10 rules of a Secretary chapter 86

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“…How long are you planning to keep saying that?”

The sudden outburst startled me awake.

The sun had already slipped beneath the horizon, leaving only a faint scarlet glow as its last trace, coloring the sea.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, which still felt heavy, and stifled a yawn as I pulled myself together.

After blinking a few times to clear my head, I tuned into the sounds coming from the entrance.

“If marriage is that important to you…”

Leaning forward to catch the faintly audible voice, I realized what was happening.

It wasn’t often he raised his voice.

Only one topic usually managed to rile him up like this: matchmaking, marriage.

Hearing that word made it clear.

Usually, his conversation partner was either the chairman himself or his secretary.

Judging by the respectful tone he was using this time, it was likely the chairman.

“You’re the one who… Father!”

Even straining to listen, it was hard to make out any more from where I sat.

Leaning back against the sunbed, I shifted my gaze toward the staircase.

Han Doha, who was spitting out frustrated words, finally fell silent.

A moment later, a loud crash echoed through the house, as if something had been shattered or smashed.

That temper of his—he really hated the idea of marriage meetings.

This reaction was all too familiar.

After the noises had mostly subsided, I figured it was safe to check on him.

Wrapping a nearby blanket around myself, I carefully made my way down to the first floor.

Rounding the corner, I was taken aback by the chaos that greeted me.

Broken pots littered the floor, dirt scattered everywhere, and shards of glass, ceramic, and decorative books lay across the floor with a toppled lamp.

It was hard to see in the dim light, with only the faint glow of a dying lamp casting a weak light over the mess.

I shuffled carefully, nudging aside a few pieces with my slippered feet, wary of the crunching sounds as I stepped through.

That was when I spotted him, sitting on a single-seater sofa in a corner of the living room.

“CEO… no, Han Doha.”

I caught myself before using his title, quickly adjusting my tone.

Saying the wrong thing when he was this upset would only lead to more broken objects.

Navigating through the scattered sharp pieces on the floor, I made my way over to him.

He was hunched over, one hand covering his face, and his breath was still uneven, his shoulders rising and falling with each exhale.

“Are you all right?”

“…Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, coming all the way here, juggling a business trip with a vacation, only to hear about marriage arrangements must’ve thrown you off. Why don’t you just attend one, if it’s such a big deal to everyone? Why resist this much?”

As soon as I finished speaking, he dropped his hand and sighed deeply.

“Why haven’t you eaten? I kept clearing space, hoping you’d feel comfortable enough to have a meal.”

“I didn’t think I’d earned the right to take advantage of that.”

“So what did you eat?”

“Just… snacks?”

“And you’re aware I prepared those snacks, right?”

I hadn’t realized.

If I had, I’d have taken a walk instead.

I pushed down my discomfort and used my foot to shove aside a stray glass shard, making space to kneel and meet his gaze.

“Ah…!”

Before I could react, Han Doha grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms.

The warmth of his body radiated even through the thick blanket.

In that moment, he felt like he could boil water.

He must have been quite angry.

Squirming slightly in his hold, I murmured softly,

“You’re aware this counts as harassment, right?”

“It’s only harassment if you feel violated. Didn’t you once say you didn’t mind?”

Would I even be human if I didn’t feel anything?

Ever since that first time we were together, I couldn’t help but flush every time our skin brushed.

Just remembering the efforts I made to hide my reactions felt exhausting.

I tried to remove his arm wrapped around my shoulder, but, as always, he didn’t budge.

“Well, I feel something now. Even if it was unavoidable, it’s not something that just… disappears.”

“A major development,” he smirked, giving a slight clap.

Leaning back into the sofa, he sighed again, tilting his head up as he closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath.

“Should I go on this date, then?”

“And you’re asking me this because…?”

“I want your answer. So answer me.”

“Who’s the candidate?”

I asked as if my answer would change based on the person.

With another heavy sigh, he finally responded.

“The second daughter of JS Hotel. She’s a highly compatible omega, named Hong Yookyung. Her grandmother is a Dominant Alpha, so she’s highly sought after for potential heirs.”

A Dominant Alpha, one of the rarest.

I mentally sifted through the influential families, recalling there were two prime omega lineages and five alpha families, one of which was tied to JS Hotel.

“JS Hotel… They recently expanded into resorts. It’s a stable, reputable company, with no major scandals. Seems like a decent match. Is this the chairman’s choice?”

“Yes.”

Sitting neatly on his lap, I began to think things over.

JS Group had recently ventured into the resort business, but their mainstay had always been hotels.

Recently, they’d opened branches in Singapore and Japan, and with a partnership with his company, the potential profits could be substantial.

After considering the options, I nodded calmly.

“You should at least meet her. It’s not a bad match.”

“Is that your professional opinion, or your personal one?”

“My professional opinion.”

“And your personal opinion?”

What did it matter what I thought?

Han Doha was meant to climb higher, and he’d already proved himself at Reed Construction.

His capability could take him beyond the Daewon Group, to even greater heights.

For someone like him, I was no more than a temporary contractual partner, a disposable asset bound by genetics.

Today or even tomorrow, things could change, no matter my opinion.

And more likely than not, whatever answer I gave would only lead to more complications for me.

“Why is the chairman so insistent on marriage? The company’s public image is stable, especially with Vice President Han already engaged.”

“Because… Oh, never mind.”

He abruptly tightened his grip around my waist, his head resting on my shoulder as he took a deep breath, and after a moment, he murmured,

“It’s not about the marriage itself. For the chairman…”

“Yes?”

“For the chairman, what matters is my mother, not me.”

Caught off guard by the sudden family issue, I blinked in surprise.

Han Doha’s mother had been in seclusion at a villa for years, and to my knowledge, the chairman had long treated her as little more than a stranger.

I’d lived under this impression for eight years, so it was surprising to hear he still held her in high regard.

Han Doha, after taking another deep breath, began pressing gentle kisses on my neck.

The soft sounds filling the quiet room made my heart pound as I finally managed to push his head away, muttering,

“Please stop.”

“I can smell your pheromones. This is the best I can do right now. Are you still taking your suppressants?”

“…Just in small doses.”

I glanced away, hoping for some reaction, but his “Good job” brought me unexpected relief.

“Take them properly even if I’m not around.”

“Maybe keeping up the usual routine is safer… right?”

“Then feel free to stay unrestrained and let me wear you out, day and night. Although, judging by the intensity of your scent, it’s clear you wouldn’t mind.”

He pursed his lips, lowering the hand he had rested on his head.

If he had known things would turn out like this, he would have paid more attention in Genetics class.

Since he’d only memorized everything about alphas, he knew next to nothing about omegas.

Feeling a tickling sensation at his fingertips from the man’s persistent kisses, he clenched his hands together tightly.

“I need to get married and have a child. That’s why my mother keeps pushing matchmaking candidates on me daily. She needs something for appearances’ sake, and, well, it wouldn’t hurt if she could profit off the arrangement, too. She knows I’m only visible to her if I fulfill those expectations.”

“…….”

“She’s probably desperate. But that’s her business, not mine. Whether her insides rot or her nerves fray, I don’t really care. I don’t have the time to be concerned about it.”

If someone overheard, they might think he was the youngest prince declaring his ambition to dethrone his father and take the crown.

I mulled over his words, then a question crossed my mind.

If matchmaking was merely a facade, why had he gone to the point of almost getting engaged with that Kim Jungha guy?

“So, what made Jungha different enough to get to the engagement stage?”

“…I ignored him because I didn’t need to deal with him, and he took it upon himself to escalate things to an engagement. I didn’t agree to it, so I called it off. Anyway, that bridge is burnt. Now, the chairman… he’s just trying his luck with someone else.”

The bottom line was that, in the future, he would marry an omega.

One from a family of suitable status, with whom he would have children, leading a relatively stable family life.

Imagining such a future left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Then, you’ll need to end things with your current partner.”

“Like you said, it’s only polite. I’ll give you what you want.”

He pressed his lips lightly against the nape of my neck before resting his face against my shoulder again.

I stifled a sigh as I looked at his well-kept hair.

The dim light pricked at my skin, or maybe it was just my heart aching.

I gazed up at the ceiling, tinged a dark gray, and spoke, my voice heavy.

“Then go on with your match.”

My quiet words made Han Doha’s body stiffen.

He shifted away from me slightly, trying to gauge my expression, but I turned my head deliberately, pretending to be indifferent as I continued.