FF Chapter 14

They cooked and ate together, brewed tea, and watched movies. Despite several risky moments, they hadn’t gone beyond kissing.

Ji Yeonwoo had never met a dominant Alpha before, but based on what he had heard, he knew how instinct-driven they could be. However, Choi Muhyeok seemed different from the Alphas people usually described. Could there be another Alpha who was as rational as him?

It was also strange that Choi Muhyeok hadn’t asked any questions about the unusual behavior he had witnessed. Ji Yeonwoo wondered if he was waiting for Yeonwoo to explain. But this was a delicate topic—far more so than revealing his loss of pheromones.

To explain everything Choi Muhyeok didn’t know, Ji Yeonwoo would inevitably have to talk about “Lee Hyunjun” and, after that, elaborate on his divorce, which had left a deep scar in his life.

Although he never meant to hide anything, Ji Yeonwoo felt uneasy, as though he had inadvertently concealed the truth.

‘I should have just come clean when we started dating.’

The timing had been unfortunate. Honestly, Ji Yeonwoo had thought that once Choi Muhyeok learned about his pheromone deficiency, their relationship would naturally come to an end. He expected to be rejected and thus didn’t mention his divorce. But he never anticipated that Choi Muhyeok would so readily propose that they date.

After they began dating and shared their first kiss, the opportunity to reveal the truth slipped away, leaving Ji Yeonwoo burdened with guilt.

Even though it was all in the past, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t want any misunderstandings between him and Choi Muhyeok, especially not ones caused by him.

Explaining all this properly to Choi Muhyeok had now become Ji Yeonwoo’s personal challenge.

His phone vibrated.

Ji Yeonwoo quickly glanced at his phone, his face falling with disappointment. It was just another spam call. With an important call on his mind, even a spam call set his nerves on edge.

Sighing softly, Ji Yeonwoo tapped the phone’s screen again. Despite receiving spam calls and messages, there was still no word from Choi Muhyeok.

‘Is the Managing Director doing okay?’

Since Choi Muhyeok left, they hadn’t exchanged any messages. Ji Yeonwoo had no idea why he left or if the situation was alright. He was curious but didn’t have the courage to reach out first, so he waited anxiously for Choi Muhyeok to contact him.

“That’s the 10th time.”

A familiar voice spoke up as Ji Yeonwoo tapped his phone’s screen again. He jumped slightly and turned toward the voice. Seoyoung, dressed in a sharp suit, sat nearby with his legs crossed, watching Ji Yeonwoo.

Oh, right. Eungyeom was here.

Ji Yeonwoo had completely forgotten in his whirlwind of thoughts.

“What do you mean, the 10th time?”

Seoyoung rolled up his sleeve to show his watch and pointed at it.

“I counted. In exactly one minute, you checked your phone 10 times.”

“I did?”

Had he really? While he knew he had been checking more frequently than usual, he hadn’t realized it was that much. Ji Yeonwoo wasn’t typically someone who checked his phone often. Since he worked with his hands in water or soil most of the time, his phone usually stayed untouched. Knowing this, Seoyoung had likely found it strange to see him checking so often within a short span.

Seoyoung got up from his seat and leaned over the desk with a knowing smile.

“So, just be honest.”

“About what?”

“You have a boyfriend, don’t you?”

“…What?”

“Or did you lend someone money?”

“Hey, don’t say weird things.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s heart sank, but he maintained his composure to avoid suspicion.

“I’ll tell you later, okay?”

He hastily picked up the pruning shears to finish conditioning the flowers. Seoyoung, standing beside him, didn’t let go of his suspicions.

“Hmm, the fact you’re not denying it means there’s someone, huh.”

There was no winning with him. Ji Yeonwoo glanced at Seoyoung while working quickly, and when their eyes met, they both smiled.

“So, you’ll introduce him soon, right?”

“I don’t know. He’s a really busy guy.”

“Do I know him?”

“You wouldn’t know his face, but I’ve mentioned him before. The one I talked to over the phone.”

“Really? It’s him? Did it go well?”

Seoyoung was overjoyed, practically bouncing with excitement. Ji Yeonwoo felt embarrassed by how happy Seoyoung was, but his enthusiasm was infectious, and Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t help but feel uplifted too.

“Then is this scent I’m smelling from his pheromones?”

“Scent?”

Seoyoung leaned in close to sniff Ji Yeonwoo.

“You don’t know? There’s this really dangerous scent coming from you right now.”

“Really? I don’t smell anything.”

“It’s sweet, but it’s also so intense it feels intimidating.”

“Is that so?”

“At first, I thought it was the flowers, but since you can’t smell it, I’m sure it’s not. It must be Alpha pheromones.”

Surprised by the comment, Ji Yeonwoo blinked at Seoyoung, then pulled at his sweater to sniff it. He still couldn’t smell anything. After sniffing his arm and hand, Ji Yeonwoo froze in realization.

A thought briefly crossed his mind. Since he had spent the whole weekend with Choi Muhyeok, could it be that Choi Muhyeok’s pheromones had somehow seeped into his body? Although he was an Omega, having no pheromones made the possibility not entirely out of the question.

Just then,

— Buzz.

The phone on the desk vibrated. Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze darted to it. On the screen, the words ‘Managing Director Choi Muhyeok’ along with his number appeared.

A smile quickly spread across Ji Yeonwoo’s face.

“Eungyeom, I need to take this call.”

He picked up the phone and walked briskly toward the door. Pushing the glass door open, he pressed the green call button.

“Hello? Managing Director.”

Ji Yeonwoo raised the phone to his ear as he stepped outside.

[Have you eaten?]

The voice on the other end was calm and low, as usual, but it had a gentle tone. Standing just outside the entrance, Ji Yeonwoo leaned against the glass. It was still winter, but stepping outside didn’t feel that cold.

“Yes. How about you, Managing Director?”

[Not yet. It’s before dinner.]

“You haven’t finished work?”

[Yeah, I’ve been a bit busy.]

As they exchanged small talk, Ji Yeonwoo suddenly noticed a loud music sound in the background. Huh? Was he not in the office? But the earlier comment about not being done with work lingered in his mind. It wasn’t the type of music one would hear in an office—rather, it sounded like the thumping beats from a club. Although Ji Yeonwoo didn’t think Choi Muhyeok was lying, something felt off.

[Ah, I’m not at the office. I’m at a place I run personally. Um… how should I explain?]

Even over the phone, it was clear that he felt uncomfortable.

“It’s fine. If it’s hard to explain, you don’t have to.”

Ji Yeonwoo waved his hand at the empty air, even though no one could see him.

[It’s not that, I’m just trying to find a way to answer without making you misunderstand.]

“…”

[I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.]

“No matter what you say, I won’t misunderstand you, Managing Director. Don’t worry.”

While he wasn’t entirely uninterested, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t feel the need to press for more information since Choi Muhyeok had already said so much. That wasn’t what Ji Yeonwoo was most curious about, anyway.

“…More importantly, are you alright?”

[What do you mean?]

Choi Muhyeok asked, sounding puzzled. Though it felt awkward to bring up, Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t put off the question any longer.

“Things didn’t sound good earlier. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I overheard your phone conversation.”

[Ah, I see.]

“…”

[Well, I’m alright. For now.]

Ji Yeonwoo focused on the voice coming through his phone. Was it just a reassurance, or was he genuinely okay? Even now, it was hard to gauge Choi Muhyeok’s true feelings just from his voice.

[If I end up getting kicked out, you’ll have to take responsibility, Ji Yeonwoo.]

“You’ve seen my place, Managing Director. When you’re there, it feels full.”

Maybe that’s why, when you’re not around, it feels so empty. Ji Yeonwoo swallowed the words he didn’t dare to say.

The longer he stayed outside, the more he began to feel the cold. He had rushed out to answer the call, wearing just a thin sweater and pants, which didn’t help against the chill.

“Do you live with your parents?”

Still, not wanting to end the call just yet, Ji Yeonwoo hunched his body and kept the conversation going.

[No, I live alone too.]

“Ah… you live alone.”

As if it sensed the moment, the wind began to blow harder. The sudden gust sent a shiver down his spine. It was cold enough that his teeth began to chatter.

[You must be cold. I can hear your voice trembling.]

Choi Muhyeok didn’t miss even that small tremor. It was probably time to end the call, though it pained him to do so.

“I stepped outside to take your call. A friend is visiting inside.”

[I see. Then go back inside. Don’t want to catch a cold.]

“Yes. You too, Managing Director. Be careful on your way home.”

With reluctance, Ji Yeonwoo stared at the phone after the call ended. If only the wind hadn’t blown so fiercely, they could have spoken a little longer. The suddenly chilly weather felt especially cruel.

݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

Club Freeze was one of the businesses owned by Choi Muhyeok. If his title of Managing Director at Seonwoo Group was the public face for others to see, his position as the director of Club Freeze revealed who Choi Muhyeok really was and what he truly did.

“It’s been a while, Managing Director.”

Min Jiwon, who had come out to greet him at the entrance, bowed deeply as Choi Muhyeok approached. Behind him, several men dressed in matching black suits, all towering in stature, also bowed toward him. Their display attracted the attention of people passing by Club Freeze.

“You must be confident in your profits, President Min.”

Wearing his coat draped over his shoulders, Choi Muhyeok stood in front of Min Jiwon with his hands in his pockets. His expression was unreadable as his sharp gaze swept over Min Jiwon

With a slim and delicate figure, Min Jiwon, who possessed a refined appearance, didn’t back down even in the cold atmosphere of Choi Muhyeok. And for good reason—Min Jiwon was an omega who had worked as Choi Muhyeok’s secretary for five years. Despite Choi Muhyeok’s principle of not keeping omega secretaries, Min Jiwon was competent enough to never need reminding of tasks. He was well aware of Choi Muhyeok’s every move and was one of the most perceptive individuals in Choi Muhyeok’s inner circle.

It was after Choi Muhyeok happened to acquire Club Freeze that Min Jiwon became its nominal president. Since Choi Muhyeok already managed several businesses, he couldn’t oversee the club himself, so he placed Min Jiwon in charge and received quarterly reports on the business’s performance.

“I didn’t bring you here just because of sales. I have something to discuss, and there are also people here I’d like to introduce you to today.”

Min Jiwon stepped aside to let Choi Muhyeok through.

“I’ll provide a detailed report inside.”

Choi Muhyeok, glancing briefly at the unusually confident Min Jiwon, walked toward the entrance of Club Freeze. As he passed by the large men at the entrance, he heard an angry voice.

“Damn it! Why aren’t you answering my calls?”

A man’s irritated voice pierced through the club’s music, making its way into Choi Muhyeok’s ears.

Choi Muhyeok instinctively stopped and turned his head in the direction of the voice. A large guard was blocking his view, so he pushed him aside.

A man was standing a short distance from the club entrance, exhaling cigarette smoke. Though he wore a suit, his jacket was undone, and a couple of buttons on his shirt were left unfastened. Clearly, he was an alpha, but his disheveled appearance stood out.

“I was told this number was right. You always return missed calls, but you’re ignoring mine?”

The man, holding a cigarette in his mouth and repeatedly tapping his phone, seemed agitated.

“Or did you block me?”

The man stared at his phone intently, then attempted another call. After several failed attempts, his face twisted in anger, and he threw the phone to the ground.

“Damn it, this is so fucking annoying.”

Choi Muhyeok watched the man nonchalantly, unfazed by the vulgarity regardless of whether anyone was around. Noticing this, Min Jiwon gestured toward the guard behind him.

The guard approached the furious alpha, bowing respectfully, indicating the man might be a significant guest at the club.

After a brief exchange, the alpha turned in Choi Muhyeok’s direction.

At that moment, Choi Muhyeok quickly averted his gaze and entered the club.

Inside a private room prepared by Min Jiwon, the table was laden with premium whiskey and snacks. Leaning back into the soft sofa, Choi Muhyeok crossed his legs elegantly as he reviewed the documents on his approval pad.

The documents included a comparison of last quarter’s and this quarter’s sales figures, a market outlook, and projected future sales trends.

With every page turned, Min Jiwon, standing nearby, would glance at Choi Muhyeok’s face. Choi Muhyeok’s cold, emotionless gaze remained fixed solely on the documents. Only after reviewing every last page did Choi Muhyeok take a pen from his jacket pocket and sign his name.

“What’s the real reason you called me here?”

As Choi Muhyeok closed the approval pad and placed it on the table, tension flickered across Min Jiwon’s face. Choi Muhyeok picked up a bottle and poured the golden liquor into a glass filled with ice. The liquid trickled down, seeping between the ice cubes.

“You didn’t bring me all the way here to brag about a less-than-5% increase in sales, did you, President Min?”

Holding the glass, Choi Muhyeok leaned back against the sofa and looked at Min Jiwon. The ever-smiling Min Jiwon’s face stiffened. He gulped nervously. Choi Muhyeok didn’t miss the sudden change in Min Jiwon’s expression.

“While sales did increase by 5% compared to the third quarter, they’re down 12% compared to the same quarter last year. The fourth quarter includes Christmas and various year-end events. Are you satisfied with these meager results?”

His voice, low and weighty, resonated in the room. Was it because this was a club and not a company that Min Jiwon had lost his sharpness? He wasn’t the type to miss such things, yet recently, Min Jiwon’s performance had been nothing but disappointing.

“I’m not satisfied, Managing Director. We’ve been holding meetings to boost sales, and we’ve recently ramped up aggressive marketing efforts.”

Hurriedly, Min Jiwon offered the approval pad he was holding to Choi Muhyeok. When he opened it, a list of prominent social groups and their members was neatly laid out.

“This is a list of large social clubs in Korea. We’ve successfully attracted one of the biggest clubs, and their spending has been quite substantial. You can expect much better results from this quarter onward.”

As Min Jiwon spoke, Choi Muhyeok skimmed through the list of names. The Seonwoo Group was mostly excluded from political and financial circles, so he only vaguely recognized some names.

“Which club did we attract?”

While he wasn’t very familiar with the names on the list, he had a rough idea of who was part of which group through connections. His gaze stopped at one name on the list. One name stood out.

“The Youngwoo Club.”

Choi Muhyeok chuckled as he looked over the names and backgrounds of those in the Youngwoo Club. Life was full of unexpected twists. He never imagined he’d end up entangled with them.

The Youngwoo Club was the largest gathering of second-generation conglomerate heirs in Korea, and its members boasted impressive backgrounds. Most had completed their studies abroad and returned to Korea to take on leadership roles in their family businesses or were just beginning to learn the ropes. Many held positions at the level of department head or higher.

But among them, one person in particular stood out.

Planning Director of JT Trading Co.?