* * *
“What did you say?”
CEO Choi’s eyebrows twitched as she repeated the question.
There was a blade-like sharpness to her that reminded Wookyung of Director Min.
Director Min, with his sharply defined features and intense presence, didn’t look much like the CEO physically. CEO Choi gave off a cool and intellectual air.
‘But that part’s the same.’
The displeased expression—the way she held herself—was familiar.
Their tone, their posture, the way they spoke—it was all similar.
Though, that wasn’t the issue right now.
“You must really care about Mr. Saheon. I assume that’s why you’re saying all this to me, even though we’re not even officially together yet.”
CEO Choi studied the young man in front of her again.
When she’d first seen his photo, she thought he just had a soft and neat appearance.
She also knew his track record—his work on past projects had been impressive.
The only downside was that he was a Beta.
Even if a Beta had the same capabilities as an Alpha, she believed that there were limits they couldn’t overcome.
The real issue was that this Beta had his eyes on her nephew.
‘Even if he were an Omega, I’d still have reservations.’
CEO Choi observed him carefully again.
His education was solid, and his family wasn’t struggling financially.
His father, an Alpha, owned a successful small-to-medium enterprise.
On his mother’s side, they had a long history in education and the arts.
But the problem was him. A Beta.
Even if he wasn’t paired with an impressive Omega, Chairman Choi—who had always doted on his grandson—would never approve of a beta.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve looked after that child since he was young. To him, I’m basically a parent.”
And truthfully, CEO Choi did believe that gave her a right.
Saheon had lost his parents at thirteen, and she’d been his guardian ever since.
Though she hadn’t been able to watch over him as attentively as her own children, she’d always provided for him and supported him unconditionally.
Even when she sent him to the U.S., she’d instructed Chief Secretary Ahn—her most trusted aide—to check in personally.
“Right, Saheon did say once that it was his aunt who helped him when he went to the U.S.”
Wookyung deliberately emphasized the blood relation instead of saying “CEO.”
It seemed to work—her expression softened a bit.
“He actually said that?”
Saheon, who never spoke about his personal life?
“Yes. Also, Saheon and I went to the same middle school. We were even in the same class.”
“Oh…”
CEO Choi looked at Wookyung again.
Now that he mentioned it, she vaguely remembered seeing that in his background check.
He’d attended an ordinary middle and high school mostly attended by Betas, but graduated from the same elite university as her son.
That had surprised her.
And he’d even studied in the same department as the Omega who was currently by her son’s side, which had annoyed her.
Remembering all that, her brows furrowed.
“In any case, I have only one reason for being here today. I want you to step away from Saheon.”
Right now, this matter was still under the radar.
But if it reached Chairman Choi’s ears, there was no telling what kind of fallout it would cause.
More precisely, she didn’t want her growing influence within HK Group—something she’d carefully built—to be shaken by something so trivial.
Her position as Saheon’s guardian was the only reason Chairman Choi had tacitly approved of her power.
“Understood. Thank you for being candid.”
CEO Choi stared at Wookyung, unfazed by his boldness.
She knew exactly what he meant.
‘I’ve heard you, but I’ll decide what to do with that.’
“You said your name was Assistant Manager Gil Wookyung, correct?”
She made a point of saying his name again.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I hope you’ll conduct yourself in a way that won’t disappoint me.”
In other words—’I’ll remember you, so tread carefully.’
And if he didn’t, he’d better be ready for what that could mean for his career.
But Wookyung kept a perfectly calm expression as he replied,
“Yes, ma’am.”
Just one word.
CEO Choi said barely a word.
Now, she couldn’t help but wonder—was this beta standing so stiff in front of her because he trusted Saheon, or did he just have something else to lean on?
Even the omega who stayed by her son’s side wasn’t this bold.
The woman, who had been silently observing Wookyung, stood up.
“Take care on your way home, CEO.”
Wookyung bowed politely.
Even as he did, CEO Choi didn’t so much as nod in return.
Left alone, a sigh escaped naturally.
Wookyung rubbed the back of his neck with his palm, then glanced out the window.
He spotted CEO Choi and Chief Secretary Ahn still standing there.
At a distance from them, Saheon’s car sat quietly with its headlights off.
Just like he’d said—he must’ve waited there obediently the entire time.
Somehow, that thought eased his tension more than before, and Wookyung stood still for a moment, gazing toward the car where Saheon waited.
Meanwhile, CEO Choi got into his luxury sedan and disappeared down the road.
Bzzzz. Bzzz.
His phone vibrated as if it had been waiting for the right moment.
“Yes, Saheon.”
—Should I come meet you?
Wookyung let out a faint smile.
‘Come meet him, huh.’
It wasn’t like the distance was far or anything.
But that easygoing tone—somehow it melted away the last bit of unease clinging to his heart like stubborn dust.
“How about a drink at that pojangmacha we went to last time?”
—Sounds great.
He didn’t end the call, just rose to his feet.
Through the window, he could see Saheon walking toward the café.
The smile on his face grew a little deeper than before.
“Wookyung.”
The moment he stepped out of the café, a soft and affectionate voice greeted him.
Unconsciously, Wookyung quickened his steps and walked toward Saheon.
“I did my best, just like you said.”
No other words were really needed.
Saheon smiled, eyes crinkling, and nodded.
“You did well.”
“So, in that spirit—tonight’s drinks are on you.”
“As much as you want.”
They walked shoulder to shoulder, close enough their arms nearly touched.
Every so often, their hands brushed—just barely, just like a coincidence.
It didn’t take long for them to get in the car and leave the café behind.
In the rearview mirror, Saheon looked back at the place fading into the distance.
When Wookyung was talking to CEO Choi, Saheon had called Chief Secretary Ahn.
He had said he’d simply observe from afar so as not to interfere and make things harder for Wookyung—but that was never his real intention.
“Chief Secretary Ahn, I need a word.”
—“Pardon?”
“You see the pavilion at your 2 o’clock? Please head over there. Best we don’t let Wookyung or my aunt notice us.”
He hung up right after making his point and stepped out of the car.
He could see Chief Secretary Ahn heading to the designated spot.
Saheon took another moment to look at Wookyung, still speaking with CEO Choi.
The distance was considerable, but his vision was sharper than most, and Wookyung’s expression was clear to him.
A little tense, maybe, but not discouraged.
Not darkened.
That alone was reassuring—and strangely, exhilarating too.
A memory bubbled up.
Back when guys clung to him like annoying bugs, Wookyung had suddenly appeared.
The way he spoke—aloof, detached—still echoed in his mind.
“Maybe I already started falling for him back then.”
He remembered looking up at him blankly—and how it all came rushing back again.
That small gesture of handing over a handkerchief and a bottle of water, like it was nothing.
The fresh scent of fabric softener, soft on the cloth, mingling with a sweet pheromone.
Even though he knew the handkerchief hadn’t originally been Wookyung’s, he held onto it until the scent faded.
Maybe because of emotions he hadn’t even realized back then.
Even after he went to the U.S., he would think about that moment from time to time.
That face.
Wondering how Wookyung was doing. If he still remembered him.
“You probably had no idea how shocked I was when I saw your photo.”
He didn’t expect to run into Gil Woohyun at the park, or to hear about his younger brother from him.
He never could’ve imagined he’d meet that man again—like that.
But after that, he started collecting every photo, every bit of his daily life, tucking them away inside himself.
It was why, when the chance came, he didn’t hesitate twice before flying back to Korea.
Why he agreed to CEO Choi’s offer, once he learned that Wookyung had worked at HK Furniture.
Even the happiness of actually running into Wookyung on that subway, hoping for just a little luck.
“So don’t give up on me.”
He knew Wookyung wasn’t the kind of person to do that.
But still—he swallowed that silent, earnest hope as he faced Chief Secretary Ahn.
“I don’t care how or when you found out about us. But I don’t want your aunt involving Wookyung like this again.”
“I didn’t see this coming either. I should’ve warned you. I’m sorry.”
Chief Secretary Ahn lowered his head with a faint grimace.
“Please handle things smoothly from your end. It’d be better than me speaking to her directly, wouldn’t it?”
Chief Secretary Ahn kept glancing at him nervously.
And Saheon knew why.
“You better make good on the investment I made in your family.”
“…Understood.”
That was it for now.
He hadn’t even sorted things out with Wookyung yet—he couldn’t afford to escalate.
He just hoped Chief Secretary Ahn had the sense to keep CEO Choi in check.
Once done, Saheon turned and walked away without hesitation.
* * *
