Yiseo had gotten there first—so why did he have to be the one caught up in all this? Was it a mistake to have hidden in a spot where no one could see him? Guilt and frustration welled up as he realized he’d missed his chance to leave and now had to sit through the entire exchange.
“Stop.”
Alexander’s voice suddenly turned stern. Yiseo couldn’t tell what exactly had happened.
“What do you think you’re doing, releasing pheromones here? You know full well they won’t work on me. I’m an extreme-dominant Alpha.”
“…Tch.”
The blond man clenched his teeth, visibly frustrated. The sound of something being slapped—maybe his own thigh or the table—echoed out, followed by the door opening and slamming shut as someone left.
But only one set of footsteps walked out.
Which meant—someone had stayed behind. Judging by the lighter steps, it was probably…
“Eavesdropping’s a nasty habit.”
Yiseo flinched so hard it triggered a hiccup. He shot up to explain himself, only to lock eyes with Alexander, who was already looking in his direction.
“H-Hic! I-I’m sorry, hic—really, I didn’t mean to, I just—hic—I didn’t get a chance to leave.”
Talking with hiccups was almost impossible. Still, Alexander didn’t press him or show irritation. He simply waited for Yiseo to finish.
“I can see how that might’ve been difficult. I understand.”
“Hic—th-thank you.”
Even though he’d been here first, Yiseo felt humiliated—he’d witnessed something incredibly personal. If Alexander had taken offense, he would’ve had every right to. If he’d chosen to hold it against him, it could’ve made Yiseo’s life hell. The fact that he didn’t—Yiseo was deeply grateful for that.
“It might be best if you leave after I do.”
“Ah—hic—yes, th-that sounds… hic, sounds right.”
“Stay near the front so you’ll notice if anyone else comes in.”
The sound of a chair scraping echoed through the storage room. After that brief advice, Alexander left. Yiseo’s hiccups didn’t stop for a few more minutes.
***
The party wrapped up around 1 a.m.
Thankfully, it was the weekend. If this had happened on a weekday, and he had to go to work in a few hours without rest, he would’ve been miserable.
Some of the guests who’d grown closer likely went out for an after-party, but Yiseo had no energy to care. First, he made sure all the guests inside the venue had left. It was part of his responsibility—to ensure no security issues or scandals cropped up. Sure, the event company staff were still around, but it wasn’t wise to leave everything to them. Minimizing risk was always the goal.
As he did his rounds, checking the far corners of the hall, Yiseo spotted someone who hadn’t left yet.
“Did you enjoy the party? I’m afraid it’s officially over now. I’ll escort you to the exit.”
He approached with a friendly tone, silently hoping they’d just leave without a fuss—until he realized who it was.
Alexander.
“Ah, I see. I was just sitting for a bit… didn’t realize how late it’d gotten.”
Alexander tried to stand but stumbled. Was he drunk? Yiseo rushed over to support him. For an extreme-dominant Alpha to be in this state… how much had he drunk? He glanced around, but the bartender was nowhere in sight.
“…Oh, Yeon Yiseo.”
It took Alexander a moment to recognize him—his senses clearly dulled by the alcohol. A sweet scent wafted from his breath.
“Apologies. I’m not feeling too well.”
“You should get home and rest. Would you like me to contact your assistant?”
“No, that’s not necessary. I can manage on my own.”
He said that, but he didn’t look steady at all.
“You should head home too, Yeon Yiseo. Crime’s been on the rise lately. Stay out too late and your parents might end up grieving.”
Yiseo’s eyes widened a little. That last bit didn’t sound like the Alexander he knew—seemed like his emotions were a bit tangled right now. Still, Yiseo didn’t question it. If someone had just broken up with their partner, it’d be weird if they were totally fine.
“I’ll be okay. I don’t have any parents.”
He said it with a small smile, and Alexander stared at him in silence. Yiseo quickly added,
“Ah, that wasn’t meant to make you uncomfortable. Just a joke.”
“You mean, the part about not having parents?”
“No, that part’s true.”
Alexander fell quiet. Yiseo could guess what he was thinking, so he gave a shrug.
“Anyway, we should probably get out of the venue. Shall we?”
“Good idea. You should come with me. I’m not driving, so don’t worry.”
Wait—did he seriously have a chauffeur waiting at this hour? Yiseo couldn’t help feeling sorry for the driver. Hopefully, the man was being paid well for such late hours.
“I’ve got a hotel booked. Let’s head there. I’ll make sure not to interfere with your weekend rest.”
“Huh? Hotel… a hotel?”
Yiseo immediately reacted to the suspicious word.
“I’m just concerned, that’s all. And the person I originally planned to share the room with isn’t coming, so there are plenty of spare rooms.”
He was being honest, at least. In the end, Yiseo accepted his offer. Even as he climbed into the car, he couldn’t help wondering—Is this really okay?
This man was the older brother of the CEO. Should he really be going to a hotel with him just like that?
The idea made him nervous. He decided that once they arrived, he’d just say thanks and go back home. That would be the safest route. He hoped they’d get there quickly.
During the ride, Alexander’s mood seemed to dip lower and lower. Yiseo didn’t dare strike up a conversation.
***
When they arrived, both men stepped out of the car. Alexander dismissed the driver, who gave a polite bow and left immediately. That made sense—at this hour, anyone would want to get off work as soon as possible.
Yiseo’s eyes widened when he saw the hotel.
The Four Seasons Hotel New York.
It was a well-known luxury chain—far outside his usual reach. And if this was the room Alexander had originally planned to share with a lover, then there was no way it was anything less than a premium suite.
He was definitely curious, but not enough to go inside. Still, as he looked over at Alexander, he noticed something was wrong.
“Sir?”
“…”
“Sir?”
It wasn’t until he got closer that Yiseo realized Alexander was sweating. Cold sweat.
He must’ve been feeling far worse than he let on.
“Sir, can you lean on me?”
Yiseo gently lifted Alexander’s arm and wrapped it over his shoulder. Their build difference was significant, but with no one else to help, he had no choice.
“I’m fine. Really, it’s nothing.”
Despite his insistence, Alexander seemed able to walk—barely, but still.
“What did you say earlier? I didn’t quite catch it.”
“Ah… it’s nothing. Let’s just go up for now.”
Setting aside the fact that it was his job to make sure VIP guests returned safely, Yiseo couldn’t bring himself to abandon someone clearly unwell. Especially not someone like Alexander, who—regardless of status—had been decent to him.
He revised his plan. He’d go up with him, make sure the man was in bed, and then leave.
At the hotel reception, a staff member recognized Alexander and approached to offer assistance. Yiseo had been starting to worry about getting him upstairs alone, so it was a relief when the employee offered to help escort them to the room.
They headed to the top floor—to a suite.
He figured it wouldn’t be an ordinary room, but a suite? The scale was on a different level altogether.
Yiseo decided it’d be best to send the staffer away as soon as possible. From what he’d seen, people in the upper class hated exposing their private lives to outsiders. And he was well aware that he was also considered one of those outsiders.
With that in mind, his plan was simple: get the situation under control quickly and then leave.
“Thank you. We’ll be fine from here.”
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. I’m always at your service.”
Once they reached the suite door, the staff responded with a respectful nod. As they stepped inside, Yiseo was momentarily disoriented.
Was this a hotel… or a mansion?
The space was massive. So massive that he figured he could transplant his entire apartment into just one corner of this suite’s living room.
