The next morning, Kiyonari jolted awake, gasping for air as if he had just surfaced from a deep, dark dream. His body shot upright, his hair messy and sticking to his forehead with sweat. For a moment, he sat there—dazed—trying to remember where he was.
Oh right, I'm home.
The faint scent of antiseptic and pheromone suppressant still lingered in the air, remnants of last night's treatment.
He turned his head to the clock sitting on his bedside table.
9:52 a.m.
"Shoot!" He blurted, voice cracking as the realization hit him. "I overslept!"
He scrambled out of bed, feet tangling in the sheets, and almost tripped before catching himself. The room was still dim from the curtains half-drawn, but he rushed to the closet anyway, pulling out the first decent outfit his hands could find.
"I need to hurry—where's my damn tie?" He muttered frantically.
He slipped one arm through the sleeve of his white button-down when a loud vibration startled him.
Rrring—Rrring—
[??]
His head whipped toward the sound, eyes darting around the room. "Where's my phone?"
The buzzing continued. He threw aside the blanket, rummaging through the folds until his fingers brushed against the cool surface of the device.
"There you are!" He snatched it up.
His eyes narrowed at the screen.
[Unknwon Number]
He hesitated. His thumb hovered over the answer button, unsure. But the persistent ringing burrowed into his nerves until, flustered, his finger slipped and accepted the call by accident.
He sighed, pressing the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
A sharp voice immediately cut through the line.
"Where the hell are you?"
Kiyonari froze, every muscle locking in place. That voice—cold and authoritative—he knew it instantly.
"D-Director Je?!" He blurted inside his head, eyes widening in disbelief.
Panic surged through him. His hand tightened around the phone as if it could anchors his crumbling composure.
"I-I'm sorry, Director," he stammered aloud, forcing his voice steady. "I just woke up and didn't notice the time, I—"
"I asked where you are," Soo-hyun's tone snapped like a whip. "I don't need your excuses."
Kiyonari swallowed hard. His throat was dry. "I'm... at home," he managed weakly.
"I don't care what time you woke up," Soo-hyun said, each word clipped and precise.
"I want you here, right now."
That commanding tone—it wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Kiyonari's stomach twist.
"Yes, sir. Understood. I'll be there as quickly as possible."
The line went dead.
Kiyonari stared at the screen for a few seconds, hearing the faint click echo in his ears even after the call ended. His heart was pounding so fast it almost hurt.
He dragged his hand down his face, groaning under his breath.
"Great... first I almost died from rut, now I'm about to die from my boss."
He quickly threw on the rest of his clothes, ran his fingers through his hair to tame the mess, and snatched his keys from the desk.
As he left the apartment, his reflection in the mirror by the door caught his eye—placing face, tired eyes, and the bandaged arm of his made him freeze.
He tugged his sleeve lower to hide it. And with that, he bolted out the door.
*****
When someone falls in love, their heart beats differently—soft restless. It flutters at the sound of a name, races when eyes meet, and calms only when the other person smiles. It's a rhythm born from warmth, from affection, from something beautiful. Or at least, that's what he thought.
But Kiyonari's heart beat for a different reason entirely—and this one felt nothing like love.
His chest pounded with a different kind of rhythm: erratic, and heavy. Each thump reminded him of dread—the kind that coils in your gut and doesn't let go. It wasn't passion that made his hands tremble, but fear, that his carefully built façade was about to shatter, and along with it, his career.
Never had he imagined that one night—one unexpected rut—would set off a chain reaction that could ruin everything.
He'd managed to keep his secondary gender a secret for years, hidden under suppressants and control. But now he stood here, unable to look away from the man who could destroy his entire life with a single command.
Soo-hyun's cold, unyielding gaze met his. His eyes, dark and sharp as tempered glass, pinned Kiyonari in place. It felt like standing before a storm, silent, but promising devastation. Kiyonari's throat went dry. He could almost feel invisible thorns piercing into him, one after another, as those sharp eyes measured his every breath.
[Moments ago]
Kiyonari had been sprinting down the busy morning street, dodging people and cars. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but he kept running. He didn't even know why. Maybe panic drove him, maybe guilt. Or maybe he was too afraid of what he might find if he stopped.
He was about to slow down—maybe a call a taxi—when a black sedan screeched to a halt beside him.
The tinted window rolled down, and before he could react, the door swung open.
A group of men in dark suits stepped out, their presence sharp and commanding like bodyguards straight out of a film. The leader, wearing dark sunglasses, approached him with an unreadable expression.
"Are you Mr. Soo?" The man asked curtly.
Kiyonari blinked, startled. "Uh... yes? That's me."
His mind raced. Who are these people? What do they want with me?
The man turned slightly to nod at his companions, then faced Kiyonari again. "You'll need to come with us."
"What?!"
"The boss wants to see you."
"Wait—who?! What's going on?!"
"He's waiting for you," the man said simply, and that was all the warning Kiyonari got.
Two of them flanked him on both sides before he could even think to resist. Their grips were firm but not rough. Still, the pressure of their presence alone was enough to crush any protest that rose in his throat.
The door shut behind him with a dull, final thud. The car pulled away, and the city outside blurred into streaks of color. All Kiyonari could do was sit in silence, heart thudding, as he realized exactly who was waiting for him at the end of this drive.
[Right now]
Inside an elegant condominium, the air was heavy—too still and quiet.
The curtains were drawn just enough for thin rays of sunlight to cut through the room, illuminating the faint haze of dust in the air. The furnishings were refined: a red velvet sofa, marble floors, and a faint scent of roses and sterile linen.
Kiyonari stood by the door, tense and unmoving, feeling the weight of the locked room pressing on him. Across from him, Soo-hyun sat with unnerving calm on the crimson sofa.
He rested his chin on one hand, his legs crosses, his expression unreadable. Only his eyes moved—slowly, deliberately studying Kiyonari as though peeling back every lie, every secret and layer of his being.
Kiyonari tried to meet that gaze, but it was like staring into a blade. Beneath the surface of that stillness, he could feel something else—anger, disappointment, confusion, maybe even betrayal.
The silence between them stretched on, so thick that even Kiyonari's shallow breaths sounded loud. His heart pounded painfully against his ribs.
He swallowed, throat dry, and finally whispered—
"Director Je..."
But Soo-hyun didn't answer. He just kept staring.
And that silence was far more terrifying than any words he could have said.
Soon, Kiyonari bowed his head, his arms straightened at his sides.
A perfect ninety-degree bow, formal and heavy with guilt.
His voice trembled as he spoke, words scraping his throat like glass.
"I'm truly sorry, Director Je...!"
The room was silent. The ticking of the clock echoed faintly through the air, each second dragging like an eternity.
Soo-Hyun said nothing. Not a single word. He sat there, composed yet distant, his eyes unreadable beneath the soft veil of light filtering from the window.
Kiyonari straightened slightly but didn't dare meet his gaze. His lips quivered as he continued, "I didn't mean to lie about my gender, nor to deceive anyone. Pretending to be a Bate—it wasn't because I looked down on anyone, especially not you, Director. It was never out of arrogance or disrespect."
[...]
His hands clenched at his side, fingers digging into his palms. "It's just... because of certain circumstances, I had no choice but to live that way. I hid what I truly was because I thought... it would make things easier. That people would treat me fairly if they didn't know."
He exhaled shakily. "I know that doesn't justify my actions. I know I broke your trust, and I'm fully aware of the consequences of lying about something so fundamental. I just—" his voice faltered, "I just want to say I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you, Director Je."
[...]
The silence that followed was deafening. Soo-hyun's eyes remained fixed on him, unwavering.
Kiyonari bit his lower lip, his heart hammering painfully. The air felt suffocating, pressing down on his shoulders until his bow began to tremble slightly.
Then, after what felt like a lifetime, Soo-hyun finally spoke.
"So," he said, his tone cutting through the air like a blade, "You're saying you lied about something as important as your gender... just to get into this company?"
Kiyonari's head snapped up slightly, eyes wide.
Soo-hyun leaned back on the sofa, his expression cool, detached—but his voice carried something else. Something sharp.
"Were you planning to hide the truth forever? To keep up your act until someone eventually find out?"
Kiyonari swallowed hard. "I... I don't—"
Soo-hyun didn't let him finish.
"You walked around my company disguised as a harmless Beta," he said coldly, "and knowing I'm an Omega—you stayed because you thought you could control me."
Kiyonari blinked, startled. "What?"
I honestly have no idea he was an Omega all this time! Please, don't twist my words...!
"You knew I wouldn't doubt you," Soo-hyun continued, his tone rising ever so slightly.
"You knew and took advantage of that." He tilted his head, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "Did you think if you got close enough, you could make me submit to you? Is that what you were planning, Mr. Soo?"
Kiyonari's breath hitched. "No, sir! That's not ... I never—!"
His voice cracked under the weight of his desperation. "I never thought of anything like that, not even once!"
But Soo-hyun only scoffed, the sound sharp and cold.
"You said, you lied because of your circumstances. What do you mean by that? I want to know the reason."
[!!]
"That... is personal... sir. But I'm being honest that I have no intention of—"
"Yeah, right." His words dripped with disbelief. "You must've laughed behind my back—thinking I was some naïve Omega, stupid enough to trust you. To rely on you, and think you were any different from the rest."
Kiyonari's chest ached as if someone had struck him.
No... I suddenly feel pain in my chest hearing those words. Just why does he keep twisting my words?! I only wanted...
He wanted to shout it. To tell him everything—how much he respected him, and that his clean intention towards the man he came to admired. It wasn't to manipulate him, but rather to protect himself. But importantly to keep his job.
But the words wouldn't come out. His throat locked, trembling from a pain he didn't even know how to describe.
All he could do was stand there—head lowered, heart breaking quietly—as Soo-hyun's cold eyes continued to pierce through him like knives.
Kiyonari clenched his hands into fists. His throat was dry, but he forced the words out anyway.
"I never had any intentions of controlling you, sir. I didn't want to make you submit to anything."
He lifted his eyes slightly, voice trembling with earnestness.
"Yes, I wanted to gain your trust—but only because I wanted to prove that I could be a good and reliable secretary for you. I wanted you to see that I'm capable. That I could be someone worthy of your confidence."
His gaze softened. "I thought that if I continued to do my job right, if I stayed by your side long enough, maybe... you'd look at me differently. I didn't want to disappoint you, Director Je."
Soo-hyun's expression didn't shift. His silence was colder than ice. Then, in one sharp breath, he cut him off.
"You lied to me once..."
"..."
"So, what's makes you think I'd believe you now? That you don't have any ill intentions?"
Kiyonari's head bowed lower, his voice small, heavy with guilt.
"I know it was stupid of me. I know I've already lost your trust... and that I have no right to show my face to you."
He exhaled shakily, eyes fixed on the carpet.
"That's why, I'll accept whatever consequences you decide. If you have to fire me, then I'll leave without a word. I won't complain. I'll obey your orders."
The room fell silent. Only the faint hum of the air conditioner filled the space.
Then, Soo-hyun spoke again—his tone quieter this time, yet it carried a dangerous edge.
"You really thought of leaving just like that?"
Kiyonari blinked, startled. "Huh? Sir?"
Soo-hyun rose from the sofa, his robe flowing slightly with the movement. His eyes darkened.
"Did you think I'd just let you off the hook that easily?"
Kiyonari took a cautious step back. "I... I don't understand what you mean, sir."
"If you thought you could walk in here, apologize, and then walk away just like that—" Soo-hyun's lips curved faintly, "you're greatly mistaken, Mr. Soo."
He began to walk toward him. Each step deliberate, unhurried, and predatory.
Kiyonari's pulse quickened. He instinctively stepped backward—until his back hit the wall with a soft thud.
A dead end.
Soo-hyun stopped right in front of him. Without warning, his hand shot forward—grabbing Kiyonari's necktie.
"Sir—!"
He yanked it downward sharply, pulling Kiyonari to lean close, forcing their faces inches apart.
The fabric of the tie stretched taut between them. Kiyonari could see the reflection of his own wide, startled eyes in Soo-hyun's dark irises. And in Kiyonari's brown gaze, Soo-hyun could see his own cold expression mirrored back at him.
The air grew heavy. The tension between them was almost tangible.
"I don't intend to fire you," Soo-hyun murmured, his voice low. "Nor will I report you to the Association for lying about your gender."
"What?" Kiyonari breathed, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "You're not...?"
That's right, Soo-hyun thought, narrowing his eyes.
It would be a waste to let him go. Especially now that he knew what Kiyonari really was.
He still could be useful to me. Since he refuses to tell me the truth... then I'll just have to find it out myself.
A subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. After all, it's your fault for walking straight into my trap, Soo Kihyun.
Kiyonari's heart pounded hard in his chest. His breath trembled as he tried to remain composed.
"Sir, I don't understand.... if you're not going to fire me, then why—"
"Because I can," Soo-hyun interrupted sharply, his tone smooth but commanding. "I'm the boss here. I can do whatever I want... even to a big liar like you."
Kiyonari flinched at the words.
Then, suddenly—something sweet, sharp, and utterly intoxicating swept through the air.
A familiar scent. Sweet like sugar cane mix of candy in the summer.
Kiyonari's pupils dilated. "Ah...!" His breath caught. "Sir—what are you doing?!"
Soo-hyun tilted his head slightly, feigning innocence. "What else?" He said, brows arching. "I'm testing a theory."
"T-Theory?"
"I'm seeing if what she said was true."
She? Kiyonari's mind reeled. Who is he talking about?...
Before he could speak, Soo-hyun tugged the necktie even harder, pulling him closer. Kiyonari stumbled forward, his chest brushing lightly against Soo-hyun's.
"W-Wait—!"
His breath hitched as his nose brushed against Soo-hyun's shoulder—his face drawn in closer until his lips hovered near the curve of the Omega's neck.
The scent became stronger. It was maddeningly sweet. It swirled through his sense, fogging his mind.
Kiyonari's breathing grew uneven. His throat tightened as he tried to resist the urge to inhale, but his body betrayed him.
A faint, involuntary sniff—then another.
The scent invaded him, strong and thick like syrup.
So sweet... I think I might go crazy just from this smell... he thought helplessly, his body trembling.
His fingers twitched, fighting the instinct to grab hold of the man before him.
Soo-hyun's lips curved faintly, watching him struggle.
"Judging from that face," he murmured softly, "I suppose Dr. Seon was right after all..."