When Heewon opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the shiny tile floor. Even after waking up, he stayed lying there for several minutes. Why was he sprawled out in front of the entrance door of his own house? How had he gotten ho last night? With a foggy mind, he tried hard to recall.
“Ah... my head.”
Slowly, he put his hand on the floor and sat up. Seeing his own reflection in the shoe cabinet’s glass, Heewon smiled like an idiot. His left cheek, pressed all night against the tiles, had beco flattened. He touched his numb cheek and tried to recall the events of last night.
‘If you’re going to drip those damn pheromones everywhere, you could at least do it out of my sight.’
‘Youngjae. How long do I have to keep serving you? And please, grow up.’
Heewon rubbed his squashed cheek and ran his fingers through his ssy hair. The farce from last night flashed through his mind like a slideshow.
“This is driving crazy.”
He wished at least his mory had cut out; instead, he rembered the conversation and even Youngjae Kwon’s fierce gaze. It was clear that Youngjae had brought him ho. His last mories were fragnted, but he definitely recalled Youngjae dumping him like a sack of luggage.
If you’re going to bring ho, you could’ve at least bothered to get inside properly. People really are consistently cold.
Heewon pressed his dry lips together. It felt like he’d made a mistake, but it was ambiguous. After all, Youngjae had started the fight, and Heewon had only acted in self-defense.
“Damn it, what’s the use now.”
He decided to stop thinking about it. Who cares anyway? There probably wouldn’t be any more involvent, so cutting ties was better for his sanity. Heewon brushed off his clothes and stood up. After lying on the cold floor all night, one leg was numb and tingling, so he limped inside.
On a weekday afternoon, Heewon visited the BlueRail headquarters.
He had received help from Secretary Park before. He ca this ti both to deliver the hormone stimulant they had promised to provide and to greet her in person.
Bright sunlight filtered through the giant glass walls. People ca and went frequently at the first-floor coffee shop inside the headquarters. Heewon absentmindedly watched the bustling scene he hadn’t seen in a while when Secretary Park comnted.
“Secretary Kim, your face looks really much better.”
Heewon smiled softly, narrowing his eyes. He set down the mug in his hand and rubbed his chin awkwardly. It was a common remark he heard often when eting acquaintances these days, but it always made him feel a bit embarrassed.
“Is that so?”
“Is this what they call resignation therapy?”
“The effect is definitely real.”
Jealous, so jealous. Secretary Park murmured sincerely. Heewon silently lanted when he might be able to enjoy such a thing for himself, swallowing a sip of coffee. Secretary Park’s gaze landed on Heewon sitting opposite her.
Indeed, Kim Heewon’s face shone with a healthy glow. He had always been handso, but now there was a strange softness that naturally drew attention. It seed less about being an Oga and more about just feeling at ease.
Secretary Park licked the coffee off her lips and sighed deeply.
“To co all this way and only offer coffee... I’m sorry I can’t invite you to eat as well. There’s not much ti.”
“Thanks for making ti despite being busy.”
“You don’t plan on coming back to this industry, right?”
“Wouldn’t that be difficult?”
“Everyone’s making a fuss saying it’s a sha.”
News of Heewon’s Oga manifestation had already spread even to the executive secretary group chat. There were rumors here and there, but after resigning, he himself had revealed the truth in the chat. Opinions were divided then on whether to congratulate or comfort him.
Seeing him in person, he looked relieved. Secretary Park couldn’t send him pitying glances and instead wore her usual smile.
“You worked hard. Secretary Kim, you’ll do well no matter where you go, so no worries.”
“Thank you. I want to et and greet the other secretaries in person, but the circumstances don’t allow it.”
“They’re too busy to et. Just live thinking no news is good news.”
Since executive secretaries lived according to their boss’s schedules, they only t at external events. Having resigned, Heewon wouldn’t attend those anymore. Perhaps eting by chance on the street was more likely.
“I don’t think Executive Director Kwon Youngjae has found a secretary yet.”
Heewon humd quietly. He had expected this topic. Among secretaries, conversations mostly revolved around the personal lives of those they served.
“He’s very cautious. I think he’ll find soone soon. I don’t care about it.”
“So it’s soone else’s problem now?”
Secretary Park chuckled. She sipped her lukewarm coffee and added,
“You seem very stressed.”
“How do you know that, Secretary Park?”
Heewon widened his eyes and asked. Although Youngjae was troubled because of him, he wasn’t the type to openly show his feelings. Moreover, what Secretary Park just said was sothing even the staff in the secretary office didn’t know.
Secretary Park rested her chin on her hand and began recounting what she had seen and heard.
“There was a recent event hosted by the Chamber of Comrce, and there was quite a fuss about it. About Secretary Kim’s Oga manifestation.”
“......”
“You know, right? It’s obvious the Alphas were gossiping.”
Heewon nodded. Having attended such events often, he knew that when Oga topics ca up, the tone of conversation dropped considerably.
“There was debate about whether an Oga can serve as a secretary or not. Actually, it wasn’t really a debate, just so people whispering [N O V E L I G H T] and giggling, but Executive Director Kwon lost it there. The noble man got so angry he charged headfirst... it was sexy.”
“...Excuse ?”
“What? Executive Director Kwon is undeniably sexy.”
“No, I an... he charged headfirst? At whom?”
Heewon asked incredulously. Secretary Park squinted as if trying to recall.
“Yes. CEO Kim Taejong of Neotec, CEO Seok Moonho of FinanSential, and maybe Director Yu Sangjin of Samjeong Group? That Alpha crowd.”
All were well-known figures, and Heewon felt dizzy. Youngjae had really lost it. Why did he do sothing he never did? Imagining him raising his voice in an official setting was completely unexpected and made Heewon’s head spin more.
“They almost fought with Executive Director Kwon Youngho, right? He was scary angry. Weren’t those two already on bad terms?”
Heewon had no answer. Covering his mouth, he just looked down at the table. Secretary Park, sensing this, cautiously added her opinion.
“But it was a bit extre. Even I felt embarrassed hearing it. People tend to talk carelessly about Ogas, even without hesitation about sexual harassnt... Executive Director Kwon must have been really upset.”
“......”
“It just shows how much he cares about you. How often do you find a boss who gets angry on your behalf?”
Secretary Park was talking to herself when her phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Oh, here they go again. Secretary Kim, sorry but I have to go.”
“...Yes, take care.”
“Let’s keep in touch!”
Watching her hurried departure, Heewon took out his phone. He checked a site that updates important event schedules and searched “Korea Chamber of Comrce.” He easily found the event Youngjae likely attended—last Thursday, the sa day he drank with Im Jaegyu.
‘Are you out of your mind?’
He recalled Youngjae grabbing him by the collar and yelling at him. At the ti, he thought, what kind of crazy guy is this? But now, knowing the circumstances, he could sowhat understand Youngjae’s feelings.
What had been said was obvious. Secretary Park didn’t bother ntioning it, but surely a lot of slander and disorderly talk had circulated about him. Were there no insults against Youngjae among those words? Because of him, Youngjae had to endure needless mockery....
Heewon sighed deeply. He had cursed Youngjae a lot, but his gloomy feelings suddenly cleared.
He toyed with his phone for a mont. Youngjae’s number was still saved, and he could contact him anyti if he wanted. The decision was entirely his.
“......”
After so hesitation, Heewon put his phone down. What’s the use now? They had agreed to go separate ways, so contacting over trivial matters seed ridiculous.
Although a part of him lingered, he quickly suppressed it. He turned his head and looked out the window. Sohow, his mouth felt bitter.
“What are you going to do?”
Youngjae asked as if confirming he had heard correctly. Standing politely beside him, the lawyer adjusted his glasses that had slipped down his nose.
“She says she will file a lawsuit for workplace harassnt and defamation.”
Only then did Youngjae turn his gaze to the lawyer. His cold, stiff face twisted into a slight sneer.
“Interesting.”
The lawyer was anything but amused. Sweat poured down his forehead and temples. After taking a deep breath, he extended the docunts he was holding.
“The other side seems to have prepared quite ticulously. This could turn out more serious than expected.”
“I don’t even rember his face. Did we even talk?”
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