Seong-jun leaned back in his chair, his face twisting as though the words tasted bitter. "The executive director... he's the grandson of Chairman Je. You've probably heard his name—he goes by several nicknames, but most people know him as Je Soo-hyun."
Kiyonari tilted his head. "Soo-hyun...?"
"Yeah. They call him the fallen angel."
Kiyonari raised a brow, puzzled. "Fallen angel? What, is he the black sheep of the family or something?"
Seong-jun shook his head quickly. "No, not exactly. People love to spread that story, but the real reason's different. See—despite being ridiculously praised for his beautiful, almost angelic face, in the workplace he's the exact opposite. A total demon."
Kiyonari blinked, unsure if he heard it right.
"He's strict. Way too demanding. If you ever slip up—even with the tiniest mistake—he'll scold you right there, in front of everyone." Seong-jun's lips curled with irritation as he remembered the stories. "And it's not just scolding. He'll embarrass you, break you down with words until you've got no choice but to just bow your head and take it."
Kiyonari stared, dumbfounded. "You're kidding..."
"I wish I was." Seong-jun grunted, folding his arms. "Ugh! It's so damn annoying. Everyone says he's incredibly hard to work with. That's why none of his secretaries ever last long. Some quit after a few months. A few made it almost a year, but not without scars."
The words echoed in Kiyonari's head. It all sounded so unreal, like some over-the-top webtoon plot or a melodramatic novel. Yet... he knew people like that did exist. He himself had crossed paths with one before.
Still, Seong-jun leaned forward, softening his tone. "But hey—don't let it freak you out too much. The company itself? You'll love it. The environment, the opportunities—you won't regret it. So why not give it a shot? Think about the offer seriously, buddy."
Kiyonari hesitated for a moment, then gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "... Alright."
The next day, just as Ms. Kim instructed, Kiyonari arrived at the tenth floor. The moment the elevator doors slid open, an eerie silence greeted him. Unlike the busy lower floors, here it felt... empty. Too empty. Almost as if the silence itself was waiting to swallow him whole.
He took a deep breath. Calm down, calm down... You can do this, Kiyonari.
Gathering courage, he stepped forward. His shoes echoed softly against the polished marble floor. From the corner, a female employee noticed him.
"Ah, Mr. Soo?" She called gently.
Kiyonari turned toward her, forcing a polite smile. "Oh, good morning."
"Good morning to you too." She returned the smile warmly. "The director has been waiting for you inside."
"Eh?" Kiyonari blinked, startled. His pulse quickened. Still, he nodded and walked toward the golden door at the end of the hall.
He raised his fist, knocked once.
A low voice came from within. "What is it?"
Kiyonari swallowed and opened the door carefully.
Inside, the atmosphere was colder, heavier. A man sat behind a grand desk, calm and collected, his presence dominating the room without effort.
Kiyonari hesitated before stepping forward, his words stumbling out.
"G-Good day sir. My name is Soo Kihyun. I will be your new secretary. I... I look forward to working with you." He bowed deeply.
"..."
Silence.
Kiyonari slowly lifted his gaze—then froze.
The man before him wasn't what he had expected. His face looked almost unreal: smooth pale skin that shimmered faintly under the light, delicate yet sharp features framed by soft black hair.
His eyes, deep and shadowed like onyx, locked onto Kiyonari's, sharp enough to make him feel transparent. His nose bridge was flawless, his lips curved into a shape that seemed both inviting and dangerous. Even his slender fingers resting on the desk looked impossibly refined.
Kiyonari found himself staring, unable to move, struck by a beauty that was both angelic and intimidating.
"New secretary?" The young man finally spoke, voice low and cool.
Kiyonari blinked rapidly, snapping out of it. "Ah... yes, sir."
"They hired another one already?" The man muttered, almost to himself.
They? Kiyonari thought, confused.
"What did you say your name was?"
"S-Soo Kihyun, sir."
The mad tilted his head slightly. "Soo Kihyun? That's a Korean name. But I heard they hired a half Japanese man this time. I'm guessing... that must be you?"
"Eh? U-Um... yes sir."
"What's your Japanese name?"
Kiyonari stiffened. He didn't want to seem hesitant, but how could he refuse to answer the executive director?
"... Hashida Kiyonari, sir."
The man repeated it slowly, testing the syllables as though they were foreign on his tongue. "Ki... yo... na... li."
Kiyonari, he corrected faintly under his breath.
The man's lips tugged upward faintly. "Let's stick with your Korean name."
Good idea, sir, Kiyonari thought with relief.
Then, the young man rose from his chair with a grace that was almost unnerving. His presence seemed to fill the room even more as he stepped closer.
"My guess is... you still don't know who I am. That's fair, I suppose." His eyes glinted, unreadable. "My name is Je Soo-hyun. Executive Director."
Kiyonari felt his stomach drop. The name hit him like a wave.
Soo-hyun's lips curved into a mischievous smirk, sharp and knowing. "Welcome to Soojin Corporation, Kihyun."
His smirk lingered for a moment before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. He turned, and sat down, his expression hardening into something colder—businesslike.
"Since you're here," he said, sliding a thick folder across the desk with one hand, "prove you can actually work. Summarize this in three pages by noon. No excuses."
Kiyonari's eyes widened as the folder landed in front of him with a heavy thud. He carefully picked it up—his palms already clammy. He opened it, and his heart nearly stopped. It wasn't just one document—it was dozens of reports, contracts, financial statements, all densely packed with jargon.
"Sir...?" Kiyonari hesitated. "All of this... by noon?"
Soo-hyun raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowing slightly. "Is that a problem?"
Kiyonari stiffened. No way I can say yes! He shook his head frantically. "N-No, sir! I'll get right on it!"
"Good." Soo-hyun leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "And don't make a single mistake. I hate mistakes."
Kiyonari gulped. His legs felt heavy as he back away with the folder clutched tightly to his chest. His heart pounded in his ears as he left the office, muttering to himself in a panic.
Still, deep down, something inside him refused to give up. He straightened his back.
No... calm down, Kiyonari. You wanted this job, right? Then prove yourself. No matter what it takes.
And with that determination, he hurried toward his small desk outside the director's office, ready to face his very first challenge.
Kiyonari sat at his desk, the folder spread open, papers stacked like a small mountain before him. His pen flew across the page as his phone timer ticked mercilessly. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but his eyes stayed glued to the reports.
"Focus... focus... you can do this..." He muttered under his breath, flipping pages rapidly.
Hours passed in a blur. His stomach growled, his hand cramped, and the clock seemed to mock him. But somehow—through sheer willpower—he pieced everything together.
When the clock struck 11:58 AM, Kiyonari exhaled sharply and stacked the final page on top. "Done!" He whispered, slumping back in his chair, exhausted but proud.
Clutching the neatly bound summary, he marched back into the director's office. Soo-hyun was still at his desk, one leg crossed over the other, skimming through a different document.
"Sir..." Kiyonari bowed slightly, holding out the report. "Here's the summary you asked for."
Soo-hyun glanced at the clock, then at the folder. "Two minutes early." He took it without another word.
Kiyonari stood there, stiff as a statue, while Soo-hyun flipped through the pages. His eyes moved quickly, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, Soo-hyun set the report down and leaned back. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk.
"Not bad," he said simply.
Kiyonari blinked. Not bad?
Soo-hyun's eyes flicked up to him, sharp and calculating. "You're thorough. No major mistakes. I expected you to crack under the pressure... but you didn't."
Kiyonari's chest swelled with relief. "T-Thank you, sir."
But then Soo-hyun's lips curved into that same mischievous smirk earlier. "Don't celebrate yet. That was just a warm-up."
Kiyonari froze. Warm-up?!
Soo-hyun leaned forward, his voice low an commanding. "If you want to survive here, Mr. Soo... you'll have to do better than just not bad."
Kiyonari stepped out of the golden door, his chest rising and falling with a heavy sigh. The weight of the director's words still rang in his ears.
"Don't celebrate yet."
He tightened his grip on the strap of his bag and lowered his gaze. But then, he remembered Seong-jun's warning, his playful grin as he said, "That's though luck, dude."
Kiyonari closed his eyes briefly. I don't know anymore... he muttered inside his head. His hand slowly curled into a fist.
But no matter what, I'll keep it up together!
His eyes lit with determination as he whispered under his breath, "I'm the new secretary. And I'll prove that I can last here. I will survive this."
Meanwhile, inside the office, Soo-hyun remained seated, flipping through the report once more. His sharp gaze didn't soften; if anything, it grew more calculating.
The summary was clean. No errors. No oversights. Completed faster than expected. He had wanted speed and accuracy, and the new secretary had delivered both. Yet, instead of satisfaction, a glimmer of unease stirred in Soo-hyun's chest.
Previous secretaries had always disappointed him—late reports, messy organization, excuses. Some crumbled under pressure. Others quit before he even had the chance to fire them. None had ever exceeded his expectations. None had ever even met them.
But this time... this was different.
Soo-hyun tossed the folder onto his desk with a soft thud. His eyes lingered on it, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"That man..." He murmured, recalling the detail he had skimmed in the resume.
[Beta.]
Impossible. Betas weren't supposed to keep up like this. They weren't supposed to show raised kine of sharpness, this place, this... precision.
He scanned the pages again, convinced he'd find a flaw hidden somewhere. But no—everything was in order. Every detail intact, as if done by someone used to this level of rigor.
Soo-hyun leaned back in his chair, one arm draped on the armrest, eyes narrowing.
Could it be...? He let the thought linger before shaking his head, dismissing it.
No. There's no way. Perhaps I'm overthinking. Maybe there really are Betas who can as good as Alphas.
He closed his eyes, the faintest curve tugging at his lips, not on amusement but intrigue.
"Let's see how far this one can last," he said softly, almost to himself.
The office fell silent, but the spark of challenge had already been lit.
The next day dawned with the usual rush inside Soojin Corporation. Employees shuffled about with documents and coffee in hand, voices overlapping as phones rang in the distance.
Kiyonari, clutching his checklist tightly, entered the executive director's office. He straightened his back, forced his nerves to settle, and began reporting Soo-hyun's packed schedule.
Soo-hyun shifted his gaze from the papers on his desk, those sharp onyx eyes locking onto him. It was enough to make Kiyonari faltered for second.
"Cancel my meeting at twelve," Soo-hyun said suddenly.
"Sir? Kiyonari jolted slightly. "But that meeting is with—"
"I have somewhere I need to be." Soo-hyun's tone cut him off immediately. His voice was smooth, but carried no room for negotiation. "I don't want to go into detail. Just cancel it. No more questions, Kihyun."
Kiyonari quickly bowed his head. "Right. Understood." He couldn't afford to test his boss's patience.
Moments later, the sound of polished shoes clicking against the floor reached his ears. Soo-hyun emerged from his office, his posture straight, his aura commanding. Kiyonari peeked from his desk and immediately stood.
Soo-hyun's eyes slid to him briefly. "Come with me. I need some assistance."
Kiyonari blinked. "Assistance? To what, sir, if I may—"
"Stay here if you're going to keep annoying me with questions," Soo-hyun said coolly, striding past.
Kiyonari flushed and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll assist you."
Without another word, they stepped into the private elevator. When the doors slid open to the ground floor, a sleek back sedan was already waiting. Without being told, Kiyonari hurried ahead and opened the rear door.
Soo-hyun slid inside with effortless grace, while Kiyonari took the passenger seat in front.
The ride didn't last long. Soon, the car pulled up to a towering building of glass and stell—Soojin Mall, one of the group's prized establishments.
Kiyonari stepped out and tilted his head back, awestruck. The infrastructure gleamed under the morning sun, the glass panels reflecting the sky as though it were touched by heaven itself. The mall's grandeur made his own frame feel small.
"What are you standing there like an idiot for?" Soo-hyun's voice cut through his gaze.
Kiyonari blinked, cheeks warming, and rushed to catch up with director's brisk steps.
Inside, the mall was breathtaking. Marble floors stretched wide, chandeliers sparkled above, and designer stores lined every side. Luxurious aromas of leather, cologne, and polished wood mixed faintly in the air. Shoppers were mostly well-dressed elites, their laughter refined, their wallets deeper than Kiyonari could ever imagine.
They reached the third floor, where Soo-hyun stopped at a boutique with a golden emblem on its glass doors. Inside were rows of suits displayed like art—tailored cuts in muted and bold colors, silk ties, polished leather shoes, glittering watches. The entire place radiated wealth.
As they entered, a team of employees rushed forward with bright smiles.
"Good morning, Mr. Je. We're glad to have you once again," one of them greeted with a bow.
"Good." Soo-hyun dropped himself onto a velvet sofa with an elegance that almost theatrical. His legs crossed, one arm draped casually along the armrest.
"I have a party to attend. I need something that will fit the event.
"Of course, sir " one employee motioned to her colleagues. "Bring out the collections."
The staff bowed and hurried deeper into the boutique.
Kiyonari, still confused by this detour, dared to ask quietly, "What are we doing here, sir?"
Soo-hyun tilted his head, one brow arched in disbelief. "What else? We're shopping."
Kiyonari's lips parted as realization hit him. So this is what he meant by assistance...
And so the ordeal began.
After the first store, they moved to the next, then another. Wherever Soo-hyun walked, Kiyonari followed faithfully, his arms slowly filling with glossy bags and heavy boxes. Expensive shoes, pressed suits, silk ties, accessories—the pile grew by the minute.
By the fifth store, Kiyonari's arms trembled under the weight. Still, he said nothing. He didn't complain, didn't groan, not even when one strap dug painfully into his wrist.
When they finally stepped out of the mall, the sky had already turned deep indigo, city lights flickering to life like fireflies. The hum of traffic filled the air, and neon signs in a kaleidoscope glow.
It's night already?! Kiyonari screamed inwardly, staring at the skyline in disbelief. He hadn't even realized how much time had passed
Soo-hyun, looking as composed as ever, turned his head slightly. "Put everything in the trunk."
Kiyonari adjusted his grip on the mountain of glossy bags and nodded firmly. "Understood, sir."
As Kiyonari moved to load the car, Soo-hyun's gaze lingered. His sharp eyes quietly traced the other man's figure—the way he carried the heavy bags with steady ease, his tall frame moving without strain. Muscular, strong, efficient. Not once had Kiyonari faltered, not even after hours of playing pack mule.
Soo-hyun leaned back slightly. Interesting... I thought he'd complain by now. Or at least stumble. But he hasn't shown a single crack.
When Kiyonari returned after closing the trunk, he promptly opened the car door for his boss.
Soo-hyun slid inside with practiced grace, the faint scent of his cologne trailing in the air. The door shut, the tinted window lowered halfway, and Soo-hyun's calm voice drifted out.
"You're now dismissed."
Kiyonari blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"You can take the bus from here. I have somewhere to be. You're dismissed, you can go home now." Soo-hyun's tone left no room for negotiation.
"Eh?" Kiyonari's jaw nearly dropped.
Before he could ask further, the window slid up again. The engine purred to life, and the sedan rolled away, leaving him standing on the curb with his mouth still opened, dumbfounded.
"You've got to be kidding me?!" He whispered furiously under his breath, his hands balling into fists. Did he seriously just ditch me here?!
A rough sigh escaped his lips. With no other choice, Kiyonari made his way to the bus stop. It was a long walk, the night air biting at him, his polished shoes scuffing against the pavement with every step.
By the time he finally trudged into his apartment, he was beyond exhausted. Dropping his bag by the door, he collapsed face-first onto his bed, still in his wrinkled suit.
"Seriously..." He groaned into the pillow. "I can't believe I had to walk almost ten miles just to get to the damn station."
The heaviness in his body was unbearable. His eyes fought to stay open, but the pull of sleep was stronger.
"Damn it... forget the bath. I'm just gonna sleep."
And within moments, Kiyonari was out cold, his breathing soft and steady, leaving the faint smell of cologne and mall air still clinging to his clothes.