OCMG chapter 14

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“Wow, Assistant Yoo, how did you handle that jerk?”

“Seriously. Did you see him leave with a smile earlier? I got chills.”

Questions bombarded Junhee as he returned from seeing Moon Doyoung off to the elevator.

The team members had been on edge, worried that the mood from yesterday would result in a slap across Junhee’s face.

Junhee, feeling overwhelmed by the gazes of his teammates, as if he were some kind of hero, took a step back before responding.

“…I just followed the manual.”

It was an answer akin to a top student saying, “I just studied by the textbook,” but there wasn’t much else he could say.

The reason Moon Doyoung’s anger subsided wasn’t really because Junhee handled things well; it was because Doyoung wanted something from him.

The youngest staff member approached hesitantly and said,

“I was afraid you might throw the coffee in his face, so I took a while to cool it down before bringing it to you…”

“…Thank you.”

In any case, from Junhee’s perspective, he had unwittingly formed a sort of alliance with Moon Doyoung. The problem, however, was this:

‘I have to convince Ki Taeryu.’

Meetings require mutual agreement, and he needed to get Ki Taeryu’s consent.

He knew he needed to contact Ki Taeryu, but his fingers were reluctant to move.

Missed calls, dried pollack soup.

Setting that aside, he had to make the call because of the meeting with Moon Doyoung.

‘It’s not over yet.’

He hesitated, fearing that if he called first, Ki Taeryu might tell his to come to the office again.

Calls with him always ended like that.

The lingering effect of the “heat cycle” hadn’t completely faded, and he was reluctant to meet Ki Taeryu, who emitted intense pheromones.

Especially since the scent of his pheromones from their last meeting was still fresh in his memory.

‘Yeah, it’s still a bit dangerous right now.’

Deciding to postpone it for now, Junhee continued with his work until well past quitting time, finally picking up the phone.

He vaguely recalled a few team members saying goodbye, but when he came to his senses, he was alone in the empty office.

7:30 PM.

Staring blankly at the screen, Junhee decided to wait a little longer.

Based on past patterns, Ki Taeryu would usually call his to the office around this time. If he got past this time, he was likely already off work or had other plans.

“It’s a bit chilly.”

He got up to close the window he had opened for ventilation.

On his way back, he fetched some water from the cooler. It was for taking a sedative.

Returning to his seat, Junhee took out the hidden pills, swallowed one, and gulped down some water.

“Assistant Yoo Junhee.”

Caught off guard by the sudden appearance of an unexpected guest, Junhee coughed out a “cough!” and started coughing.

The bitter pill stuck in his throat, triggering a series of small coughs.

Raising his head, he saw Ki Taeryu standing there.

“Director, how did you end up here…?”

“I came to check if you had run off.”

“…..”

He was no different from a loan shark.

“So you really are sick, huh? What kind of medicine is it?”

He hadn’t noticed if he had concealed his presence or his pheromones, but he hadn’t realized he was there until he was standing right in front of him.

As Ki Taeryu moved closer, his pheromone scent washed over to him like a wave.

“…Just a cold.”

Pretending to wipe his mouth with his sleeve, he covered his nose and took a step back. It felt dangerous.

“Doesn’t look like a hangover. A cold, then?”

“Yes. I was just about to contact you….”

“Were about to?”

“I was just about to call you now.”

Ki Taeryu stared deep into Junhee’s face as if he could read his mind. As was his habit, he lowered his head, but Ki Taeryu reached out a finger and lifted his chin.

“Your face looks quite pale.”

His low-chroma eyes scanned Junhee’s trembling lips. His skin, like a peeled tangerine, was pale and peeling. He tried hard to avoid his relentless gaze.

“…Thank you for the food you sent. But next time, you don’t need to send anything. I appreciate the thought.”

Junhee didn’t know how Ki Taeryu had gotten his address, but he was subtly asking him not to do something so invasive again.

Ki Taeryu’s fingers, which had traced up Junhee’s chin, pressed lightly on his lower lip.

“Then don’t make me worry.”

“…”

“Do you have a dog at home?”

“Sorry?”

“There was a big mutt whining at your door.”

After a moment of confusion brought on by the tension, Junhee understood what Ki Taeryu meant.

“He’s a younger friend of mine. Not a mutt.”

“Oh. From outside your place, he looked just like a lost dog.”

Junhee frowned unconsciously. His words sounded like a threat, as if he were monitoring his every move.

Contrary to his expectations, it seemed Ki Taeryu hadn’t sent someone to drop things off; he had come by himself.

He called it concern, but for the person on the receiving end, it was no different from stalking.

“I came by because I was worried since I couldn’t reach you.”

“Are you saying you were too sick to take calls?”

“From now on, I will make sure to answer your calls, Director. I have no intention of running away. So, please, don’t keep surveillance on me.”

He still didn’t understand why he was so obsessed with him over some contract.

Then again, it wasn’t like he was someone he could ever fully understand.

“Have you eaten?”

“I don’t feel like eating.”

Today, Junhee decisively expressed his refusal.

At the same time, he brushed his hand, which had been grazing his lips, somewhat roughly away.

Feeling a bit guilty about being too harsh, he added a few words.

“My stomach still isn’t feeling well.”

Even though it was only his gaze skimming over the corners of his reddened eyes, it felt as warm as if his fingers were actually touching her.

“I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No, that’s alright.”

“In that case, I’ll drive you myself.”

Ki Taeryu spun his keyring around his finger.

Why hadn’t he realized sooner that there had never been more than one option?

Junhee replied in a weary tone.

“Please just take me near my place.”

---

The black sedan carrying Junhee moved toward an unspoken destination.

Turning his head to face the window, Junhee leaned against the wind pouring in through the slightly open window.

In the confined space, Ki Taeryu’s pheromones kept invading his nostrils without permission.

To hide his trembling fingers, he clenched his fists tightly.

‘Good thing I took the medicine just before.’

If he hadn’t taken his medication before Ki Taeryu arrived, it might have been much harder to endure.

“What did you spray?”

Ki Taeryu, holding the steering wheel, broke the silence first.

Junhee stiffened, wondering if he could somehow smell his pheromones.

“I smell a perfume that wasn’t there before.”

“Ah… I had a meeting with a client today, so it must have lingered.”

Only then did Junhee relax a little and lift his arm to bring his sleeve to his nose.

Could the scent from his meeting with Moon Doyeong in the consultation room have lingered?

No matter how deeply he sniffed, Junhee couldn’t catch any scent at all.

“Moon Doyeong?”

“…Yes.”

What is he, a bloodhound?

Junhee replied calmly, pretending to be surprised.

He hadn’t planned on bringing it up today, but since it had come up, he decided he might as well address it.

“Um, Director.”

“What is it?”

“How did the date on Friday go?”

The car screeched to a halt.

The sudden stop caused the seatbelt to press against his chest as his upper body was thrust forward.

He thought they might have crashed, but it was just the side of the road.

Ki Taeryu’s head tilted slightly toward Junhee.

Feeling like he was being accused of a crime he hadn’t committed, he hurried to add an explanation.

“If you could share your thoughts on the meal, the location, and the ambiance, and whether the etiquette or manners of the other party were appropriate, it would be helpful for arranging future meetings.”

The response to Junhee’s lengthy explanation was shockingly brief.

“Not great.”

“…Could you be more specific?”

“It wasn’t particularly enticing. They were a bit snappy, and it gave me a headache.”

“This client is one of our highest-ranking Omega members. It would be challenging to find someone with better credentials.”

“So, should I just settle?”

The arrogance in his sideways glance was incredibly off-putting, but he wasn’t wrong.

“Of course, if you’d like, we can continue matching you with others, but I should let you know beforehand…”

“If there’s no one that suits me, then you should find someone who can.”

A lingering gaze settled on Junhee’s chapped lips.

His mouth felt dry as if exposed to scorching sunlight. He needed to say something, but words wouldn’t come easily.

“Perhaps an Omega who behaves as obediently as Assistant Yoo Junhee Junhee, like a Beta.”

Ki Taeryu’s heavy pheromones seemed to press down on his body.

While he was just mouthing silently, even more shocking words reached his ears.

“Occasionally, I hear there are Betas who, when intimate with a dominant Alpha, can manifest as an Omega.”

“No, thank you.”

“Can you specify what part?”

Junhee bit his lower lip.

He was sure Ki Taeryu was throwing his own words back at him.

“I just don’t like it. All of it.”

“Is it having sex with me? Or becoming an Omega?”

His teasing gaze landed on Junhee’s trembling lips.

Junhee made a vow to himself. Do not give Ki Taeryu the reaction he wants. Do not waver, do not tremble.

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