35th floor, 40th floor. As the elevator climbed toward the top floor of the building, I couldn’t hide my anxious heart. With uneasy eyes, I opened my mouth toward the person standing next to me.
“Why would the Chairman want to see me? I’m neither a company employee nor the café owner…”
To my cautious question, the Chairman’s executive secretary answered kindly.
“That’s not something I can dare to mention. The Chairman will tell you directly.”
“I hope my casual outfit won’t be rude…”
I muttered awkwardly while looking down at my comfortable shirt.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
“You’re absolutely certain he’s looking for me and not our café owner?”
I was just called here, but my heart kept racing anxiously, worried that they might have mistaken me for someone else.
“Yes. Of course. There’s no way we’d make that mistake. Now, let’s get off.”
The elevator stopped as it arrived at the 44th floor, and at the same time, my heart seemed to stop as well. Somewhere on this floor, the chairman of this massive conglomerate was waiting for me. At that unbelievable fact, I took a deep breath and followed the guidance to step outside.
I currently work at a dessert café on the 2nd floor of this company building. It’s an in-house café inside a large corporation building with quite decent sales. The café is run by a close hyung of mine, and at his suggestion, I work here baking cakes and desserts.
It’s completely unrelated to my university major, but it suits my aptitude quite well, so I’m working happily. The people I meet here are just our café owner hyung, other employees, and the company’s office workers. I’ve never even directly seen the faces of director-level executives, let alone the Chairman, yet I suddenly received a summons from the Chairman.
I’m just a café employee in the company building—why would the head of this conglomerate call for someone like me, who isn’t even the café owner? And this is the chairman of a world-famous, leading domestic corporation at that. The long, wide corridor looked like an art exhibition hall. What’s it called? A gallery, I think?
Rather than a regular office corridor, there were white porcelain pieces in glass cases like the ones I’d seen at national museums, and magnificent paintings were displayed everywhere. It was like a passageway connecting to another world.
While looking around in a daze, a large door appeared, and I could tell at a glance that it was the Chairman’s office. Seeing us, a female employee sitting at a table next to the door picked up the phone connected to the Chairman’s office and informed them inside that I had arrived.
“Now please go in, greet the Chairman, and sit comfortably where I guide you.”
“Y-yes.”
Comfortably? Sit comfortably? Far from comfortable, I wonder if I’ll even be able to breathe. Well, my parents thoroughly educated me in basic etiquette, so I should manage. I’ve never been told I lack manners anywhere or by anyone. Soon the massive door opened, and the antique interior came into view.
Along with the refined interior, a person who was obviously the Chairman sat looking at me. He was just sitting and looking at me, but his charisma was tremendous. I could understand what it meant to exude an overwhelming atmosphere just by one’s presence. I bowed my head to him in a respectful greeting, then followed the secretary’s guidance and lightly perched on the edge of the sofa to his right.
“Welcome. Baek Eunwoo. Thank you for making time during your break like this.”
“N-not at all.”
He knows my name and even knows it’s my break time. Unlike his appearance resembling a general from a famous painting, his voice was very soft and gentle. As expected, even as alphas age, the atmosphere they emanate is tremendous. However, despite his gentle gaze, I could see him examining me thoroughly without any gaps. Why on earth?
“Would you like juice or coffee?”
“No. Thank you, but I’m fine.”
“Mm, alright then.”
What would I drink while facing the Chairman here? I don’t have that kind of composure. Whatever I drink would probably come out my nose. I tried not to be shaken by the Chairman’s sharp gaze. I straightened my posture, lowered my eyes appropriately, and waited for him to reveal why he called me here.
“I like your good posture. Your posture and manner of speech aren’t slovenly and are polite. As I thought. I was right about this person. As expected, dominant omegas are different even when they’re different.”
…? Dominant omega? How did he know I’m a dominant omega?
At the words “dominant omega” that came from the Chairman’s mouth, my eyes widened instantly. How did this happen? On the employee trait survey I submitted when signing the contract with the company, I clearly wrote down that I was an omega. Writing that I’m a dominant omega only causes troublesome situations, so I deliberately don’t reveal it. I’m confident that’s the same for other dominant omegas besides me.
I quietly turned my gaze to the Chairman as if demanding an answer to that curiosity. There’s no way someone who’s the chairman of a conglomerate would investigate a mere café employee’s background, right? Sensing the urging for an answer in my eyes, the Chairman showed a brief smile.
“Don’t misunderstand. I found out by chance. You lost your wallet some time ago, didn’t you? At that time, the executive secretary who was with me earlier checked the contents inside to find the owner. I was there with him then.”
“Ah, I see.”
Was it about two weeks ago? A company employee returned the wallet I’d lost somewhere. I remember being relieved that all the contents were inside, even though there was nothing worth stealing. Wait a minute. But how did he know I’m a dominant omega? I don’t carry my resident registration card because it’s registered on my phone.
“Inside there was a health certificate. I confirmed it said dominant omega on it. Dominant omegas are extremely rare, so I was quite surprised. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen one myself.”
“…The health certificate.”
I didn’t think of that. Naturally, the health certificate has written on it that I’m dominant. As I became visibly flustered, the Chairman called the secretary to bring me a glass of water. While drinking it, I caught my breath. Phew. Right. I am a dominant omega.
The reason I, whose appearance and physique are obviously omega to anyone, can work at my job without much trouble is partly because I cover my face with a mask due to the nature of my work, but there’s another reason. I have an ability that regular omegas can’t even dream of—the ability to control pheromones. This isn’t roughly containing pheromones, but truly hiding my pheromone scent perfectly without a trace.
The reason I can live while demonstrating this ability is because I’m a dominant omega, which is extremely rare even among omegas. Dominant omegas, who are very precious by their very existence, are individuals that don’t easily come about even when excellent alphas and omegas with outstanding traits combine.
Therefore, they’re highly preferred as spouses in alpha families with good bloodlines or wealthy households. They say there are various advantages like intelligence and physical conditions, but I don’t know about the others—this one thing is good. Precisely, freely manipulating pheromones.
For this reason, I don’t easily fall to an alpha’s rut or pheromones. My pheromone control ability is excellent, so even if a sudden heat comes, I don’t use it to captivate alphas or get swayed by them. I can hide my pheromones from others without being detected and can block alpha pheromone attacks, so I don’t particularly need suppressants. That’s what a dominant omega is.
Unlike regular omegas who face discrimination in social life, just not being swayed by alphas and not being discriminated against can be considered very blessed. I’m the model of an enviable omega who possesses all the conditions for living comfortably in the world.
Also, though it’s a bit awkward to say this myself, I have a naturally excellent brain and superior physical characteristics. That’s why they try to make omega suppressants or vaccines based on dominant omegas, but that’s not easy either because each person’s characteristics are different.
But why hide something so good, you ask? It’s because people’s expectations are high and too many unnecessary people cling to you. Being exploited here and there and with kidnapping incidents occurring frequently, most dominant omegas are extremely reluctant to reveal themselves.
So like me, there are many people who pretend to be regular omegas or say they’re recessive. At work too, if your trait doesn’t interfere with your duties, there’s no need to deliberately disclose it to avoid troublesome situations. So this isn’t something the Chairman should call me separately to reprimand about. I was curious why the Chairman personally called and confirmed with me.
“Of course, I also understand why you hid your trait without you having to explain. It’s also an extremely personal matter. I have no intention of leaking anything about your situation, so don’t worry.”
“Then may I ask why you called me here?”
“That’s…”
When I asked directly for the reason, a momentary look of difficulty appeared on the Chairman’s face. What? Why did he show that expression?
“Please speak comfortably, Chairman.”
Since it’s come to this, I was also curious about why the Chairman called me here. The Chairman, who had been hesitating and moving his fingers for a moment, carefully opened his mouth.
“I… called you shamelessly because I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor from me? From you, Chairman?”
It was completely unexpected, out-of-the-blue talk. Isn’t this too random? I had no idea what this person, who’s said to have the world economy in the palm of his hand, could possibly want to ask of me. While I tilted my head in confusion, he shouted at me as if he’d made up his mind.
“Could you bear my grandchild’s child?”
…?
