Haah.
A deep sigh escaped his lips. The night air was brisk, enough to raise goosebumps along his arms, but he didn’t want to go back inside just to retrieve a coat. He had already circled the wide garden once, but couldn’t bring himself to step inside the mansion. The reason he kept hovering around the perimeter was because Keith was currently having sex with his partner.
Yeonwoo sniffed cautiously. As expected, the scent of pheromones was heavy in the air. If it was spilling this strongly outdoors, the air inside the mansion would be saturated to a level he couldn’t bear. He was afraid of going in.
“Yeonwoo, you’re still here?”
Charles had spotted him and spoke. Yeonwoo hesitated before nodding. As always, the butler’s expression remained flat as he spoke.
“It should be over soon. Are you cold? Would you like a hot drink or a coat?”
“Ah… Thank you. A coat, please.”
Charles nodded briefly.
“I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared like a gust of wind. Yeonwoo stood in place, rubbing his arms.
What time was it?
He glanced down at his empty wrist out of habit, then looked away bitterly. Sometimes Keith brought partners to a hotel; other times, he invited them here. There was no fixed rhythm, but he never went more than three days without seeing someone. This time, it had already been a week of back-to-back visits. It wasn’t something new, so there wasn’t much left to be disappointed about. It was just that—on the days Keith brought them to the mansion—it was painful to watch them walk confidently into his bedroom.
At first, he had faked going to bed early and locked himself in his room before sundown. But the pheromones were so overwhelming that even without seeing it, he could tell exactly what was happening. Lately, he often found himself wandering the grounds. His heart felt like it was dying, yet it was even more miserable to find himself reacting to the scent and masturbating in shame.
…It’s cold.
He shivered and hunched his shoulders. How much time had passed? It felt like well over three hours, but in reality, it was probably far less.
Keith never slept with his partners. It was strictly sex. That was something Yeonwoo had learned only after staying at the mansion. When Keith brought someone to a hotel, Yeonwoo always had to wait in the car for at least three hours. Sometimes, Keith would drop him off at the mansion and then drive out—but even then, Yeonwoo would always hear the car returning just before dawn.
…Was it over now?
She had shown up earlier than scheduled, and in the rush to leave the house, Yeonwoo had forgotten his watch. He had even left behind his phone. With a bitter expression, he looked up at the mansion.
Just as he’d made it out in a panic, he’d heard a woman’s moans ring out from the open window of Keith’s bedroom—sounding almost like a scream. The desperate, repeated cries and the brutal rhythm of it had driven him to run, wandering the garden aimlessly until he ended up here. The echo of those sounds had tormented him for far too long.
What tormented him more was the fact that this partner—Naomi—was lasting far longer than the women before her. Keith should have been ready to switch by now, but he hadn’t told Yeonwoo to look for someone new.
Maybe Keith liked her.
Even just imagining it made his heart feel like it might burst.
By the time he returned, the string of ragged moans and shrill cries had stopped. The mansion was quiet.
He let out a long breath—when a door creaked open behind him. He thought it was Charles returning with the coat, but it wasn’t. The one who stepped out was Naomi.
“Oh my.”
The moment she saw him, she let out a delighted gasp of surprise. Wearing a thin dress that clung to her body, her breasts barely covered and one strap slipping off her shoulder, Naomi wobbled toward him and lazily fixed her dress with a fingertip.
“You’re Mr. Pittman’s secretary, right? Perfect timing. Where’s the butler? He said he’d drive me home once we were done.”
“…He’ll be here soon. I suppose you’re finished.”
There was no need to wait for her answer. Her entire body reeked of pheromones. Naomi was a Beta, so the scent clinging to her was purely Keith’s.
A violent wave of jealousy surged through Yeonwoo. He quickly lowered his head to hide his face. Unbothered, Naomi pulled a cigarette from her clutch and lit it.
She exhaled a long, thin stream of smoke.
“You’re an Omega, right? Have you slept with Mr. Pittman too?”
Her voice was drenched in the lethargy of sex. One look at her half-lidded, heavy-lashed eyes made it clear—there was no room for doubt.
“No. …Mr. Pittman doesn’t sleep with men.”
It was strange how calmly his own voice reached his ears. Naomi looked surprised, but she hadn’t caught on to the truth.
“Really? Even though you’re an Omega?”
He repeated himself in a dry tone.
“He doesn’t have sex with men.”
Naomi let out a low whistle and blew out another cloud of smoke.
“That’s a shame. He’s really good at it. And you’ve never had him.”
Her expression brimmed with both smugness and pity. Yeonwoo felt a rush of curiosity and revulsion rise up inside him. He mumbled something vague, but Naomi continued on, like she couldn’t hold back.
“If it weren’t for the nondisclosure clause, seriously… Annabelle tried to steal his sperm, you know? I get it. Honestly, I’d even clone him if I could. If I could just sleep with him once, I’d take a picture of his dick while he was asleep and have a custom dildo made. I wonder how Annabelle managed it—if I asked, she’d probably slap me.”
She didn’t hide the regret of having been tossed aside the moment she got what she wanted. Her expression turned blank, as though caught in a wistful daze. Yeonwoo couldn’t say a word. He’d heard other women talk about their nights with Keith before. He’d always forced himself to ignore it—let it slide past or change the subject. This time, though, he was trapped with no escape.
Naomi, oblivious to his thoughts, tilted her head and sighed with disappointment.
“Even the best dildo can’t match technique, you know. If we’re going to break up, I just hope we do it after he gives it to me good one last time.”
Yeonwoo found himself staring at her beautiful profile. She was a famous actress with a well-known history of affairs. When she had first arrived, jewelry in hand to deliver Keith’s message, she hadn’t looked particularly pleased. If anything, she had smirked and said:
“Is that so? I’ve been wondering how good he really is. Perfect.”
Then she had laughed.
That night, she’d met Keith at a hotel. From the next day on, she kept calling the secretary’s office, asking when the next appointment was. It wasn’t unusual. Keith’s partners always did that. Yeonwoo had never thought much of it. Or rather, he had never wanted to think too deeply about it.
But now, without warning, the reason had been shoved right in front of him.
He didn’t know how to respond. Honestly, he was curious—because he would never know firsthand. But hearing it would only make him feel more pathetic. In the end, he chose pride over curiosity.
“I’m glad to hear you were satisfied.”
“Satisfied?”
Naomi let out a low laugh as she exhaled again.
“Well, you’ve never had him, so I guess that’s how you can stay so calm. Keith is the best man I’ve ever slept with. God, now I understand what all the fuss is about. What a shame. If he ever says we’re done, I just know I’ll be crying and begging him not to go.”
Where was Charles?
Yeonwoo felt the panic creeping up and muttered without thinking.
“If you do end up begging, I hope you won’t hit me.”
“Hit you?”
Naomi’s voice was startled. He winced. It was too late to take it back. Looking into her wide, curious eyes, Yeonwoo let out a breath and replied honestly, though his voice was flat.
“It’s not uncommon. Some people don’t take breakups well. Mr. Pittman is generous until the end, but even then, there are some things that money can’t satisfy.”
He left it at that, offering no further explanation. Naomi narrowed her eyes. Yeonwoo couldn’t tell what she was thinking, so he said nothing.
She brought her cigarette to her lips and murmured evenly.
“People always take things out on someone easy. I suppose it wouldn’t be Mr. Keith Knight Pittman, after all. You must have it rough.”
She inhaled slowly, exhaled, and smiled faintly.
“I can’t promise I’ll be any different. Guess you only find out once it happens.”
What she said was true, but as the one it applied to, Yeonwoo couldn’t simply nod and agree with I see. He remained silent, saying nothing, until Naomi suddenly asked:
“Is it okay if I don’t hit you—just touch you instead?”
“…What?”
For a second, he thought he’d misheard her. Blinking in confusion, he saw Naomi laugh softly and add:
“Even if you’re an Omega, you can still sleep with a woman, right? You just can’t have kids. Sometimes that’s even better if you’re just in it for fun.”
Caught off guard, Yeonwoo was momentarily at a loss for words. He had known she had a long history with men, but it had never occurred to him that he might be one of her potential targets. Of course, that probably wasn’t what she meant.
“You’re cute. You look just like my son.”
“Your… son?”
Did Naomi even have a child? She’d been married twice, but she should be single now. He’d never heard of her having kids, and when he’d visited her place, he’d only seen hired staff—no sign of anyone else in the house. As he quickly racked his brain, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“…That little thing you keep at home. The dog.”
“That’s right—Mickey!”
His expression slipped for a moment. God. She’d just compared him to her dog. His face twisted without meaning to, and Naomi, noticing, burst into delighted laughter.
“You really do look like him. Mickey makes that exact face when he’s mad at me. See? So cute.”
She reached for her phone, probably to show him a picture, but Yeonwoo shook his head.
“I’ll pass. Excuse me.”
He was about to excuse himself to go look for Charles when Naomi suddenly staggered. Startled, Yeonwoo caught her reflexively.
And then—Keith’s pheromones, still clinging to her, suddenly hit him in a rush. He froze, his lungs instinctively stopping. But it was too late. His heart had already started pounding, and his palms were going damp. Trying to suppress his reaction, Yeonwoo steadied her. Her gaze when she looked at him was unfocused, hazy.
Only then did he realize what was happening.
Naomi was high on pheromones. Soaked through to this extent, even a Beta couldn’t remain unaffected.
Then again, he’d been the same.
Even as a Beta, there had been no immediate reaction, but over time, it had crept in. She had seemed fine when she’d first stepped outside, so the pheromones must have seeped into her later, like a delayed effect. Feeling bitter, Yeonwoo tightened his grip on her arm. She winced slightly, as though the pain had brought her back to her senses.
“It’s the pheromones. Make sure you shower when you get home. I’ll give you something to take too… You could mutate into an Omega.”
He added the last part with a dry edge. Naomi blinked slowly, then smiled.
“You’re so sweet, little puppy.”
And then something completely unexpected happened. Without warning, she grabbed his face and pressed her lips against his.
He didn’t even have time to react. Their lips collided—a complete accident. Yeonwoo froze on instinct, too stunned to move. In that brief moment, Naomi pressed her soft lips firmly against his, and then slipped her tongue forward.
The wet touch jolted him awake. Jerking back, he pushed her away with a shout.
“What do you think you’re doing? Snap out of it!”
“Hahaha.”
Naomi laughed as though she found it all amusing. Yeonwoo didn’t laugh. Not even close. He wiped his lips in a panic just as Charles came out of the mansion.
“Charles.”
He greeted him more eagerly than ever. Charles, holding Yeonwoo’s coat, spotted Naomi and immediately approached her.
“I’ll take her home. Yeonwoo, let’s get you back inside.”
He handed Yeonwoo the coat and reached for Naomi.
“Wait.”
Yeonwoo spoke quickly.
“She’s under the influence of pheromones. She needs—”
“It happens all the time. Don’t worry.”
Charles cut him off, speaking with the same dispassionate tone as always. Yeonwoo felt embarrassed for having brought it up at all. But Naomi showed no sign of understanding the situation.
“See you again, puppy.”
Naomi grinned and blew him a kiss with her fingers. Yeonwoo didn’t respond. He simply stood there, watching as Charles led her away—and then, suddenly, he felt cold. A chill ran down his spine. Without thinking, he looked up.
And froze.
Keith was leaning against the balcony railing, smoking, staring down at him. Yeonwoo’s heart felt like it dropped.
Keith didn’t say a word.
Neither did Yeonwoo.
They just looked at each other.
How long had he been standing there? How much had he seen? Why was he watching like that?
What was he thinking right now?
Yeonwoo wanted to ask, but couldn’t bring himself to speak. Keith had two buttons of his shirt undone, his hair slightly messy. He looked rougher than Yeonwoo had ever seen him—and unfamiliar. His chest tightened at the sight.
The night wind brushed past. Yeonwoo instinctively raised a hand to hold down his hair, tousled by the breeze. When he looked up again, Keith was still there.
Keith exhaled, long and slow. The pale smoke drifted in a straight line, slicing the air before dispersing into the wind. For a moment, Yeonwoo thought he saw Keith’s brow faintly furrow. Without realizing it, he tilted his head slightly.
Then Keith moved.
Yeonwoo watched him turn away and disappear into the bedroom.
Ah.
Only after the faint ache bloomed in his chest did Yeonwoo realize he was standing alone in the empty garden.
***
“…So the report is scheduled to be submitted by today. I’ll follow up with the director to check on the progress. There are no lunch appointments, but at 3 o’clock, you have a meeting with your lawyer. It’s regarding the contract with Mr. Chase Miller—they’ll bring the drafted agreement. Lastly, Mr. Grayson Miller left a message asking you to call him back…”
Inside the car on their way to work, Yeonwoo’s voice carried no trace of emotion as he recited the day’s schedule. Keith didn’t say a word. Yeonwoo continued reading in the same flat tone all the way through. If it had been Grayson Miller, he would’ve joked, “This is too boring. Are you trying to put me to sleep?” with a teasing jab. But Keith, of course, did no such thing. He simply smoked, eyes fixed forward.
Yeonwoo finished reading and waited for a response.
Keith was exactly the same as always. The memory of seeing him on the balcony the night before felt like a dream now. Maybe it had meant nothing at all. Maybe Keith had simply looked down and their eyes had met by chance.
Maybe it was just Yeonwoo’s delusion, assigning meaning where there was none.
A bitter smile briefly touched his lips—he quickly wiped the expression off his face. Sneaking a glance at Keith, he saw nothing had changed. Keith wasn’t looking at him. He probably hadn’t even noticed Yeonwoo’s expression faltering. The thought brought a strange mix of relief and bitterness.
Come to think of it—
The pillbox he’d opened that morning had noticeably fewer pills left. At this rate, he’d run out before the month ended. He pulled out his phone, remembering what Charles had said. If he didn’t get a chance to visit the pharmacy, he’d ask Charles to refill the prescription. With how frequently he had to take them now, it was better to stock up in advance.
He’d have to pick up his things too.
More time had passed than expected. So far, Charles had taken care of everything he needed—even down to the suits he wore for work. It was all at Keith’s direction, of course, but that didn’t make Yeonwoo feel any more comfortable about it. Once he started to feel better, he’d either go shopping himself or get his things from home.
Or maybe, if he was doing that well, he should just move back entirely.
The thought crossed his mind, then he pushed it away. One thing at a time. Focus on the immediate. As he hurriedly typed out the message, Keith finally spoke.
“What did Grayson want?”
Yeonwoo quickly sent the message, tucked his phone away, and answered.
“There wasn’t any specific content. Just a message to call him back.”
Keith frowned slightly but said nothing more. He wasn’t a talkative person to begin with, but now that Yeonwoo was around him more often, that fact had become more glaringly obvious. Every morning, they rode to work together in the same car. Every day, Yeonwoo reported the schedule and awaited orders. The silence never got easier. It always left him slightly on edge.
“…Tell Chase Miller.”
“Yes, Mr. Pittman.”
Keith took one final drag of his cigarette, then put it out in the ashtray.
“Tell him to switch roles. Not Sebastian—Crow.”
“…Pardon?”
Yeonwoo responded without thinking, then quickly shut his mouth. After a beat, he spoke again.
“But that’s not the lead role. It’s supporting.”
Keith didn’t reply. He only glanced sideways at Yeonwoo.
“Understood. What should we do about the lead?”
“Find some decent candidates and send them over.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yeonwoo gave a polite reply and immediately jotted it down. There would be a lot of calls to make once they arrived at the office.
Chase Miller.
The image of his face surfaced in Yeonwoo’s mind. The youngest of the Miller brothers, currently the hottest actor in Hollywood—and of course, an Apex Alpha. Purple eyes, like all Apex Alphas, and the Miller family’s signature golden blond hair.
“He’ll have to dye it black.”
Yeonwoo muttered the thought, then quickly added,
“Though I’m sure it’ll suit him.”
An awkward silence followed. Keith said nothing, just flipped through a file. Embarrassed, Yeonwoo quickly checked the schedule again. As he scribbled a few notes, he casually spoke.
“What would you like to do about this evening? Should I arrange a hotel meeting with Ms. Naomi Parker?”
Still no response.
He waited, then glanced up. Keith looked lost in thought. Yeonwoo repeated the question.
“Mr. Pittman, shall I schedule a hotel appointment with Ms. Parker?”
“What?”
Keith turned toward him at last. Yeonwoo realized he hadn’t been listening at all. And in that instant, their eyes met without warning.
His heart plummeted, then immediately started racing.
He stopped breathing—but couldn’t look away. Neither did Keith.
Suddenly, the spacious interior of the luxury sedan felt impossibly small. Yeonwoo struggled to breathe, drawing shallow breaths, but couldn’t even blink. Keith kept staring—no, not at his face. At his lips. His mouth was dry. He instinctively licked them. The spot where the old wound hadn’t quite healed stung faintly. Keith’s gaze burned like it had scorched the skin.
Then, Keith’s brows pulled together slightly. He opened his mouth, as if to speak.
“You…”
Yeonwoo froze, every nerve tuned to Keith’s voice. He braced himself to catch even the softest breath.
But Keith said nothing more. He simply looked at him, frowning faintly.
Yeonwoo waited.
It didn’t seem like Keith intended to continue. Yeonwoo watched as Keith slowly raised a hand. His fingers moved toward Yeonwoo’s cheek. His breathing grew so ragged it made him dizzy. Was this because of the pheromones again? Would Keith fall for the lie a second time?
No. Could he even lie about it anymore?
If that hand touched him—
♪♪♬♬♩♩♩♪……
Yeonwoo’s eyes snapped shut. A ringtone interrupted the silence.
He opened them again, slowly. Keith was still staring at him. His hand still outstretched.
The ringtone didn’t stop. Beethoven’s Piano Sonata drifted uneasily through the quiet space.
Haah.
Keith let out a short sigh and lowered his hand. It never touched him. That unreachable hand receded again. Yeonwoo had to clench his fists just to keep himself from grabbing it and pulling it to his lips.
While Keith took the call, Yeonwoo forced himself to get it together. He steadied his breath. The faint trail of pheromones in the car finally registered in his nose. Outside the window, a familiar building came into view. They were nearly there.
“Tell her to come to the hotel.”
Keith spoke abruptly after hanging up. Yeonwoo, briefly stunned, caught up quickly.
“I’ll relay the message to Ms. Parker. Should I schedule it for 7 p.m.? You have no dinner plans yet.”
His voice returned to businesslike form. Keith gave a small nod and didn’t look at him again. Yeonwoo replied with a crisp “Understood,” and scribbled the note into the corner of his planner—keeping his eyes down, doing his best not to let the chaos inside him show.