BTBS Ch 9

#009


“You must ask them to remove the tomatoes. And don’t forget to have the sandwich warmed up, especially for lunch. The drink should be almond milk—if they’re out, then go with a chai tea latte.”

Heewon glanced toward the busy counter, and the new hire diligently typed everything into his phone’s memo app, determined not to miss a single word.

The café near the company was well-known for its sandwiches and was bustling with people even early in the day. Heewon had brought Choi Jungwoo along to pick up lunch for Executive Director Kwon.

It had been two weeks since the new guy joined. Contrary to Heewon’s initial concerns, he was adjusting just fine. Jungwoo, who had been carefully selected, had a good head for work and was already proving to be more than capable.

“How’s the work treating you?”

“It’s fun. Thanks to you, and the other seniors too, who’ve been looking out for me.”

“This is your first job, right?”

“Yes.”

“Make sure to learn as much as you can. And I really hope you’ll work with us for a long, long time.”

The newcomer nodded. He sincerely hoped for the same.

His friends who got jobs before him only ever said things like they wanted to blow up their office or that the world should just end, but unlike them, he was enjoying a pretty comfortable work life. The biggest thing was probably the lack of stress from colleagues.

He was finally starting to understand why the other secretaries called this place a ‘honey job.’

Just then, the phone and the pager in his hand both buzzed at once. Jungwoo stepped forward to pick up the sandwich, while Heewon checked his phone. His face, calm just moments ago, turned ghostly pale the moment he read the message.

“Um, Chief? What’s DEFCON… Level 2?”

“……”

Jungwoo looked puzzled too as he read the same message from the secretary’s office. DEFCON? They couldn’t possibly mean the rapper, right?

“Chief?”

“Let’s go, Secretary Choi. We’ve got to run.”

Heewon burst out of the café. That’s how urgent this was.

 

While everyone wished for peaceful days, sometimes accidents happened that felt like war. The secretarial office had come to call such events DEFCON, assigning levels depending on severity.

DEFCON Level 2 signified a visit from someone in the owner’s family. Level 2 meant Executive Director Kwon’s mother. Level 1 meant the Chairman himself, Kwon’s grandfather.

Their very presence could turn the whole company upside down, making it practically a disaster from the secretaries’ perspective. Especially Madam Im Seoran, Kwon Young-jae’s mother, who was one of the major shareholders of Apex—her influence was immeasurable. It was no exaggeration to say that Young-jae had inherited his razor-sharp personality from her.

Of all times, why did she have to show up while he was out? Heewon was fuming. The fact that Madam Im’s secretary hadn’t given him even the slightest heads-up made him feel practically vengeful.

He picked up the pace. The area in front of the office was already a mess. Men in black suits were standing guard like she was some kind of VIP.

The secretaries all looked like they’d seen a ghost. The moment they spotted Heewon, they rushed over.

“Chief!”

“What happened? Why all of a sudden?”

“We don’t know either!”

The mood is absolutely terrifying. One of the secretaries grabbed Heewon’s arm and urged him to go in right away.

Heewon forced his unwilling legs to move.

God, I’m scared too.

Honestly, there was nothing he could do just by walking in. This was like dousing yourself in gasoline and jumping into a fire. Still, with a grim expression, he knocked on the door and stepped into the reception room.

The moment he entered, his eyes met with Executive Director Kwon’s. His gaze was sharp enough to pierce through steel, clearly scolding Heewon for not being here earlier. Heewon quietly closed the door behind him.

Unlike Kwon, who was facing him, Madam Im was seated with her back turned, but there was no mistaking her identity. That voluminous, lion’s mane of a hairstyle was her trademark.

“Secretary Kim.”

The refined voice calling his name made Heewon bow immediately.

“Yes, Madam.”

“Is it true that Young-jae’s been taking suppressants every time he goes into a rut?”

As expected, she came out swinging. Heewon answered with perfect posture.

“I’m afraid I can’t speak to such personal matters.”

“Don’t bother. Young-jae already told me everything. More importantly, are you aware of the rumor going around right now?”

“……”

“They say Executive Director Kwon’s impotent.”

He hadn’t heard a thing. Heewon bit his trembling lip.

It was a ridiculous claim, but what shocked him more was that Madam Im knew about it before he did. At this point, someone had to be intentionally spreading it. Given how scandalous it was, it was only a matter of time before it spread like wildfire.

Impotent, seriously…?

But Madam Im was clearly furious. Her lofty pride must have taken a serious blow. Even with just her back visible, Heewon could practically see her face contorted in rage as she glared at her son.

“It’s probably Kwon Young-ho who started the rumor.”

Young-jae finally broke his silence. With a scoff that suggested the whole thing was beneath him, he rested his chin on one hand.

“Rumors like that don’t just spread for no reason. If you hadn’t given them ammunition, this wouldn’t be happening. Can’t you fix that damned neurosis already? Does it make sense for the executive director of APEX—a dominant alpha, no less—to reject omega pheromones?”

“Everyone and their dog knows I can’t stand omega pheromones. Who doesn’t know? It’s been over a decade. Are you really bringing it up now like it’s some shocking revelation?”

“You son of a bastard.”

Madam Im muttered a curse under her breath. The rings on her fingers clinked together as she clenched and unclenched her fists.

“It’s not just about hating them. What if the Chairman hears about this? You’re not even worried? What do you think will happen when that ridiculous rumor about you being impotent reaches his ears?”

“Then go ahead and tell him. His grandson’s dick works just fine.”

“Kwon Young-jae!”

She looked ready to hurl her teacup. Heewon quickly stepped forward and gently grabbed her wrist, carefully prying the cup from her hands before things escalated.

“How long do you plan to keep this up? Don’t you realize this is a huge weakness for you?”

“As I’ve said before—I don’t plan to marry.”

“This isn’t about marriage! I’m saying act normal for once! Date someone, go out like everyone else does! At the very least, don’t let a rumor like this spread! I refuse to stand by and watch Young-ho take over the company!”

Madam Im gritted her teeth.

Executive Director Kwon’s cousin, Director Kwon Young-ho, was his rival for the Apex CEO seat and had been constantly trying to tarnish his image. He’d pulled all kinds of stunts over the years, and this time, it seemed he had finally scored a major blow—not just to Young-jae, but to Madam Im as well.

“Clean this up quickly. If you can’t, I will. So brace yourself.”

Madam Im stood up abruptly. Heewon, still standing politely, met her eyes as she turned to leave.

She looked exactly like her son. Especially those piercing eyes—they were practically a copy-paste.

She took a step forward and came to stand before Heewon. As expected of the DEFCON Level 2 guest, her presence was overwhelming.

“Secretary Kim, you know I think very highly of you, don’t you?”

“I do, ma’am.”

Madam Im gently stroked Heewon’s cheek.

“Please don’t disappoint me. Otherwise, even Secretary Kim might lose his head, you know?”

She said it half in jest, but she was definitely someone who could make it happen. Heewon nodded dutifully.

Once Im Seoran left, the reception room became eerily quiet.

The fact that Executive Director Kwon resolved his ruts with medication was such a closely guarded secret that even his family didn’t know. For him to bring it up himself meant this situation couldn’t be taken lightly.

Judging by how the executive director was quietly resting his chin in one hand and staring at the floor, it was impossible to guess what he might be thinking. Heewon cautiously opened his mouth.

“Executive Director, should we try to contain the rumors now?”

“There’s no need.”

Kwon Young-jae got up from the sofa without hesitation and straightened his clothes. His cold gaze, as always, pierced through Heewon.

“If I try to suppress the rumors, wouldn’t that only make it look like I’ve got something to hide?”

“…I apologize.”

Even Kwon Young-jae had just heard the rumors about himself for the first time. They weren’t even worth reacting to, but there was no way he could sit back and watch his cousin exploit them.

“We should respond too.”

“How…?”

“It’s obvious what they want. All I have to do is meet an omega, right?”

Kwon walked over to his desk and rummaged through a drawer. He pulled out a thick envelope, as if he’d had it ready all along.

Heewon opened the envelope handed to him. The first thing that caught his eye was a photo of a young-looking man with a soft, boyish face.

Heewon recognized him too. The omega actor who’d recently been gaining popularity. What followed was a two-page contract.

Heewon froze for a moment as he read its contents.

“A… sponsor contract? You, Executive Director?”

Was that even possible? For someone who’d glare daggers just from smelling an omega’s pheromones?

Before he knew it, Kwon Young-jae had come right up to him and firmly delivered his decision.

“Go tell him I want to meet with him privately.”

And he added a charming smile.

“You’re not going home, Secretary Kim, until you bring him to me.”