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“I’ll step out first, then.”
As I-seo bowed and turned to leave, Ethan held the closing door open with one hand. Startled by the sudden movement, I-seo’s eyes widened.
“I heard that during the product launch, you pushed yourself to the point of collapse to deliver the files Natalie forgot. I realized I’d forgotten to thank you properly.”
“Thank you, sir. But Natalie was the one who truly worked hard. She handled everything while I was away resting.”
“I heard that, too. And including all of that—I wanted to say thank you.”
I-seo hadn’t expected such a direct and specific expression of gratitude. After all, if Natalie hadn’t reported it to Ethan, he never would have known. For her to report that, she would have had to admit to her own mistake, yet she still made sure to credit I-seo for his efforts. It was truly surprising.
She didn’t have to do that. Rather than feeling proud of the credit, I-seo was worried about how Ethan would perceive Natalie now. He made a mental note to talk to her later. He recalled how Natalie always looked out for him, even though he was a Beta.
Inevitably, he felt a pang of guilt over his cold reaction toward her yesterday. Natalie’s decision to tell Ethan everything was something she only would have done if she truly considered I-seo like a younger brother. I-seo looked down at his toes, feeling a wave of anxiety.
“Well then.”
“Go on up.”
I-seo bowed respectfully. It was only after the elevator doors closed and Ethan vanished from sight that I-seo let out a long, heavy exhale. He had a sinking feeling that he had left a very distinct impression on the CEO. Given the small number of secretaries, they had known each other by sight, but he felt that this encounter would change the dynamic of their future interactions.
“The force of the original script…”
He muttered the words under his breath. So it happens one way or another, then? He couldn’t say for certain yet, but a lingering sense of unease remained. For now, however, he had to go to General Affairs. After all, he was just a salaried employee.
Returning to his desk after finishing his business, I-seo approached Natalie. When he asked what she had reported to Ethan on the day of the launch, she looked puzzled at first but quickly caught on and smiled.
“Oh, that? I just told him exactly what happened.”
“You could have just let it slide without mentioning it.”
“First of all, the CEO mentioned he saw you outside the venue. There’s no way someone who went home sick would just show up there for no reason. So, one thing led to another while we were talking. Don’t overthink it. Besides, it’s true that I made a mistake.”
I-seo almost nodded and let it go. But as she said, the claim that it had to happen that way wasn’t true. She had chosen to be honest about something she could have easily glossed over. I-seo couldn’t fathom why she made that choice, and Natalie didn’t seem inclined to explain.
“Thank you. But please don’t do that next time.”
That’s not how I meant to say it. I-seo felt a wave of despair at the cold tone that had slipped out. He could have been warmer. If he had more tact, he would have conveyed his gratitude properly, but he simply didn’t know how.
“Hehe. I understand. You really are a kind person, I-seo.”
Yet, she spoke as if she already understood his heart perfectly.
“Not as kind as you, Natalie.”
“Oh my. Look at that. This is why I like you, I-seo.”
Ultimately, I-seo couldn’t help but smile back at the grinning Natalie. The reason he could endure the crushing workload here wasn’t just the salary; it was because of colleagues like her.
He wanted to treat her to a meal, but his wallet was currently thin. To make an empty promise of “let’s grab dinner sometime” felt insincere, so he kept the lunch date as a silent vow in his heart.
Returning to his work, I-seo became incredibly busy. The resolve he had made that morning with a clenched fist had been completely incinerated by the time he clocked out. He trudged home, hoping he would be recharged by morning.
He managed to wash up and collapse onto his bed. Staring at the familiar, worn-out ceiling, he sometimes wondered what being an “Engaged Player” mattered anyway. He blinked a few times, realizing he should probably put a cold compress on his swollen face, but moving felt like an impossible chore.
How nice would it be if someone just took care of things like this for me? A sibling, a parent, or a roommate. Someone who would just exist in the same space.
He missed the ambient sounds of another person’s life, but sleep soon won out. He closed his eyes, thinking he’d just rest for a second.
“Wait… what?”
He felt like he had only closed his eyes for a moment, but it was already time to wake up and go to work. It felt deeply unfair. While he occasionally questioned if this was the right way to live, he felt grateful when he thought of those who worked just as hard for less pay.
Besides, for I-seo, this was the bare minimum he needed to earn just to keep a roof over his head.
“…Let’s get up.”
Staring at the pitch-black window before sunrise, I-seo pulled himself up.
“Tomorrow is another day.”
It was a famous line from a famous movie. To I-seo, it didn’t sound hopeful. It felt like a minor despair—the reality that he was trapped in a cycle where today would inevitably repeat itself. But he couldn’t hate it enough to stop, nor could he escape. He moved to get ready for work.
At the office, he reviewed his to-do list. As always, the workload was immense. He knew he couldn’t rest just because one project ended, but knowing it didn’t make it any less exhausting. It was truly astonishing how Ethan handled a schedule that was difficult even for two secretaries. Is it because he’s an Extreme Dominant Alpha?
“Yeon I-seo.”
“Oh! Yes…!”
He had been thinking about Ethan, and the timing of the call was so perfect it made him jump. Startled by his name appearing on the pager, I-seo stood up awkwardly and entered the CEO’s office.
Recalling their conversation in the elevator, he wondered if Ethan had called him in on purpose, though he couldn’t ask directly.
“Yes, sir. You called for me?”
“Hm.”
Ethan had surely called him for a reason, but he seemed to be staring at I-seo’s face a bit too much. Sensing the gaze, I-seo reflexively forced a smile—though as his facial muscles moved, the pain in his swollen cheek caused him to wince, resulting in a somewhat strange expression.
“The swelling on your face doesn’t seem to have changed. Did you not treat it at home?”
“I intended to, but I didn’t have the time last night and fell asleep immediately. It’ll go away on its own soon enough.”
He added the smile quickly, worried he might sound like he was blaming his employer for not giving him enough rest. Ethan looked confused for a moment, then let out a soft “Ah.”
“Right. You were a Beta, I-seo.”
“That is correct.”
Only then did I-seo understand Ethan’s expression. While a Beta needs about eight hours of sleep to function, a Dominant Alpha can manage with five. Ethan, being an Extreme Dominant, probably needed even less.
Having lived that way his whole life, what I-seo said must have sounded strange to him. Like, ‘Wasn’t the time after work enough for that…?’
“Because I’m a Beta.”
After saying it, I-seo worried if his voice had sounded odd and stole a glance at Ethan. But Ethan didn’t seem offended. “Indifferent” would be a better description.
“But, why did you call for me, sir?”
Surely he hadn’t called him in just to talk about his face. As I-seo suspected, Ethan handed him a small USB drive.
“Take this to Scott Industries. You may head straight home from there.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
Scott Industries? He didn’t know if it was a personal or professional errand, but it didn’t matter. Heading home early? That was an incredible bonus. Nothing could be more exciting.
Though it was far enough to take some time by subway, it was a small price to pay. Drunk on the dream of an early clock-out, I-seo happily took the USB and turned to leave the office.
“Since you’re leaving early today, you’ll be able to bring that swelling down a bit.”
Huh? I-seo paused, startled by the voice behind him. Wondering if he had heard correctly, he turned back to see Ethan already looking down at some papers. When Ethan raised an eyebrow as if asking if he had something more to say, I-seo simply bowed and stepped out.
“I’ll step out first, then.”
As I-seo bowed and turned to leave, Ethan held the closing door open with one hand. Startled by the sudden movement, I-seo’s eyes widened.
“I heard that during the product launch, you pushed yourself to the point of collapse to deliver the files Natalie forgot. I realized I’d forgotten to thank you properly.”
“Thank you, sir. But Natalie was the one who truly worked hard. She handled everything while I was away resting.”
“I heard that, too. And including all of that—I wanted to say thank you.”
I-seo hadn’t expected such a direct and specific expression of gratitude. After all, if Natalie hadn’t reported it to Ethan, he never would have known. For her to report that, she would have had to admit to her own mistake, yet she still made sure to credit I-seo for his efforts. It was truly surprising.
She didn’t have to do that. Rather than feeling proud of the credit, I-seo was worried about how Ethan would perceive Natalie now. He made a mental note to talk to her later. He recalled how Natalie always looked out for him, even though he was a Beta.
Inevitably, he felt a pang of guilt over his cold reaction toward her yesterday. Natalie’s decision to tell Ethan everything was something she only would have done if she truly considered I-seo like a younger brother. I-seo looked down at his toes, feeling a wave of anxiety.
“Well then.”
“Go on up.”
I-seo bowed respectfully. It was only after the elevator doors closed and Ethan vanished from sight that I-seo let out a long, heavy exhale. He had a sinking feeling that he had left a very distinct impression on the CEO. Given the small number of secretaries, they had known each other by sight, but he felt that this encounter would change the dynamic of their future interactions.
“The force of the original script…”
He muttered the words under his breath. So it happens one way or another, then? He couldn’t say for certain yet, but a lingering sense of unease remained. For now, however, he had to go to General Affairs. After all, he was just a salaried employee.
Returning to his desk after finishing his business, I-seo approached Natalie. When he asked what she had reported to Ethan on the day of the launch, she looked puzzled at first but quickly caught on and smiled.
“Oh, that? I just told him exactly what happened.”
“You could have just let it slide without mentioning it.”
“First of all, the CEO mentioned he saw you outside the venue. There’s no way someone who went home sick would just show up there for no reason. So, one thing led to another while we were talking. Don’t overthink it. Besides, it’s true that I made a mistake.”
I-seo almost nodded and let it go. But as she said, the claim that it had to happen that way wasn’t true. She had chosen to be honest about something she could have easily glossed over. I-seo couldn’t fathom why she made that choice, and Natalie didn’t seem inclined to explain.
“Thank you. But please don’t do that next time.”
That’s not how I meant to say it. I-seo felt a wave of despair at the cold tone that had slipped out. He could have been warmer. If he had more tact, he would have conveyed his gratitude properly, but he simply didn’t know how.
“Hehe. I understand. You really are a kind person, I-seo.”
Yet, she spoke as if she already understood his heart perfectly.
“Not as kind as you, Natalie.”
“Oh my. Look at that. This is why I like you, I-seo.”
Ultimately, I-seo couldn’t help but smile back at the grinning Natalie. The reason he could endure the crushing workload here wasn’t just the salary; it was because of colleagues like her.
He wanted to treat her to a meal, but his wallet was currently thin. To make an empty promise of “let’s grab dinner sometime” felt insincere, so he kept the lunch date as a silent vow in his heart.
Returning to his work, I-seo became incredibly busy. The resolve he had made that morning with a clenched fist had been completely incinerated by the time he clocked out. He trudged home, hoping he would be recharged by morning.
He managed to wash up and collapse onto his bed. Staring at the familiar, worn-out ceiling, he sometimes wondered what being an “Engaged Player” mattered anyway. He blinked a few times, realizing he should probably put a cold compress on his swollen face, but moving felt like an impossible chore.
How nice would it be if someone just took care of things like this for me? A sibling, a parent, or a roommate. Someone who would just exist in the same space.
He missed the ambient sounds of another person’s life, but sleep soon won out. He closed his eyes, thinking he’d just rest for a second.
“Wait… what?”
He felt like he had only closed his eyes for a moment, but it was already time to wake up and go to work. It felt deeply unfair. While he occasionally questioned if this was the right way to live, he felt grateful when he thought of those who worked just as hard for less pay.
Besides, for I-seo, this was the bare minimum he needed to earn just to keep a roof over his head.
“…Let’s get up.”
Staring at the pitch-black window before sunrise, I-seo pulled himself up.
“Tomorrow is another day.”
It was a famous line from a famous movie. To I-seo, it didn’t sound hopeful. It felt like a minor despair—the reality that he was trapped in a cycle where today would inevitably repeat itself. But he couldn’t hate it enough to stop, nor could he escape. He moved to get ready for work.
At the office, he reviewed his to-do list. As always, the workload was immense. He knew he couldn’t rest just because one project ended, but knowing it didn’t make it any less exhausting. It was truly astonishing how Ethan handled a schedule that was difficult even for two secretaries. Is it because he’s an Extreme Dominant Alpha?
“Yeon I-seo.”
“Oh! Yes…!”
He had been thinking about Ethan, and the timing of the call was so perfect it made him jump. Startled by his name appearing on the pager, I-seo stood up awkwardly and entered the CEO’s office.
Recalling their conversation in the elevator, he wondered if Ethan had called him in on purpose, though he couldn’t ask directly.
“Yes, sir. You called for me?”
“Hm.”
Ethan had surely called him for a reason, but he seemed to be staring at I-seo’s face a bit too much. Sensing the gaze, I-seo reflexively forced a smile—though as his facial muscles moved, the pain in his swollen cheek caused him to wince, resulting in a somewhat strange expression.
“The swelling on your face doesn’t seem to have changed. Did you not treat it at home?”
“I intended to, but I didn’t have the time last night and fell asleep immediately. It’ll go away on its own soon enough.”
He added the smile quickly, worried he might sound like he was blaming his employer for not giving him enough rest. Ethan looked confused for a moment, then let out a soft “Ah.”
“Right. You were a Beta, I-seo.”
“That is correct.”
Only then did I-seo understand Ethan’s expression. While a Beta needs about eight hours of sleep to function, a Dominant Alpha can manage with five. Ethan, being an Extreme Dominant, probably needed even less.
Having lived that way his whole life, what I-seo said must have sounded strange to him. Like, ‘Wasn’t the time after work enough for that…?’
“Because I’m a Beta.”
After saying it, I-seo worried if his voice had sounded odd and stole a glance at Ethan. But Ethan didn’t seem offended. “Indifferent” would be a better description.
“But, why did you call for me, sir?”
Surely he hadn’t called him in just to talk about his face. As I-seo suspected, Ethan handed him a small USB drive.
“Take this to Scott Industries. You may head straight home from there.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
Scott Industries? He didn’t know if it was a personal or professional errand, but it didn’t matter. Heading home early? That was an incredible bonus. Nothing could be more exciting.
Though it was far enough to take some time by subway, it was a small price to pay. Drunk on the dream of an early clock-out, I-seo happily took the USB and turned to leave the office.
“Since you’re leaving early today, you’ll be able to bring that swelling down a bit.”
Huh? I-seo paused, startled by the voice behind him. Wondering if he had heard correctly, he turned back to see Ethan already looking down at some papers. When Ethan raised an eyebrow as if asking if he had something more to say, I-seo simply bowed and stepped out.
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