By Zephyria The announcement of Director Kwon Young-ho’s personnel transfer was posted. The official announcement caused a stir, but it soon died down.
Originally, a company was a socialized jungle, and the fight for the throne was bound to be fierce. Even the most ferocious beast would tuck its tail and run away if it suffered a fatal wound; that was the law of the jungle.
The other beast that won the fight was relentlessly displaying his usual meticulousness, continuing the long meeting. The regular meeting of the Strategic Planning Headquarters, which had been postponed due to the emergency board meeting, was already in its fourth hour.
“Next is the Global Strategy Team, right? Tell them to come in right away.”
Executive Director Kwon hadn’t even ruffled his breath during that long time. Each team was given approximately 40 minutes to an hour. Reports were made with a tightrope-walking tension, and document reviews requiring a high degree of concentration were conducted simultaneously.
The new recruit, who was taking minutes next to him, had long since glazed over. Even Kim Hui-won, who was watching, felt drained, but only Kwon Young-je maintained a pristine appearance.
His stamina is really something…. Hui-won couldn’t even suggest a five-minute break and immediately called in the Team leader of the Global Strategy Team, who was waiting.
People with stiff expressions entered the conference room. Hui-won knew that an Omega was mixed among the four reporting members. As he quickly scanned, a face with flushed cheeks came into his view. Was he very nervous? Why is his face so red?
At the same time as the doubtful thought arose, the pheromone purifiers installed in both corners began to spin with a fierce noise. The soaring pH level proved how thick the pheromones were in this space right now.
The noise emitted by the machine caused a moment of silence in the conference room. The embarrassed Team leader of the Global Strategy Team gestured to the employee in question.
“Min-young, maybe you should step out for a moment…”
“It’s okay. Let’s just proceed,”
Kwon Young-je stopped him with a dry tone. As if he had no interest in pheromones, he twirled the fountain pen in his hand and kept his eyes fixed on the report that the Team leader had submitted earlier.
“Ah… I don’t know if that’s okay.”
While the Team leader rolled his eyes, Hui-won was diligently moving around the conference room, trying to manage the situation. He switched the pheromone deodorant, which was being sprayed according to the set cycle, to constant discharge and increased the output of the internal ventilation system.
Kwon Young-je’s expression remained unchanged. In the past, he would have thrown out a ruthless expulsion order, but now he was reacting as if he didn’t care at all about such strong Omega pheromones.
The rumor was true; it was widely known that Executive Director Kwon, who was famous for being picky, had become much more tolerant of Omega pheromones. Seeing the changed appearance firsthand confirmed that the rumor was true.
The employees were able to attend the meeting with more peace of mind, and Kwon Young-je led the conversation with the same neat appearance as before. Only Secretary Kim, standing like a fixture in the corner, kept his nerves on edge, observing his superior’s complexion and breathing.
“Then we will prepare without any setbacks.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Finally, the long relay meeting was over. Relief was evident in those who left the conference room, and those who remained finally let out a short, tired sigh.
“Everyone worked hard. Let’s go back now.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Executive Director.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Hui-won approached the new recruit, who was neatly organizing the cluttered desk, and said casually.
“Secretary Choi, take your laptop and go up first.”
“Ah… I haven’t finished cleaning up here yet.”
“It’s okay, I’ll take care of the rest, so go and organize the minutes first. So the Executive Director can see them right away.”
When the new recruit nodded with a dazed expression, Hui-won gave a friendly smile and patted his hunched back.
Before long, even the new recruit left the conference room, and the interior, which had been crowded with people, suddenly became chilly. Hui-won put everything else aside and checked on Kwon Young-je first.
As if a headache he had been holding back was rushing in, he was frowning deeply. Hui-won carefully approached the man who was cooling his forehead with the back of his hand and handed him the headache medicine he had prepared in advance.
“Executive Director, should I cancel the rest of your schedule?”
“…Let’s rest for ten minutes before going up.”
As soon as the answer came out, a weary sigh also escaped. Kwon Young-je straightened his head, which he had tilted back, and poured the headache medicine into his mouth first. Even swallowing the bottled water was quite irritable. Hui-won watched the scene with concern.
Others may think he’s gotten better, but the reality is that he’s just stubbornly enduring it. How could the neurosis that has been eating away at him for so long disappear overnight?
Still, the way he endures it is commendable. If he perseveres like this, Kwon Young-je will be fine someday. Hui-won continued to finish cleaning up with a lighter heart.
* * *
That evening, a regular traitology checkup was scheduled. The two, who had booked appointments with the same doctor on the same day, visited the hospital as an extension of their work.
Kwon Young-je, who had finished his interview with Professor Hong earlier, was told that he was healthier than healthy and full of vigor, and was even advised to date. Of course, he didn’t listen to it at all.
Then it was Hui-won’s turn. He had caused a pheromone shock not long ago, so he faced Professor Hong with a rather nervous face. While she slowly read the results, Hui-won’s eyes stretched out like a flounder as he looked at Kwon Young-je, who was sitting on a sofa in one corner of the examination room.
He was only looking at his laptop with an attitude that he had no interest in other people’s affairs, but he was a human being who made him nervous just by his presence. Hui-won glared again, but Kwon Young-je thoroughly avoided his gaze and focused on his own work.
Of course, the examination room may be more comfortable than the waiting room outside, but it is still a personal examination. All he can do is laugh at the reality of having thrown his privacy to the dogs.
“Have you ever felt unstable since then? How have you been feeling lately?”
Suddenly, Professor Hong asked a question, and Hui-won’s head returned to its place. He didn’t realize that Executive Director Kwon’s gaze was also focused on him and pondered over his memories.
“…I don’t know of anything particularly uncomfortable.”
“Do you sleep well at night? Have you ever had your heart beat fast for no reason, or have you ever felt numbness in your body?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Is Kwon Young-je’s pheromone helpful?”
The answers that had been coming out so well stopped. Are you asking that in front of the person in question?
But Professor Hong had a look on her face as if there was nothing wrong. In the end, he gave up and gave an answer to the question that was strictly based on her role as a doctor.
“…Yes, quite.”
“That’s good. I was going to prescribe medicine if Hui-won’s condition wasn’t good, but I don’t think I need to. Keep using him often, that guy.”
The ‘that guy’ she was referring to openly snorted behind her. It was a laugh that was almost sarcastic, but Professor Hong continued to speak without paying attention.
“Heat cycle, about three months left? You know you have to prepare for it, right?”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Kim Hui-won will know as much as an expert in this field, but since it’s something you’re experiencing, you’ll need time to think carefully. It’s not good to just bring anyone and make them your partner, right? You’ll need to prepare yourself mentally.”
“Um… Professor.”
Hui-won couldn’t stand it anymore and raised his right hand. With a stinging gaze on his back, he secretly asked a question.
“Is it impossible to use suppressants after all?”
“I think I told you last time that it’s not good?”
“Still… everyone has their own circumstances.”
Even if he accepts that he is an Omega, experiencing heat is not something he can easily relate to. When he first heard it from Professor Hong, it felt like someone else’s business, but as the time drew closer, he realized that it was not something he could simply ignore.
Professor Hong’s face, which had always responded with a smile and been kind to Hui-won’s words, immediately turned cold. The eyes behind her glasses shot up, and she glared at Kim Hui-won and Kwon Young-je, who was sitting behind him.
“Why don’t these people ever listen to me?”
“Professor, that’s not it, I was just wondering if it was possible.”
“What happened to the human who lived on suppressants every rut? You saw it with your own eyes, and you’re still saying that?”
“……”
“I wouldn’t say anything if you were lacking in looks. Why are you guys with such handsome faces holding back?! Are you germaphobes?! Did you catch a disease that kills you if you have sex?”