Born to Be a Secretary

“Since the entertainment ended, my memory’s been patchy. But I do know Secretary Kim helped me get home.”
“......”
“Why, did I mess up somewhere?”

At the tentative question, Heewon’s hand froze. Though Kwon could have at least glanced up once, he stubbornly kept his eyes fixed near his neck.
“No, I just asked because it seemed like you were very drunk.”
The halted hand resumed its busy movements. Before long, the tie was perfectly knotted. Heewon gently pressed the knot he’d made with his fingertips, then withdrew his hand. Stepping back, the close distance between them widened again.

“No problem. Let’s get to work.”
After arriving at the office, each focused on their tasks at their desks. Despite the late-night drinking, Youngjae Kwon maintained an impeccably composed demeanor.
He showed no hangover and surprisingly felt clear-headed. For having passed out on the sofa, he must have slept quite well.

A familiar rhythm of knocking came at the door. As always, Secretary Kim entered, arms full of documents awaiting approval.
Heewon approached the desk and began neatly organizing the papers for easier review. Watching this briefly, Kwon fixed his gaze ahead and focused on his work. His indifferent eyes flickered slightly, and soon his eyebrows furrowed.
A cool glance turned sideways again. Just as Heewon finished arranging the documents, he straightened his back. Sensing the incoming gaze, Heewon paused, stiffening.

“Is something wrong?”
On the surface, nothing seemed unusual, but Secretary Kim’s pheromones were visibly agitated. This wasn’t just today. Yesterday, they had fluctuated, and though Kwon had dismissed it as a condition issue, the same pattern was evident again today.
The heat cycle was still far off. Could the cycle be off-schedule? Since his manifestation timing was unusual, it wasn’t impossible.

Kwon set down the pen he’d been holding. Rising and leaning on the desk, he pulled Heewon’s neck toward him to touch it. Contrary to expectation, his palm felt only a cool temperature.
“Executive Director!”
Startled more than necessary, Heewon took a step back. Kwon’s pheromones, now fluctuating even more wildly than before, caused his brow to crease further.

“Secretary Kim, your pheromone control is a complete mess right now.”
Subtly pointing out that he was leaking pheromones everywhere, Heewon’s usually calm expression stiffened instantly. His ears flushed a deep red.
Kwon hadn’t expected such a reaction. Equally taken aback, he looked down at his secretary’s face. Heewon’s lips moved slightly before he bowed deeply.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll fix it.”

Faced with the sincere apology, Kwon was left speechless. Watching Heewon try hard to lock down his pheromones left him at a loss for words. With a deep sigh, Kwon ruffled his hair.
It wasn’t so much annoying as just worrying him.
By now, Kwon had grown accustomed to Heewon’s pheromones. The initial aversion had long passed. Though it might be different with others, he could endure his secretary’s pheromones, and just as Heewon felt comforted by Kwon’s, he too found solace in Heewon’s presence.

The space void of pheromones held only awkward silence. After barely composing himself, Heewon spoke first.
“May I leave now?”
“Sure.”

Heewon offered a refined bow and turned to leave.
For some reason, Kwon found himself staring at the worried figure’s back for a long time. He couldn’t easily sit down and stood for a while longer facing the closed door.
Outside, Heewon stood by the door, rubbing his troubled face. A deep sigh escaped him.

“Chief, are you okay?”
As Heewon sighed heavily in front of the office, the other secretaries glanced at him with concern—wondering if something else had happened inside.
“I’m fine. No problem.”

But the truth was, he wasn’t fine.
Because Kwon was so sensitive, he likely caught Heewon’s subtle changes faster than anyone else. Still, it was true that he’d shown his immaturity by failing to control his own body. There was no excuse.
Heewon returned to his seat. Though he resumed work as if nothing had happened, his fingers trembled slightly while organizing documents. His uncontrollable heart kept beating fast. It felt like his insides were burning.

From then on, Heewon became constantly aware of his surroundings and developed the habit of locking down his pheromones even more thoroughly. Living in a state of tension all day, his features gradually sharpened.
By late afternoon, the secretaries began preparing to leave one by one. They packed their bags and watched Heewon rubbing his neck with pitying eyes. Kim’s face looked very worn, as if stress had weighed heavily these past few days.
“Will you be late again today?”

“Don’t worry about me. Good work today.”
Heewon smiled faintly and sent the secretaries off first. Exhausted mentally, he tired sooner than usual, but he didn’t want to give others a hint of his struggles.
Only after everyone left did Heewon slowly exhale. Left alone in the empty space, he finally loosened the tension that felt like shackles.

He pulled out an old, outdated phone from his drawer. It was a backup device on which he had recently installed a dating app. Unlocking it, messages flooded in as if they’d been waiting.
It was an app that was somewhat active among those with genetic traits.
Whether labeled “dating” or “continuous pheromone exchange,” the reality was unchanged: its purpose was to find one-night pleasures or sex partners. Heewon stared at the nonstop incoming notes and fell into contemplation. What to do, just go for it?

Suddenly feeling pathetic, he threw the phone far away.
“...Hah, really.”
He covered his face with both hands and rested his elbows on the desk, dazed. The footsteps approaching went unnoticed.

Only after a while, when he smelled a familiar pheromone through his hands covering his face, did he suddenly look up. There stood Youngjae Kwon beside him.
Leaning against the partition by the desk with his arm draped over it, his face was half-tilted, staring at the brightly lit phone. He was clearly reading the continuous incoming messages.
“Sex partner?”

A cold voice sounded. Heewon was so startled that his lips only moved slightly. He had no clue how to respond.
“What the hell is this nonsense?”
The accusing question cut through the air. Kwon’s sharp gaze conveyed a ruthless determination to not let Heewon off easily, no matter what excuse he made. There was absolutely no way out.

He quietly turned the chair toward Kwon. Feeling contrite, Heewon cautiously revealed the truth.
“I think... my pheromone control has been breaking down lately.”
“Why all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know either. Maybe because the heat cycle worries me… It’s something I’ve never experienced before. Psychologically, I think I’m just unsettled and keep slipping up.”
A brief silence followed. The silent gaze pierced through Heewon’s face. Understanding dawned, Kwon suddenly furrowed his brow.
“What the hell does that have to do with a sex partner app?”

As expected, he wouldn’t let it go °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° easily. Hesitating, Heewon confessed his honest thoughts.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I slept with an Alpha once? Like some kind of preemptive training...”
Kwon’s expression turned incredulous to the point of disbelief. Heewon clearly saw the tremble near Kwon’s eyes.

“I’d like to open up your head and see how your thought process works.”
Pressing his temple firmly, Kwon shot a ruthless glare.
“The best idea you came up with is this crap?”

“I’m serious. There’s no good alternative.”
“Delete it.”
Kwon flicked the phone sharply toward Heewon.

“Delete that trashy app immediately.”
Heewon wondered if a dating app really deserved such hatred. Well, for the purebred Alpha master living in a pristine environment, it might be an intolerable problem.
Heewon reluctantly touched the phone. Whether he deleted it or not, the watching gaze was piercing.

Pressing his thumb firmly on the home screen, the apps began shaking as if in an earthquake. Just as he was about to tap the delete button, a cold voice pierced the silence.
“Are you going to put it in your mouth?”
Even his expression came under criticism. Heewon pushed his protruding lower lip back into place.

After deleting the app, he showed the now-clean screen.
“It’s deleted.”
Still, Kwon looked dissatisfied. He sighed deeply.

“If you’re going to meet someone, meet a decent guy.”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
Though it was a standard answer, Kwon’s expression subtly stiffened.

Heewon read the mood and slowly pulled his chair back, standing up.
“I’ll bring dinner. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“No.”

“Then I’ll get whatever.”
He fled the office as if escaping. For now, avoiding the situation was the best course of action.