Chapter 3
Heerak needed to put an end to this conversation. His head was pounding, and he felt miserable, making it impossible to continue.
“Doseon, if there’s anything you want from me, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Anything I want from you?”
“Yes, whether it’s cash, a car, or a house, I’m open to your suggestions. There must be something I can do for you.”
Heerak was willing to entertain any reasonable request, as long as it wasn’t so outrageous that he’d exclaim, “Are you kidding me?!” He was prepared to fulfill whatever it took to secure a single document confirming that Doseon would never bring up that fateful night again. Though he couldn’t erase memories, he would have to bear a bitter smile whenever the recollection resurfaced.
After some consideration, Doseon spoke with determination.
“I’ve already obtained what I wanted.”
“You got what you wanted?”
Had Seokchan already handled it?
A faint smile appeared on Heerak’s lips. Seokchan was known for his efficiency, but he hadn’t anticipated such rapid progress. He didn’t think Seokchan had already engaged in negotiations with the other party before Heerak had a chance to speak with him.
“Did you strike a deal with my secretary before my arrival?”
“No, that’s not what happened.”
Doseon’s typically serious and stoic expression softened slightly. As Heerak observed his hesitant, downcast eyes, Doseon continued speaking.
“To be honest, I’ve never been intimate with anyone before. You were my first, Director.”
Heerak was taken aback, nearly jumping out of his seat.
The shock was so overwhelming that he stood up involuntarily. Doseon gazed up at him with dull eyes, and Heerak quickly sat back down, struggling to maintain his composure.
He was a virgin? This is driving me crazy, damn it!
If Doseon were to demand something old-fashioned, like taking responsibility for their first time, Heerak was certain he wouldn’t be able to keep up his composed facade.
“When you grabbed my hand that night, one thought crossed my mind. I thought, when else would I get the chance to be with someone like you in my lifetime? I felt incredibly fortunate that I could have my first experience with someone like you.”
Initially, Heerak had been rendered speechless by the absurdity of the situation. But now, he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t find the right words. All he could do was listen, mouth agape.
“You might consider that night an unfortunate accident, and I’m truly sorry about that. But to me, it left me with a cherished memory of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m very grateful for that.”
At the end of his speech, Doseon bowed slightly.
Another silence descended upon them.
Heerak stared dumbfounded at the man in front of him, while Doseon appeared as though he expected Heerak to instruct him to return to work as usual.
“So, it was a good memory for you. That’s it? The end?”
Finally finding his voice, Heerak inquired, though the astonishment still colored his tone.
“Do you not need anything more tangible than that?”
“Is there a need for something more?”
“I believe I’d feel more at ease if there were some material aspect to this agreement.”
“Because it might become incredibly troublesome to deal with if you were to change your mind later.”
Heerak suppressed the additional comments that threatened to spill out and instead released a series of sighs. It was all he could do, but no matter how many times he sighed, he couldn’t dispel his discomfort.
“You just want to pretend this never happened, correct?”
He had wondered what Doseon’s response would be, but once again, he was taken aback. At this point, Heerak found Doseon’s demeanor quite remarkable. How could he ask such a question without a second thought?
Heerak hesitated for a moment.
“Exactly.”
His hesitation was fleeting, but it left Heerak feeling intensely irritated with himself. He angrily massaged the furrows on his forehead.
Doseon nodded as if he had anticipated that response.
“Then let’s go with that,” he suggested.
In response to Heerak’s questioning look, he added, “Nothing happened that night. You don’t need to do anything for me.”
Doseon’s eyes seemed to silently inquire, “Is that settled then? Is this matter closed?”
Heerak averted his gaze from those probing eyes.
What’s happening here?
It was an emotional rollercoaster of unexpected twists and turns.
His pride felt wounded because he seemed to have lost control of the conversation. He also couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the only one taken aback by this situation, which frustrated him to no end. What bothered him most was that it appeared as though he was the one desperately seeking resolution while the other party was willing to compromise and accommodate his wishes, in an attempt to pacify Heerak.
“How can you expect me to trust you? You could say one thing today and something else tomorrow, right? Just accept something, anything from me. It will put my mind at ease,” Heerak pleaded in desperation. Doseon seemed to contemplate the proposal.
“Then I’ll accept 40,000 won from you.”
“40,000 won?”
Heerak was taken aback by this seemingly random figure. However, Doseon nodded with a serious expression.
“Yes. The motel fee that night was 80,000 won.”
At that moment, the last shred of Heerak’s sanity unraveled.
He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands.
“Ahaha…”
Laughter erupted from him, and it was nothing but laughter.
It was bizarre that someone like Heerak, who usually only pursued omegas, had spent the night with a beta. Yet, the man sitting across from him was even more perplexing. This beta kept making unpredictable statements.
Even during difficult times, Heerak had never wished to turn back time. He had always been optimistic, viewing every experience as having some intangible value.
Today was different.
Today, all he truly desired was the ability to turn back time, to return to that night before anything had occurred.
In his current predicament, nothing came to mind. He felt the need for some solitude to gather his thoughts.
Finally, Heerak decided to express what he had wanted to say for some time now, in a feeble voice.
“You can go back to work…”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take my leave then.”
He heard the other man depart without hesitation.
Heerak finally lifted his head to watch the departing figure. It was difficult to reconcile the man, dressed in a white dress shirt and black pants, with the naked man he had been with that night. Moreover, his demeanor and tone remained composed throughout. It was hard to believe this was the same person from that memorable night.
Where had the charming individual, whose neck had blushed when they intertwined hands, disappeared to?
Heerak clicked his tongue and released a deep sigh.
He felt remorseful for Seokchan, but he had resolved that from now on, even on weekends, he would call his secretary when he got drunk.
He never wanted to experience such a strange encounter again.
***
Heerak Cho, 32 years old.
The fourth child of Heetak Cho, chairman of the HW Group, and a superdominant alpha.
As soon as he graduated from university, he expressed his disinterest in vying for succession within the company. He was eager to distance himself from the brutal power struggle among his siblings for control of the company. His father held great affection for his clever youngest son, who was neither overwhelmingly brilliant nor deficient. He earnestly wished for his youngest son to become a formidable contender in the succession battle. Naturally, he opposed Heerak’s desire to break away and made efforts to dissuade him.
Heerak’s decision to step aside from the succession struggle was not impulsive; it was the result of a carefully calculated decision.
Heerak contemplated his future prospects. While he had the potential to emerge as the ultimate victor, it hinged largely on luck. Moreover, he needed to invest significant effort into achieving commendable results while regularly showcasing something unique to both his parents and the board of directors. This challenge was exacerbated by the fact that he had started late compared to his siblings, who had already accumulated noteworthy achievements.
As Heerak pondered his options, he couldn’t escape the realization that he could just as easily become the ultimate failure. Such a path would lead to a stifling existence, damage his relationships with his older siblings, and, if fortune frowned upon him, relegate him to the status of a failure, consigned to managing subsidiary companies. It was a grim prospect, one he vehemently wished to avoid.
Heerak was determined not to follow that path.
No matter how he looked at it, that kind of life held no appeal for him. Wasn’t it acceptable to spare at least one child from being a pawn in the grand scheme of things? He tried to persuade his father with a mixture of sincerity and persuasion, but his father proved a tough nut to crack. Heerak decided to change tactics. The only person who had his father wrapped around their finger was his male-omega, superdominant mother.
Winning over his mother was a wise move. She was supportive and everything Heerak could hope for. While his father could control his children, he was a devoted husband who yielded to his wife’s influence. Heerak wasn’t sure how his mother managed it, but she eventually secured his freedom.
His siblings, who hoped to have the youngest member, who had successfully broken away, on their side, made efforts to maintain their relationships. Heerak and his elder sister, with whom he had the closest bond, dined together at least once a week. He also nurtured his connections with his older brothers by golfing and accompanying them to various events. Everything unfolded according to Heerak’s carefully laid plans.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Heerak enjoyed a life of comfort and privilege.
Now, he relished a life that others could only envy.
Yet, as if to remind him that life wouldn’t be interesting without its challenges, there were moments when his plans encountered setbacks. The café franchise he initiated with his mother’s assistance ended in resounding failure. It wasn’t that he didn’t turn a profit, but Heerak deemed the venture a failure. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t outperform the top brand that drew customers lining up from early morning for limited-edition tumblers. Despite aggressive marketing and rigorous PR efforts, he couldn’t secure the top spot. If he couldn’t attain that, walking away from the succession battle would be futile. Swiftly, he divested his shares and redirected his attention to his next venture.
He set his sights on the food industry. Heerak launched “Sartago,” a family restaurant with a salad bar as its centerpiece. His parents and siblings expressed doubts about its potential success, labeling it a saturated market, but Heerak pressed forward. Every month, he featured a special salad bar with the specialty foods of a chosen location in the world, whether it was Busan’s milmyeon one month or Chicago-style deep-dish pizza from Chicago the next. Recognizing that high prices deterred family diners, he significantly lowered the costs.
His gamble paid off handsomely. He tasted the victory he had long yearned for.
He seized the opportunity and expanded his restaurant venture aggressively. Now, the signboard of “Sartago” could be seen in every nook and cranny of Korea. His siblings, who had invested with cautious optimism, could now proudly affirm that they had always believed in his abilities. As “Sartago” consistently ranked at the top of articles about family restaurants, Heerak finally wore a satisfied smile.