The bar was dim, quiet, and filled with that elegant air Jisung always seemed to prefer. As soon as Soo-hyun walked in, Jisung was already there, flashing his usual smug grin.
"Glad you were able to come, Mr. Je."
Soo-hyun's expression stayed neutral. "Please, Mr. Kwon. It's not like this is the first time I've agreed to meet with you."
Jisung chuckled softly, pretending not to notice the frost in his words. "Of course." He motioned with a sweep of his hand. "Shall we?"
Soo-hyun sat down beside him. And just as always, Jisung launched into his endless chatter about business, power, influence—things Soo-hyun had no interest in. His tone was boastful, his words circling the same points. And Soo-hyun quietly thought that if he listened any longer, his ears might start bleeding.
Meanwhile, Kiyonari was sprinting down the street, heart racing, lungs burning. He stopped right in front of the bar leaning on his knees for a breath. Damn it... I hope nothing bad happened.
He pushed open the door and scanned the room. Empty.
He hurried to the counter. "Excuse me. Did you see two men—one in a dark suit, the other in a light-colored one?"
The bartender looked up from polishing a glass. "Ah, yes. I believe the two gentlemen already left."
Kiyonari's pulse spiked. "They left? When?"
The bartender thought for a moment. "Hmm... about five minutes ago...?"
"Shit!" Kiyonari hissed under his breath. Panic shot through him. If Jisung had led Soo-hyun somewhere else, it couldn't mean anything good.
He bolted out of the bar, fumbling for his phone. The one person who might know where they'd gone came to mind instantly. His fingers trembled as he dialed.
The call connected. "Hello?"
"Ms. Song!" Kiyonari voice broke with urgency. "It's me, Soo Kihyun."
There was a pause on the other end before she spoke, wary.
"Mr. Soo. Why did you call—"
"Do you know where Mr. Kwon might be right now?" He cut her off.
"Huh? I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that—"
"That ultrasound..."
The silence that followed was heavy, cutting through the noise of the street around him. Mina froze on the other end. Her eyes widened as if someone had struck her.
"H-How did you... know that?" Her voice cracked faintly.
Kiyonari closed his eyes, exhaling sharply.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to use it against you. But that day—at the hallway, you dropped it on the floor. I didn't mean to see it, but... I picked it up."
For a moment, Mina didn't answer. The weight of the secret hung between them, fragile.
On the other end of the line, silence dragged, filled only faint static. Kiyonari gripped his phone tighter, teeth clenched. "Listen, Ms. Song."
"As you know... Each candidates should meet the requirements. If they ever don't meet one, or even violate the rules, it could never be good for Mr. Kwon's reputation—let alone to his company."
Finally, Mina's shaky voice came through.
"... Mr. Soo. You shouldn't get involved in this any further."
"But I already am," Kiyonari said firmly. "If I don't do anything now, who knows what could happen to Director Je?"
Beta or Omega... being alone with an Alpha like Jisung could still trigger something dangerous. Considering how many times Jisung failed his matchmaking before—it only makes sense that he might have done something to disqualified him over and over again.
I knew I should've stopped Mr. Je from meeting that guy. Kiyonari thought. After doing some deep research about Jisung, Kiyonari's unease only grew.
"So, please, tell me what you know, Ms. Song."
Mina bit her lips, her free hand pressing against her stomach instinctively. "If he ever finds out I told you..." Her voice quivered.
"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility," Kiyonari pressed, his tone desperate. "I'll be the one to take any consequences if I'm ever wrong."
I just want to make sure that he's okay. And if my suspicion is wrong.
There was a long pause. He almost thought she had hung up. But then—
"They're at the Grand Hotel," she whispered. "It's owned by Mr. Kwon's family. Top floor suite. He... he usually takes people there when he doesn't want anyone interrupting."
Kiyonari's breath caught.
"Ms. Song... thank you." His voice softened, but it still carried urgency.
"Mr. Soo... be careful," she added quietly, almost like a plea. "If you go there, you might end up in trouble too. Jisung is not someone who let others off easily."
He called him by his name. Kiyonari said internally.
The line went dead.
Kiyonari lowered his phone, heart pounding. He clenched his fist tightly.
Without wasting another second, he started running.
*****
The suite's dim lights cast a faint golden hue across the room. The steady creak of the mattress was the only sound at first, until Jisung shifted and rose from the bed with his usual grin.
Soo-hyun's sharp eyes flicked across the spacious room, the polished mahogany furniture, and the massive window that stretched from floor to ceiling. Beyond it, the city lights shimmered. He pressed his lips into a thin line.
"I thought you meant somewhere else," he said evenly, gaze fixed on the view. "But I guess you meant getting a room in your family's hotel."
Jisung chuckled, brushing invisible dust from his tailored suit sleeve. "Well, it's much quieter here than back at the bar. No distractions, no noise. Just us two."
Soo-hyun sat down on the sofa, crossing his legs. His expression was calm, but his eyes stayed sharp. "I have to admit, the view from here is magnificent."
"I'm glad you like it." Jisung's grin widened, but his eyes glinted with something unreadable.
He strode over to the gladden table, picking up a sleek bottle of wine resting in an ice bucket. He held it up with flourish. "A new shipment from Bordeaux. Very rare, very expensive. Only the best grapes, aged just right. People pay fortunes just to get a glass, but luckily..." He smirked. "... they delivered one to my place."
Soo-hyun gave a faint nod, uninterested in his bragging, but polite enough to listen.
"Since many the guests requests for a wine from France, I ought to include it to the hotel's menu."
Jisung expertly popped the cork and poured two glasses. The ruby liquid swirled under the dim light. As he reached into his pocket, his movements slowed just slightly. A small, clear vial glinted between his fingers.
With calculated precision, he tipped a few drops into one of the glasses, mixing it quickly before the swirl settled.
When he turned, the smile on his lips was warm—but something about it felt dangerous, almost predatory.
He walked over and extended the tainted glass. "Why don't you try, Mr. Je? And tell me what you think."
Soo-hyun studied him, then the glass, before finally taking it. He lifted it to his lips and sipped slowly. The taste lingered on his tongue—rich, slightly sweet, and sharp.
"... Hmm," he murmured, setting the glass down carefully. "It's good."
Jisung's grin curved further, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
The clink of crystal filled the room as they both nursed their glasses. Jisung rambled on—about his company, his hotels, his influence, his vision for the future.
Soo-hyun's lips pressed into a thin line. He swirled the wine lazily, letting the silence between Jisung's sentences stretch just long enough before cutting in.
"Ms. Song..."
The interruption was clean, almost surgical. Jisung blinked, caught mid-boast. "Hm? What about her, Mr. Je?"
Soo-hyun's gaze lifted, cold but curious.
"I have to say, she's reliable. Much more knowledgeable than you seem to give her credit for."
Jisung gave small laugh, trying to recover. "Oh... well, I guess she is. She's... useful, yes."
A smirk tugged at Soo-hyun's lips, sharp and merciless. "Useful? That's hardly the word I'd choose. I can see how hard she works, how she keeps things running in the background. All while being stuck serving under an incompetent Alpha like you."
The smile on Jisung's face froze. A flicker of anger cracked through his polished façade.
"Huh?... Incompetent? What exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Je?"
"Oh, right." Soo-hyun's tone softened into mock politeness as he set the glass carefully onto the table, the faint click echoing in the suite. "I heard that the AO Enterprises is currently facing a crises. After years of glory within this industry—in the end, a nightmare that your father always wanted to avoid would eventually haunt his business."
It was doomed to fall when he chose his son to take over all the business.
"But I suppose that's not the topic we were on." His gaze sharpened. "Because up until now, the only subject of this conversation has been you."
He rose from the sofa, his movements precise, deliberate. His presence seemed to loom larger, even without raising his voice. "If I remember correctly, this was meant to be a date."
[!!]
"I didn't agree to this circus just to sit through and endless monologue of your wealth and self-importance."
Jisung brows drew together, his jaw tightening. "Mr. Je—"
Soo-hyun cut him off with a weary sigh, as though exhausted by the very sight of him.
"Let me be honest, Mr. Kwon. I have no interest in marrying you whatsoever."
The Association may have pushed him into these meetings...
"But it was never part of my plan to tie myself down to a pathetic Alpha who only has his arrogance."
The word pathetic landed like a blade, slicing through the last of Jisung's composure.
"What?!" Jisung's voice cracked, rising into a bark that reverberated against the walls. His glass trembled in his grip, wine sloshing dangerously near the rim. The dangerous glint in his eyes returned—no longer hidden behind a smile, but were raw, and furious.
"Then why did you even—" Jisung's voice rose, ragged.
Soo-hyun's reply sliced clean through him.
"I only agreed to meet with you because you seemed desperate. Normally, I wouldn't waste my time on people like you. But since you were so pitifully eager, I thought I'd humor you."
His lips curved into a mocking smirk. "You really do look pathetic when you're begging for attention like a starving dog."
Jisung froze, his chest heaving. Humiliation burned through his veins hotter than the wine he had swallowed earlier. His jaw clenched, muscles twitching as he gritted his teeth.
"You..." He hissed, but the words caught in his throat.
Shatter—
He smashed the glass in his hand, scattering its pieces on the carpeted floor.
How dare he? How dare this Omega look down on me?! The thought screamed in his mind, fury eclipsing his reason.
Without restraint, Jisung released his pheromones in a sharp, suffocating wave. The air grew thick instantly—heavy, cloying, oppressive.
Soo-hyun staggered back a step, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. His stomach lurched at the rancid intensity. His chest tightened as if the air itself had turned poisonous.
"Ack—" He gasped, a hand pressing against his temple. His nose scrunched in disgust. "You bastard...!"
What a stench!
"Haa—fuck."
But Jisung only sneered, his lips peeling back like a predator cornering prey. "I always thought Omegas were supposed to be meek and obedient. That's what makes them desirable, after all."
"..."
"But once they get a little power, suddenly they start acting high and mighty—like everyone else is beneath them."
Soo-hyun gritted his teeth, his vision blurring for a moment. His body screamed weakness, but his eyes never lost their sharpness.
"Disgusting..." He muttered through clenched teeth. The pheromones clung to him, slick and suffocating, forcing his knees to wobble. His lungs fought for air.
Jisung's voice deepened, laced with venom. "How dare an Omega like you look down on me? You should've just shut up and submitted in heat, you'd be crawling—begging for me to mark you."
Soo-hyun's glared sharpened even as his body faltered. He straightened his back with effort, refusing to give Jisung the satisfaction of seeing him crumble.
"Bullshit...!" His voice cracked like a whip, filled with fury and defiance. "You must be living in a fantasy if you think I'd ever submit to trash like you. You think you can break me? You'll soon regret underestimating an Omega."
The tension in the suite thickened, heavy and suffocating, as Jisung released his pheromones relentlessly. The air grew dense, like invisible chains tightening around Soo-hyun's body. His body head pounded, vision wavering as beads of sweat trickled down his face.
Jisung smirked, taking a step closer, his presence oppressive. "That's right... feel it. No Omega can resist an Alpha's pheromones. No matter how strong you think you are—your body will betray you."
Soo-hyun's lips trembled with disgust. "You... asshole..."
This is bad.
If he gets even closer, then—
But just as Jisung moved to close the distance, a sudden loud ruckus broke through the suffocating silence. Shouts, hurried footsteps, and voices arguing grew louder right outside the door.
The unexpected noise snapped Soo-hyun's focus. His instincts flared, and in a burst of clarity, he darted toward the door. His hand gripped the handle, swinging it open with force—
—and was met with chaos.
There, in the hallway, Kiyonari was struggling against the hotel staff, his voice raw from shouting. "Please—! I need to talk to—let me through!"
The staff tried holding him back, insisting the suite was off-limits.
Then Kiyonari's eyes caught a glimpse past the open door. His heart stopped.
Soo-hyun stood there, leaning against the frame, his usually pristine composure shattered—sweat dripping down his pale skim, his shirt collar slightly loose, his breathing ragged.
"Director—!" Kiyonari's voice cracked, panic surging. But before he could step forward, his entire body stiffened.
A suffocating, unfamiliar aura crashed into him. His chest tightened, his breath caught, and the hair on his arms stood on end.
Pheromones...! Kiyonari realized instantly. They were thick, sharp, and overwhelming—completely different from just a mere strong perfume.
It's not just any pheromones. It's an Alpha's!
The sight of Soo-hyun was completely unlike his controlled presence.
He approached Soo-hyun quickly. "Sir, are you alright? What happened?"
"... Mr. Soo. You came..."
"Yes, Director. I'm sorry for being late. I know you told me not to do anything and wait for you. But I can't do that, not when you're in danger."
Behind Soo-hyun, Jisung's voice slithered through, sharp with irritation. "Who the hell invited this mutt?"
The hotel staff exhaled nervous looks, clearly shaken by the intensity in the air, yet too afraid to step inside.
Soo-hyun's icy eyes flicked to Kiyonari, a silent message flashing through the haze if his exhaustion: Why are you here? Stay out... or else you'll get caught up in this.
But Kiyonari clenched his fists, his heart pounding. I can't just stand here and do nothing. I have to get Director Je out of this. Away from this bastard.
Kiyonari knew the danger instantly. When an Alpha forcibly released their pheromones, it wasn just intimidation—it was domination. Anyone caught in its range would be forced to submit, stripped away from their will. And for Omegas... it could trigger heat, breaking their defenses and making them vulnerable to the Alpha's every demand.
His fists curled up at his sides. What a jerk!
The thought of Soo-hyun being pushed into such a state made Kiyonari's chest burn with fury. His brows bunched tight as he stormed past the staff and into the suite, planting himself between his boss and Jisung.
"Mr. Kwon!" His voice cracked like whip. "This is a violation of the Association's rules! Forcing pheromones—especially in a private meeting—is strictly forbidden. What do you think you're doing, sir?!"
The smugness in Jisung's face twitched. His steps echoed against the carpet as he advanced, unbothered. "And how the hell did you get in here?"
Kiyonari stood his ground. "That doesn't matter. What matters is—"
"This is between me and Mr. Je." Jisung's tone dropped, low and dangerous, his eyes narrowing into slits. "An outsider like you... a Beta no less, has nothing to do with this."
The words dripped from his mouth like an insult, meant to crush.
But Kiyonari's glare only sharpened, unyielding. His body trembled from the suffocating pheromones, yet he held his stance in front of Soo-hyun, shielding him without a second thought.
"I maybe am just a Beta," Kiyonari shot back, his voice steady despite the pressure weighing him down. "But I'm also Director Je's secretary. It's my duty to look after him whenever, through business or this matchmaking. And I'll be damned if I let anyone—Alpha or not—treat him like this."
A flicker of defiance sparked in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Kwon, but I will file a report regarding this matter. I'm sure you're aware that this would mean you'll be disqualified immediately."
A flicker of defiance sparked in his eyes.
"Disqualify? Me?"
Jisung stopped short, taken aback for a moment by the sheer audacity. The smirk returned, but sharper this time. "You've got guts... to be talking big like that to me. You think I'll get scared by a mere rule like that?"
"I know, sir. But doing it is far from failing, since there's witnesses that could testify against your behavior and this incident."
Jisung veered his gaze around the hotel staff crowding outside the hallway.
Behind Kiyonari, Soo-hyun's eyes widened faintly. He hadn't expected it—Kiyonari still looked calm despite standing against an Alpha releasing such pheromones.