* * *
Why was Director Choi even there?
He had more than enough time to eat at a proper restaurant.
He could have joined the other employees for lunch, so why was he sitting there alone?
‘Although, I have to admit, the look suits him…’
Sitting alone with his legs crossed, sipping coffee and eating a sandwich, he looked like he belonged in a magazine spread.
Well, it wasn’t surprising—his exceptional looks and physique aside, his aura as an Alpha carried an inherent arrogance that naturally drew people’s attention, like metal to a magnet.
And yet, to Wookyung, he seemed… lonely.
If he was going to be here anyway, he could have at least mentioned it to him.
“Uh… Wookyung?”
“Yes.”
His name being called snapped Wookyung back to reality.
That was when he finally registered that he was sitting in a café with the man he had been introduced to through Assistant Manager Kim.
“Oh… I’m sorry. I got lost in thought about work for a moment.”
“I heard from Hyunsoo that you’ve been too busy with important tasks to make time for anything else. I feel bad, as if I forced you into this meeting.”
If he knew that, then he shouldn’t have set up this meeting in the first place.
Wookyung thought that but, of course, kept it to himself.
Still, he had to at least clarify why he was here.
“Yes. That’s why I only came to say hello. Assistant Manager Kim was insistent, so I gave in.”
His blunt words momentarily flustered the man.
“I’m not looking to meet anyone, nor am I interested in dating. So please don’t contact me through Assistant Manager Kim again. I’ll be leaving now.”
With that firm statement, he rose from his seat.
“Ah, wait…! I—”
The man looked like he had more to say, but Wookyung simply bowed his head slightly and turned away.
There was no reason to see him again, and he had made it clear to Assistant Manager Kim that this was just a courtesy.
Whatever came next was none of his concern.
As he walked away, his gaze, almost instinctively, drifted toward Director Choi’s table.
He was still drinking his coffee.
But… was it just his imagination, or had his shoulders flinched slightly?
“Why are you having a meal here?”
The thought had been nagging him too much to ignore, so he finally asked.
Only then did Director Choi glance up at him, as if he had only just noticed his presence.
“I just wanted something quick. Are you done with your business?”
His gaze was solely fixed on Wookyung, indifferent to where he had come from or what he had been doing moments ago.
“Yes.”
“Alright, let’s go then.”
And with that, he casually tidied up his table and stood up as if it was the most natural thing in the world that they would leave together.
Wookyung stared at him blankly before blurting out, “I was going to stop by the convenience store first.”
It would have been ridiculous to reject a date only to turn around and buy a sandwich in the same café.
Going to a proper restaurant was out of the question, given his time constraints.
So, the best option was to grab a convenience store meal—maybe a bento or a rice ball.
The break room had cup noodles, so he could just eat that with whatever he got.
“Alright.”
…What?
Why did he answer so naturally, as if he planned to follow along?
Surely not.
Watching Director Choi return his tray to the counter, Wookyung instinctively took a cautious step back.
Then, he turned and hurried out of the café, making a beeline for the convenience store connected to the lobby.
Inside, he found it packed with other employees trying to grab a quick meal, much like himself.
As a result, the shelves were nearly empty.
Bentos were completely sold out, sandwiches were gone, and only a few rice balls remained.
‘Not in the mood for black bean sauce flavor… Not feeling the bulgogi either… The pork cutlet one was disappointing last time…’
After scanning his limited choices, he settled on egg butter soy sauce and spicy army stew rice balls.
He reached for his card absentmindedly, but before he could hand it over, a hand suddenly appeared next to his.
A glint of gold caught his eye.
“I’ll pay.”
Right. Lately, most of Wookyung’s meals at the company had been covered by Director Choi.
Earlier, he had even given his card to the employees heading out for lunch.
So, he had another one just for this?
While Wookyung stood there watching, Director Choi completed the payment and casually picked up both rice balls from the counter.
“What are you doing?”
Finally snapping out of his daze, Wookyung frowned in confusion.
“I’ll give them to you later.”
Why?
Why, exactly?
Was he worried about the weight?
Did he think that buying them gave him ownership?
While Wookyung was still trying to wrap his head around it, Director Choi had already stepped out of the store.
Left with no choice, Wookyung trailed after him.
They rode the elevator up together and returned to the office.
“Here.”
Without ceremony, Director Choi placed both rice balls in Wookyung’s hands, as if his job was done.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Wookyung wrinkled his nose.
What was that about?
‘Whatever. I don’t care.’
Shaking his head, he went to the break room and quickly devoured his cup noodles and rice balls.
After brushing his teeth, he was about to sit down at his desk when his messenger app pinged.
The name on the screen was Assistant Manager Kim.
It was only then that Wookyung realized he had completely forgotten about the man he had just met.
Even if he hadn’t been interested, how had he erased him from his mind so easily?
The reason was obvious.
Someone else’s presence had completely overshadowed him.
Meanwhile, the very person who had stolen all his attention—Director Choi—sat at his desk, focused on work as if nothing had happened.
‘Seriously, what’s his deal?’
Whatever it was, checking Assistant Manager Kim’s message came first.
[Assistant Manager Kim: Assistant Manager Gil…… ㅠㅠ
Assistant Manager Kim: That’s so mean……
Assistant Manager Kim: You owe me for the 20% discount……. I even said I’d throw in window tinting and a navigation system, but now……ㅠㅠㅠㅠ ]
At first, the sudden mention of a discount made no sense.
Then, it clicked—maybe that was the price for setting up the blind date.
“He said he’d recommend a dealer when I was buying a car, but turns out he was the one trying to make a deal.”
So he had tried to get a discount through a friend’s recommendation, and when that didn’t work, he offered another method—one that apparently hadn’t gone through either.
But that was Assistant Manager Kim’s problem, not his.
Wookyung sent an emoji expressing his disinterest and closed the chat.
Assistant Manager Kim sent a few more messages, making Wookyung’s phone buzz repeatedly, but he ignored them.
He knew from experience that if he left it alone, Assistant Manager Kim would quiet down on his own.
Instead, Wookyung buried himself in paperwork.
He had to finish up soon if he wanted to hand things over to Associate Choi before the day ended.
Luckily, he wrapped things up within the expected time and started briefing Associate Choi.
He explained which calls to take notes on while he was away, which emails needed to be forwarded to him immediately, and so on.
By the time he finished, it was almost time to leave work.
“Go home early today.”
Taking a short break in the restroom to relieve the stiffness in his neck, Wookyung glanced sideways at Director Choi, who had appeared behind him.
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
Tomorrow, he had to head to the airport early for a business trip.
“There’s no airport bus nearby, so I’ll have to take the subway……”
At least it wouldn’t be as crowded as rush hour.
That was a small relief.
“Be at the parking lot by 7.”
“Huh?”
“We’ll go together.”
Wait, did he just say he’d give him a ride to the airport?
Did he hear that right?
Blinking, Wookyung looked up at Director Choi.
“You don’t want to?”
“No!”
As soon as Wookyung answered, the corner of Director Choi’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Alright then.”
With that, he walked out of the restroom.
Wookyung tilted his head, staring after him.
“Wait, did he come all the way here just to tell me that?”
“He could’ve just sent a message.”
Or maybe he had another reason for coming, and this just happened to come up?
But even that didn’t quite make sense.
After a brief moment of thought, he shrugged it off.
“Whatever. I get to sleep 30 minutes longer tomorrow!”
That was what mattered—the extra sleep and a more comfortable way to get to the airport.
Feeling satisfied, Wookyung hurried back to the office.
“Assistant Manager, something good happen?”
Associate Choi stared at him curiously.
Was it that obvious?
Saying he was happy about a free ride felt a little embarrassing.
“Not really. Did you get everything?”
“……Yes.”
“Good. Then let’s wrap up and call it a day!”
Avoiding the persistent gaze that seemed to be analyzing his mood, Wookyung quickly gathered his things and left.
It was the day before the business trip.
* * *
