Chapter 71: Meeting room
Seoha’s POV
Sitting in his seat while he leans against the table somehow eased the tension between us.
The silence in the room that is being filled by Taesan’s words is comfortable, his voice is deep and warm, he has been standing for a long time, shifting his weight from one hip to the other.
In the comfortable buzz of the room’s atmosphere, my omega starts to yearn again.
My brain starts to draw pictures of us together despite being rejected just hours ago in this same room. Am I getting affected by his pushing and pulling illness?
’Focus, Seoha-ya, focus’ I say to myself in my head, cheering myself on to do what’s right, my goal right now is to earn my position...maybe show him I’m worth it...maybe?
Within two hours, I learned that Taesan started the company in rebellion, he wanted to leave his grandfather’s clutches and needed a way out.
He doesn’t share anything personal after that, but he gives me little insight into his big world.
Mountain Atelier represents standing tall, standing firm and being strong even when standing alone.
The alpha is showing me books as he explains it to me, but my eyes keep dropping to his lips and his hand.
I subconsciously watch his mouth form words that fly over my head, and I watch the way his long fingers flip the white pages, I press my lips together to swallow when the book is suddenly slammed shut.
"Shin Seoha-ssi" he calls my name and I sit up straight; the alpha shakes his head at me slowly.
And like that first night, I notice how his thick dark hair falls into his face, goddess, he’s handsome, dark and attractive in every way.
He still has that tired look on his face, but with a hint of amusement underneath, his eyes are warmer than I have ever seen them.
Was this what he needed? A few minutes away from work and tension? A few hours with me?
"Yes sir...?" I ask, cheeks heating up, I’m embarrassed for being caught staring and yearning instead of studying.
"You are a difficult student" he says with a sigh and I blink in confusion.
"How old was I when I started the company?" he asks and my eyes dart about the room, going around everywhere but his face.
"Um..."
"What was the company’s name originally?" he asks before I can even respond to the first question, and I still don’t have answers for him.
"This younger generation" he mutters under his breath and runs his fingers through his hair, he doesn’t look mad, he just looks a bit more rested.
"I never told you my age, and I never told you the original name, Seoha-ssi, try to be more present if you plan to make a mark" he says and I nod in embarrassment.
"I’m sorry, I’ll pay better attention" I say and he checks the watch at his wrist, "time for a team meeting" he says and I get out of the seat.
"Thank you for your time, I promise I won’t disappoint you!" I bow deeply, showing him how much I mean it, and how seriously I want to do this.
We leave the room together and he locks the door, the alpha’s lack of scent due to the use of a scent patch makes me walk as close as possible, and I know he notices but he doesn’t complain.
I am still unfamiliar with the layout of the company, so I only move as Taesan moves, and we get into an elevator going down.
"Breathe" he says without looking at me, both of his hands rest on his cane, "don’t forget to breathe" he says and finally looks at me.
"This is your world, you are the god here, he is just a sacrificial animal" he says the words with a straight face, the words roll off his tongue so easily that they heat up my blood.
I am...a god?
"Compose yourself" he says and I self-consciously tug on my worn-out shirt, I need to change my wardrobe.
"Look at me, omega" he orders, and like always, I look up at him. The alpha studies my face and nods once, the warmth is still there in his eyes, still strange.
"I will protect you" he says and I nod, chest swelling with happiness...he will protect me.
My predator has become my protector, should I feel happy about it or should I be even more scared?
As soon as the door opens, his staff rush into action, bowing and all shaking while I walk behind him quietly with my hands in front of me.
"Sir, we prepared the meeting room, the new employees are all seated and waiting" one of the women says, walking side by side and matching his wide strides while I fall behind.
Everything is moving so fast, and within seconds, I am sitting with fifty staff members listening to a beta designer lead the orientation.
Taesan sits there watching the whole thing without saying a word and I watch him closely too, noting how quickly his eyes have changed from warm and humorous to cold and unapproachable.
The two sides of Kang Taesan.
"Shin Seoha will lead the team, and I know he will do that effectively with his lower assistant...Daegim" he says and I turn my head slightly to find Daeshin.
The alpha is seated at the far end of the meeting arrangement with a scowl on his face.
Once the meeting is dismissed, I return to Taesan’s side, and the alpha waves me away, already busy in a conversation with the beta designer.
My omega whines with jealousy and I huff, keeping a small distance from them, and guarding like I should be doing.
"Seoha-ssi? Mr. Junho asked me to take you to his office" a woman says to me, and I give Taesan a glance before going with her, wondering what Junho wants.
"Here" she says and opens the door for me, "thank you" I mutter and get in.
The second I step in, I am frozen by the sight in front of me, a man struggling with a bag over his head and his hands tied behind his back.