By Zephyria Kwon Young-je had a personal schedule after work and left separately. As he entered a wine bar in Sinsa-dong, several men who recognized him waved.
“You said you’d be late, but you’re here early?”
“Executive Director Kwon must be busy these days.”
“You look good for someone who’s so busy?”
His face was full of welcome. These were all Kwon Young-je’s close friends. They all had good families, decent jobs, and easygoing personalities. Having built friendships over a long time, they knew each other well.
They met at least every three or four months, and Kwon Young-je usually attended unless he had unavoidable commitments. As always, he received the attention directed at him with an indifferent expression.
“No alcohol for me.”
“I already heard the rumor that you entertained Assemblyman Myung yesterday.”
“That must have been tough. That guy likes to play dirty.”
His good-natured friends, concerned about Kwon Young-je, didn’t insist on him drinking. They cleared his empty glass and ordered sparkling water instead of wine. Adding one more person to the mature gathering made it feel more solid.
“Young-je, Suk-joon said he had something to ask you when you came.”
As someone brought it up, Kim Suk-joon, the third son of Hanyoung Corporation, sitting next to him, gave an awkward laugh.
“What is it?”
Kwon Young-je moistened his dry lips with sparkling water. He only glanced at Suk-joon, who smoothed his short sideburns and hesitated in an uncharacteristic way.
“That… your Secretary Kim.”
As Suk-joon spoke with difficulty, the others at the table began to shake their shoulders in unison. They had already been talking about it before Kwon Young-je arrived, making it hard to suppress their laughter.
“Secretary Kim, what about him?”
“…Didn’t he come with you today?”
Kwon Young-je’s eyebrows arched at the sudden question. His friends weren’t fazed by that expression, having seen it many times before.
“He went home.”
“Ah… Oh, I see. I was wondering if he was nearby.”
Suk-joon’s attitude was very strange. He had always greeted Secretary Kim warmly, but he wasn’t one to look for him when he wasn’t around.
Kwon Young-je’s brow furrowed immediately, sensing that everyone except him knew something. What could it be? He slowly ran his tongue along the inside of his lip, and one of the quick-witted guys added an explanation.
“Suk-joon wants to meet Secretary Kim. He’s liked him for a while.”
“Hey! Why are you saying it so directly?”
“I felt like I was going to suffocate. Why are you being so hesitant when you’re not even a virgin?”
Loud laughter erupted around the table. Only Kwon Young-je remained silent, not laughing.
“……”
“Secretary Kim is alright. I saw him in passing a while ago, and his vibe seemed to have changed.”
“In a good way? Or a bad way?”
“Positively. I don’t know if it’s because I’m conscious of him being an Omega, but… anyway, he feels different?”
“Oh, is it like an pheromone effect? Well, he always had a decent face. I thought Young-je hired him based on his looks at first.”
Except for Suk-joon, the rest of them were all Betas. They were evaluating Kim Hui-won solely on his appearance, regardless of pheromones.
Kwon Young-je remained silent. He thought the bitter taste in his mouth was from the sparkling water he had just drunk. He reached for the wine bottle, thinking it would be better to drink alcohol.
“Young-je, are you okay with working with him?”
“It’s the same. What’s different?”
“You used to hate Omegas. Looks like you’re changing too.”
“It’s a good thing for Young-je. It was the only flaw he couldn’t overcome. There was so much talk about it because of that.”
He didn’t voice that he still found the pheromones of other Omegas disgusting. Even if they were close friends, it wasn’t something to gossip about.
Besides, only Kim Hui-won is okay? Anyone would misunderstand.
“So, Mr. Kim Suk-joon. We’ve set the stage for you. Are you just going to sit there?”
The conversation circled back to Suk-joon. Looking embarrassed, Suk-joon cleared his throat for no reason.
“…Can you call him out for a bit? If it’s difficult, I can see him next time.”
Kwon Young-je took a sip of wine, his keen eyes studying Suk-joon.
A third-year fellow in pediatrics. Kim Suk-joon, an Alpha and even handsome, had a clean personal life, making him a perfect person to introduce to someone.
Here was a decent man. He was even interested in Kim Hui-won.
With all the conditions met, he couldn’t readily say yes. Feeling an unknown torment, Kwon Young-je bit his tongue and said,
“Well, isn’t it too late?”
“Hey, it’s only eleven. When haven’t you called someone out in the early morning?”
“Suk-joon brought it up with difficulty. At least pretend to try.”
As people chimed in from here and there, Suk-joon stopped his friends, looking embarrassed. But when he glanced at Kwon Young-je, his eyes unconsciously held expectation.
“I’ll ask.”
Having no choice, he took out the phone he had put in his jacket pocket. He tapped on the conversation window with Hui-won at the top of the message list. The last conversation was just fifteen minutes ago.
[Secretary Kim]
The message was marked as read as soon as he sent it. As if he was always on standby.
It was outside of work hours, so he could have taken his time, but he was unnecessarily diligent and quick.
Kim Hui-won Secretary
[Yes, Executive Director. Is there something you need?]
Hui-won asked about his business first, as he had called him without saying anything. He stared at the message and slowly moved his thumb.
[Are you home?]
Kim Hui-won Secretary
[I can leave right away. Should I go to the wine bar you took me to earlier?]
If you have time, come out for a bit. There’s someone I want to introduce you to
His hand stopped as he was typing the message. Kwon Young-je watched the blinking cursor and erased what he had written with effort.
[You don’t have to come in person. Have Driver Jung on standby.]
He immediately received a reply saying he would. After confirming that, Kwon Young-je put his phone back in his jacket. Obvious gazes were directed at him. Everyone was waiting for his words.
“He has a personal matter, so it’s difficult today.”
“Ah… that’s too bad.”
“I know. Suk-joon wouldn’t have a chance to meet him otherwise. Well, I guess it’s not meant to be.”
“Maybe there will be another chance next time. Thanks anyway, Young-je.”
Suk-joon smiled and offered his wine glass. The clinking glasses made a clear sound.
Kwon Young-je drank the wine like water, desperately trying to find justification for what he had just done. But the answer was always the same. His lips parted, and a self-deprecating laugh escaped.
He didn’t want to show Secretary Kim. How could this be?
* * *
It was mid-September, a time when the late summer heat was still raging.
He had an overseas business trip scheduled after a long time. The destination was Japan. It was a short, one-night, two-day trip.
Chairman Kwon had been showing great interest in ‘Novagen,’ a drug developed by Fujino Pharmaceuticals, since the end of last year, and thanks to his long-standing efforts, he was able to secure a License In agreement with Fujino Pharmaceuticals.
This trip was to finalize the signing of the contract. The major conditions had been carefully considered over several months, so he was able to board the plane with peace of mind.
This time, Secretary Song, who was fluent in Japanese, was also accompanying him. She looked quite nervous, as it was her first business trip with Executive Director Kwon. In the meantime, she was wide-eyed, turning her head this way and that, saying it was her first time in first class.
“Secretary Song, do you like first class?”
“I love it so much. How can the seats be so wide?”
“Do you want to go on the next business trip with me too? Preferably a long-distance one.”
Ah… that’s a bit much, Secretary Song said, genuinely showing her reluctance. Hui-won laughed and took Secretary Song’s carrier instead. As he put the luggage on the shelf, she bowed politely, thanking him.
The first-class cabin, where preparations for takeoff were in full swing, had passengers sitting sparsely. Hui-won sat next to Secretary Song, closely watching Executive Director Kwon, who was sitting alone. He was busy reviewing the legal clauses until the very end.
“General manager, I won’t make any mistakes, will I?”
When he suddenly heard a trembling voice next to him, Hui-won turned his head. Secretary Song was repeatedly bending and stretching her fingers, stiff with tension.
“Secretary Song always does well.”
“Still, it’s my first time in a place like this…”
“I’m the one who’s worried. I’ll probably just be watching the whole time.”
Hui-won hardly spoke Japanese. Just simple greetings. In contrast, Executive Director Kwon was fluent in business conversation, and Secretary Song had lived in Japan, so she was almost like a native speaker.
One was nervous because it was her first business trip, and the other would have difficulties because of communication problems, but each other’s shortcomings could be filled in anyway. Hui-won smiled, comforting Secretary Song. It was only a one-night, two-day trip anyway. It would be over in the blink of an eye.