10 rules of a Secretary chapter 90

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“You’ve got a nice scent,” she remarked softly. “Not exactly sweet… An Alpha, maybe? It’s been a while since I’ve caught such a clean scent. With a scent like that, if you’re an Omega, you’d have to be a dominant one… You’ve got the looks for an Alpha, though.”

What nonsense is she going on about?

I blinked slowly, watching as she twirled the empty glass in her delicate, porcelain-like fingers.

A realization hit me—I’d forgotten my suppressant due to all the stress.

Feeling uneasy, I sniffed my arm.

Thankfully, there wasn’t any unusual scent, just a faint trace of the cologne Han Doha frequently used.

“It’s just cologne. Besides, I’m a Beta, so I don’t have a scent.”

Honestly, I didn’t really know what my scent was.

I was acutely aware of Han Doha’s distinct rosewood scent, but I’d always been numb to my own.

Probably a side effect of the suppressants.

Lost in thought, I snapped out of it when she laughed with a light, mocking tone.

“Oh, that’s an amusing story. Cologne?”

“…Yes?”

She giggled again, placing the empty glass back on the table and flashing a charming smile.

“You’re telling me that Alpha trash wore that cheap cologne?”

I instinctively pulled back, but she leaned even closer, bringing her nose to the side of my neck and inhaling deeply.

My fingertips twitched involuntarily.

Trying to mask my tension, I spoke in a measured voice.

“Han Doha frequently wears that cologne. Since you spent last night with him, I assumed you’d know that.”

Swallowing nervously, I responded, and she laughed again, tapping the empty glass on the table as she leaned halfway toward my seat.

Positioned in a secluded spot, we were mostly out of sight, but over her shoulder, I could see the security guard observing us with a persistent gaze.

“Han Doha’s quite the cunning bastard,” she murmured, leaning so close that it looked like she was ready to kiss me.

Pressing my lips tightly together, the lingering taste of alcohol scratched at my throat.

“You claim you’re a Beta, so why don’t we kiss? If this is just cologne, then there shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, your face is my type.”

“Ms. Hong Yookyung, please, this is… ugh…!”

As her lips drew near, something tugged at my collar, pulling me to the side.

Gasping, I glanced around and saw the security guard who had been watching us now firmly gripping my shoulder.

He looked at us with disdain and spoke in a stiff voice.

“CEO. It’s broad daylight, and people can see.”

“Who’s watching? Only you are. All you need to do is keep quiet.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

The guard snatched up the clutch she had left on the table, extending a hand toward her.

Hong Yookyung chuckled and wiggled her fingers playfully as though tipsy, prompting the guard to drape a striking red jacket over her shoulders.

“If the Chief of Security insists, I suppose I must comply. What’s next on my schedule?”

“I’ll inform you once we’re en route. Shall we?”

Their conversation felt like some bizarre role reversal. Leaning against the wall, I watched them both with a dazed blink.

What on earth just happened?

Before I could even form the question, Hong Yookyung pulled something from her jacket pocket, slipping it into my chest pocket as she drew close, almost covering the act.

“You’ll probably need this, so I’m giving it to you.”

She whispered this into my ear before stepping back and blowing a kiss my way.

“Consider it my gift. I’ll bill the company. That room doesn’t come cheap.”

“CEO.”

At the guard’s low, restrained voice, she blew another kiss and smiled endearingly.

Even after they disappeared, I remained pressed against the wall.

Fumbling with the card in my chest pocket, I pulled it out with a faint grimace.

What was this, exactly? It felt like I’d just been used.

Once I reached the top floor of the hotel, I paused in the quiet corridor, trying to gather my thoughts.

I had a lot of questions for Han Doha.

Enjoying your solo return?

Wasn’t it nice taking a direct flight on a private jet?

Why did you work on your vacation?

If I didn’t mentally rehearse these, I’d blurt out everything in a jumbled mess.

The corridor was eerily silent.

Not a single sound of life.

And no wonder—there was only one suite on the entire top floor.

My reflection on the spotless marble floor was the sole blemish, making me feel out of place.

Lowering my gaze, I toyed with the card Hong Yookyung had given me.

The sleek black card bore only two gold letters, “JS,” in an ornate script.

Nothing else.

A card prepared solely for this suite, designed with the impeccable simplicity that the elite seem to love.

So this is where she spent her wild night.

She’d only referred to it as “the night,” but I could instinctively sense what that implied.

Why else would she go to such lengths?

The twenty-two lovers who claimed to have never met him must have all been lying.

Honestly, who could resist, looking at that massive frame?

Even I, who’d never had anything resembling a sexual encounter, had barely managed to hold myself together.

As Han Doha lay there, drenched in sweat, his broad chest expanding with each breath, his muscles flexing, and that single tear-shaped mole catching my gaze every time he frowned slightly… Setting his personality aside, Han Doha had a pretty impressive package.

“I really don’t have any right to judge this man’s love life… but isn’t there something called basic decency?”

Standing before the door, I decided to give Han Doha a call just in case.

This time, the ringtone only sounded twice before the call went straight to voicemail.

So that’s how it’s going to be, huh? Forcing a smile, I swiped my access card and flung open the door.

“CEO Han Doha! I’m coming in!”

Uncharacteristically loud, I changed into the waiting slippers and strode purposefully down the hallway.

I really needed to catch this little brat and give him a piece of my mind.

With resolute determination, I threw open the door that seemed to lead to the bedroom.

“Ugh…”

The room was thick with an overwhelming scent that seemed to explode toward me.

It was a fragrance I recognized well—Han Doha’s pheromones.

Faintly sweet, laced with elegant rosewood.

Reflexively, I clamped a hand over my nose, closing my eyes tight before opening them again.

The intangible pheromones were almost suffocating.

This had never happened before.

Not during the last two heat cycles, nor when we’d both been drunk—it had never been this intense.

He always let out his scent with care, like he was gently brushing over me.

But now, it felt sharp, violent, like it could tear at my skin.

The scent was so thick and potent it numbed my senses.

I took several breaths with my nose held, letting myself get accustomed to it, but an inexplicable fear crawled up my spine.

The mysterious sensation that made my back go cold kept me from entering the room.

Instead, I called out to Han Doha from the doorway.

But there was nothing in the room except a rumpled bed. No sign of him.

“CEO. Are you here? CEO Han Doha!”

Stuck by the door, unable to move either forward or back, I swallowed nervously, taking a careful step forward.

As I tensed my body and moved a bit further, I heard the faint clink of ice nearby.

Startled, I turned to see Han Doha sprawled on an antique-looking sofa.

Surrounding him were countless bottles of liquor, wine, and beer.

Some of the glass bottles were even shattered.

He was barely holding onto an on-the-rocks glass with his fingers.

Half-lidded eyes, an unfocused gaze, empty bottles scattered around, and the pheromone filling the room.

It was his rut.

Though the conclusion was clear, I couldn’t approach him easily.

I’d seen his rut a few times before, but this was the first time it looked like this.

The difference from the past eight years was stark.

What could have changed?

“…Suppressant.”

That was the only thing different.

Because of that, I couldn’t approach him.

If something were to go wrong…

The only way I knew to handle an Alpha’s rut was through one specific method, yet he never resorted to it.

He’d spent his life restraining himself.

Why would this time be any different?

I stood three steps away from the door, staring at him sprawled on the sofa, then cautiously took a step back.

Staying here didn’t seem like it would do him any good.

Perhaps it would be better to come back after his rut passed, in a week…

“Seonyul.”

A voice, tinged with longing, froze me in place.

Slowly, I turned, feeling his dwindling pheromone reach me. He was looking straight at me now.

Our eyes met naturally, and Han Doha waved his hand with a slight smile.

“I told you to take a vacation. How did my secretary find me here?”

“I had some… major business deals to attend to. Why didn’t you warn me about your rut?”

“What did you think would happen with an Omega nearby while I’m cutting down on suppressants? Go. I’ll just deal with it myself.”

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