Secretary Gwanggong's Survival Diary-Chapter 37

“...CEO. What brings you here...?”

It felt like Yoon Taeo was filtering out my voice. Even though my words must have clearly reached his ears, he didn’t respond.

“...Ugh...!”

All I could do was watch as the tips of his fingers turned ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ white from gripping Gyuil’s head so tightly, and Gyuil’s face flushed a deep red. Clearly, something was happening between them that I wasn’t aware of.

“S-Stop...!”

Gyuil’s breathing became erratic, like he was struggling to catch his breath. He tore his hand away from mine and grabbed Yoon Taeo’s wrist, desperately trying to pry it off his head. But it was as ineffective as a child’s resistance. Maybe... the problem wasn’t just the hand gripping his head.

“CEO! Please, stop... calm down!”

A terrifying thought crossed my mind — was Yoon Taeo releasing Alpha pheromones right now? Without another second to waste, I rushed over and grabbed his arm.

“Why does Secretary Kim always handle things like this? Does it not matter how the job gets done as long as it gets done? Or is it just easier to get by with that pretty face?”

Still gripping Gyuil’s head, Yoon Taeo finally turned to look at me.

“...Hiccup...!”

He definitely took the pheromone suppressant. There’s no way an Alpha’s pheromones should affect me. My body is practically Beta-like right now. But for some reason, it felt like the air was choking me, like my knees were about to give out. The diaphragm attached to my frail chest tightened painfully, and a hiccup slipped out.

“It’s... it’s not like that....”

“So you’re going to keep making excuses? Take your hands off this job. If you’re going to handle things like this, I don’t need you.”

His voice was as cold and biting as his demeanor. It was a side of Yoon Taeo I had never seen before, and it was terrifying. But what was even more horrifying was the way he looked at me — like I was some pathetic piece of trash. Then, he tore his gaze away as if it wasn’t even worth the effort.

“You. Follow me.”

With that, he dragged Gyuil out of the break room. Gyuil, looking like he was in a trance, followed Yoon Taeo as if hypnotized. As I stood there, stunned and unable to move, Yoon Taeo turned back around.

“Actually, Secretary Kim, you should see this too. Follow me, both of you.”

What exactly did he want me to see? I couldn’t understand, but his command was so heavy it felt impossible to refuse. Every step I took made my heart pound louder in my chest. My mind was a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts, unable to focus on just one. I followed Yoon Taeo into his office.

Click.

The door locked behind us.

Inside the office, an eerie silence hung in the air. Yoon Taeo took off his jacket and pulled out a cigarette.

All I could hear were the sharp, deliberate clicks of his shoes as he walked. One hand holding the cigarette, the other tucked in his pocket, he started pacing around the office. Specifically, around Gyuil, who was standing at the center. The circle he walked grew smaller and smaller.

“Your father’s the Vice Minister of Culture, isn’t he?”

“H-How did you...?”

Gyuil stammered, his face a picture of shock. Yoon Taeo said nothing, exhaling a stream of white smoke instead.

And in that moment, I felt a sinking realization. Yoon Taeo had decided to handle this in his own way.

“You think this is a joke? After all the money he’s taken from me, it’s time to pay it back, isn’t it?”

“...W-What...?”

“Paid for your college tuition, got you a job, even got you a place to live on your own. And now, you’re trying to make another deal with me?”

...What the hell is he talking about? How does Yoon Taeo already know about the Vice Minister of Culture...?

“I... I just... Ugh...!”

The moment Gyuil opened his mouth, Yoon Taeo stepped closer and grabbed him by the shoulder. The strength behind that grip was so intense that Gyuil’s knees buckled, and he crumpled to the floor.

“You don’t know? Then why don’t you give your dad a call?”

Yoon Taeo, still holding Gyuil down by his shoulder, pressed his foot onto Gyuil’s thigh. Hard. It looked like he was grinding his heel in.

“...CEO...!”

“Shut up and stay still.”

The growl in his voice was enough to freeze me in place. The moment I tried to speak, Yoon Taeo’s eyes narrowed dangerously. I had to clasp my trembling hands behind my back to keep myself from visibly shaking. I couldn’t utter another word.

“A-Ah, Dad... Ugh....”

Meanwhile, Gyuil must have made the call. His trembling voice could barely form words as he tried to ask his father for help. Yoon Taeo wasted no time, snatching the phone from Gyuil’s hand.

“Long time no see, Vice Minister.”

It was clear now — Yoon Taeo was already familiar with the Vice Minister of Culture.

“I’ll keep it short. Approve the casino permit within an hour. How? That’s your problem to solve.”

There seemed to be some back-and-forth on the line, but it wasn’t really a conversation. It was just Yoon Taeo giving orders.

“If you want your son to walk out of here in one piece, you better move fast. Understood?”

With that, Yoon Taeo tossed the phone to the floor. Crack. The screen shattered upon impact, pieces scattering across the floor.

“See what happens when you get too greedy.”

“I-I was just doing what my dad told me...!”

Yoon Taeo lifted his foot off Gyuil’s thigh. Then, he pressed it against Gyuil’s chest and shoved him back down, pinning him to the floor. If this kept going, something terrible was bound to happen to Gyuil.

“CEO...! Please... stop... You’re going to kill him!”

“I told you to keep your mouth shut. Or is my command a joke to you now, Secretary Kim?”

“It’s not like that....”

Would he believe me if I said I was about to cry? This is why I never let myself get attached to anyone. Even the slightest bit of attachment and I start feeling terrible when I realize I can’t do anything to stop what’s happening.

“This is starting to piss me off even more.”

“...Ugh, ugh...!”

Maybe I shouldn’t have interfered. Yoon Taeo’s foot pressed down even harder on Gyuil’s chest.

“...C-CEO... please.”

I tightened my grip on the back of Yoon Taeo’s shirt. It was the only way I could show any kind of plea or resistance. My heart was pounding so hard that I couldn’t even manage a complete sentence. And with Yoon Taeo’s ferocious gaze drilling into me, I couldn’t even lift my head.

Thump.

Something warm and wet slid down my face, tickling my cheekbone.

“Hah, unbelievable.”

Yoon Taeo let out a low, annoyed sigh and grabbed me by the front of my shirt, yanking me forward.

“Get out.”

Should I consider it a relief? At least, he finally lifted his foot off Gyuil’s chest. Without even looking back, Gyuil scrambled to his feet and bolted out of Yoon Taeo’s office.

There was a hollow, empty feeling growing inside me. I had just risked my life to try and save him, but he didn’t even look back. Just left me here, with Yoon Taeo’s fist still twisted in my collar. But... considering the murderous glare Yoon Taeo was giving me, I couldn’t blame him.

“Where the hell do you get off crying in front of me?”

Yoon Taeo’s grip on my shirt tightened. My shirt, jacket, and tie were all bunched up in his fist, forcing me halfway up off the floor to meet his eyes. His expression was angrier than I had ever seen. My mind screamed at me to stop crying, but my body wouldn’t obey. The tears only poured out more, as if they were trying to defy him.

“My... my armpit... it’s... stuck....”

It hurt. But Yoon Taeo showed no sign of letting up.

“Is it really just because of the casino permit?”

What the hell is he talking about? I had no idea what he meant, but I still shook my head frantically. I didn’t know what misunderstanding he had, but I had to deny it first.

“Then again. What does it matter?”

As if tossing out a piece of garbage, Yoon Taeo let go of my collar. My body was free, but my chest still felt like it was caught in a vise, echoing with the uncomfortable rhythm of my pulse.

“Get out.”

I felt like I should explain myself somehow, but for some reason, my mind refused to work. The look on Yoon Taeo’s face was different than usual. Sure, he often looked like a man on the edge, but this was something else entirely.

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I just turned around, wiping away the mess of tears around my eyes as I reached for the door.

“Oh, and for the rut — forget the sedatives. Prepare a Beta.”

“...What...?”

The tears that I thought would never stop abruptly ceased. I pressed the last few tears away with my palm and turned to face him. I had to make sure I heard him right.

“Is there a problem?”

“Before... you told me to prepare more sedatives....”

By now, he had pulled out another cigarette, lighting it up with that infuriatingly calm expression. He sat on the edge of his massive desk, leaning back as he drew in a deep drag and then blew out a cloud of smoke. The eyes that stared through that swirling smoke seemed to say, “Why the hell would you care about that?”

“Just prepare the Beta properly.”

Like a final blow, he repeated the order in that same chillingly dismissive tone. The derisive smirk on his lips was just the icing on the cake.