[At present]
The late afternoon sun was dipping low, painting the city in a warm gold hue. He adjusted the bags in his hands and headed straight toward the black car waiting at the curbside. The driver opened the door for him, and Kiyonari slipped inside quietly.
As the car drove off, he allowed himself a tired sigh, watching the tall buildings blur past.
Later that day...
The car pulled up in front of Soo-hyun's condominium—a sleek, modern tower that mirrored the night sky in its glass façade. Inside, everything gleamed with clean lines and muted tones.
Kiyonari carefully passed the shopping bags to the maid and sat. He ran a quick hand over his tie, loosening it a little as he tried to calm the faint tension running through his chest.
Ms. Do, another housemaid, approached with her usual calm smile. "Can I get you anything, Mr. Soo?"
"Oh—" Kiyonari turned toward her, startled for a moment. "Just some juice, please."
"Will that be all?"
"Yes, any flavor is fine."
"Understood."
She bowed slightly and left, her soft steps fading down the hallway. Moments later, she returned with a glass of chilled juice, placing it neatly on the table before him.
"Thank you," Kiyonari said, smiling faintly. She bowed again and left the room.
The condominium was quiet. The ticking of the wall clock felt loud in the still air.
Kiyonari took a sip of the drink, eyes wandering to the closed bedroom door. Soo-hyun was still inside, preparing for the event—or maybe inspecting every detail of what Kiyonari had bought.
He exhaled deeply, running a thumb over the glass rim.
Why do I feel nervous? He thought. It's not like I'm the one wearing it.
He adjusted his tie again, though it didn't need fixing. His reflection on the back glass of the table stared back at him—neat and composed, but his fingers trembled slightly against his lap.
Maybe it was the pressure. Maybe it was the fear of making a mistake again in front of the Director... or maybe it was something else entirely.
He quickly dismissed the thought, taking another sip.
Kiyonari sighed, dragging a hand down his face as the memory replayed in his head. Just thinking about it made his shoulders tense.
He glanced toward the hallway where the sound of soft footsteps echoed faintly...
Soo-hyun was probably checking the outfit right now.
Kiyonari pressed his palms together nervously. "I just hope he won't throw the clothes at me," he muttered under his breath.
A faint laugh escaped him afterward, but it was dry—the kind of laugh that masked nerves.
Still, even through his anxiety, there was something unshakable beneath it—that subtle, unspoken desire to please him.
No matter how hard or impossible it seemed.
Not long after, the soft rhythm of footsteps echoed faintly through the hall.
Kiyonari's head lifted instinctively, his eyes snapping toward the grand staircase. And there—descending with a kind of quiet grace that seemed almost otherworldly was Soo-hyun.
For a moment, Kiyonari forgot how to breathe.
The faint golden lights from the chandelier spilled over the Director's figure, making him look as though he was glowing—a vision painted in ivory and shadow.
Despite buying several suits and tuxedos earlier at the mall, none of them had struck him quite like this one.
A white, light fabric flowed delicately around Soo-hyun's frame, soft and refined. The sleeves were flared, swaying slightly as he moved. The high-neck design hugged his throat, ending in a gentle, turtleneck fold—adorned at the front by a loose, silken ribbon that draped elegantly down his chest.
It fit him perfectly. The fabric cinched at his small waist, accentuating his slender build, before neatly tucking into tailored black trousers that shaped to his long legs. The black shoes, sleek and polished, lifted his height ever so slightly.
But it wasn't just the outfit. It was him.
Soo-hyun carried himself with effortless poise, every step deliberate, as though he'd walked out of a portrait—something untouchable, regal, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Kiyonari's lips parted slightly, eyes widening in quiet awe. He looks so unreal.
Soo-hyun stopped at the base of the stairs, his hair half slicked back—strands falling slightly against his temple. When he turned his head, his sharp gaze caught Kiyonari's.
He noticed the look on the man's face that dazed, unguarded admiration.
He blinked, brow twitching. "Mr. Soo?"
Kiyonari didn't move. He seemed frozen in place, eyes still locked on him as if trapped in a spell.
"... Mr. Soo?" Soo-hyun repeated, tilting his head slightly.
No response.
Kiyonari wasn't listening, lost in his own world.
Soo-hyun's brows knitted. "What's wrong with you? Are you listening to what I—"
But before he could finish, Kiyonari suddenly stepped forward.
And in an instant—
His hand reached out, gripping Soo-hyun's shoulder firmly.
Soo-hyun's body tensed. His eyes widened, startled. "Mr. Soo... what—"
The look in Kiyonari's eyes—it wasn't the usual calm, obedient stare of his secretary. It was something darker and deeper.
Like a predator who'd finally cornered what it desired the most.
There was hunger—not for blood, but for possession. For something primal he shouldn't feel.
Soo-hyun's breath hitched. He could almost feel the weight of that gaze strip through his composure. A chill ran down his spine as instinct warred with reason. His knees nearly gave out—his body recognizing the presence of an Alpha before his mind could process it.
"Mr. Soo..." He whispered, voice trembling faintly.
Kiyonari's fingers tightened on his shoulder. His other hand reached up, trembling, hesitant, but unstoppable—brushing against Soo-hyun's neck.
Before he knew it, he'd pulled the boy closer. Soo-hyun's breath ghosted against his cheek, their faces just inches apart.
And then—
Kiyonari's head tilted, lips parting. His sharp fangs against the soft, pale skin of Soo-hyun's neck... and sank in.
"Mr. Soo!"
The voice rang sharply in his ear.
Kiyonari's eyes snapped open.
He blinked—the tast of blood, the warmth the hunger desire—all vanished.
He was sitting on the sofa again, hands cold and trembling, staring up at a very real and very annoyed. Soo-hyun standing a few steps away.
It was all in his head.
"Huh?!" Kiyonari stammered, quickly standing. "I-I'm sorry, Director!"
Soo-hyun crossed his arms, one brow raised. "What were you doing spacing out like that? I've been calling your name for over a minute, yet you just sit there and stare at me like some kind of idiot."
"I'm truly sorry, sir." Kiyonari bowed deeply, his face burning in embarrassment.
Soo-hyun sighed, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "Never mind. I'll go change."
"Sir?" Kiyonari blinked, still disoriented.
"I don't feel like wearing something like this to a party like that," Soo-hyun said coldly, turning toward the stairs. "Wait for me here."
"Of course, sir." Kiyonari managed to reply, though his voice came out weaker than intended.
But before heading up, Soo-hyun paused midway on the steps. He looked over his shoulder, his expression softening slightly.
"Still," he said, "your choice in fashion doesn't seem to be lacking. You actually picked some of the best ones I'd usually buy myself."
Kiyonari blinked—and before he could even respond, he added, almost teasingly.
"You're not as tacky as I thought you'd be. I'll give you that."
He smiled faintly—small, rare smile that never failed to catch Kiyonari off guard—and then continued up the stairs.
The moment Soo-hyun disappeared, Kiyonari slumped back onto the sofa, his face flushed and his pulse still racing.
He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the wild thrum beneath his palm.
What the hell did I just imagine?! He screamed inwardly.
Have I finally lost my mind?!
The vividness of it made him shiver—the feel of Soo-hyun's skin, the scent of his cologne, the sound of his breath trembling...
He covered his mouth with his hand, mortified.
How could I even think about... biting my boss's neck like that?!
He hissed under his breath, his cheeks burning.
He pressed his fingers hard against his temple. "There must be something seriously wrong with my head."
Yet, no matter how much he scolded himself, he couldn't shake the ghost that image—Soo-hyun's face, close and startled, the heat that pooled in his chest, the ache that refused to fade.
Kiyonari bit down on his lip, the faintest of red staining his whole face.
"... Damn it," he muttered softly, "what's happening to me?"
*****
While waiting downstairs, Kiyonari's phone buzzed faintly inside his pocket. The sound was soft, but in the quiet of the living room, it felt sharp enough to snap him out of his thoughts.
He reached for it, swiping across the screen.
[Eunji: Mr. Soo, where is the Director? Everyone's waiting for him.]
Kiyonari's eyes widened slightly. Right... I totally got lost in my thoughts and forgot about the time.
He shot up from the sofa and glanced toward the clock on the wall. The minutes had slipped away faster than he thought.
Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, he straightened his suit and moved toward the staircase. His plan was to go up, check on Soo-hyun, maybe knock politely on his door and remind him of the time.
But before he could even take his first step—
Footsteps echoed from above.
Kiyonari froze in place just as Soo-hyun appeared at the top of the stairs.
He was no longer wearing the white outfit from earlier. Instead, he was dressed sharply in a black tuxedo—simple yet striking. The smooth, satin lapels caught the warm light of the chandelier as he descended with that familiar quiet confidence.
The crisp black contrasted beautifully with his pale skin, his hair slicked neatly back this time, revealing the sharp curve of his jaw and clean line of his slender neck.
Kiyonari's breath hitched unconsciously. So much for calming down.
"Director Je...!" He called out as soon as he found his voice again.
Soo-hyun's gaze flicked toward him, cool and composed. "What is it?"
"We... have to hurry," Kiyonari said, glancing at his phone again as if to confirm. "Everyone's waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?" Soo-hyun blinked, a genuine confusion flickering in his eyes. Then, a small scoff escaped his lips. "That event isn't even about me, yet they're acting too much."
Kiyonari opened his mouth, wanting to respond—but thought better of it. He just smiled faintly, polite and wordless.
Inside, though, his thoughts were already running.
Maybe they're just too excited for the heir's mate, he reasoned silently. Wang Taehan's been single for so long—no one even knew if he had any interest in marriage at all.
And now that he's finally seeing someone, the entire family must be ecstatic. They've probably been waiting for this moment for years.
Soo-hyun brushed a hand across his tuxedo sleeve, inspecting it briefly before walking past him toward the door. "Let's go. I don't want to be late either. It'll be a headache if they start nagging at me again."
They? Kiyonari thought, brows subtly furrowing. Does he mean the Je Group?
He didn't ask, though. Unsure if the question was even a good idea to ask.
Instead, he gave a small bow. "The car's already waiting for you outside, sir."
"Good," Soo-hyun said with a quiet hum, straightening his cufflinks.
He moved toward the door, every step crisp, the soft echo of his shoes filling the room. Kiyonari followed behind, keeping his careful pace steps. But his eyes, for just fleeting a second, lingered on Soo-hyun's back.
Something about that small delicate figure—poised and elegant—made his chest tighten again in that same, confusing way.
He quickly shook the thought off and adjusted his tie once more. Just focus on work, Kiyonari. Focus.
Outside, the evening breeze greeted them as the car's headlights flickered on, waiting.
Soo-hyun stepped forward first, his expression as unreadable as ever, while Kiyonari silently opened the door for him... pretending his heart wasn't beating a little faster than usual.
[Minutes later]
Walking down the long, marbled hallway, Kiyonari's steps echoed faintly with every movement. The distant murmur of conversations from other room couldn't reach him—he was too lost in thought to notice anything else.
His mind lingered on one thing, or rather, one person: Soo-hyun.
The image of leaving for the event alone replayed in his head again and again, like a scene stuck on repeat.
He let out a quiet sigh.
[Flashback]
"Sir?" Kiyonari blinked, unsure if he'd heard right.
Soo-hyun didn't even glance back at him. "Do I need to repeat my words every time, Mr. Soo?"
That sharp tone—calm yet commanding was enough to make Kiyonari jolt. "N-No, sir! But..."
He stepped forward, his brows knitting in concern. "Do you really intend to go alone without me escorting you?"
Soo-hyun finally looked up from adjusting his wristwatch, his expression cool and unbothered. "Mr. Soo, this isn't the first time I've attended a charity event." His voice was smooth, and dismissive. "I can handle myself just fine. It's just a party. And besides..."
Kiyonari waited, watching him closely. There was something about the pause, as if Soo-hyun was choosing his next words carefully.
Then his gaze lowered, sweeping over Kiyonari's outift—neat, but far from being appropriate to the event.
"You're not really thinking of going there dressed as simple as that, are you?"
"Huh?" Kiyonari blinked, glancing down at himself in confusion. A plain gray suit, clean tie, polished shoes. What's wrong with that this outfit?
Then realization hit him like a slap.