* * *
While working, Saheon turned his head.
It was almost quitting time, but Wookyung hadn’t returned to his seat.
Then he remembered: earlier, Wookyung had gone with two people from the design team to inspect furniture samples in the storage room.
[Me: Wookyung, how are you feeling?
Me: If you’re still not well, should I bring you some medicine?]
Almost immediately, Wookyung replied:
[Wookyung: I really am better now.
Wookyung: So you don’t have to worry anymore.]
The message ended with an emoji making an X with its arms and frowning—an unexpectedly cute image that didn’t suit Wookyung’s usually indifferent expression.
It made Saheon smile without thinking.
[Me: Got it. Then let’s clock out right at 6 today.
Wookyung: Sure.
Me: Wait for me in the car. I’ll be there in 5 minutes.]
Saheon had been worried he might refuse, but to his relief, Wookyung agreed immediately.
He recalled how, when they first started dating, Wookyung had insisted they pretend not to know each other at work.
But thinking back, Wookyung had never truly opposed Saheon when he proposed something.
He might hesitate—but in the end, he always went along.
Just as he was setting his phone down, it rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and frowned.
“…What now?”
It was someone who barely spoke to him, not even exchanging greetings in person.
What could they want all of a sudden? He hesitated for a second, then answered the call.
Elsewhere
CEO Choi tried not to frown as she looked at the son sitting in front of her.
“Honestly, it might be better that way. Then Jaehyun would just do what I want.”
On the surface, her reasoning sounded logical.
But unfortunately, her trust in her son had dipped below 10%—and that had been the case for quite some time.
Frankly, she trusted her son’s Omega more than she trusted him.
That’s why, even though she still wasn’t happy about it, she was trying to come to terms with the situation.
“You think overseas assignments are that easy to get? You need an opening. And if you leave now, how do you think that’ll make me look?”
“Why? Secretary Ahn’s got everything under control.”
Where had his sense gone?
He completely missed the nuance in her words.
As a child, he had once been praised for being mature, befitting an Alpha.
Even in college, he’d stood out.
But once he entered society, he seemed more like a shiny piece of glass than a solid gem.
‘No—that can’t be. My son would never…’
CEO Choi shook away the creeping doubt.
He was her pride and joy—a dominant Alpha in the top 4% of the country, destined to lead the company after her.
If she ever rose to the position of Chairwoman, he’d be her powerful successor.
She couldn’t afford to diminish someone like that.
‘This is all his fault.’
Her forehead creased at the image of that pretty face, still so stiff and defiant, simply because he was a dominant Omega.
“Ma’am, you’ll get wrinkles.”
Right on cue, Secretary Ahn—who stood as if she were barely there—gently reminded her.
CEO Choi quickly relaxed her expression.
She glanced briefly at Secretary Ahn.
She didn’t say thanks, or give a nod—but Secretary Ahn would understand her intent perfectly.
That was the kind of relationship they had.
Which was why CEO Choi could entrust her with the most vexing tasks.
“And even if I step away, there’s someone to take my place.”
Her son was still talking nonsense.
“Take your place? Who?”
“Director Choi Saheon.”
Who was this person sitting across from her?
Where had her proud, capable Alpha son gone?
She had forgotten the truth—that she had overestimated him all along.
His seemingly capable self had only existed because there had always been someone propping him up, guiding him, supporting him.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“What’s so ridiculous? You brought Choi Saheon back for that reason, didn’t you?”
“What reason? There’s no such thing. I just thought he’d been away too long, so I brought him back.”
“…Yeah? That so?”
There’s no way that could be true.
Looking at his son, who had one leg crossed and an arm slung carelessly over the back of the sofa, grinning like a delinquent, CEO Choi forcibly smoothed out the frown threatening to crease his forehead again.
There are things in this world one has to pretend not to know, even when they do.
Even if they catch on, they must act oblivious.
Her nephew’s situation was one of those cases.
It was true she’d summoned him for her own needs, but that was something only a trusted few needed to be aware of.
“Anyway, hurry up and get something arranged. Jaehyun’s been saying for a while now that he wants to live in New York, so that’s a good option. I’m not really into it, but Paris wouldn’t be bad either, especially since it’s home to that architecture foundation he likes.”
Hearing things like that, it didn’t seem like her son had completely lost his mind.
If he were a real idiot, he wouldn’t start by bringing up someone else’s weakness before making his own demands.
“Fine. Just get a firm confirmation from Manager Shin. He has to promise to bring me back an Alpha grandchild within a year. If that’s the condition, I’ll have the position ready immediately.”
Whatever the case, if it meant that the long-stalled relationship between the two would improve, it was something worth considering from CEO Choi’s perspective.
Of course, whether or not it would actually happen would depend on the situation at the time.
“If you tell him that yourself, I’ll have something to say to Jaehyun too. He’s been seriously sulking lately, and he won’t calm down over anything minor.”
CEO Choi had already heard that the two had a pretty serious fight a few days ago.
When she found out the Omega even said he wanted to break up this time, she figured her son was looking for a new tactic.
It must have had something to do with going overseas with her son.
“Don’t tell me… he’s the one who brought that up first?”
“Shin Jaehyun? With that pride of his? Not a chance.”
CEO Choi quietly studied her son’s face as he scowled, as if remembering something unpleasant.
Usually, when that guy did something unexpected, it was because of the Omega by his side.
So this time too, she had to consider the possibility that the idea was planted.
With the pressure rising, that one probably couldn’t hold out any longer and was now trying to find a way to escape.
“Then why bring this up out of nowhere?”
“We’ve been preparing for the expo in the U.S., right? One of Jaehyun’s favorite juniors is working there.”
“Favorite junior?”
“Yeah. Someone named Gil Wookyung. He’s on Director Choi’s team.”
A memory of a cheeky Beta flashed in CEO Choi’s mind.
The one who brushed her off when she told him not to date her nephew, calling it meddlesome.
When she advised him to end it, he looked her straight in the eyes and said he’d take her words to heart.
“He said that if he were a bit younger, he might’ve tried going for Jaehyun himself. Said it was a shame.”
That comment had stuck with her—she hadn’t been able to get a straight answer back then.
Remembering it now, she decided to ask her son.
“What about Saheon and that guy?”
“What about them?”
“Are they dating?”
“Hm? Those two? Them? Dating?”
Her son’s indifferent tone made it clear he had no idea.
CEO Choi let out a long sigh. Leading a company required more than just handling tasks—it also meant having a decent grasp of what was going on around you.
You didn’t need to know every little detail under a microscope, but at the very least, you should know what’s happening in your own vicinity.
Acting this oblivious was just pathetic.
“They seemed like they were.”
“That’s unexpected.”
Her son wiggled his foot, seemingly genuinely surprised.
“Gil Wookyung hates workplace romance. He’s built a wall around himself after all the crap we pulled.”
Then, laughing like he found it all amusing, he suddenly looked like a child again, making a sharp pain throb at her temple.
It was a symptom that always appeared when something started to bother her.
While pressing her finger against it, her clueless son suddenly called someone.
“Hey, Director Choi? It’s me. You free right now? Come up to the president’s office real quick.”
Whatever the other party said, Director Min just hung up with a smile still on his face.
When CEO Choi asked why on earth he was calling her nephew, her son just grinned and didn’t give a straight answer.
“You called for me?”
Before long, her nephew, Saheon, appeared.
He greeted them politely, only for her proud son to blurt out something absurd.
“I’m thinking of heading overseas with Jaehyun for a few years. In the meantime, Director Choi, you can keep the company running for me, right?”
Saheon’s eyebrows lifted slightly at those words.
But just as quickly, he returned to his usual composed expression and spoke.
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to imply, but if this is about management rights, you don’t need to worry, Director Min. I’m not interested. If it comes to that, I’d gladly hand over all my shares to Aunt.”
At that, CEO Choi raised her head, removing her finger from her temple.
Saheon’s eyes, as always, were clear and unwavering.
* * *
