By Zephyria 
Kwon Young-je sat down and immediately scanned the documents the lawyer handed him. It was all there: a notice of content, a diagnosis from the hospital, and several images attached.
“Kim Sun-yul, a researcher affiliated with the R&D center.”
“He’s an Omega, Executive Director Kwon.”
“I know. I’m not illiterate.”
Kwon Young-je spoke sharply. His gaze was no different. He meticulously scrutinized the contents of the documents, not wanting to miss a single detail. The more he read, the more absurd it became.
The person who declared he would sue Kwon Young-je for insult was an employee of the research center. He didn’t quite remember him, but as he read the contents of the documents, he vaguely recalled. It was the Omega who had caused a commotion about pheromones during a meeting before.
“The other party claims to be on leave due to the mental shock from the last incident and is suffering from severe trauma ever since.”
“Usually, a lawsuit would have been filed immediately in such cases, but they sent a notice of content first? That’s not a typical move, is it?”
At the blatant sarcasm, the lawyer covered his mouth with his fist and cleared his throat.
“Executive Director… I hope you’ll take this a little more seriously.”
“He took leave a week ago. And received the hospital opinion around the same time.”
Kwon Young-je slowly flipped through the documents again. A deep suspicion settled in his eyes as he examined the contents.
“Why was he quiet all this time, and now he’s suddenly struggling and talking about insult?”
“In my opinion… it seems like there’s someone supporting Kim Sun-yul from behind, rather than it being his own will.”
“I think so too.”
The content the other party raised, as if they had been grinding their teeth and preparing, had no flaws. The notice of content reeked of being ghostwritten by an expert, and the opinion from the psychiatry department also played a part. Anxiety, depression, shame, even eating disorders. It seemed like they had crammed in all the symptoms they could.
The backrest of the chair tilted back. Kwon Young-je tapped the documents with his fingertips, pondering for a moment. Someone who knows the company’s internal affairs, someone who can easily approach employees, someone who is desperate to screw him over—the candidates are quickly narrowed down. Kwon Young-ho must be up to his usual tricks.
“Most of the witnesses saw the situation at the time, and above all, the email the other party attached as evidence is decisive. ‘Please be careful not to let Omega pheromones leak out.’ This is a very problematic statement.”
The lawyer emphasized the phrase in the email. It was Secretary Kim who wrote it. It didn’t seem like a big deal. Because it was Kwon Young-je who ordered it.
“If that’s the case, it feels like several people should mention insult to me every day.”
“…….”
“What do they want?”
The lawyer straightened his posture and spoke cautiously.
“They’re demanding a settlement of thirty million won.”
“…….”
“Of course, we can sufficiently refute it. If we submit a diagnosis for the Executive Director’s neurosis, it will establish that there was no intention to insult.”
“So you’re saying I should reveal that I’m mentally ill myself.”
Kwon Young-ho’s intention was immediately clear. To reveal the fact that he obsessively rejects Omega pheromones. This was the same as telling Kwon Young-je to publicly display that he has a major flaw as an Alpha.
It might be different for other companies, but Apex is a trait-specialized pharmaceutical company. The fact that a person who should lead the company rejects Omega pheromones was not a flaw to be taken lightly.
The Chairman’s trust in him was already at rock bottom due to the leak of confidential information, and if this additional misfortune were added, Kwon Young-je’s future would be bleak. His worries were deepening.
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to avoid a lawsuit as much as possible?”
“If we settle, is there a guarantee that this won’t happen again?”
If a precedent is set, everyone will try to get a settlement, and Kwon Young-je would obviously be on an even worse path than he is now.
“Executive Director, how about fixing it this time? We can’t help what’s already happened, but for the future….”
The lawyer, as if it were a brilliant idea, advised Kwon Young-je to try to cure his pheromone neurosis.
“…….”
Kwon Young-je couldn’t answer easily. He also knew that the lawyer’s suggestion was the only solution. However, he couldn’t give a definite answer as to whether he could overcome his neurosis.
Long fingers tapped the desk regularly. The eyes looking down at the smooth surface of the desk were more deeply submerged than ever.
Kim Hui-won was the only Omega pheromone he could tolerate. Unlike others, he could allow Kim Hui-won to be a little closer.
He chuckled. Out of so many choices, why Kim Hui-won of all people? It had only been a few days since he had experienced something close to humiliation. He was dumbfounded by the fact that he was thinking of him as the answer.
He shouldn’t make a decision rashly. He meticulously weighed the problems he would face and the benefits he could gain when he kept Kim Hui-won by his side.
The weight soon tilted to one side. Kwon Young-je let out a heavy sigh.
In the end, it seems there’s no other way but to bring him back.
* * *
Hui-won, who was quietly reading a book at home, raised his head at the sudden sound of the doorbell. It was an odd ring, as he wasn’t expecting anyone.
He got up, supporting himself on the sofa, and headed to the living room wall. As soon as he saw Kwon Young-je on the small intercom screen, he blurted out, “Ugh! What now!”
Knock, knock, knock. The impatient visitor even knocked on the front door. Hui-won snapped out of it and hurried over. When he opened the door, Kwon Young-je standing outside became even clearer, proving that he wasn’t mistaken.
Hui-won suppressed his flustered feelings and drew out the kindest tone he could muster.
“…Executive Director, what brings you here?”
“I have something to talk about. Can you spare some time?”
“Just a moment.”
As he was about to put on his slippers and go out, Kwon Young-je grabbed Hui-won’s shoulder and pushed him back in. And he himself stepped into the entrance.
Thud, the front door closed behind Kwon Young-je. Unlike the dumbfounded Hui-won, Kwon Young-je said with a nonchalant face.
“It’s not something to talk about outside.”
What is it, what is it?
Kwon Young-je probably doesn’t know that the more brazen he is, the more anxious Hui-won becomes.
He wanted to shout, ‘Don’t make people anxious, just throw out the main point and leave,’ but he wasn’t drunk now, so he couldn’t dare to stand up to Kwon Young-je. Hui-won hesitantly cleared the way in a half-abandoned state.
Fortunately, the house was clean without any messy corners. However, the pheromones that permeated the air were something Hui-won couldn’t help.
Glancing at him, he could see that Kwon Young-je’s complexion had turned pale. Nevertheless, he was pretending to be okay, wearing a calm expression. Hui-won sighed inwardly and moved. Only after opening all the windows in the living room did he stand in front of Kwon Young-je.
Kwon Young-je, who was already sitting on the sofa, even crossed his legs as if it were his own home. Standing in front of him in a formal posture, it looked like Executive Director Kwon and Secretary Kim no matter how you looked at it. Hui-won slipped his hands into his pants pockets.
“What did you want to say?”
“Did you decide to use honorifics again?”
When he brought up the last incident out of the blue, Hui-won rolled his eyes. His gaze, with nowhere to go, stuck to the tips of his toes. His white toes seemed to be wriggling, unable to bear the embarrassment.
“No, that’s… I was a little heated at the time.”
“Come back to work.”
“…Excuse me?”
Hui-won immediately asked back. Kwon Young-je, who was staring at him, didn’t have a hint of alcohol on him, and he was the same arrogant person as usual.
He couldn’t ask why he was saying such crazy things, so he just stared blankly at Kwon Young-je’s face.
“I said come back to work.”
“Executive Director, I’m sorry, but… do you have amnesia?”
“…….”
The gaze that shot back was fierce. But that’s the situation. Why would you bother to come and repeat a story that’s already over? Hui-won couldn’t understand at all and only blinked.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t promise to take responsibility for Secretary Kim’s life. No matter how I think about it, I can’t do that.”
Of course, you can’t. Hui-won knew it wouldn’t work, but he just threw it out there. It was to make him realize that his reinstatement was a difficult task.
Rather, he was horrified by the fact that he had seriously considered it. Hui-won clutched his pounding heart.
Kwon Young-je’s gaze slowly rose. He stared straight at Hui-won and said.
“Instead, I’ll give you the Samhwa Building.”
“Excuse me?”
Samhwa Building? The 12-story building in the ultra-prime location?
The building was one of the most valuable properties Kwon Young-je owned. He heard that Chairman Kwon had pre-gifted it as a legacy to commemorate his manifestation as a Dominant Alpha.
Hui-won asked, beyond confusion and in utter shock.
“You’re… giving that to me? Are you out of your mind?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Kwon Young-je covered his mouth as if he couldn’t believe it himself. He couldn’t hear the sound, but he must be sighing.
“That’s how much I need Secretary Kim. To be exact, it has to be Secretary Kim.”
Kwon Young-je told him in a calm voice about the recent threats he had received.
The more he heard, the angrier he became, and Hui-won clenched his fists and trembled. He knew that Kwon Young-ho was a cunning person, but still, to go this far? He couldn’t hide his anger even though it wasn’t his business.
“That’s really too much.”
“There’s no need to get angry. Kwon Young-ho’s level is only that much.”
“…I’m not angry.”
Kwon Young-je let out a deflated laugh. Hui-won made an effort to turn his gaze away and coughed softly, feeling like his inner thoughts were being read by the eyes that stood at the top of people’s heads.
“So, you’re really giving it to me? You won’t regret it?”
“Instead, stay by my side until I tell you to quit. That’s my condition.”
“…….”
“Aren’t you tired of arguing about contract issues? I’ll give you enough wealth to live on for the rest of your life, so work as my secretary comfortably.”
Not comfortable at all. It feels like I’ll be serving you until I die.
How many more years can I live? It’s the age of 100, so at least 70 years…. Wow, that’s a long way off. Besides, Kwon Young-je seemed like he would be healthy even as a white-haired grandfather.
But the conditions Kwon Young-je presented were so strong that they ruthlessly crushed Hui-won’s worries. A building owner in the Gangnam station area… amazing unearned income… how can I refuse this?
“How much is the market price of the Samhwa Building?”
“It’ll be about 30 billion won.”
It was a ridiculous amount. In fact, Hui-won was grinning without realizing it.
“I never thought you’d give that to me.”
“I’ll admit it. That’s how important Secretary Kim is.”
Hui-won’s lips twitched again at the confession he readily spat out. Of course, he quickly straightened his expression when Kwon Young-je’s eyes turned fierce.
Kwon Young-je leaned his head against the back of the sofa with his brows furrowed. He ruffled his well-groomed hair with his fingers and said.
“Never sell it, it’ll go up more in the future.”
“What if I just take the building and run away?”
Kwon Young-je, who was leaning back loosely, quietly raised his eyes. The gaze that looked at Hui-won’s face was quite intense.
“That won’t happen.”
It was an answer filled with absolute trust.
Kwon Young-je knew Kim Hui-won too well, and because he trusted him completely, he readily offered to hand over his building.
“…….”
The heart was so transparently visible that Hui-won bit his lip without a word. In the face of trust that he could never treat carelessly, the resolve he had worked so hard to regain was about to waver.