Free Web NovelAs soon as Kwon Youngjae sat down, he began scanning the documents the lawyer handed him. They consisted of a certified letter, a medical certificate issued by a hospital, and several pages of images attached.
“Kim Sunyul, a researcher from the R&D lab.”
“She’s an Omega, Executive Director.”
“I know. It’s not like I can’t read.”
Kwon Youngjae spoke sharply. His gaze was just as piercing as ever, carefully scrutinizing every detail on the documents. The more he read, the more outrageous the contents seemed.
The person claiming to sue Kwon for defamation was an employee at the research lab. He barely remembered her, but reading the documents brought vague memories to mind. She was the Omega who caused a disturbance about pheromones during a previous meeting.
“The plaintiff claims she has taken a leave of absence due to mental trauma from that incident and continues to suffer serious PTSD.”
“Usually, a lawsuit would have been filed immediately, but she started with a certified letter? That’s not the typical procedure, is it?”
At Kwon’s blatant sarcasm, the lawyer covered his mouth with a fist and cleared his throat.
“Executive Director... I hope you’ll take this more seriously.”
“She started her leave just a week ago. The hospital certificate was issued around the same time.”
Kwon slowly flipped through the papers again, suspicion darkening his gaze.
“Why was it silent until now? Why all of a sudden claim hardship and defamation?”
“In my opinion... this doesn’t seem to be her will alone. There’s likely someone supporting her from behind.”
“I think so too.”
The claim was meticulously prepared, leaving no room for fault. The certified letter clearly showed signs of being drafted by a professional, and the psychiatric evaluation supported it. Anxiety, depression, shame, eating disorders—every conceivable symptom was crammed in.
The chair reclined. Kwon tapped the documents with his fingertips, mulling it over. Someone who knows company matters well, who can easily approach employees, someone eager to ruin him—the list of suspects was quickly narrowed. It looked like Kwon Youngho was up to his usual nonsense again.
“Most witnesses saw the situation, and above all, the email attached as evidence is decisive. ‘Please be careful not to release Omega pheromones.’ That phrase carries problematic implications.”
The lawyer emphasized the line in the email, written by Secretary Kim. It didn’t seem to be an issue per se since it was Kwon’s instruction.
“If that’s the case, then several people should mention defamation against me daily.”
“......”
“What do they want?”
The lawyer adjusted his posture and spoke cautiously.
“They are demanding a settlement of thirty million won.”
“......”
“Of course, we can firmly refute this. If you submit a diagnosis of your neurosis, it proves there was no intent to insult.”
“So they want me to admit I’m mentally ill myself.”
Kwon immediately understood their scheme. They wanted him to publicly expose his obsessive rejection of Omega pheromones. It was basically telling Kwon to reveal that he had a major flaw as an Alpha.
If this were any other company, maybe it wouldn’t matter, but Apex is a genetics-focused pharmaceutical company. Having a key figure who rejects Omega pheromones was a serious flaw.
Already, trust from the chairman had plummeted due to leaked secrets. If this bad news piled on, Kwon’s future looked bleak. His worry deepened.
“You should still avoid lawsuits as much as possible.”
“If I settle, how can I be sure this won’t happen again?”
If a precedent was set, anyone could claim settlements, and Kwon would be on an even worse path.
“Executive Director, maybe you should try treatment? It won’t undo what’s done, but for the future...”
The lawyer suggested, proposing treatment for Kwon’s pheromone neurosis as a clever solution.
“......”
Kwon hesitated to respond. He knew that realistically, it was the only solution. But he couldn’t be sure if he could overcome the neurosis.
His long fingers tapped the desk rhythmically—tap, tap, tap. His eyes, staring at the smooth surface, were deeper than ever.
The only Omega pheromones he could tolerate were from Kim Heewon. Unlike others, Heewon was someone he could allow close.
A twitch of a smile escaped. Of all the choices, why Heewon? He had endured humiliations just days ago. The fact that he still thought of him as an answer was baffling.
He shouldn’t make a rash decision. Carefully weighing the problems he’d face having Heewon near against the benefits he could gain.
The scale soon tipped to one side. Kwon exhaled a heavy sigh.
In the end, it seemed there was no choice but to bring him back. freewёbnoνel.com
Heewon, quietly reading at home, was startled by the sudden doorbell. It was a puzzling sound since he wasn’t expecting anyone.
He rose from the sofa and headed to the living room wall. Seeing Kwon Youngjae on the small intercom screen, he blurted, “Ugh! Not again!”
Knock, knock, knock. The impatient visitor rattled the front door. Heewon snapped out of his daze and hurried over. When he opened the door, the sight of Kwon standing outside confirmed it wasn’t a mistake.
Suppressing his flustered feelings, Heewon summoned his kindest tone.
“...Executive Director, what brings you here?”
“I have something to talk about. Can you spare a moment?”
“Just a moment.”
He slipped on slippers and tried to step out, but Kwon grabbed Heewon’s shoulder and pushed him back inside. Then he himself strode in.
Thud. Heewon saw the door close behind Kwon. Unlike Heewon’s stunned face, Kwon looked calm.
“This isn’t something to be talked about outside.”
What is it? What on earth?
Kwon seemed unaware that his brazen behavior was making Heewon increasingly uneasy.
Heewon wanted to shout, “Don’t make me nervous, just get to the point and go,” but sober and clear-headed, he dared not confront Kwon. Half resigned, he followed quietly.
Fortunately, the house was tidy. Only the pheromones lingering in the air were unavoidable.
He discreetly checked Kwon’s complexion, which looked pale. Yet, Kwon maintained a calm expression at all costs. Heewon sighed inwardly and moved to open all the living room windows before standing in front of Kwon.
Kwon, already seated on the sofa, had crossed his legs as if in his own home. Standing properly before him, Heewon looked like an employee facing his boss. He slipped his hands into his pockets.
“What do you want to say?”
“Are you going back to formal speech now?”
Bringing up the previous incident abruptly, Heewon rolled his eyes. His gaze dropped to his toes, which fidgeted awkwardly.
“No, it’s just... I was a bit heated back then.”
“Come back to work.”
“...What?”
Heewon asked immediately. Kwon stared at him, sober and arrogant as ever.
Why would he say such a crazy thing? Heewon only stared blankly.
“I said come back to work.”
“Executive Director, excuse me... have you lost your memory?”
“......”
His glare was fierce. But what was the point? Why come back to drag up old matters? Heewon blinked, utterly baffled.
“Sorry, but I can’t promise to take responsibility for Secretary Kim’s life. No matter how much I think about it, it’s impossible.”
That was obvious. Heewon had thrown the words out knowing it couldn’t happen, just to make clear how difficult returning would be.
He was shocked that Kwon had seriously considered it. He clutched his pounding heart.
Kwon’s gaze slowly lifted. He looked straight at Heewon.
“Instead, I’ll give you the Samhwa building.”
“What?”
The Samhwa building? The 12-story one in the ultra-prime area?
Among Kwon’s properties, that was a prime asset. The chairman had gifted it to him in celebration of his manifestation as a dominant Alpha.
Heewon asked, stunned beyond confusion.
“You mean... you’re giving that to me? Are you serious?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Kwon smiled as if he couldn’t believe it himself. He was surely sighing silently.
“It’s because I really need you. To be precise, it has to be you, Secretary Kim.”
Kwon calmly revealed the recent threats he had received.
The more Heewon heard, the angrier he got. Clenching his fists, he trembled. He knew Kwon Youngho was a cunning man, but to go this far? Even though it wasn’t his problem, he couldn’t hide his anger.
“This is really too much.”
“No need to get worked up. That’s just how low Kwon Youngho is.”
“...I never got angry.”
Kwon let out a deflated laugh. Heewon turned his eyes away and cleared his throat quietly.
“So, you really mean it? No regrets?”
“Stay by my side until I tell you to quit. That’s my condition.”
“......”
“Aren’t you tired of all this back-and-forth over contracts? I’ll give you enough wealth to live on comfortably, so just work as my secretary in peace.”
Not peaceful at all. It felt like he’d be taking care of Kwon until death.
How many years did he have left? In the 100-year era, at least 70... Damn, that felt endless. Besides, Kwon seemed like the kind who’d stay healthy even as a white-haired old man.
But Kwon’s offer was so powerful it crushed Heewon’s worries. A prime Gangnam station-area building owner... insane passive income... How could anyone refuse?
“How much is the Samhwa building worth?”
“About 30 billion won.”
An absurd sum. Heewon smiled bitterly without realizing it.
“I never thought you’d give me that.”
“I admit it. That just shows how important you are.”
At Kwon’s frank confession, Heewon’s lips twitched into a small smile. But when Kwon’s eyes narrowed fiercely, he quickly composed himself.
Kwon furrowed his brows and leaned his head against the sofa’s back. Running his fingers through his perfectly styled hair, he said,
“Don’t ever sell it. It’ll only go up in value.”
“What if I just take the building and leave?”
Kwon, reclining loosely, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was hot as it studied Heewon’s face.
“That won’t happen.”
An answer filled with absolute trust.
Because he knew Kim Heewon so well and trusted him completely, Kwon was willing to hand over his property.
“......”
Seeing how transparent his feelings were, Heewon bit his lip silently. The resolve he had painstakingly built began to waver before that unshakable trust.
