Born to Be a Secretary

“Just to be sure… there’s no adulteration or anything harmful in the tea, right?”
“Not at all. It’s just an infusion of dried herbs. Yuhwa-cho, an ingredient also found in Novagen.”
Novagen — Heewon recalled the familiar medicine. A supplement mainly taken by active Alphas and Omegas. It maximizes faint pheromone scents.

She knew Kwon Youngjae had spent months striving to secure the license contract for Novagen. Somewhere, the deal was probably still underway.
Refusing the offer wouldn’t necessarily break the contract, but for future relations, it would be wise to appease Chairman Takano.
Silence stretched as Heewon pondered deeply. The man, watching the chairman, gently urged her.

“You may choose to drink it or not.”
“To Executive Director Kwon…”
Heewon parted her dry lips a few times, then began cautiously.

“I would appreciate it if this remained confidential.”
“Ah… that is your concern.”
“Thirty minutes. That should be enough, right?”

The man immediately conveyed this to Chairman Takano, who chuckled and nodded.
Heewon took a deep breath and drank the prepared tea in one gulp. The bitter taste clung to her tongue, followed by a sharp heat spreading in her mouth. The flavor was far from pleasant.
A slow, persistent gaze roamed over Heewon’s face — eyes full of expectation. Faced with the crude, honest desire of an old Alpha’s lust, Heewon barely suppressed the urge to vomit.

The contract was signed without incident. About an hour had passed. The atmosphere grew warm and friendly, hinting at an immediate transition to dinner.
Chairman Takano had yet to appear. Kwon, who had been silently watching the empty seat, discreetly called Secretary Song over.
“Go check on Secretary Kim. Just a quick report.”

“…Secretary Heewon?”
Secretary Song asked, surprised, but received no further explanation. No matter how sudden the order, it was Kwon’s command to be followed. Without delay, she left the room.
At that moment, Heewon was crossing a secluded back path of the mansion, avoiding others’ eyes.
Panting heavily, she finally stopped, unable to walk further. The man guiding her turned and looked back.

“Are you alright? You seem worse than before.”
The brazen question stirred a surge of anger. Heewon glared fiercely and forced out a faint voice.
“The tea… uh, it really doesn’t have any drugs in it, right?”

“You’re very suspicious.”
“Then why do I feel like this…?”
Unable to hold back, she loosened the top button of her shirt. Even opening it didn’t relieve the suffocating sensation. Hot, dry, and parched — her mouth felt like a desert.

“People react differently. Is your heat cycle close?”
Heewon clenched her shirt tightly. Damn it… They must have deliberately withheld that information. She couldn’t shake the feeling they were waiting for her to slip up.
Thirty minutes passed as promised, and now she was on her way to get suppressants, unable to control her overflowing pheromones. She left the room, following the man, because she simply could not stay there, afraid of making a mistake.

The unfamiliar symptoms bred not just confusion but fear. Though her heat cycle was approaching, she still had time, and had never failed to control her pheromones before. It was clear that blasted tea had disrupted her cycle.
Her knees began to tremble. She sank down, covering her mouth. Sweat drenched her body, and the scent of sweat was heavy in her breath. Heat was imminent. At least her companion was a Beta — that was a small mercy.
“I need the medicine, haah, quickly.”

“Can you walk?”
The man sighed deeply, troubled by how badly she’d deteriorated. Helping her up, he draped her limp arm over his shoulder.
“This won’t do. Let me find a room where you can rest.”

He supported her to a separate guesthouse — an ordinary annex left empty, quiet of any other presence.
“Stay here. I’ll bring the suppressant.”
As soon as he left, Heewon locked the door.

Her body slid down the wall, utterly exhausted. She breathed shallowly through clenched teeth. The unbearable heat made her feel like her entire head was cooking. No matter how hard she clenched, she couldn’t contain the escaping pheromones.
She cursed her stupid choice. How was she supposed to face Executive Director Kwon? She just hoped to recover before it got worse… But she couldn’t accept that she was already lost and desperately clung to fading consciousness.
To celebrate the contract and entertain guests, dishes kept arriving nonstop. The once barren room instantly transformed into a high-class dining hall.

Amid flowing laughter and conversation, Kwon remained silent. Secretary Song hadn’t returned, and Chairman Takano was still absent. Frustrated at being unable to leave, a sliding door covered with translucent paper quietly opened.
Just in time, Chairman Takano appeared, and everyone present rose in unison. His son led him to the main seat.
“You look in good spirits.”

“Ah, it’s been a while since something enjoyable happened. Sit down, everyone. The floor might cave in at this rate.”
The chairman laughed heartily, lightening the dinner mood. Kwon composed his expression but remained sharply alert.
“Is it alright if I bring out some alcohol?” The chairman produced rare liquor with care, personally pouring drinks for each guest.

Guests came first, so the first glass was given to Kwon. Chairman Takano approached closely, pouring the bottle with a satisfied gaze.
The clear sake flowed with a deep, rich aroma. Though strong, the scent of kinmokusei (fragrant olive) seeped subtly beneath the alcohol, reaching Kwon’s nose.
“Your taste is exquisite. You have a fine secretary.”

“......”
Kwon accepted the drink silently, staring only at Chairman Takano. The others, noticing the strange confrontation, grew uneasy. Suddenly, Kwon downed the liquor at once. The loud bang of the cup hitting the table made everyone flinch.
“I’m not feeling well. I’ll leave early. Finish up here.”

Without waiting ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) for objections, Kwon abruptly left. The Apex staff present grew restless, exchanging nervous glances. No one seemed ill enough to leave, rather they looked ready to party.
Yet orders were orders, so no one dared leave. Those left behind had to smooth the disrupted dinner atmosphere.
Kwon headed straight to Heewon’s room. Secretary Song stood anxiously by the door. Seeing Kwon, her face turned pale, shocked that he had stormed out of the dinner.

“Executive Director.”
“Secretary Kim—”
“She’s… not here, and not answering her phone either.”

Kwon flung open the sliding door. The room was spotless, without a trace of disorder. Only Kim Heewon’s strong pheromones lingered.
Frozen by the dense scent, Kwon was momentarily immobilized. His jaw clenched as his eyes narrowed fiercely.
She must be on the brink of heat. Considering Heewon’s usual behavior, if something happened, she likely left to handle it herself.

Kwon called her immediately. The phone rang endlessly. Secretary Kim always answered his calls immediately. As the monotonous ringing continued, his anxiety grew exponentially.
He ran his hands roughly through his messy hair, pushing his bangs off his forehead. He bit his lips and muttered curses under his breath.
“Find her. Now.”

Startled, Secretary Song shuddered and hurried out. Kwon turned the opposite way, his stride uncharacteristically quick and impatient.
He literally turned the mansion upside down searching. Ignoring who was there, he barged into every room, looking for Heewon.
As time passed, his once neat shirt wrinkled, sweat soaked his neck. Still, he never let go of his phone. Attempting calls nonstop, he suddenly stopped dead.

A familiar scent wafted on the breeze. Golden blossoms of kinmokusei, blooming profusely somewhere.
Using the scent as a guide, he changed direction. The aroma grew stronger as he neared. Without even removing his shoes, he strode into a hidden annex deep in a corner. Kwon was certain Heewon was there.