It was an utterly bewildering situation. As Han Jinheon stood up from his seat without a trace of reluctance, I scrambled to my feet and followed closely behind him like a chick.
“What kind of appointment? Are you meeting a friend? Don’t you usually just stay home on the weekends, Hyung?”
“You’re so interested. Mind your own business and just go home.”
“Of course I’m interested! I’m curious!”
“Curious? Yeah, right.”
Han Jinheon, who had been walking ahead of me, stopped and turned. He was cold. The familiar upward tilt of one corner of his mouth was undeniably attractive. Still, I wished he would give me one of his bright smiles again, instead of this cruel one.
No, wait. I couldn’t see that smile again now. The whole reason I came out on this blind date was because I’d seen that smile once.
“It’s truly impressive, seeing you go on blind dates just to try and make a living. I can’t help but be moved.”
“Huh? Are you saying you’re also—b-blind date…? You’re going on a blind date without even telling me…?”
“Not like that. I was just so moved by you that I decided to make a dinner appointment.”
“…”
“It’s good to look after my brother at home, but shouldn’t I also spend some quality time with someone?”
I wanted to stop him at all costs, even if it meant dragging Cha Seonmin name into it. How long had it been since you sorted out your feelings, and you was already planning to spend quality time with someone else? Absolutely not.
It was one thing for me to be abandoned by everyone, but I had started to suspect that Han Jinheon might be a loner too. The man who had been with me on weekdays and weekends alike was suddenly going off to have a quality time?
With whom? An Omega? Doing what? What else do you do at a hotel!
It felt like my world was collapsing. He could mock me for being stubborn and self-absorbed all he wanted; I just wanted to insist. I know you actually came to get me. I know you came to take me home, knowing my date would end in disaster like this.
But this absurd feeling was no reason to hold him back. I knew that to him—a man who had no idea why I had agreed to the dates in the first place—I would just look like a hypocrite. But I didn't want to let him go either. As he turned to walk away again, I stared at the ground and mumbled.
“Then I’ll spend some quality time too. I, I, I’ll call someone…!”
Han Jinheon turned back to look at me. Immediately, his chilling voice dropped at my feet.
“The ten million won you received. If you don’t want it confiscated, stop messing around and go home.”
How did he know that? I jerked my head up in surprise.
“And don’t even think about wandering off. I’ll be watching.”
He gave his phone a little shake. He was talking about the location tracker. Having said his piece, Han Jinheon turned again and walked away.
I stood rooted to the spot, staring at him until he completely vanished from my sight. Then, I trudged over and sat in a corner of the lobby.
It felt futile and meaningless now that it was shattered, but I replayed the plan I had when I left the house.
That’s right. I was going to have dinner with my date, too, if things went well.
I thought I was becoming strange from being stuck to Han Jinheon all the time, so I came out to meet someone new, to get some fresh air. If that was the reason, then why am I so disappointed that Han Jinheon is going to meet someone else? This is what you wanted, so why are you so upset? Being upset means you’re admitting it. That you’re in love with that man!
I wanted to tear my hair out, but then a sudden thought froze me in place.
Does Secretary Song know?
I have no backbone. In the next moment, I had my phone out and was sending a message to Secretary Song, asking if he knew who Hyung was meeting today. I expected him to read it and reply immediately, but there was only silence. He wasn’t even reading it.
How do you delete a message again…
***
Not long after Han Jinheon entered the restaurant, Song Hyeon-oh appeared. Unlike his usual work self, his hair was unkempt and his clothes were casual. It was understandable; he had been lounging at home when he got an urgent summons and rushed out.
He had come without question, but he had arrived at the restaurant of the Paradis Hotel. This was the first time he had come to such a place with Han Jinheon for personal reasons, rather than as the personal secretary to the Director of HANQ Construction, accompanying him on his schedule.
If the two of them were to eat a private meal, they would usually go to a relatively comfortable Korean restaurant, not a high-end place like this.
Song Hyeon-oh checked the time. Though he had rushed, he was about ten minutes late.
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“I’m the one who called you out of the blue. No need to apologize. Sit.”
“I was surprised to be summoned on a weekend. Is something the matter?”
“There is.”
Han Jinheon gestured for him to choose from the menu first. They ordered the A-set, which was a light meal, and declined the recommended wine, as they had both driven. Instead, Han Jinheon made a separate request: to have the B-set packaged to go.
“Is that for Han Sol-ssi?”
"Yeah. It’s not a weekday, and we’re not at the company. You can speak comfortably.”
“That may be so, but you are still my employer. It’s become a habit, so this is more comfortable for me.”
Song Hyeon-oh hadn't met Han Jinheon when he joined the HANQ Group. The two had met as senior and junior at university and had become colleagues, working together in the film business.
When Han Jinheon moved to the HANQ Group, he scouted Song Hyeon-oh as his personal secretary. In his eyes, Song Hyeon-oh was an exceptionally talented individual. He was not a man to be swayed by personal feelings, so Han Jinheon wanted to keep him by his side and use him as his whip.
The result was excellent. You could bring him a hundred other secretaries, and they wouldn't do the work of one Secretary Song.
Song Hyeon-oh had needed funds for his own film business. He had intended to work as a personal secretary temporarily to secure funds, but unintentionally, he was still working there.
It suited his aptitude, and he found it enjoyable. He was paid double for his efforts and provided with enough welfare benefits to spare, so he couldn’t help but stay.
However, there was one time he had resolved to quit as a personal secretary. It was when Han Sol’s misdeeds reached their peak. He wasn’t working to clean up after this brat. His stress reached its limit, and he went with his resignation letter in hand, but in the end, he couldn't submit it and just went back to work. But after that day, his salary noticeably increased. Song Hyeon-oh acknowledged it once more.
His boss was a wicked man who knew how to control people with money.
"May I ask what happened? While I’m happy to get a meal, the timing is odd, and your sudden call surprised me.”
“I suddenly felt like eating the steak here.”
Han Jin-heon shrugged. For him, it wasn’t a lie. Thinking about Han Sol’s blind date location, the Paradis Hotel, made him recall this restaurant, and the steak he’d once eaten there. He couldn't resist and came. And, incidentally, he also wanted to watch the blind date.
He suddenly felt like having steak here. And at an awkward time for dinner. Though he didn't show it outwardly, Song Hyeon-oh, who was growing weary of Han Jin-heon’s unpredictable behavior, suddenly remembered something and raised an eyebrow.
“Come to think of it, I received a message from Han Sol-ssi as I was leaving the house.”
“A message? What did it say?”
“He asked if I knew who the Director was meeting. I was about to reply that it was me, but I thought I should ask you first before responding…”
“Don’t reply. He came out to enjoy himself, got rejected, and now he intends to interfere.”
Han Jinheon chuckled, remembering Han Sol trailing after him like a chick, peppering him with questions.
“Rejected?”
"He had a blind date today. Looked like his date threw water on him; he was soaked.”
“Is he alright?”
“He seemed to be.”
“I’m talking about you, Director. No matter how you look at it, they disrespected your brother.”
Han Sol of HANQ. One could disrespect the person, but not the group itself. A key consideration before doing any business was the possibility of getting entangled with HANQ. It was a fight you were sure to lose, a competition you were sure to be pushed out of, so the wisest course was to remain on peaceful terms. To throw water on one of their members was a provocation, a challenge.
Of course, that was if the target had been Han Jinheon. The fact that it was Han Sol, who had stepped on toes everywhere with his brutish behavior, made it a bit ambiguous.
“It’s fine. Compared to getting beaten to a pulp, getting water thrown on him is a relief.”
It’s what he deserves for what he’s done. Han Jinheon took a sip of water, recalling the sight of Han Sol from earlier.
The image of Han Sol, drenched in the same water from this glass, had been lonely and desolate, yet because he was wet, he also looked strangely pure and lovely. His hair, glistening from the water, and his face, shining palely under the lights.
The way he just stared blankly and drank his coffee, unyielding to the people whispering about him… it was, in a word, so pathetic it was irritating.
Exactly. Why would he choose a partner like that, go on a date, and get water thrown on him? Was it because he got money from his mother? Or did he go to try and forget Kim Gyuyoung?
Right now, it felt more like the latter than the former. He was still the kid who couldn't sleep because of the news of Kim Gyuyoung's marriage.
Ah. So it's, ‘That bastard is getting married, so I'll get married too,’ is it?
“Still, it’s annoying, so I need you to do some digging. The third son of the Hankyo Daily.”
“You’re shameless. Did you call me here to give me work? On a weekend, no less.”
“Think of it positively. You’re the person I feel most comfortable with, Secretary Song.”
Lately, Han Sol was also becoming easier to deal with. He was staying home obediently like a house-guarding puppy. Since he wasn’t causing any more trouble, and there was no reason to argue with him, the stress of handling him had lessened.
It would be nice if his feelings for me followed suit. If he just became an Omega, I could bring him someone even better than the Hankyo Daily kid. I would find him an Alpha who would make him forget all about his lingering feelings for Kim Gyuyoung.
_______________
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