By Zephyria 
The office resembled the Yangjae Flower Market. Flower baskets were everywhere you stepped, and pots tied with ribbons left no space to walk, forcing everyone to tiptoe carefully.
Still, it was a pleasant sight. Executive Director Kwon Young-je’s secretariat, which had been nearly monochromatic, was now surrounded by vibrant flowers, brimming with rare vitality. Even the secretaries were looking around the office with satisfaction.
It was the third day since the official statement was released, and congratulatory messages and gifts were pouring in from all over. The entire company was buzzing, and the reporters’ enthusiasm for coverage showed no signs of cooling down.
In contrast, the secretariat was quieter than expected. There had been so many calls that the phone lines were practically pulled out, and to block visitors, a ‘No Visitors’ sign was even placed at the door. Thanks to this, the secretaries were enjoying a peaceful atmosphere, engaging in a sort of work slowdown that wasn’t quite a slowdown.
Secretary Lee had just arrived, cradling a flower box carefully as he walked over to Hui-won’s desk.
“General Manager, look at this. Isn’t it so pretty? Should I put it on your desk?”
At his words, Hui-won glanced up. Indeed, the floral arrangement inside the beige box was pretty. But Hui-won, looking as if he had a headache, pressed his temples and simply made a face without a word.
“……”
“They say looking at pretty things makes for a pretty baby.”
“Our baby will be pretty no matter what, so it’s fine. Secretary Lee, you keep it on your desk.”
“Oh my, how silly.”
Secretary Lee retorted in an exaggerated tone. The other secretaries, hiding behind their monitors, giggled. By now, everyone had grown accustomed to Secretary Kim’s pregnancy. Often, baby talk became the topic of conversation more than work discussions.
“Ugh… I feel suffocated.”
Hui-won closed his eyes tightly, complaining that the strong floral scent was making him nauseous. Leaning back in his chair, his face looked slightly pale.
He glanced toward the windows, but they were already all open. The air purifiers were also running at full blast. There was nothing more to be done here. Hui-won let out a sigh mixed with resignation and looked at his phone. Set to silent, the phone was constantly receiving calls, messages, and emails, warm like a hot pack.
The battery had already dropped to 13%. People are so interested in others’ affairs, he thought. How long will this go on? Hui-won pulled the charger cable over and plugged in his phone.
He shifted his attention back to the computer monitor. Click, click. The mouse repeatedly hit the refresh button. The Apex announcement board was still quiet. Anxious, Hui-won chewed on his lip.
Today was the day the personnel appointment announcement would be posted. Usually, it went up at exactly 10 AM, but today the update was slow.
Hui-won, who had been mechanically clicking the mouse button, suddenly sat up straight. Finally, a new post appeared.
Suppressing his trembling heart, he clicked on the newly posted announcement. A single-page image filled the screen. He quickly scanned down the list of positions and names.
Kwon Young-je was on the very first line.
Change: Executive Director of Strategic Planning Headquarters → Vice President
That single line released all his tension. Hui-won put down the mouse he was holding and finally smiled with relief.
The secretaries also raised both hands and cheered. As if a spaceship had successfully launched. Secretary Ji, scattering documents like a celebratory gesture, really added to the moment. It was something that would never normally happen, but given the wonderful news, Hui-won also laughed and shared in the joy.
Slowly pushing his chair back, he stood up and headed for the executive office. Hui-won tried to suppress his twitching mouth corners, but it didn’t go as planned. Unable to help it, he knocked on the firmly closed door with his relaxed expression still in place.
“Congratulations, Vice President.”
Kwon Young-je was seriously focused on his work. Judging by his grave expression as he reviewed documents alone, it seemed he hadn’t even paid attention to the personnel appointment announcement.
Hearing the still-unfamiliar title, he smiled faintly. His briefly met gaze returned to the documents, and the fountain pen in his hand left a graceful signature at the bottom of the page.
“Is this something to be so happy about?”
“Have you checked it?”
“I was waiting for Secretary Kim to tell me.”
Having finished his task, he neatly capped the fountain pen. The chair he was sitting in tilted sideways. Seeing him temporarily set aside his work, Hui-won’s feet moved on their own.
A secretary’s domain is only up to the front of the desk. The moment he crossed that boundary and stepped between Kwon Young-je’s knees, Secretary Kim became Kim Hui-won.
“Congratulations, really.”
“That congratulation is a bit too plain.”
“People might see.”
Even as he said that, Hui-won was cupping Kwon Young-je’s cheeks with both hands. His thumbs gently stroked the smooth skin. The gaze looking at the other person also drew soft curves. At this moment, he felt fortunate that he could be the first to congratulate him on the good news.
Kwon Young-je rubbed the tip of his nose against Hui-won’s wrist. His office was also full of flower baskets, but the fragrant olive scent was strong enough to overpower the dense floral aroma. Moreover, the pheromones of a pregnant Omega could only be detected by the child’s father.
Kwon Young-je was fully indulging in the privilege only he could enjoy. With each pulse, Hui-won’s pheromones flowed out as if pumped. He inhaled them all, as if not wanting to miss a single one.
The deep inhale tickled his wrist. With his other hand, Hui-won carefully caressed Kwon Young-je’s eyebrow, then suddenly remembered one more thing to announce and slightly pulled away their pressed-together bodies.
“Director Kwon Young-ho is also returning next week.”
“Do you have to bring up that name right now?”
“You dislike talking about work at home even more, don’t you?”
Kwon Young-je never brings up work-related talk at home. Strictly speaking, Kwon Young-ho also falls within the category of family, but his displeasure was the same. Even now, his raised eyebrows looked quite sharp.
“His placement?”
“He’s been appointed as Executive Director of the ETC Business Headquarters.”
“He went to an appropriate place.”
Kwon Young-je let out a troubled sigh. He wasn’t pleased either that Kwon Young-ho’s exile had ended earlier than expected. Since he had achieved such significant results in China, there was no way to oppose Chairman Kwon’s special consideration.
While his position remained the same, Kwon Young-ho would now be leading a core division in his own way. One consolation was that Kwon Young-je was his superior. At least within the company, he was in a position where he had no choice but to bow to Vice President Kwon Young-je.
“With his personality, it’s uncertain whether he’ll stay quiet.”
“Are you concerned?”
Kwon Young-je quietly raised his eyes to look up at Hui-won. Staring intently at the pale face, he gently stroked Hui-won’s stomach. It wasn’t very noticeable to the eye, but a very slight mound could be felt.
He now had people to protect. Kwon Young-ho wasn’t the type to take things lying down, and it was clear he was secretly sharpening his knife even now. The things requiring attention had doubled, tripled, but he didn’t show it much.
“No, not at all.”
“Well, that’s fortunate then. Ah, you have a meeting with the Chairman at 11. I’ll come back in 20 minutes.”
In an instant, Hui-won created distance and informed him of the upcoming schedule. Seeing him retreat without hesitation, Kwon Young-je instinctively grabbed Hui-won’s forearm and pulled.
“Executive Director?”
“……”
Seemingly surprised by his own sudden action, Kwon Young-je stared blankly at his own hand wrapped around Hui-won’s forearm without blinking. His dark eyes slowly rose to take in Hui-won’s face.
“So now I’m the one clinging, is that it?”
At that, Hui-won’s eyes widened into circles. He tapped the back of the hand holding his wrist.
“You’ve even been promoted to Vice President; you should exercise restraint. This is the company.”
“You’re drawing too clear a line. Someone might think we’re strangers.”
“Yes, I’m a married man, so please don’t make this difficult.”
Hui-won raised his left hand to show. The ring on his ring finger sparkled in the sunlight. The design looked simple, but it emitted a luxurious shine that was nothing ordinary.
A matching ring was also on Kwon Young-je’s left hand. He smiled and lightly clenched his left fist. The hand that had been holding Hui-won also let go, and the chair smoothly rotated back to its original direction.
“Go on out. I’ll finish up what I was doing, and we’ll see each other in 20 minutes.”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
With a clean farewell, the couple returned to their official relationship. As Hui-won left the office, a lingering smile he hadn’t managed to erase floated on his face.
Hui-won was also dragged into the private meeting with Chairman Kwon.
The venerable Chairman laughed continuously like someone with air in their lungs. It was a meeting created to discuss important current issues, but in reality, all the talk was solely about the baby in his stomach. So excited about his soon-to-be-born great-grandchild, he lost all dignity and chattered away, not much different from an ordinary grandfather.
They had to listen to him talk for a full two hours and even have lunch together. It was a day several times more exhausting than usual, so after work, Hui-won fell asleep as if collapsing. The simple promotion party they had planned with Kwon Young-je was also postponed.
Seeing Hui-won sleeping so deeply that he wouldn’t notice if carried away, Kwon Young-je also lay down on the bed. They shared a thin blanket and went to sleep. Just as that peaceful night was passing by…
In his sleep, he suddenly felt an emptiness.
The spot beside him was empty. Kwon Young-je felt around the bedsheet. The cold sensation made his eyes snap open.