Alexander spoke as if he were making some lighthearted joke. Even if it was just a polite gesture, Yeon Yiseo appreciated it. He let out a small sigh and murmured softly.
“That’s a relief.”
“So don’t worry.”
If words had texture or shape, Alexander’s would have felt warm and velvety just then. Nodding, Yeon Yiseo relaxed into the body he’d been leaning against.
“But this time… aren’t we doing mucosal contact?”
He felt Alexander’s body stiffen for a moment. Alarmed by the reaction, Yeon Yiseo tried to pull away, thinking he’d said something wrong—but Alexander gently held him in place, patting his back a couple of times like he was soothing him.
“I think this will be enough for tonight.”
“Okay…”
Yeon Yiseo accepted the answer without much thought. He felt like warm bread, fresh from the oven.
By the time he came to his senses, he was lying on the couch with a thick blanket over him. Three hours had passed.
Startled, Yeon Yiseo quickly sat up. He’d slept like the dead, as if he were completely at home here. No wonder he felt so refreshed.
Looking around to find Alexander, he spotted a lit room and headed toward it. It seemed to be a study. Inside, he could hear a quiet voice—Alexander’s.
On the desk was a sizable stack of documents, presumably ones Alexander had handled while Yeon Yiseo had been fast asleep. He felt even more self-conscious.
Alexander seemed to be on a call, but he must have noticed Yeon Yiseo’s presence.
“Alright. I’ll assume we’re going with that plan then.”
He ended the call quickly and rose from his chair to approach him.
“You’re awake. You could’ve slept longer, you know.”
Alexander reached out and gently touched Yeon Yiseo’s forehead, as if checking for a fever. It was so seamless, Yeon Yiseo didn’t even have time to object before the man withdrew his hand, seemingly satisfied with the result.
“You seem fine.”
“Yes, thanks to you, CEO.”
Without missing a beat, Yeon Yiseo continued.
“I should get going now. Thank you for everything today.”
“If you’re okay with it, you can stay here again tonight.”
Alexander offered, but Yeon Yiseo shook his head. It was a little late, but not too late to head home.
“I should probably go. It’s not as late as last time.”
“Then I’ll call a driver for you. Let him take you.”
“No, it’s alright.”
Yeon Yiseo declined again. It was too much—too kind. Even the fact that Alexander took time out of his day to supply him with pheromones came from his generosity. He couldn’t lean on him more than this.
But Alexander didn’t seem willing to just let him leave alone.
“Please let me escort you.”
Yeon Yiseo found himself at a loss for words. The kindness was coming from Alexander, yet the way he phrased it—like he was the one asking for permission—was oddly endearing and a little embarrassing, though… he didn’t hate it.
And with him asking so sincerely, it felt wrong to keep refusing. Yeon Yiseo had a feeling Alexander knew that too.
“In that case… okay. Thank you.”
“Thank you for accepting my request.”
“No need to say that… I’m the one who gets to go home comfortably thanks to you.”
As Alexander smiled, Yeon Yiseo couldn’t help but admire him. They were half-brothers, sure, but it was remarkable how different he was from Ethan.
They were both perched at the very top of the pyramid, yet couldn’t be more opposite in personality.
When it looked like Alexander was going to accompany him downstairs, Yeon Yiseo gently stopped him. After all, the man had just been taking work calls—surely he should get some rest.
“It’s really okay. You already arranged for the car, and I’m grateful just for that. I think it’s best I say goodbye here.”
“Is that so? Alright, then.”
This time, Alexander accepted Yeon Yiseo’s suggestion.
Once Yeon Yiseo had changed back into his clothes and returned, Alexander was waiting for him by the elevator.
“Get home safe.”
“Thank you. You should rest well too, CEO.”
Alexander let out a small chuckle.
“Pardon me. That sounded like you were addressing your boss at the office.”
It wasn’t an unfair point. The title was something Yeon Yiseo used habitually, so it was only natural his tone would follow. It wasn’t something he could help—and besides, there was no way he could start calling Alexander by his name.
“I wasn’t telling you to change it. Even if I asked, I think you’d politely refuse.”
“Yes… I probably would.”
“Haha. Ah, the elevator’s here.”
Just before the doors opened, Yeon Yiseo caught Alexander watching him and gave a sheepish smile, raising his shoulders. He had a pretty good idea why Alexander was looking.
“I told you the elevator doesn’t bother me anymore, didn’t I?”
“You did. And it really seems like you’re fine now. Then… be safe.”
“Have a good night.”
With that simple exchange, they said goodbye.
When Yeon Yiseo stepped out onto the ground floor, the car was already waiting.
He apologized for the late hour, but the driver just smiled and said it was no trouble, then started the engine.
***
After receiving pheromones from Alexander the day before, Yeon Yiseo felt undeniably more energized.
Even with less than five hours of sleep, he felt refreshed. It made him think that maybe, if his pheromones stayed balanced like this, life would be a lot easier.
As he walked in with a spring in his step, Natalie greeted him cheerfully.
“Morning, Yiseo! Did something good happen? You look like you’re in a great mood.”
“Yeah. Oh, and sorry about leaving early yesterday.”
“Hmm, it’s fine. I heard about that racist lunatic. And nothing happened after you left anyway.”
“That’s a relief.”
They exchanged a few casual words and began their usual routine.
Entering with some documents, Yeon Yiseo greeted Ethan as always.
“Did you rest well yesterday?”
“Thanks to your consideration, CEO. I appreciate it.”
“I see. By the way… hmm, no—never mind.”
Ethan had started to say something but cut himself off.
Not like him.
Come to think of it, something similar had happened yesterday too.
“You can go now.”
“Yes, sir.”
It was a perfectly ordinary conversation—but something felt off.
There was a subtle change in Ethan’s attitude toward him.
Maybe he was just imagining it. Yeon Yiseo shook off the feeling and left the office.
Ethan’s afternoon schedule included a meeting at Club Quarters Hotel, World Trade Center. Yeon Yiseo checked the time and entered the CEO’s office.
“Sir, the car’s waiting outside.”
“Ah, right. Got it.”
Ethan stood, glancing at the time. As Yeon Yiseo moved to follow him, he was asked an unexpected question.
“What about Natalie?”
It was odd for him to ask about her so suddenly, but Yeon Yiseo answered.
“She had a meeting, so she stepped out for a bit.”
“I see. Then I’ll go alone.”
“Sorry? Wait, sir, what do you mean by that…?”
“I mean what I said. There’s no need for you to come along. I don’t feel like explaining further.”
He glanced once at Yeon Yiseo, voice firm, and walked away—leaving Yeon Yiseo frozen in place, staring after him.
Was it just his imagination, or was Ethan acting like he was angry at him?
He tried to dismiss it, but couldn’t help wondering—how was Ethan going to manage this alone?
Just then, Natalie burst into the office, clearly in a rush.
Yeon Yiseo asked what was going on, and her answer left him stunned.
“CEO called me to meet him at the convention. I think he’s planning to leave from there too.”
“What?”
“Do you have the reference reports by any chance?”
“Ah, yes. Here.”
Looking slightly frantic, Natalie took the files he handed her and nodded in thanks.
“I only just got the call too, so I came rushing back. Ugh, where is everything… I can’t find anything!”
Still talking, she began grabbing what she needed—eventually just sweeping everything from the desk into her briefcase—and then she left, just as busily as she’d come.
Once she was gone, silence fell like the calm after a storm.
Yeon Yiseo stood there, unable to process what had just happened.
Hadn’t Ethan said he’d go alone earlier?
But he’d contacted Natalie and told her to come.
There was no denying it—he was deliberately avoiding Yeon Yiseo.
Had he done something wrong?
He retraced his steps but found nothing obvious. The elevator incident came to mind, but Ethan’s demeanor hadn’t changed after that, so it didn’t seem related.
Then what the hell was it?
Did Ethan no longer trust him professionally? Had he made some major mistake?
But as far as Yeon Yiseo could recall—there was nothing. Not a single thing.
