He smiled gently at Sanho. Soon, he tapped the table lightly. As if he had been waiting, a large golden door clicked open. A uniformed club staff member quietly entered the room. He gestured for the staff to come closer, but his gaze remained fixed on Sanho.
“Right now, your appearance is a bit shabby, so it would be good to prepare. It’s not that appearance is everything, but it might help a little, don’t you think?”
Without hesitation, Sanho stood up. Turning to face the staff member as if to guide him, Sanho spoke. It was a title he had never uttered before.
“Chairman.”
“Hmm?”
“It would be good for you to prepare as well. Even if you find me displeasing, you will eventually have to acknowledge me.”
Though fearful, Sanho stepped forward without hesitation, raising his gaze firmly. He could hear the surprise in the man’s widened eyes settling down again as laughter erupted.
***
The slippers provided at the hospital were thin and flimsy. As Siwoo hurriedly stepped toward the club district, the slippers had already twisted and torn, leaving his feet covered in scratches from scraping against the asphalt. The cardigan he had thrown over his patient gown was also a mess. His attire was completely out of place in the glamorous club district. The openly scrutinizing gazes directed at Siwoo were perhaps to be expected.
It was the same when he arrived in front of P Club. A large guard looked at Siwoo with curiosity but did not stop him. Siwoo hurriedly made his way down the dark underground stairs. As he walked through the noisy lounge, pushing through the crowd, someone grabbed his shoulder.
“Director Jin Siwoo.”
At first, he thought it was a club guest who recognized him. Shaking off the hand gripping his shoulder, Siwoo’s steps slowly came to a halt. He sensed a faint alpha pheromone from the man standing closely behind him. When Siwoo turned around, a man in a black suit stood upright.
“Director Jin Siwoo, are you here because of Mr. Baek Sanho?”
Upon hearing Sanho’s name from the man’s lips, Siwoo looked at him with a frown. He couldn’t remember who this cool-looking man was. The man pointed toward the end of the lounge.
“Let’s move over there. It’s too noisy here to have a conversation.”
The man’s words were true. Reading the shape of his lips, Siwoo shook off the hand resting on his shoulder and strode toward the end of the lounge. The sudden appearance of this alpha’s pheromone was unpleasant.
“I apologize for greeting you in such a rush. I am Park Gyu-cheol, the secretary general.”
As they reached the end of the lounge, he slightly bowed his head in greeting. Siwoo quietly looked down at the man who had bowed. Secretary general? The secretary’s office of JR was solely under the team of Director Jeong Ji-hwan. At least until his father excluded Director Jeong from giving orders.
“I’ve been serving the chairman for a while now—”
“Where is Sanho?”
Siwoo cut off his words, opening his mouth stiffly. The man paused for a moment but soon continued in a low tone.
“Do you know if the chairman is here?”
“Tell me where Sanho is.”
“The chairman won’t like it.”
“Say it. Right now. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Gyu-cheol looked at Siwoo with a businesslike gaze. He was merely acting as instructed. Siwoo knew this fact as well, but the man in front of him evoked an unfounded displeasure. He soon nodded stiffly.
“I will guide you.”
Gyu-cheol moved inside. It was in front of the elevator that Sanho had taken, connecting to the upper floors of the club.
In front of the golden door, Gyu-cheol bowed his head to Siwoo. Siwoo, who had been staring intently at the heavily closed door, inhaled deeply and stepped inside. As the door closed, the unpleasant alpha’s faint pheromone was also blocked.
Siwoo raised his head and looked ahead. The large, lavish room was excessively quiet. The whiskey and ice bucket on the large table felt insignificant in the subdued atmosphere. Siwoo took a step closer to the person looking up at him.
“I have never been this disappointed in you.”
Sitting in the prime seat of the wide sofa, Chairman Jin had his long legs crossed and was tapping the table with his fingertips. He looked just as he had in the VIP hospital room not long ago, but his expression was slightly different. However, it wasn’t just Chairman Jin. With a stiff face, Siwoo spoke.
“I feel the same way, Father.”
“You’re determined to make me the villain, aren’t you?”
“I don’t understand why there needs to be a villain in this matter.”
“Do you not realize how problematic it is that you don’t understand that?”
Siwoo walked forward. His face, looking at his father across the large table, was unusually cold.
“Don’t touch Sanho.”
“I truly cannot understand. What is it about that kid that is so important to you?”
“I’ve made it clear. Don’t touch him.”
Seeing Chairman Jin’s lips curl slightly, Siwoo continued.
“There’s no reason. And if there is a reason, you would eliminate it, wouldn’t you?”
Chairman Jin chuckled briefly. The smile that hadn’t yet reached his gleaming eyes was utterly hollow.
“Ah, it seems you haven’t forgotten who your father is.”
“Father.”
“I never thought you would disappoint me this much over just one Omega. It’s regrettable.”
“He’s not just an Omega. His name is Baek Sanho, and I—”
Unable to finish his sentence, Siwoo fell silent, and Chairman Jin looked at him with an amused expression.
“Go on. About that kid.”
“……”
“Do you love him?”
His father’s question pierced sharply into his ears. The inquiry about his feelings for that kid resonated like never before. In truth, Siwoo knew it was a question he should have asked himself long ago. Perhaps it had been since that first encounter in the college hallway when that kid brushed past him. He had to admit that it was a question he had unconsciously avoided even when he felt despair to the point of losing his reason standing next to Juchul. However, Siwoo could not find the words and tightly clenched his jaw.
“Why can’t you answer?”
“…I have only one thing to say. Don’t touch Sanho.”
“You don’t realize how foolish it is to be swayed by feelings you can’t even define yourself.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care if I’m swayed, if I’m foolish, or if I’m treated like an idiot.”
“……”
“Father, please leave Sanho alone. I beg you.”
Chairman Jin silently gazed at his son. His expressionless face offered no response. His father was not someone who could be swayed by sentiment. No matter how sincere the plea might be. Finally, Siwoo spoke in a very low voice.
“You know, Father, that I’ve never been greedy for JR. JR belongs to you.”
“Then, are you now going to try to be greedy?”
“No.”
Siwoo slowly closed his eyes. He pressed his eyelids up with force and opened his mouth.
“I will completely give up.”
A flicker of anger rose on Chairman Jin’s previously expressionless face. It was because he had not anticipated Siwoo’s response at all. With a face twisted in anger, Chairman Jin spoke.
“What do you mean you will give up?”
“Literally. I will give up everything, throw it all away. Shares, status, I’m prepared to throw it all away. If necessary, even you, Father.”
“Do you even understand what that means?”
“Yes, precisely.”
Siwoo’s tightly clenched fist trembled violently.
“I will give up everything—this father, this mother, JR—because of one Omega with nothing.”
“There’s nothing more important than that one. To me—”
Before Siwoo could finish his sentence, a sharp knock echoed through the room. The loud sound reverberated in the large room, feeling particularly pronounced. Chairman Jin’s previously contorted face turned cold and expressionless. Before the golden door opened, his expression was as cold as the last words he spat out.
“Good. Let’s see what you choose to give up and what you choose instead.”
***
The club staff took Sanho to a corner room. It was quite a spacious room compared to the small door. The long, corridor-style room made the horizontal space seem even narrower due to the clothes hanging along both walls. At the front, there was a large mirror and makeup tools scattered about. It resembled a waiting room for celebrities on TV. The staff member roughly led Sanho in front of the mirror.
“Take it off.”
It was a businesslike tone. Sanho merely stared at the staff member, standing motionless in front of the mirror. The staff member glanced at the bandage wrapped around Sanho’s collarbone peeking through his shirt.
“What’s that bandage for?”
“I got hurt.”
“Hmm.”
He briefly scanned Sanho’s body up and down before walking between the hanging clothes.
“Well, some perverts might like that… It probably won’t be covered anyway, so it’s better to just show it.”
Muttering incomprehensible words, the staff member quickly rummaged through the clothes. Then he pulled out a shirt. The ivory-colored thin shirt was smooth like flowing water and had a subtle sheen. The staff member tossed the shirt to Sanho.
“Change into this. Don’t button it up.”
“……”
“It would be better if the bottom was a bit tight.”
Next, a pair of bright beige slacks was handed to Sanho. Even before he put them on, he could guess how overtly sexual the clothes he had just been given were. Sanho bit his lower lip quietly.
“What are you doing? Take off your clothes.”
The staff member looked at Sanho with a slightly annoyed expression. As he gazed at Sanho’s face, stained with shame, he suddenly chuckled in disbelief.
“Now that you’ve come this far, why act all high and mighty? You’re trying to sell your body to get what you want anyway.”
It was a mocking remark. But oddly enough, those words solidified his resolve. Sanho defiantly lifted his chin. He was right. He could sell his body if it meant getting what he wanted. His current desperation was more precious than his own life.
The silk shirt kept slipping off his shoulders. The very thin material reflected the light, showcasing Sanho’s slender body line. It was more explicit than wearing nothing at all. His white chest was fully exposed between the undone buttons. Sanho hesitated, trying to gather the front, but the staff member irritably pulled his hands away.
The slacks, which tightly hugged his thin lower body, were no different. It was a vulgar outfit that revealed his silhouette.
“Go in.”
The staff member waved his hand dismissively at Sanho, who stood in front of the golden door. The moment Sanho bit his lip and grasped the doorknob, the staff member suddenly grabbed his shoulder. Seeing him touch his earpiece, it seemed there was some new instruction.
“Wait a moment. Just wait.”
The staff member quickly crossed the hallway. Soon, he appeared holding something in his hand. It was a black blindfold. Like the shiny shirt Sanho was wearing, it was made of silk but was much thicker. Without any explanation, the staff member began to cover Sanho’s eyes.
“What are you doing…!”
“I’m covering your eyes. It seems the guest is someone important. They told me to cover your face.”
“There was no such instruction…”
“Or maybe he’s a pervert who likes this kind of thing. But this is nothing compared to what a pervert would want, so don’t whine.”
The black cloth thoroughly obscured Sanho’s vision. The whole world turned black. Not a single ray of light came through. Sanho stiffened, unable to take a single step. The staff member, gripping Sanho’s shoulder, knocked on the golden door. The sound echoed, and the door opened with a creak.
“……”
The staff member silently led Sanho inside. As he stumbled forward, at some point, the staff member abruptly stopped. Sanho stared into the darkness. He couldn’t see, but he sensed that someone was standing right in front of him.
“If he wants, it’s fine to release the pheromones. As long as he’s satisfied, that’s all that matters.”
