Since he was a guest in his own ho, Heewon couldn’t just offer nothing. He hurried to the kitchen to brew tea.
Opening the cupboard, his eyes caught sight of the Wedgwood tea set, still boxed. He vaguely recalled it was a gift Kwon Youngjae had received two or three years ago and then passed on to him. He wondered if he’d ever use it, and here he was serving it to Kwon—it seed fate had a cruel sense of irony.
He poured strong coffee and carried it to the living room. Sitting cross-legged on the bare floor, Heewon straightened his back. Gazing quietly at the steaming cup, he broke the silence first.
“I heard you had a hard ti because of .”
Kwon set the cup he was holding onto the saucer. Sitting on the sofa, he looked every bit the English nobleman—exuding superiority with his sharp jawline and high nose bridge, softly responding with “Ah.”
Heewon lifted his eyes to et Kwon’s gaze. Receiving a building wasn’t a proposal he could accept lightly. He had to examine everything thoroughly. He rubbed his face as if washing it and sighed deeply.
“If I return to being a secretary, that kind of situation will repeat countless tis.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“Are you prepared to handle that, Executive Director?”
Without a word, Kwon looked down at Heewon and raised his cup again. The porcelain cup with gold rims and blue petals matched him perfectly, without the slightest awkwardness.
“Hold your head high. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“......”
“Did you think you’d get 30 billion won handed to you on a silver platter? You’d better be ready for that much.”
It was a reply typical of Kwon Youngjae, but utterly unhelpful to Heewon, whose pounding head began to ache.
“Give so ti to think.”
“Ten minutes. Decide within that ti.”
“......”
While Heewon rested his elbows on the table and seriously pondered his future, Kwon sat elegantly with crossed legs, waiting for an answer. Before the ti was up, Kwon spoke first.
“Secretary Kim, don’t overthink it.”
“......”
Heewon stretched out the arms that had been supporting his head onto the table. His eyes looking up at Kwon grew clearer. He had made his decision.
“Let’s rewrite the contract. It’ll need a lot of andnts.”
As if expecting those words, Kwon pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket, made a call sowhere, and said, “Co up.” The call ended there.
Less than five minutes later, the doorbell rang. Heewon, startled, opened the door. Standing outside was a man in a sharp suit with a smile.
“Attorney Park.”
“Hello, Secretary Kim. Long ti no see.”
Kwon Youngjae’s legal counsel bowed politely, holding a black briefcase. These people were seriously prepared. Heewon chuckled bitterly at Kwon’s thoroughness in bringing a lawyer. Resigned, he welcod the guest.
They moved to the dining table. Sitting face-to-face at a rather unceremonious negotiation table, tension filled the air. Only Attorney Park wore an ordinary expression.
On the laptop screen was a contract draft with a blinking cursor. Everything was ready. Attorney Park rested both hands on the keypad and gently spoke.
“Please, have a comfortable discussion.”
Silence fell instantly. Kwon’s eyes sharpened as if facing a critical contract.
“First, you’ll need about three months to adapt. The building will be transferred afterward.”
“A probation period? At my career stage?”
“As compensation for that period, I’ll cover the transfer tax.”
Ah, that was acceptable. The taxes would be huge, so he was grateful.
“Your annual salary will remain the sa, with raises according to the standard rate each year. No separate negotiations.”
That was fine, too. Heewon nodded and imdiately responded.
“Please guarantee one day off per week.”
“Keep your demands realistic.”
“I’m making perfectly realistic demands. Secretaries have human rights too.”
“If I need you, of course you’ll move. When have we ever counted days or hours?”
“That’s why we’re negotiating now. I’ve beco soone who can’t live without days off. Without that, I can’t return.”
At Heewon’s firm stance, Kwon’s stern expression hardened further. Cold light flashed beneath his well-grood brows. He swallowed his displeasure.
His long fingers tapped the table twice. After a mont’s thought, his sealed lips parted.
“One day per week. No more.”
“Do you agree, Secretary Kim?”
“Yes.”
He expected firm opposition but was surprised by the smooth acceptance. Pleased with the outco, Heewon made no further objections and added another condition.
“I want no reprimands for pheromone emissions.”
Kwon laughed incredulously, leaning back in his chair with crossed arms. His handso face showed obvious annoyance.
“How much do you plan on leaking?”
“Within reason. You know as a geneticist, no matter how much you try to control it, pheromones sotis co out unconsciously. It’s physiological, so I hope you understand.”
“......”
“You said you want to adapt to Oga pheromones.”
Kwon glanced at Attorney Park and nodded. The lawyer added that clause into the contract.
“But be careful in official settings.”
“Yes.”
“Let be clear, I only tolerate it within daily limits. If you screw up, even as Secretary Kim, there will be no exceptions.”
What obvious nonsense was that? Did he think Heewon was going to seduce him?
Heewon stared incredulously at Kwon, but the sincerity in Kwon’s expression drained his will to argue. Nodding slightly was best.
“You must get a regular checkup every two months. This isn’t just for you; Executive Director, you’ll do it too.”
“No need to schedule separate tis then.”
For the first ti in a while, their opinions aligned, easing the stiff atmosphere. Kwon relaxed his furrowed brow and slouched comfortably.
“Anything else?”
“Oh, when the heat cycle hits, I’ll need vacations too. It’s obvious, but I debated ntioning it—still, it should go in the contract.”
Kwon’s face stiffened as if shocked. He looked like soone who had never imagined Heewon having a heat period.
“Executive Director?”
“...When is the due date?”
“Early November.”
Despite the calm report, Kwon couldn’t ease his expression. As he rubbed his mouth with his palm, Heewon carefully continued.
“Given the circumstances, I won’t be able to handle your rut. I’ll assign a dedicated staff mber for that from now on. They’re familiar to the secretary office, so should I pick from there, or find soone dically qualified?”
After a long pause, Kwon answered.
“Do as you see fit.”
Heewon and Attorney Park discussed the new contract clauses in detail. Kwon’s calm, ticulous tone was the sa capable Kim Heewon Kwon had always known.
Accepting that Heewon was an Oga had taken considerable ti. He acknowledged it but still saw Kim as closer to a Beta.
The thought of Heewon going into heat was unimaginable—no human dignity, just pure instinct.
Kwon pressed gently on the corners of his eyes and exhaled deeply. He forced the thoughts away, feeling that dwelling on them was dangerous. His Alpha senses warned him to stay alert.
At 7:30 a.m., as usual, Kwon Youngjae left for work, bathed in the warm May sunlight. The fresh morning air and perfect weather gradually lifted his heavy mood.
Stepping outside the gate, he saw the familiar sedan and the line of people standing in formation. The driver and Kim Heewon bowed deeply as soon as they saw Kwon.
“Good morning, Executive Director.”
Kwon’s sharp gaze scanned Kim from head to toe—his neat attire, pale face that suited him, and voice that was easy on the ears.
Only then did everything feel in place.
“Good morning.”
Rarely, Kwon greeted them. Kim didn’t make a fuss or show surprise. As usual, he opened the back seat door and gave a slight nod.
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