By Zephyria 
“Do you paint abstracts these days too?”
Jin Seon-yu, who hadn’t seen Seo Yi-kyung’s bewildered face, plopped a canvas onto the work table. He scrutinized the painting on the canvas, which he had placed upside down, chatting away. Unlike before, his gaze was quite serious.
“So, about that.”
Seo Yi-kyung finally hinted at the reason he had kept Jin Seon-yu here.
“Uh-huh.”
Jin Seon-yu was preoccupied with admiring the painting. He muttered that it was strange yet fascinating.
“Could you teach me how to paint?”
“You’re already good at it.”
“No. I…”
Seo Yi-kyung looked back. After confirming that the door to the painting studio was tightly closed, he added to Jin Seon-yu.
“I haven’t painted for a while. I’ve completely lost my touch.”
“Really? No wonder your hands looked stiff when I saw you at the park. I thought you had been painting all along.”
“…….”
Thinking that it had been obvious after all, Seo Yi-kyung fiddled with his fingertips.
“Alright. Is there something specific you want to paint?”
“For now, just something absolutely easy.”
Han Seung-jae hadn’t explicitly requested a specific subject. Seo Yi-kyung’s only thought was that it just had to look like a painting. He didn’t actually believe that Han Seung-jae would truly hang it in his office.
The more he tried, the more painting felt like a series of hardships. He couldn’t produce a landscape painting like the ones in the studio in such a short amount of time. Moreover, since Han Seung-jae was a fastidious and more delicate man than he appeared, there was no way he would hang a painting that looked clumsy and crude from any angle.
No matter what he painted and gave him, it wouldn’t be satisfactory.
Jin Seon-yu, who had been stroking his chin while staring at the canvas, shifted his gaze. His round eyes curved into crescents as he let out a chuckle.
“Fine. I should earn my keep.”
* * *
The wide-open view was bathed in long streaks of sunlight, so the blinds were all drawn down. Han Seung-jae looked up and faced Secretary Park, who was standing before him.
“Someone has been sent from Chae-eon.”
“And?”
Han Seung-jae leaned back into his black chair. Upon arriving at work early this morning, he had personally seen Jin Seon-yu, the ‘friend’ Seo Yi-kyung had mentioned.
Unlike Seo Yi-kyung, he was lively and cheerful. It felt as if a little squirrel was scurrying around.
Though he was a bit hectic, Han Seung-jae didn’t make an issue of it since Seo Yi-kyung had mentioned him the day before.
Above all, Seo Yi-kyung was someone who stayed home all day. Although he said he painted, Han Seung-jae rarely saw him smile, nor had he personally witnessed him enjoying anything.
Furthermore, Jin Seon-yu was the youngest son of the Chae-eon Food manufacturing company. His status was clear, and there seemed to be nothing particularly problematic about him.
And it had only been a week. It seemed Seo Yi-kyung had waited for him without sleep just to say those words. Thus, he felt it was fine to let a single ‘friend’ stay in the house for a while.
He even reached a point of expectation, wondering if it would be a change of pace and if he might see Seo Yi-kyung smile a little.
“Tell the person who has business with me to come personally.”
Han Seung-jae had a rough idea of why the person sent from Chae-eon had come, but he felt no need to meet them at all.
“Yes, I will convey that.”
Secretary Park bowed and straightened up. As he opened the door and stepped out, Secretary Go Su-hwan, who had been waiting with an anxious face, approached. He explained his awkward position in a roundabout way, stating that he had been sent by Head of Department Jin Seok-young, the second son of Chae-eon Food.
“Did you manage to tell him? Please tell him that I sincerely apologize for the sudden contact. Please make sure to tell him to show some generosity, as this is due to family matters.”
Go Su-hwan already knew what kind of personality Han Seung-jae had from what he had heard. He had once seen him from a distance at a social gathering where only Alphas congregated. It was already established that he wasn’t an easy person to deal with in many ways, but a recent strange rumor had played a part. Go Su-hwan had heard that rumor directly from Jin Seok-young.
—Hyung, did you hear? They say Director Han cracked Vice President Seo’s skull and even broke his arm.
Following behind Head of Department Jin Seok-young, Go Su-hwan entered the Executive Director’s office. At that moment, Executive Director Jin Tae-won, who was sitting at his desk, glanced at him as if giving a warning.
—This isn’t related to us, so don’t go around speaking of it carelessly.
Recently, rumors had been spreading ominously, ranging from him hitting Vice President Seo Dong-hu of Woorim Construction over the head with a flowerpot to various versions involving chairs and desks.
—I know. Do you think I’d actually say such a thing in front of Director Han?
In some circles, discussions unfolded about whether Director Han Seung-jae had really done that, noting that given Vice President Seo Dong-hu’s manner of speaking, he was someone who deserved such a fate; and that CEO Seo Young-hwan had acted arrogantly by using his son for business and relying on the Myeongjun Financial Group, but was now like a gourd with a severed string.
While not everyone believed those words, they couldn’t definitively conclude they were false either. Since Vice President Seo Dong-hu was hospitalized, claiming both arms were broken and his head was severely injured. How could someone make their in-law end up in such a state? Additionally, the scandal that Woorim Construction and Myeongjun Financial Group had split due to this incident gained traction.
“He said for you to come personally.”
Secretary Go Su-hwan struggled and finally parted his dry lips.
“Our situation here isn’t favorable either. It might be difficult, but could you please ask him one more time…?”
It was just as difficult here. Secretary Park was not someone who had experienced Han Seung-jae’s temperament for only a year or two. When he firmly expressed the intent to refuse, Go Su-hwan turned away as if there was nothing more he could do.
As he walked away, he pulled his phone out of his inner pocket. The recipient was Head of Department Jin Seok-young.
* * *
Knock, knock. The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet Director’s Office.
Step, step. Han Seung-jae, who was reviewing the quarterly investment budget performance report, didn’t even glance up as Secretary Park approached with steady footsteps. Secretary Park, standing before him, murmured.
“Director Han, Head of Department Jin Seok-young is outside.”
Han Seung-jae, who was flipping through the report, looked at his wristwatch on his left wrist. 3:20.
“And?”
“Pardon?”
When Secretary Park reflexively asked back, Han Seung-jae frowned and looked up. Fine features, and a tiny crack appeared in his cold eyes.
“Do I have to meet everyone who visits?”
“…….”
As Secretary Park opened the door and stepped out, Go Su-hwan approached. Standing behind him was Jin Seok-young, wearing a gray suit. As Jin Seok-young, a Dominant Alpha with a rugged physique, raised his thick eyebrows, Go Su-hwan pressed closer as if pushed by him.
“May I go in now?”
Secretary Park turned his head and stared at Jin Seok-young.
“I’m sorry, but it seems he cannot meet you right now.”
Secretary Park’s tone was very calm. Having stayed by Han Seung-jae’s side for a long time, he realized that Han Seung-jae had no intention of meeting him at all.
Go Su-hwan made a disgruntled face and turned back to speak to Jin Seok-young.
“Head of Department Jin.”
“I have ears too.”
Immediately after, Jin Seok-young continued, glaring at Secretary Park with his dark eyes.
“How long do I have to wait?”
* * *
An employee walking down the hallway while checking documents after getting off the elevator bumped into Jin Seok-young’s back. The employee repeatedly bowed to Jin Seok-young as he turned around.
“Oh, you startled me. I’m sorry. Ahem, I’m here to see Director Han.”
“Please come this way.”
Guided by Secretary Park, the employee entered the Director’s Office.
In the brief moment the door opened, the gazes of Han Seung-jae and Jin Seok-young, who were both heading toward the sofa, intertwined. However, Han Seung-jae calmly sat in the seat of honor on the sofa. Then the door closed.
Go Su-hwan lowered his voice, conscious of the employees standing by the door.
“Are you just going to keep standing here like this?”
“…….”
Unlike his usual self, Jin Seok-young said nothing one way or the other. Perhaps he was following the words of his Hyung, Jin Tae-won. He had been told not to speak carelessly outside. Go Su-hwan covered his mouth with his hand and whispered even more softly.
“He’s definitely doing this on purpose.”
Strictly speaking, the second son of Chae-eon Food could never be left standing like this. Moreover, the two had met before. This was because both had participated in the social gatherings for Alphas held at regular intervals for a long time. While they weren’t close enough to exchange greetings like his Hyung, Jin Tae-won, if one considered Jin Tae-won’s position, Jin Seok-young wouldn’t be treated like a useless bystander like this.
“…….”
“Why don’t you go back for now and reschedule the appointment?”
Go Su-hwan believed that Director Han was intentionally leaving Jin Seok-young standing there to insult him. It was only natural, as he had been standing in that spot for over two hours already.