Born to Be a Secretary

There was a small café in the hotel lobby that doubled as a lounge. Heewon settled into a single armchair with a wide-open view of the space and attentively observed the people coming and going.

They wouldn’t cancel just because of the weather, would they?
He couldn’t let his guard down—not until the rut partner arrived. He’d long gotten into the habit of preparing for every possible variable. The coffee in front of him, untouched, had gone cold a while ago.
Heewon had arranged for two rut partners, both professionals in the field. As expected of those who catered exclusively to VIPs, they were discreet, attractive Beta men.

A “rutting dominant Alpha” was a high-risk, high-difficulty case—naturally, the cost had been significant. For Betas, it would take a heavy toll on their bodies; there was no way around that. That’s why Heewon arranged for two partners. Expecting one person to handle three days straight was far too cruel—he planned to switch partners partway through.
He had already collected signed NDAs, genotype certificates, and full health screenings. He’d made sure—twice, three times over—that they were Betas. There should be no issues.
As the appointment time approached, his anxiety grew. He glanced back and forth between his watch and the lobby entrance for what felt like the hundredth time, and finally—he spotted a familiar face.

Heewon stood and walked toward him. The rut partner had just stepped into the hotel, paying no mind to his surroundings as he casually brushed snow off his shoulder.
“Deboky?”
The name—clearly a pseudonym—prompted the man to lift his head. His nose was red from the cold, but as soon as he saw Heewon, he broke into a cheerful smile.

“Yes. Oh, are you the secretary I spoke with?”
“That’s right. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. I rushed a little because I didn’t want to be late. Shall we go straight up?”

“Yes, I’ll show you the way.”
They exchanged a quick handshake and began walking. There was no need for small talk—they’d already handled all the contractual details beforehand.
They got into the elevator together. With only the two of them inside, the car began to ascend smoothly, a faint vibration humming beneath their feet. Heewon clenched and released his fists, exhaling quietly.

The man beside him looked perfectly at ease—clearly accustomed to this sort of situation. In fact, Heewon was probably the more nervous one.
His gaze, fixed on the elevator buttons, drifted naturally to his companion. Kwon Youngjae’s first rut # Nоvеlight # partner was a Japanese-American with an impressively delicate face. Not overly masculine, but not flamboyant either. Someone Kwon wouldn’t likely object to.
Sensing the look, the rut partner turned his head. Catching Heewon’s eyes, he smiled awkwardly, and then broke the silence.

“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“The Alpha I’ll be handling… does he have any sadistic tendencies?”
Heewon had been about to respond but froze, mouth open. He’d never been asked that before—how was he supposed to answer? How could he possibly know what Kwon’s sexual preferences were?

Ding! The elevator chime sliced through the silence. They had arrived on the 29th floor. Heewon watched the doors slowly open and managed to push the words out with some difficulty.
“I… I’m not sure. Was that something I should have told you?”
“Oh, no worries. Some secretaries do know, so I figured I’d ask just in case. I’m used to adjusting to clients’ preferences. It’s better if they enjoy themselves, right?”

With a wink, the partner stepped out first. Heewon quickly followed. Damn, he’s smooth. No wonder he was a pro. Heewon straightened his posture and quickened his pace, not wanting to seem inexperienced by comparison.
The 29th floor had only one guest room, and it was completely silent. After walking down a long hallway, they stopped in front of the suite. About five minutes remained until the scheduled time.
“Excuse me, I need to take a pheromone reading.”

The man adjusted his posture without complaint. Heewon took a portable tester from his jacket pocket and held it to the man’s neck. A soft beep sounded as the screen blinked.
Zero. As expected.
Heewon tucked the device away and straightened his clothes.

“All set.”
“I’ve never seen anyone this thorough. Is it really that bad if the person isn’t a Beta?”
Heewon only smiled in response. No matter how ironclad the NDA was, he couldn’t go spilling Kwon Youngjae’s secrets to someone he’d just met.

He tapped his phone and his thumb moved swiftly across the screen.
“I’ve just sent the deposit. The remaining balance will be transferred once the session is complete.”
“Ah, yes. I see the payment now.”

“Please power off your phone.”
That was also stated clearly in the contract. The rut partner complied without hesitation, pressing the power button.
After confirming, Heewon continued with the final instructions.

“All necessary supplies are prepared in the bedroom and bathroom. If you need anything else, please contact the front desk. There’s a personal concierge available 24/7.”
“Got it.”
“It won’t be easy, but… please try to have at least one proper meal. If that’s not possible, make sure to drink water now and then.”

“I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you very much in advance.”
Heewon handed over the room key with a polite bow. The partner scratched his ear awkwardly and gave a clumsy imitation of the bow.

He stepped into the room. A bright sliver of light escaped from the door before swallowing him whole. Now, only Kim Heewon remained in the hallway.
Without thinking, he clenched his fists and then threw both arms up in a silent cheer.
Finally, vacation!!

The rush of freedom gave him goosebumps. His steps turned light and bouncy as he spun around.
Heewon soon reached the elevator lobby. He wondered how to spend the time in a way that would be worthy of rumors about how well he enjoyed his break. His lips kept twitching in glee—just the act of deciding how to spend his time was blissful.
His fingers hovered above the up-down buttons, finally pressing the one pointing up. The elevator doors opened almost instantly.

He stepped in gladly. Selecting the top floor—the one with the lounge bar—he used the shiny stainless steel walls as a mirror to check his appearance. Straightened his crooked tie, smoothed his bangs. He had to admit, he looked sharp.
Striking a pose, he barely noticed they’d arrived. He took a deep breath and spoke to his reflection.
“Whew, calm down, Kim Heewon. You’ve got all the time in the world.”

He was planning to start with a drink and gradually map out the rest. Vacation had only just begun.
Despite not being peak hour, the lounge bar was fairly crowded—probably due to the harsh weather.
Heewon scanned the room for an empty seat. The sofas and tables were all taken, and the remaining ones were too noisy. After a moment’s thought, he headed to the bar.

The sleek wooden bar was perfect for solo guests like him. He perched on a tall stool, gently folding his suit jacket and placing it beside him. The bartender, polishing a wine glass, smiled and handed him a menu.
“Take your time.”
“Thank you.”

Heewon skimmed the dense English listings until one caught his eye—a perfect match for tonight.
As the bartender poured him water, Heewon slid the menu away.
“Sassicaia, 1985 vintage. By the bottle, please.”

The bartender’s lips rounded in surprise.
“Special occasion?”
“Kind of.”

“Excellent choice.”
Heewon answered with a smiling glance. It was expensive, sure—but what did it matter? It’s not like he could take his money to the grave.
This was a rare break—he deserved a little luxury.

A wine glass was set in front of him. The deep ruby red of the vintage Italian wine shimmered enticingly.
From where he sat, he had a full view of the massive window covering one wall of the lounge. It wasn’t planned, but he’d scored a prime spot.
Outside the glass, Boston stretched out like a page from a storybook. The distant Charles River, the historic red-brick buildings, and snowflakes falling gently against the night sky—all bathed in warm light from inside the lounge, making the view even more romantic.

Heewon sipped his wine and let time pass. Far from boring, the rare chance to be alone was a joy. Sitting at the bar, casually watching people of all races come and go, had its own kind of charm.
His drowsy gaze eventually drifted to his phone. It sat dark on the table, just where he’d left it.
No messages. Not that he expected any. His coworkers were handling everything back in Korea, and even Kwon Youngjae would be quiet for a while.

When was the last time I had this kind of peace?
Propping his chin in his hand, Heewon sank into thought.
It felt so far away that reminiscing seemed pointless. He hadn’t even had a drink in years.

Come to think of it, he’d spent most of his twenties just working. No regrets—but there was a tinge of sadness, impossible to deny.
“Is this seat taken?”