He worried about Seunggeon’s pheromone scent. But there were no phenotypes in the General Affairs Department, and even without showering, the pheromone scent would disappear after about half a day passed, so he didn’t think deeply about it.
Thanks to moving diligently, he was able to arrive at the hospital a little earlier than usual. Swallowing a sigh that his day would be tough because his waist was heavy, Chaehun was entering the office when he came face to face with Park Gwangho, who was just coming out.
Since Park Gwangho moved positions at the end of the year, the two had been maintaining a distant relationship, only greeting each other. Chaehun tried to pass Park Gwangho with a quick greeting.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. …Deputy Kang. Just a moment.”
Chaehun, who stopped walking, turned to look at Park Gwangho. He was on guard, wondering why he was suddenly calling him.
“What is it?”
Chaehun was five years older than Park Gwangho, and his years of service were that much longer, but he didn’t speak down to him. At their first meeting, when Park Gwangho acted smarmy saying wouldn’t it be better to speak casually if they were going to be close, he sharply refused. Because if left alone, he would obviously climb all over him, so he drew the line that they should speak politely to each other.
Chaehun tried to be a difficult mentor to Park Gwangho. He didn’t care whether Park Gwangho was grinding his teeth inside. And that was still the same now.
“Deputy Kang. Were you an Alpha? Or an Omega?”
“What?”
“Why are you surprised? The smell is strong. I’ve been completely fooled until now.”
Park Gwangho grinned, pleased about something. Chaehun’s face hardened. He thought of all people, Park Gwangho had found out, then suddenly became suspicious of how he had smelled the pheromone scent. As far as Chaehun knew, Park Gwangho wasn’t a phenotype.
“Park Gwangho-ssi. Were you a phenotype?”
Chaehun asked just in case. Then Park Gwangho’s face hardened for a moment before he soon showed his characteristic smarmy smile.
“Hahaha. I was deliberately hiding it. When you say you’re a phenotype, it gets tiresome how Betas look at you with curious eyes. Right? You know too, Deputy-nim.”
Chaehun didn’t agree with that. Instead, he thought Park Gwangho was lying. It was probably true that he was a phenotype. However, given Park Gwangho’s personality, rather than finding the Betas’ gazes bothersome, he would obviously have been bragging about being a phenotype and radiating superiority.
Seeing that he was tall and had a good build, Park Gwangho was more likely an Alpha than an Omega. Park Gwangho, who boasted about being young, handsome, and rich, overflowed with confidence. It was strange that such a person would hide the fact that he was an Alpha.
Chaehun didn’t bother to guess the reason. Rather, clearing up the misunderstanding was more urgent.
“I’m not a phenotype, so I don’t really know.”
“No way? When the smell is this strong.”
“I have a constitution where phenotypes’ pheromones rub off on me. I guess it rubbed off on the way to work.”
“Come on, there’s no such thing. I guess you’re the type who lies when flustered. Seeing how you can’t hide it, you must have an Alpha you’re seeing? A possessive one at that?”
“Park Gwangho-ssi. What you just said constitutes sexual harassment.”
Even if they weren’t between an Alpha and Omega, the conversation just now was sexual harassment. On top of that, Park Gwangho’s expression and tone were too blatant, so Chaehun went beyond annoyed to angry. He lowered his voice and coldly pointed out the fact. But Park Gwangho acted shameless.
“Come on, what’s the big deal about that.”
“The fact that you don’t know that mindset is the problem is an even bigger problem. I know you received in-house sexual crime prevention education, so be alert and careful. And everyone in the department knows I’m not a phenotype. Because I had a physical examination right after joining the company. So stop the misunderstanding and move aside, would you?”
Chaehun conveyed in a businesslike manner that he had nothing to talk about with him. Park Gwangho was about to say something when Deputy Lee appeared.
“Good morning. Don’t block the way and move aside, would you?”
As Deputy Lee crossed between Chaehun and Park Gwangho, the two naturally moved apart. Chaehun briefly nodded to Park Gwangho in greeting and found his seat.
As he was taking off his padding jumper, Deputy Lee, who had arrived earlier and was sitting, spoke to him.
“What did Park Gwangho-ssi say this time?”
“Just greeted me.”
“Tsk. That guy has energy even from morning.”
Park Gwangho’s greetings were synonymous with picking a fight. Listening to Deputy Lee clicking his tongue, Chaehun started preparing for work. He turned on the computer and was waiting for the management system to load when his phone vibrated. It was Seunggeon.
Since there was still time before work started, Chaehun went out to the hallway to take the call.
“Yeah. It’s me.”
—That thing I told you to think about earlier. I told Director Shim about it. There’s someone called Director Shim Jeongmin who helps with my work, and he’ll find a way. Meet with Director-nim and talk. Between lunch and dinner time, when would be good?
“Dinner. Because the conversation might run long.”
—I’ll send Director Shim’s number by message. Director-nim is also handling President Yoon’s matter, so ask Director-nim if you’re curious about anything.
“Got it.”
Chaehun was dazed by Seunggeon’s quick handling. Although Seunggeon wasn’t solving it directly but having someone do it, that was an ability in itself. It meant there was a capable person he could trust and leave things to.
—Let’s finish the contract when we meet in person. Is that okay?
“That’s fine. And… I’m asking just in case, but does Director Shim know about our contract?”
—He knows. Anything else you’re curious about?
“No. Um, thanks.”
—Then I’m hanging up.
“Get back to work.”
As soon as the brief call ended, a message arrived with the name Shim Jeongmin along with a phone number. After saving the number under the name Director Shim Jeongmin-nim, Chaehun headed to the office.
This time too, by some coincidence, he ran into Park Gwangho coming from the opposite end of the hallway. As soon as their eyes met, Park Gwangho scrunched up his face and slipped into the office without greeting. Chaehun didn’t particularly care. Paying attention to someone like that one by one was a waste of energy.
Chaehun, who had put away his phone, returned to his seat and confirmed the management program was running. Chaehun, who was about to get up to take out documents from the cabinet, grabbed his waist and grimaced at the pain rising from his tailbone.
Throbbing and aching shot up to the top of his head. His body was telling him he had overdone it having sex last night. Along with the dull pain, memories of last night came back. Especially scenes of him letting out embarrassing moans.
The stimulation is intense this time too.
Chaehun swallowed a sigh. The day was already tough from the start.
* * *
He met Director Shim Jeongmin, whom Seunggeon had mentioned, after work at a cafe near Chaehun’s officetel. Director Shim Jeongmin was a scholarly-looking person around his 50s. His gentle smile was more than enough to gain people’s trust and goodwill. He called Seunggeon “young master.”
“I heard the general situation from the young master. But I should hear the story directly from you.”
At a title that would only appear in dramas, Chaehun suppressed laughter inside. Since he was the maternal grandson of Taehwa Group, he could be called young master.
Chaehun, who once again confirmed Seunggeon’s position, held back from asking various things about him. The condition was not to pry into his personal matters. If he didn’t keep it, he didn’t know what he’d hear. Instead, Chaehun focused on realistic problems.
The first was President Yoon’s matter. Shim Jeongmin said it would be handled smoothly. He said he had connections with President Yoon’s superiors. Shim Jeongmin said with a gentle smile that if they picked a fight with the family one more time, he would resort to force rather than persuasion.
Chaehun could do nothing but nod. He only worried whether he had really stepped foot into a dangerous world.
Next was about the source of the 2 billion. Shim Jeongmin’s idea was simple.
“Let’s not think about it too hard. How about saying you once saved the life of a rich grandfather, and are now receiving his gratitude in return?”
“Isn’t that too made up?”
Chaehun objected as soon as he heard Director Shim’s proposal. It seemed unlikely such a coincidence would exist in the world. Of all things, the grandfather whose life he saved being rich and readily offering 2 billion was a story that wouldn’t even happen in dramas.
“It’s similar to the story between the young master and Chaehun-ssi. Though the young master’s age range is different. It’s not completely made up.”
“Uh… You knew about it?”
Startled by Shim Jeongmin’s words, Chaehun found himself asking back if he knew. Then Shim Jeongmin smiled warmly.
“Yes. I helped with handling the incident. Chaehun-ssi wouldn’t remember, but I’ve even seen you sleeping in the hospital.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Because everyone was out of it.”
Although Shim Jeongmin still smiled, Chaehun felt strange. The fact that many things had happened in places he didn’t know was both fascinating and odd.
