TSG 114

Shin Tae-oh and Se-hyun came to Hotel Dae-il for a meeting scheduled at 2 PM.

Nowadays, Shin Tae-oh often held stakeholder meetings at hotels. Sometimes he even chose hotels as meeting venues himself.

For Shin Tae-oh, who used to say hotels should be cherished as places for lovers, this was a change. And yes, it was all change brought about by Se-hyun.

“There’s no schedule after the meeting,” Se-hyun said into his phone.

Shin Tae-oh firmly held back the smile trying to form on his lips. He had intentionally not scheduled anything afterward.

How perfectly things would flow – they could naturally get a room after the meeting. And to add one more thing…

“Since the CEO will likely stay at the hotel after the meeting, I’ll dismiss Secretary Park from here.”

Se-hyun clearly knew Shin Tae-oh’s intentions.

Shin Tae-oh, who never intended to deceive Se-hyun, who could see right through him, happily waited for the stakeholder. The terms were mostly set, so if everything went smoothly, they could finalize the deal quickly.

“Yes, understood. They say they’ve arrived,” Se-hyun said, putting his phone away and standing up.

“I’ll get the car keys from Secretary Park and return.”

“Take your time.”

Though he said to take his time, Shin Tae-oh’s eyes never left Se-hyun. He gazed at Se-hyun’s neat face, then slowly down to his shirt and tie buttoned up to the neck. Se-hyun was the perfect example of how ascetic a man could look without a hint of dishevelment.

“Mr. CEO.”

Thinking he’d been enough of a spectacle for Shin Tae-oh, Se-hyun turned around.

“The meeting hasn’t even started yet.”

So, first things first.

“I’ll be back.”

Left alone after Se-hyun’s departure, Shin Tae-oh shook his head as if to say ‘This is too much.’

“Who’s the one making it impossible to keep one’s senses?”

Shin Tae-oh would have had nothing to say if Se-hyun had done nothing. But while Shin Tae-oh was watching, Se-hyun had also released pheromones, as if inviting him to feel them more intensely.

Enchanting him with a subtle scent that could only be detected with concentration. Then disappearing with that ascetic, sharp cut-off.

“Can’t let my guard down for a moment.”

If he relaxed completely, he might get ensnared in Se-hyun’s charm without realizing it. Shin Tae-oh imagined Se-hyun nibbling at his face as he devoured him, then quickly changed his mind.

“…That wouldn’t be so bad either?”

Shin Tae-oh, content with either devouring or being devoured, hid his smile as he heard the door opening.

“Hello, CEO Shin Tae-oh.”

A man entered with a bright greeting, offering a handshake to Tae-oh.

“I’m Kim Yi-jun, Managing Director of Janghan Bank.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

Shin Tae-oh didn’t refuse the offered handshake but remained wary of Kim Yi-jun.

As Kim Yi-jun sat down, his secretary placed some documents and left the room. Shin Tae-oh noticed the secretary taking out his phone as the door closed, then looked across at his guest. The person he was originally supposed to meet wasn’t this young man, but a man in his fifties.

“Wasn’t Vice President Jung Kyung-hoon supposed to come?”

“I asked my uncle. I said I wanted to finalize this myself.”

“He must be very accommodating if he grants personal requests so easily. I should say he’s that considerate.”

“He’s known me since I was little, so he’s a bit fond of me.”

Kim Yi-jun seemed to understand Shin Tae-oh’s intent but responded nonchalantly.

“At least I’m not incompetent enough to disappoint you, so why don’t we try talking as if you’re giving me a chance?”

Faced with his confident attitude, Shin Tae-oh sighed after a moment’s consideration.

“Let’s begin.”

***

Se-hyun observed the man standing with his back to the door. With the man blocking the door like a gatekeeper, Se-hyun was in a dilemma.

Normally, he should have already entered to listen attentively to the meeting content, taking notes on important points. If he could keenly catch what Shin Tae-oh might miss, it would greatly help the deal. The problem was that the secretary in front of him had no intention of moving.

“Only the final negotiations remain, so there’s no need to enter. Stay here with me.”

Se-hyun knew about today’s contract too. Barring any major issues, the contract would likely proceed smoothly. However…

“I haven’t received such instructions.”

Why should he listen to that when Shin Tae-oh hadn’t told him to stay out?

So Se-hyun gently pushed the secretary aside and pointedly knocked on the door. Ignoring the secretary’s displeased look, he opened the door as Shin Tae-oh called for him to enter.

“…Seems fine on that side too.”

At the unfamiliar voice, clear though quiet, Se-hyun looked up to confirm who it was. It wasn’t Vice President Jung Kyung-hoon. It was a young man he’d never seen before.

And yet, this stranger looked right at him and remarked, ‘Seems fine on that side too.’

‘That side too, huh,’ Se-hyun thought, instantly understanding the implication of this man’s feelings for Shin Tae-oh.

“I apologize for my tardiness,” Se-hyun said as he took his place behind Tae-oh, bowing politely.

“I was just thinking I should go look for you. Sit here.”

Shin Tae-oh pulled out a chair for Se-hyun. Then he gestured for Se-hyun to sit down.

Watching this, the man couldn’t hold back and interjected, “Wait a moment.”

“Isn’t that person a secretary?” Kim Yi-jun asked as if he couldn’t understand.

“Yes, he is.”

Shin Tae-oh replied with a look that said he didn’t see what was strange. He wondered if sitting at the same table with a secretary was uncomfortable in this day and age. Of course, if that was the case, he wouldn’t tolerate such hierarchical behavior.

Fortunately, that wasn’t what Kim Yi-jun was pointing out.

“There are plenty of chairs, so why go out of your way to get up and seat him there?”

He was simply asking out of disbelief.

“It’s a natural response.”

Shin Tae-oh responded as if it was no big deal and smiled brightly at Se-hyun again. As he even winked to indicate it was okay to sit, Kim Yi-jun’s face crumpled as if having a spasm.

This man is a bit strange.

Considering he seemed normal when discussing business matters, it was as if he had suddenly become a different person.

“Thank you.”

The secretary who promptly accepted and sat down didn’t seem ordinary either.

While Kim Yi-jun was contemplating how to interpret this situation, Shin Tae-oh pulled out the chair next to him and sat down. He then leaned in to whisper to Se-hyun so only he could hear.

“We didn’t exchange any personal talk. Not yet…”

“So you’re saying there was a hint of it?”

“You came in at just the right moment.”

After patting Se-hyun’s shoulder twice for coming in at the right time, Shin Tae-oh straightened up and looked at Kim Yi-jun.

“Shall we continue where we left off?”

“Ah, yes. Once this contract is finalized…”

“That’s not it.”

“Pardon?”

Kim Yi-jun lowered his gaze, wondering if he had said something strange. He thought they had pretty much finished discussing the contract. As he was about to look over it again in case any clauses needed adjustment, Shin Tae-oh lightly tapped the table to indicate that wasn’t it.

“The last thing you said was that this side was fine too.”

Although he didn’t mention it explicitly, it was what Kim Yi-jun had said after subtly expressing his interest in Shin Tae-oh and then seeing the secretary who came in right after.

“Ah… I did say that. I did, but…”

Kim Yi-jun, not expecting Shin Tae-oh to cling to that topic as if it were more important, nodded as if dropping his head and trailed off. It wasn’t that he had said anything wrong, but Shin Tae-oh pulling out the chair for his secretary bothered him.

The information he had gathered indicated that Shin Tae-oh wasn’t dating anyone.

While Kim Yi-jun was still caught up in this strange feeling, Se-hyun looked at Shin Tae-oh. Just by looking at Shin Tae-oh’s profile as he gazed at Kim Yi-jun, he felt he could guess what Shin Tae-oh was thinking. Surely, Shin Tae-oh would…

“Secretary Ahn has a lover.”

Ah, I knew he’d bring me into this somehow, Se-hyun thought with a sigh, though he couldn’t help but notice something odd.

Why isn’t he saying that he’s the lover for once?

“I won’t disclose who Secretary Ahn’s partner is, as it’s his private life.”

Look at his eyes—Kim Yi-jun already figured it out when you pulled out the chair!

“That lover is very handsome.”

Seriously? You find it that easy to compliment yourself?

Worried that if left alone, Shin Tae-oh might start listing “101 Great Things About Secretary Ahn’s Lover,” Se-hyun stepped in.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but shall we wrap this up?”

“No. Not yet.”

Shin Tae-oh blocked Se-hyun’s chest as he tried to stand up.

“I have a lot more to say.”

Faced with Shin Tae-oh’s determination, which seemed like he wouldn’t let go until he had recited 98 more points, Kim Yi-jun’s eyes showed a look of disgust.

“I just heard he was handsome…”

A mumble escaped Kim Yi-jun’s lips. Se-hyun felt he could probably finish the rest of the sentence himself.

‘I didn’t hear he was a weirdo.’

That was probably what he thought?