As Yeon Yiseo greeted the security guard and exited through the front gate, he spotted someone sitting on a bench nearby. He’d never seen a homeless person around this area before. On alert, he tried to get a better look, but the shade of the trees made it hard to tell who it was.
He decided it’d be best to get away quickly and picked up his pace—
“You’re working quite late.”
A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
“…CEO?”
Emerging from the shadows and walking toward him was Alexander. The moment he saw him, Yeon Yiseo’s heart gave a heavy thud.
“Our CEO left work a little while ago,” he said, trying to sound casual as he glanced back at the building.
“I’m not here for Ethan. I came to see you, Yeon Yiseo.”
“Me?”
Yeon Yiseo’s surprise was clear, and Alexander tilted his head slightly.
“There’s something we still need to talk about, isn’t there?”
“I thought that conversation ended yesterday.”
“No. We were interrupted. And there were listeners we didn’t want.”
Alexander’s voice remained calm and composed, his low tone oddly soothing. Yeon Yiseo couldn’t guess what he was about to say or what business had brought him here, but that voice alone eased the tension somewhat.
“I looked into it—apparently, when a manifestation occurs after puberty due to exposure to an extreme-dominant Alpha, the Omega may develop a need for that specific person’s pheromones. If they aren’t supplied with that, they can suffer symptoms similar to thirst.”
“…”
Yeon Yiseo pressed his lips together.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it sounded like you were going to take responsibility. I’m an adult. I can handle my own problems. And didn’t you already pay for the suite that day?”
As Yeon Yiseo spoke, he noticed Alexander’s expression slowly harden and trailed off. Had he said something wrong?
Alexander waited until he was finished, then spoke in an even tone.
“There are a few things we need to correct. First: your value, Yeon Yiseo, can’t be compared to a hotel suite. Second: yes, I should take responsibility. It wasn’t something you did alone, was it? I have a part in this too.”
“…”
Yeon Yiseo was left speechless. He hadn’t expected to hear anything like that from Alexander. The words were sweet—almost too sweet—and left him stunned.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and parted his lips as if to say something—but in the end, no words came out.
“I’ll provide you with pheromones until your condition stabilizes.”
A proposal so startling it made his eyes widen. The pheromones of an extreme-dominant Alpha—specifically the Alpha who had triggered Yeon Yiseo’s manifestation. There was no reason to refuse. From the moment he saw Alexander, even now, his body had been craving him, that same deep thirst returning. Even without direct pheromone exposure, his body already knew.
Yeon Yiseo swallowed without meaning to.
“…No.”
He finally managed to get a word out—with great difficulty.
“It’s fine. You really don’t have to go that far, sir.”
He drew a line, gently but firmly. Of course, he was sincerely grateful for the offer. From Alexander’s position, it would’ve been easy to ignore the whole thing.
“I thought it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for you.”
“That’s exactly it. There’s nothing in this for you, sir.”
Alexander had kept his eyes on Yeon Yiseo the entire time he spoke, and it was getting harder to meet that gaze. Unconsciously, Yeon Yiseo let his eyes drop downward.
“It’s admirable to want to handle things on your own, but refusing help too much only makes it look like you’re compensating for insecurity. If someone’s offering to help, especially when it’s something you need, you should accept it.”
He was speechless. It could’ve easily come across as condescending—but spoken in that warm, decisive voice, it felt more like gentle persuasion.
And he was right. The aching, gnawing symptoms hadn’t gone away. And who knew how long they would last? If Alexander’s help could shorten that time, even a little, wasn’t that better?
“…Alright. Then… I’ll accept.”
In the end, Yeon Yiseo could only nod.
“Good. Then let’s go to my place.”
“Wait… You mean tonight?”
The sudden shift in pace threw him off.
“Is there a reason to put it off?”
“No… not really. …Alright.”
It made perfect sense. You couldn’t exactly release pheromones in a public place.
“But… do we have to go to your home?”
“Yes. I don’t live with Ethan, so you won’t run into him.”
Alexander had answered the exact concern Yeon Yiseo had in mind. That was a relief. He couldn’t invite Alexander to his own place, and it’s not like he could afford to suggest a hotel. The two of them headed toward a car parked on the side of the road.
Alexander opened the back door for Yeon Yiseo and waited for him to get in first. Not used to such treatment, Yeon Yiseo climbed in awkwardly, still in disbelief. Alexander followed right after.
“Take us home.”
“Yes, sir. Departing now.”
Alexander’s residence wasn’t far—a cleanly maintained condominium of warm beige brick. They pulled into a rounded traffic circle at the entrance, where a 24-hour security guard stood watch over the residents’ safety.
When the car stopped, Alexander stepped out first and helped Yeon Yiseo out. He had always been the one supporting others—this kind of treatment was a first. Was this what ingrained manners looked like? He had no idea what kind of expression he should be making.
His place was on the top floor. Another elevator. It’s not like they break down that often, and this place looked just as high-end as Dymine’s headquarters… but it still made him nervous.
He must like high places, Yeon Yiseo thought vaguely as he took a breath and stepped in after him.
“It’s fine. The elevators here are checked frequently. They rarely malfunction.”
“Ah… Right. That’s good.”
He’d answered reflexively before realizing Alexander had probably sensed his discomfort and said that to reassure him. Had he really been that visibly tense? It was a little embarrassing.
“After going through what you did, it’s perfectly normal to be scared… We’re here.”
The elevator swiftly arrived at the top floor. Yeon Yiseo had expected to exit the elevator and then enter the apartment—but instead, the interior of the residence opened up directly. The entire top floor belonged to Alexander. The monthly maintenance fees alone must’ve been astronomical.
The warm-toned wood finishes gave the space a cozy, inviting feel. Between the office and this place, it was clear what kind of atmosphere Alexander liked.
As Alexander slipped off his jacket and draped it over the sofa, Yeon Yiseo asked,
“Are we starting now?”
“Let’s rest a bit first. We just got home.”
“Ah, right.”
He’d forgotten that Alexander had just finished work too. Feeling a bit sheepish for being so eager, Yeon Yiseo rubbed his cheek.
He stood there awkwardly until Alexander spoke again.
“No need to just stand there. Have a seat and make yourself comfortable. Want some water?”
“Where’s the kitchen? I can—”
“No, you’re a guest.”
Alexander gently cut him off, walked over to the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of water. It was a brand you could find at any corner store. Yeon Yiseo found himself staring absentmindedly at the label.
“It’s nothing fancy. Would you prefer sparkling water instead?”
“No, this is fine.”
Yeon Yiseo gave a slightly awkward smile. It was surprising—it wasn’t Fiji, Voss, or Perrier. Just something cheap and common from a local market or convenience store.
Still, he’d accepted it, and it would feel rude not to drink. He unscrewed the cap and took a sip.
“Need anything else? I’ve got some light snacks, too.”
“No, I’m good.”
“Alright then. Just a moment.”
While Yeon Yiseo sat on the sofa, Alexander loosened his tie and undid a button at his collar. He rolled his sleeves up to his forearms, giving off a far more relaxed appearance.
It was the first time Yeon Yiseo had seen him like this. Even though he didn’t report directly to him, the Alexander he’d seen in the media was always dressed to perfection, never a wrinkle out of place.
“Feeling more relaxed now?”
“Yes. And thanks—the water was great.”
“You could loosen your tie too, if you’d like.”
“I’m fine.”
Even as he replied, Yeon Yiseo began to notice something—pheromones, faint at first, gradually growing stronger. The tension in his body eased as warmth enveloped him, like being wrapped in something soft and comforting.
