By Zephyria 
Dazzling lights sparkled inside the vast conference hall. A subtle classical performance blended with somewhat bustling noise. As the appointed time arrived, the new employees began to enter.
Since it was a trait-specialized pharmaceutical company, there was a significant proportion of sentients among the staff. This year in particular, about 70% of the new hires were sentients. Consequently, as people crowded together, a variety of pheromones surged through the air.
“Congratulations on joining the company.”
Standing at the entrance, Hui-won handed out brochures and guidance documents to the newcomers. Two women entering side-by-side bowed and politely reached out their hands.
“Thank you.”
Both of them were Omegas. With the youthful faces characteristic of those starting their professional lives and newly tailored suits, they radiated the aura of rookies. Perhaps because of the setting, they seemed nervous, and their Omega-specific pheromones leaked out unfiltered.
“I’ll check your employee number. Your name is….”
“Gwak Joo-eun.”
“Employee Gwak Joo-eun. Please proceed to row G on the right.”
Hui-won pointed toward the seats with a professional business smile. The guided new hire didn’t leave immediately, instead studying Hui-won’s face.
The image of a skilled and composed professional—the future she had dreamed of was right before her eyes. Moreover, the man was exceptionally handsome, causing her heart to race instinctively.
The man standing next to him was equally handsome. It felt as if the company had intentionally stationed only beautiful men there; it was a feast for the eyes.
Apex really is a great company… The visual welfare is top-tier.
Her gaze lingered on Hui-won’s face for a while before dropping down. Unfortunately, the employee ID dangling above his chest was flipped over, leaving her no way to confirm his name or department.
“Employee Gwak Joo-eun, please be careful.”
Hui-won reached out to block the space behind the new hire’s back. The entrance was already crowded, and with people continuing to stream in, she couldn’t afford to linger. The new hire gave a slight nod and quickly linked arms with her colleague. As they walked down the stairs, they whispered to each other.
“Oh my god, he’s insanely handsome! Is my face red?”
“Are you crazy? But if he’s from the Secretary’s Office, which department is he actually in?”
“Unni, did you see the ID tag?”
“Yeah. The person who gave me the materials was Secretary Ji Seung-hyeon.”
The new hires were not yet well-versed in the company’s affairs and were clueless about the duties of each department. Whether the people greeting them were secretaries or anyone else, they were simply too excited to care.
Secretary Ji, who was assisting with the reception next to Hui-won, wondered why he was here greeting new employees. He tilted his head slightly and whispered to Hui-won.
“…Chief Secretary, can I go back once I finish handing these out?”
“Try contacting Secretary Lee. See where the Vice President is.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than another new employee approached. With a smile that reached his eyes, Hui-won picked up a set of documents.
“Congratulations on joining the company.”
“Thank you.”
The voice pouring down from above was quite pleasant to hear. Unintentionally, Hui-won looked up at the other person’s face.
‘A really decent guy joined this year.’
Ah, so it’s this friend.
He instinctively realized that this was the new employee the Seonbae had praised tirelessly. He had heard that the man had a great academic background, a great face, and had entered as the top graduate, which is why the PR team snatched him up immediately.
As expected of this year’s top talent, he was a handsome young man. He hoped he would stay with Apex for a long, long time.
Hui-won let out a small chuckle, realizing he was suddenly thinking from the company’s perspective. No wonder people called him “Madam.”
“I’ll check your employee number. What is your name?”
“I am Choi Yul.”
“Employee Choi Yul… hm, please proceed to row B on the left.”
Despite being guided to his seat, the new hire named Choi Yul showed no sign of leaving. Furthermore, for some reason, he wasn’t paying any attention to controlling his pheromones.
Well, he could put that down to nerves. Hui-won looked at him with a somewhat perplexed expression. The new hire standing before him was still staring intently at his face.
“…….”
“Do you have any other questions?”
“May I ask what your name is, Seonbae?”
At the mention of his name, Secretary Ji, who was standing nearby, also stared at the new hire. His manner of speaking was so politely old-fashioned—a rarity these days—that Secretary Ji burst into laughter.
Hui-won barely managed to swallow his own laughter and told the new hire his name.
“I am Kim Hui-won. Employee, it’s crowded behind you, so please move to your seat.”
Upon being urged again, the new hire finally stepped away. Even as he descended the stairs, he kept glancing back. Because he was a tall, handsome young man, even the slightest movement drew attention.
“Chief Secretary, he keeps looking at you.”
“I know.”
“Could he have a crush on our Chief Secretary? I wonder if he knows he’s married.”
Secretary Ji narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the back of the new hire’s head as he walked away.
“Stop talking nonsense. Did you get a response?”
“Yes, he just entered the underground parking lot….”
“I’m going.”
At those words, Hui-won dumped his remaining documents onto Secretary Ji. As his arms suddenly became heavy, Secretary Ji cried out in a disgruntled tone, “Chief Secretary!”
“What is it, Secretary Ji?”
“How can you dump everything on me?”
“Then do you want to handle the Vice President’s protocol, Secretary Ji?”
“Ah… good luck with that.”
Secretary Ji gave a polite bow and returned to greeting the new hires with his usual bright face. Despite being part of the Secretary’s Office, he was someone who still found responding to Kwon Young-je difficult.
Hui-won gave a brief, smiling glance at the scene and hurried down the stairs. As he passed the stairwell and the front of the podium, several gazes clung to him. Ignoring the whispered gossip entirely, he walked briskly.
While putting on his jacket in the back area by the emergency exit, he ran into the PR Team leader. The Team leader briefly stopped the busy-looking Hui-won.
“Secretary Kim. Has the Vice President arrived? The event is about to start.”
“Yes. He has just arrived. Ah, Seonbae. There is one more thing I need to tell you.”
Hui-won glanced around the conference hall and leaned in to whisper suggestively to the PR Team leader.
“Are the pheromones that strong? So, you’re saying I just need to make an announcement?”
The PR Team leader, who was a Beta, took a deep breath. To him, the air was no different than usual, save for the dizzying mix of perfume scents.
“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Got it. I’ll try. Oh, and here is the final version of the operation sheet.”
He handed a document to Hui-won. After receiving the paper and leaving a brief greeting, Hui-won hurried away.
“Ah… being a secretary is no joke.”
At his level of seniority, he could afford to be more relaxed, yet Kim Hui-won poured all his attention into anything related to Kwon Young-je, setting everything else aside. The PR Team leader clicked his tongue and smiled.
It was something one couldn’t do without a significant amount of love.
Hui-won tidied his clothes and stood before the executive elevator. The numbers on the floor indicator, which had been at the basement level, were steadily rising.
With a ding of the chime, the firmly closed doors slid open. Through the slowly opening elevator doors, Kwon Young-je’s figure appeared.
Unlike someone who had just finished an external schedule since morning, not even the knot of his tie was askew. This was in stark contrast to the exhausted face of Secretary Lee, who stood a step behind him.
“You have arrived, Vice President.”
Hui-won bowed his waist at a 45-degree angle. At the polite greeting, a faint smile spread across Kwon Young-je’s otherwise dry expression.
“Has everything been alright?”
“Yes. All preparations for the orientation are complete. Your turn is scheduled for 20 minutes from now.”
He naturally exchanged the baton with Secretary Lee. After a brief bow, she went her own way, and Hui-won took her place by Kwon Young-je’s side. The two walked toward the conference hall at a steady pace.
“Is there a separate waiting room?”
“There is a small room in the back.”
“That’s good.”
Kwon Young-je replied briefly and picked up his pace. He opened the emergency door and entered first.
Since the event had just begun, the surroundings were quiet, unlike before. The voice of the PR Team leader, acting as the MC, rang out clearly through the characteristic echo of the microphone.
The emergency exit door was in a corner away from public view, so no one’s entry or exit disturbed the event. However, as soon as Kwon Young-je appeared, the PR team employees sitting in the back stood up one after another and bowed deeply.
Kwon Young-je acknowledged the greetings with a silent nod but did not stop walking. One of the employees tactfully opened the door to the waiting room. Their stiff movements betrayed how nervous they were in front of the Vice President.
Hui-won followed him into the waiting room and closed the door. His gaze quickly scanned the interior. A small two-seater sofa, bottled water and glasses on the table, and pleasant air. It was a decent enough environment for a short stay.
“Vice President, regarding the welcome speech, if you look at the manuscript….”
The moment he turned to face Kwon Young-je, Hui-won’s lower jaw was gripped tightly. Then, suddenly, their lips locked. Kwon Young-je, who had lunged without warning, pushed him into the corner while deeply sucking on Hui-won’s lower lip.
“How can you give more work to someone who just came back from working outside?”
“Wait, wait a second. I didn’t lock the door.”
“Do you think anyone would dare enter here without permission?”