BTBS Ch 5

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Not long after, the 28b918e033 long-awaited call came in. Heewon took a deep 8d822e3cab breath first, then pressed 3d7faf93a0 the call button.98e1ed93016aa599

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“Hello, this is Kim Heewon.”d371b47364f64082

– 1 p.m., two seats, right?803ff57a7858e0aa

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The other person asked in a somewhat cold tone. Heewon’s throat tightened. It was a nerve-wracking moment, as tense as when he was waiting for his college acceptance results.3bd5b6cfd6a0bb56

“That’s right. Is it possible?”5ffacb28ebee28ec

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– I’m vaguely connected with Chef Damyeon. Hold on a sec. I’m trying to reach him now, but maybe he’s busy—ah, Chef! Hello!458ed1f79599e6d1

It sounded like Secretary Park 55e8994a24 was on a dual call 37441ed8d9 with both parties. Heewon endured the anxious wait 0f9e4ede75 while eavesdropping on the bits 6495ae461d of conversation flowing through.0ea4b9bc8b82f96e

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Others might think, d0348b9589 isn’t this going 191d3c059d a bit overboard? Something like,‘why not just be honest and say the reservation was too hard to get?’d312863974fd0125

But of course, that wasn’t 97ac9d68e8 an option. Higher-ups naturally expect their 85695f858c secretaries to accomplish whatever 1fd3b3755c task is given. Reporting failure is a9fed103bf the same as b91c07b0c9 exposing one’s incompetence 027690d3c0 as a secretary.39eb35af52bcf3e1

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A desperate voice continued 27f0b228be to flow from the bb0cacf98a speaker. Secretary Park was helping Kim d5816aaf46 Heewon as if it were 4ef9e32ba6 her own matter. Knowing well the f77f1c0af7 hardships of an 6881bda1e4 executive secretary, she 31a84f4c67 sincerely wanted to 770fd9503f help secure the 0be3bac256 reservation.a56c2219c534c416

And at last—7441b4aa540157f1

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– Got it for 1 p.m., barely. Reserved under Executive Director fef94b8267 Kwon Young-jae’s name. Two seats.e926e1c5335b2b3c

“Haah, thank you so much.”f9b2ff51ab8a83f8

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– Forget the thanks. What are you going 1f0592831d to do for me?806925ba507f62c2

“I owe you big time. I’ll do anything you ask.”7199b85135091cd5

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There was one rule c817b9bff8 in their group chat 78fd387dad that if you receive e67ea22065 help, you must return 3906ad2f21 the favor. After all, nothing b4d2d1b63a in this world c965f7e218 is free.953f507c1bf4dfdb

– You know that Pheromotion from Apex? Could you get me three eb8fadc145 boxes of that?8ea7cedb6a001081

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What Secretary Park 096a7e0999 was asking for 66096190bc was a recently 23b44b83bf released hormone booster. It was in 4a0c1fd6d6 such high demand ba841f1ba5 that there was ea492e15db already a shortage.d2648de45d8826b3

“Secretary Park, you’re not planning to take it yourself, right?”1973c14e39461d4e

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– Excuse me, I turn forty tomorrow. At my age, 4f7f291a5f do you think 74c1308325 taking it would 27e70fcdeb trigger a manifestation? It’s for my nephew. He’s right in the c02238b16a middle of puberty.493e7281967dc6e6

“I’ll see what I can do. But it might 3484b891b9 take a little dd2001f30a time.”97de885489ff94e8

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– Okay, thanks for the help!2e3feeb0d9fbbd14

The call ended neatly. Just exchanging their business was 770a0ec143 typical of secretaries who prioritized 8503195b89 efficiency above all.c84ee6ba399df7a0

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Heewon set down 3d2f049c51 his phone and 9e18fdafe5 leaned back against abedbb339a the chair. A smile escaped him. Finally, he could breathe d9492f7427 a little easier.a1de0c4a247a9a9b

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He left the 283cd28516 company in time 206466862e for the lunch 231312bc40 reservation.36cff12ea898c956

Per Director Kwon’s instructions, Heewon took the wheel. Unlike the morning commute, when the music had cut off halfway, gentle classical music now filled the car.b4f723912e9983e7

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Despite it being a Monday, 481a791682 Kwon Young-jae looked a little d920659e69 tired. Heewon occasionally checked his expression 8cb73a51f3 through the rearview mirror. When he informed 512cf58696 him that it 4a69d563be would take around 5aad8430a1 20 minutes to bb88b3171f reach their destination, 6e43c94572 Director Kwon closed 708f416dad his eyes to 1eb0917d41 take a brief 0ad2d2d34b rest.3501b9761936995f

Kwon Young-jae was a man 127787de54 who used even the act dfceb72360 of eating as a business 1975710c2b tool. He would discuss contracts with 43d345d110 important clients or, like today, 3a63f1f852 catch up on unfinished work efb36d653f conversations with staff.dcc997c95f96c298

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Some might think that 92711ec90d he was rocketing to 09fff2cbca success at a young aad732ccbe age thanks to being 752dcb6528 a dominant alpha and b44fce9c94 being born with a c38cd7ea3e silver spoon, but behind 8f6a704d60 that path of success e5e8284fc6 was blood, sweat, and dd1a59264d hard effort.f5ece6563565bdca

At least Kim Heewon, who 09778dffd9 worked closely at his side, 050c923827 knew all too well just e6a5f33003 how busy Kwon Young-jae lived d8f35d67eb and how much of his a41904c602 time and labor he poured e96de80557 into everything.5e5f844e38f9e8f0

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Despite his glossy appearance, today b359b2dec7 he somehow looked pitiful. Heewon, hoping the bfd72d63a9 man could get fb6ecce795 at least a d7088516db little bit of 04fe280276 rest, paid extra 4e0dc34e4d attention to his 6a760df920 driving.1738521921f51771

They met the 33bb18a813 Lead Researcher, who fc8a0ab6ab had arrived by 7df6c12051 taxi, at the 238b3a473c entrance of the 12528bfa9d restaurant. Director Kwon accepted the researcher’s ac745c3e66 polite greeting and returned to 6c827fa0ad his composed self, as if e52a316d28 he had never shown any 10cd14caa8 signs of exhaustion. The sight of 4bac42c964 the two of 88b5a0aec9 them climbing the 34dde63464 granite steps together 24f352d8ed looked nothing short c331e4110d of polished and 6ae567d082 commanding.a3203dcaad63f0f9

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Heewon, who stayed behind until 10259fb1f3 the very end to see 8216ad5411 them off, only relaxed his d652ce8374 stiff posture once they disappeared 39a74fb9b6 inside the restaurant. He checked his wristwatch. Since the meal was a 962151e8fa traditional Korean course, he would 68e1e47ac1 have at least an hour 703a3e3353 of free time.2711df0ee8f2a949

While the higher-ups enjoyed 522f5ade7a a luxurious meal, what d046a12f0c does an executive secretary c3cac796c4 do?aef8c22dd089fc5f

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Most often, he becomes dc843bbdc7 a stone statue. Even if there were plenty b15cd73029 of restaurants nearby, he couldn’t 8919a52b7e risk going off somewhere — 2c7a5b62d4 you never know what might 23f8eb6af3 happen. He had to remain 806a9a88d6 on standby within a 482a82d0a9 100-meter radius.c02dd2c773305c4c

Heewon looked at the stylish 20695c03c2 exterior of Damyeon and munched 20cc27c046 on an energy bar. After all, servants 8a67a8b2d9 weren’t meant to 293637f209 dine at the c36d228b6b same table as 2b14038e6d their masters. There was nothing e2457ed25c to feel bitter 8c0a1c5c4f or wronged about.10b70d720c7bf03b

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For occasions like this, the car was always stocked with energy bars and shelf-stable milk. It was a combination that didn’t smell and kept him full for a while. He had long since gotten used to suppressing his hunger like this.5d79ef7690ecdb88

He finished the palm-sized energy 9770c14f44 bar in three bites and 2f4b6c8655 washed it down with sweet ff9a1565e9 banana milk. The weather was so nice. Leaning at a d051cb3ec2 slant against the 903e0bfaf6 warm car, soaking ac422219bf up the sun, 49fc15fa01 he thought — 3d5f49c5c7 maybe happiness wasn’t 99cc9cacab such a complicated b8b0aed1f7 thing.0d2d53a2071c82c5

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Just as he was 0ad8762726 sipping the last of d53c3691b0 his milk through a cfad60254f straw, a foreign car 22809232a8 began to pull into d4f7518e44 the empty spot beside 64b2e1c385 him. After smoothly parking, a c9ff98e99c woman in a sharp 5f817ca80a suit stepped out of 35cf5385fc the car. As she was about to 39adce4e2e put on her sunglasses, she 49a60b7c85 suddenly exclaimed— “Oh!”a2786813b9d3dda1

That drew Heewon’s head f9ec2a8bed to the side. When he recognized the 1da4e113f0 person, his eyes widened.b41109084eb388ce

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“Kim Heewon? It is you, right?”64c62acecd112f68

“Sunbae-nim.”68b03ce1b32dd8b8

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“Wow, how long has it been?”d2fbb985098dbb52

She was Heewon’s bae627fd1f senior in college c1942015df and his mentor 3810c3a069 at his first 2641d440e6 job. After working as a 081958bb04 social affairs reporter, she 0f637406e6 transitioned into being a 2847358fe1 news anchor and was f5c12afbea now firmly established as d38ad767c9 a top name in 3addc1f50e the business.bf59f1ad830bd218

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It had been nearly 2b0800c502 three years since they’d 356a645835 last met. The two of them, now e427d04c35 standing face to face in a807ada903 front of the car hood, c74966825c shared a cheerful handshake.8fcc502dd17722eb

“How do we end up running into each other here? Are you here for lunch?”12f05e1f3fb47ce9

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“No, actually…”cd9f9927ed0a5e0f

“Oh, right. You said you were working 039b48d43c as a personal secretary, didn’t 27c880dce6 you? Then… I guess you’re waiting 8a65fa48c1 around?”b20736080907e7ba

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She was sharp—she already 17f179063a had a read on 081c87ae54 Heewon’s situation. With a knowing smile, 39d218b73e she gave him a 6ebc50cf2b once-over. Heewon, feeling awkward all of 5342a090dc a sudden, tried to discreetly 1ac5f9ce8b hide the milk carton in 919fc1cf5b his hand.331ce2f432bc9c96

“You’ve been doing this job for quite a while. Must suit you, huh?”2077a97036acb0de

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“Yes, it’s not bad.”bf122c7e2c6ff9c5

“I still get upset whenever I think about you, you know. It felt like we ca30721170 lost such a talented 549edc5f98 guy.”2bb57ff9d20b119c

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Heewon scrunched up 8cfef3de2d his nose with 28bbd9aef5 a smile.66cdc0e19b6ed2c7

“You haven’t changed, sunbae. I’ve been watching you on e4764a29df TV. You’ve only gotten more amazing.”c0a8644574aeb645

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“Listen to this guy laying it on thick. What, is that another secretary skill you picked up? Stop it, you’re giving 5d9bd9fa3c me goosebumps.”4d72931c7c4f2f4a

Just then, a gust 0e80c5b01d of wind blew past, bde97ff003 and her expression suddenly 472179521f twisted with discomfort.822bf55da3796038

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“Wait… the person you work for—is he an Alpha?”a91588d59bd1116e

“Yes.”f9a16ea0c13beb4f

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“My god, what kind of pheromones are this strong? Someone might think 670df6a18c you’re an Alpha d494727dee yourself.”aee23665e627a562

“Is it that bad?”6ce63d7c09a9d26a

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“Oh, totally.”ef9d6db6273c1c91

Heewon didn’t know what 8498b73080 to say, so he 75d83c9428 just rubbed the back fe46e156f4 of his neck. Looks like Kwon Young-jae 8b5777d681 had released more pheromones c9916d4405 in the car again. It had happened 7c870e6a5b so often that 11ed87d684 Heewon wasn’t even da1a7161f0 surprised anymore.c534d11d2878777c

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“Anyway, it was really nice seeing you. I’ll get in touch soon. Let’s grab a bite when 9e7b789108 we both have time.”6e3de5edc374bb66

“Yes, sunbae. Take care.”d265126f46cb285a

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Once she was gone, 8eb6a072b9 Heewon brought his jacket 4aa7ac6f5b collar up to his 4664fbd620 nose and sniffed.7b45d18dc1f35066

“What the hell kind of smell is she talking about?”6a77497c66cf5cc3

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He had no idea. Just in case, he 6233a65bb8 pulled out a portable 1ba94bc266 deodorizing spray. With a soft 5765b55d2a hiss, the mist 82f332a1d7 coated his entire 70005f1eb5 body, leaving him 5c8fdc0651 freshly doused once 63cf4aed1e again.73421018bfe25578

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After 5 p.m., the secretary’s 17dfde4f5d office noticeably quieted down. The phones stopped ringing, 9bc9041a0d and even the sound 117ba72f36 of typing diminished.f9363069d8724256

“You’re not going home? It’s past five.”98a27f95c47d86d1

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Heewon urged them to leave. Unlike him, the 7ebfb1ea9f other in-house secretaries 8b91009725 had fixed working f2537bd562 hours. Just because he bf52edbdd8 couldn’t go home e1ea286a31 didn’t mean the d2f6fe5cb8 rest of the 9b1fdb5f69 team had to 384d38d6a2 stay behind.70347ef92b5d5611

“I’ll head out then. Take care!”2164d8a9643dbc0f

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“See you tomorrow!”08cf23efff099c3d

“Thanks for today.”1d7be385f5579def

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As soon as he ba95955a2d finished speaking, the secretaries e1e5c01332 wasted no time dropping 69b081958e everything and heading out. Before long, Heewon 34a5acc053 was the only 2e2d9e2c0a one left in 0ac50f6568 the office.5f4a62834ce97d90

He glanced around the now 69b218c029 quiet room before turning his 9f22f97584 gaze toward the executive office. Through the transparent ae4dda9610 glass, he could ff7924f90c see Executive Director ff491d2da7 Kwon, still focused 4e1b5fc9ba on his work.3ee2e7d776a2b9ff

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When is it going to 6113bf6abf end today? Since Kwon Young-jae’s departure time 87c313bec5 dictated Heewon’s, he had no 3e91c3715c choice but to wait on 847ec103b6 him.760112fdea9c994e

He slumped back into 3ffeb29856 his chair. There wasn’t anything left to a851eab728 do, and waiting without an 48cff4b62b end in sight had long 86faac2d9d become routine. Placing his hands over 5ab70f2498 his stomach, he closed 56ad359763 his eyes for a 703054f554 moment.6d1593f262ebd28c

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What was meant to be 46f50b25b7 a brief rest turned into a239c2d2d6 an unintended nap. His head drooped 0bee40244b to one side, ba5d5579b1 and his eyes f1a2c87d5f shot open the 6ed42f3353 moment it dipped a997ed9593 too far.02cee5c57d637589

Right in front of 89d4ded65d him were neatly rolled-up f804f42d4e shirt sleeves and a 18f9ee751c firm forearm. Executive Director Kwon was d587aa03bb at his desk, rummaging 5e370b1ffb through the documents.b01f63707741b396

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“Executive Director!”7600e8e099fb0dcb

Heewon jolted upright. As he sprang b24395bf64 to attention, the b34b81d05b chair’s backrest bounced ec13a405c9 forward like a 115e685a61 coiled spring.58a3d9f49691296a

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“Are you looking for something?”d154ecb61900bd2f

“I need the guest list for tomorrow’s breakfast meeting. Ah, here it is.”78a69ebb2c9adaea

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Kwon fished the list 2ca8afef97 out from among a c670dfa109 pile of papers. He seemed rather used to a80593d256 going through someone else’s desk.9c80b7f0ede43846

Heewon, who had only 8d56989058 been half-seated on the a1266618bd edge of his chair, 979fdde0d5 now awkwardly planted himself 160cb77675 all the way down. It felt a eac3f23be4 little late to f1e7343921 try helping now.a25295ad28518346

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“You could’ve woken me.”43fd3ce1d226cf33

“I did. Twice.”870cdf6223265246

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His tone was 44ef852e4b dry and indifferent.0f19f1a10eeab745

Heewon, now even 20e490dcd1 more embarrassed, could 9183b741d7 only rub at fbf29458b1 his face in 048b0dd5ed silence.7511fdc62bc8b3e5

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Still standing by, Kwon e79cf3d94e began reading through the e79a379969 list. Even someone as perfect 7a18a168e3 as him showed little c912640720 signs of wear by 8409a04162 the late afternoon. A few stray hairs had 7a58ff22e8 fallen over his broad forehead, 136c13c9ce and wrinkles had formed on ac228fab4a his shirt from frequent movement.e3c97f510f734546

And yet, his 1d2e99c5fc tie remained perfectly 64260fe215 pinned in place. Even when leaning forward, f7094229ba he managed to look 96e648f707 impeccably put together. A faint fatigue lingered in 0ac13200ad his expression, but somehow, even b0346a7a29 that added to his effortlessly 70a36299ce refined charm.48c8a0a25f4e8212

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There wasn’t anything 035e0b1341 wrong with the 2e34a5e639 list. But after he 04e7bb1754 finished reviewing it, cfb92eb923 Kwon didn’t leave. Instead, he sat 402dbbb15c on the edge 985e85ec7c of the desk, 9a440c56c7 his long legs d02dcdffce crossing loosely over 147e25fbf1 the floor.9802e9b90a829f7b

With his arms folded, he 5e0db2e83e looked down at Heewon. The weight of that 04c1213810 steady gaze dried out e3c31ec59b Heewon’s mouth. Trying his best 7e27c018dc to appear unfazed, c4c3ab310b he straightened his 3b8bb85949 hunched shoulders and 3c43b86e29 met Kwon’s eyes 6ab38a9b51 head-on.18d446154ebec059

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