui-won had to hurry to catch up with him. It was impossible to know what was on Executive Director Kwon’s mind, no matter how hard anyone tried.
Inside the smoothly descending elevator, Hui-won leaned his head, which felt like it was about to crack, against the cold wall. The cool temperature made him feel a little better.
He couldn’t understand why Executive Director Kwon was leaving before the event was over, but honestly, he was relieved. Even though he had come prepared, it was still difficult to endure. If he had stayed there any longer, he might have been bedridden tomorrow. His limbs were already throbbing with tension.
Hui-won closed his eyes to give his strained eyeballs a rest. He took a deep breath to calm his queasy stomach, and then he felt a subtle scent.
Strangely enough, the scent was relieving his tension. Hui-won inhaled again. The scent of crushed green grass and lemons quietly soothed his troubled stomach. The bitter yet luxurious smell kept drawing Hui-won in.
As he sniffed the scent, his foot took a step to the side. When his shoulder bumped against a firm upper arm, Hui-won froze, his nose still twitching. If he was this surprised, what about Kwon Young-je?
“…What?”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing right now?”
A cold gaze, devoid of mercy, was fixed on Hui-won’s face.
“……”
What should he say? He had to say something, anything, quickly, before this silence turned into a disaster.
“You smell nice.”
“……”
“Bergamot, right? It’s often used in perfumes. You don’t need to wear perfume, Executive Director. Haha, well, you don’t usually wear it, but….”
Shut up, Kim Hui-won. Please shut up.
His head and mouth were acting separately. While he was rambling, Kwon Young-je’s eyes became even more menacing. He wasn’t swearing, but he was looking down on him as if he were vermin.
“…I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well, so I’m not in my right mind.”
In the end, he confessed that he was crazy and crawled back to his corner. He wished he could dig a hole and keep crawling, but the elevator inevitably arrived at the lobby floor.
In the car on the way back, Hui-won sat in the passenger seat and quietly picked up his phone. He thought about the situation that had just happened, but couldn’t figure out the cause. In times like these, he definitely needed an expert’s opinion.
[Professor Hong, I just sniffed Executive Director Kwon’s pheromones. Should I go to a psychiatrist or a traitology doctor?]
He sent a text message to Professor Hong and clenched his phone tightly. This wasn’t a problem to just brush over. He desperately hoped that there would be a solution, whatever it might be.
It was an hour later that Professor Hong contacted him. Hui-won, exhausted, had collapsed on the sofa without even changing his clothes. He jumped up as if he had been shot when he heard the long ringing of the phone.
“Yes, Professor.”
Hui-won, I have a question for you.
“Yes, please tell me.”
What exactly did you feel when you smelled Kwon Young-je’s pheromones?
Um… that’s… Hui-won groped for his memories. It would be too embarrassing to start by saying that it was good, so he explained in detail what had happened at the event today and how it had affected his physical condition.
So, to summarize what you’re saying, you felt comfortable after smelling Kwon Young-je’s pheromones?
“If you put it that way, I guess so… but it’s not like I had any other intentions.”
You don’t have to be so defensive. It’s natural.
Professor Hong’s laughter could be heard over the speaker. Hui-won adjusted his grip on the phone and listened to her.
You were stressed out today because of Alpha pheromones. Kwon Young-je’s pheromones would have naturally acted as a tranquilizer. The more you trust and are close to someone, the more comfortable their pheromones will feel. Like family, for example?
“Ah….”
So, it’s not strange at all. Look at Kwon Young-je, too. He endures your pheromones, doesn’t he? He’s the same.
“So, I’m not crazy….”
No, you’re normal.
Haa, Hui-won covered his forehead and exhaled. Thank you, Professor…. He mumbled in a faint voice, and Professor Hong laughed loudly again.
You must be having a hard time. In other cases, I would prescribe some medicine, but your case is a bit special. Are they all out of their minds? What are they going to do if they use pheromones as a means of attack like that! Does Kwon Young-je know about this?
“I haven’t told him… and there’s no reason to tell him. I can handle it, so it’s okay.”
What if something happens? I’ll talk to Kwon Young-je. It’s too inhumane to just endure it like this when there’s no suitable medicine. At least, if he’s going to take someone he doesn’t like as his secretary, he should take responsibility. I don’t know if he’ll even answer my call, though. He ignores my calls all the time….
After the short call with Professor Hong, Hui-won lay back down on the sofa. It was his first official schedule since returning to work. It was quite the initiation ceremony.
If I weren’t an Alpha, I wouldn’t have been able to endure it in that place. It’s also fortunate that Kwon Young-je’s pheromones have a calming effect….
“Good job, you did well.”
Hui-won praised himself for standing firm and then pulled his tie loose. Ah, I really hate this. I have to go to work again tomorrow after I sleep.
After complaining like any other office worker, he went to take a shower.
* * *
After watching Kwon Young-je get into the back seat after finishing a meeting outside, Hui-won also got into the driver’s seat. With a thud, the door closed, blocking out the outside noise, and only a quiet silence flowed inside the car.
Hui-won pulled the seat belt and glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror. Kwon Young-je was already holding a tablet and had entered work mode.
“Executive Director, how would you like to have dinner?”
It was already half past two. The meeting had taken longer than expected, and it was long past lunchtime.
Kwon Young-je, who was scanning the screen, raised his head slightly. He gestured to Hui-won, who was reflected in the rearview mirror, and answered insincerely.
“Stop by somewhere suitable on the way.”
Where would be good…? Hui-won tapped the steering wheel lightly with his fingers and pondered. He began to recall Kwon Young-je’s recent eating patterns. There had been many gatherings at Korean and Chinese restaurants… It seemed like it was about time for a Western food cooldown?
Hui-won leaned his upper body and showed his face towards the back seat.
“How about pasta?”