"Did you not mention last time to handle everything through your lawyer?"

"I summoned your father, not you."

"You and I both know it is me you are after."

Hun maintained a composed expression, though excitement swirled within him at the sight of Uta. Despite his eagerness, he made every effort to conceal it.

"That is true. I knew your esteemed father would have informed you to take over this meeting in his stead, so let us proceed under the assumption that you arrived of your own volition. I have forced nothing upon you."

Uta regarded Hun with a blank stare, waiting for him to speak. When Hun remained silent, Uta finally asked, "What do you want?"

"I am aware of your ongoing intention to terminate our partnership. However, my family entered into this agreement with your father from the very beginning. Thus, it is only proper that I address this meeting with him as was initially intended. That being said, both you and I have been entrusted to represent our respective families in the decisions made by our parents, and we must fulfil those roles." Hun paused, glanced at the chair before him, and gestured for Uta to sit. "This may take some time."

"I would prefer we keep it brief," Uta replied as he reluctantly took his seat. Despite his desire to end the conversation swiftly and leave, he maintained an air of diplomacy, though it seemed undeserved.

"Your Almega pheromone; I require it."

"What?"

Hun observed Uta's stunned expression for a moment before continuing, "It is rather evident why I would make such a request, and..."

"Is something wrong with you?" Uta interjected, struggling to contain his rising irritation. "What part of this nonsense has anything to do with our contract?"

"Allow me to clarify. I am not the one who exposed you to the authorities, if that is what you believe. I am merely expressing my interest in your pheromones, which is precisely why I considered you a temporary partner to begin with."

"You are testing my patience," Uta declared as he rose to his feet.

"You are aware that your father believes we are here to discuss the contract amendment. He is surely waiting for you to carry out whatever proposal I present. Moreover, neither of us wishes for our parents to be involved in this discussion, nor do we desire to share the same room with them. Therefore, it is only right that we come to an agreement on a matter that concerns us directly, rather than involving them."

Uta let out a sarcastic laugh, his hands clenching into fists. He reminded himself of his father's words to remain calm.

Ignoring Uta's mounting anger, Hun pressed on, his voice betraying a hint of desperation. "Hear me out first. Once you have, I give you my word that we shall discuss the contract. You stand to gain the most from its amendment."

"I very much doubt that," Uta responded, returning to his seat. His movement seemed to amuse Hun, who allowed a smile to cross his face, deepening Uta's scowl.

"Shall we begin?"

"A bit late for stating the obvious."

"I am bonded to your pheromones."

"As if that concerns me."

"Perhaps the Abnormal Society Association would take an interest in..."

"Another blackmail attempt," Uta interrupted. "Is this how you conduct business negotiations?"

"Not in the least. But we are not here to discuss my negotiation tactics. The matter at hand is my need for your pheromones."

"Four words: Proposal, Noelle, bonding, or my father. Mention any of them again, and I shall leave."

"What of Almega?"

"That's enough." Uta immediately stood and turned toward the door. "I promised my father I would remain diplomatic, but you are wearing down my patience. I refuse to listen to any more of this absurdity."

"I like you."

Hand poised just inches from the doorknob, Uta froze and slowly turned to face Hun. "What did you say?"

"You heard me the first time." Hun rose as well, casually moving to lean against his desk with his arms crossed. "I will be forthright: I like your pheromones, I enjoy your company, I respect your family, and Noelle is charming. I even find those three bumbling friends of yours I met in the park endearing. Most importantly, I like that I am bonded to you. Everything about you is different from what I am accustomed to, and I need that difference in my life, even if only for a year. Once I fulfil my parents' final requirement of me as their child, I shall release you. You will never have to see me again. In a year's time, not only will the marriage contract be terminated, but your father will also no longer be bound to me by any agreement. You shall be a free man."

"To hell with you."

"Excuse me?"

"You are despicable."

"You may think whatever you wish of me, Mr. Uta, but I have never done anything I regret, including what I have said just now. If you refuse, I will be left with no choice but to resort to desperate measures."

"Do you truly believe I care what you like or despise?"

"You and I have been intimate not once, but twice. You may not recall it, but I do. As an Alpha, you responded to my pheromones during my heat, which led to your becoming an Almega. I consider it a victory since I was already bonded to your scent. I could not refuse you. Moreover, you enjoyed my pheromones as much as I did." Hun approached Uta, gently pushing his hand away from the doorknob. "Perhaps that is why I can sense your pheromones even now, growing stronger, and more pronounced."

"I would never..." Uta stopped, his words cut short as he felt an unfamiliar tingling spread through his body. The sensation was soft at first, but soon it pierced through every nerve beneath his skin. His expression shifted as he struggled to maintain control. "What are you doing?"

"I am releasing my pheromones. You have inhaled them before. Focus, and try to remember what transpired between us. If the scent feels familiar, it should clear away your doubts."

"What... the..." Uta clutched his lower abdomen, grimacing at the sudden tension. 'I am aroused!'

Hun chuckled, glancing at the evidence of Uta's excitement. "Just as I was last night, and just as you were when my heat began a month ago."

"S-Stop it..." Uta staggered backwards, pulling his hand away from Hun. "Show some self-respect..."

"Then grant me my request. Release your pheromones. Once they mingle, you will remember what occurred that day..."

"Silence..." Without thinking, Uta moved, pressing his lips fiercely against Hun's. The kiss was ferocious, unrelenting, until a voice inside screamed for him to stop. He pulled away, stunned by his own actions. He wanted to apologize, but seeing the lustful expression on his adversary's face, he gave in. Abandoning resistance, he allowed his pheromones to flood the room.

"Stop..." Uta's warning was more for himself than Hun. But it was futile. In an instant, the warning was lost to the torrent of pleasure overwhelming his senses, dragging him into a bottomless abyss.

Clearing Hun's desk with a sweep, Uta hoisted him up and slammed their bodies down onto it.

"What is happening...?" he whispered, breathless after breaking their kiss. His heart raced, and though his mind urged caution, his body screamed to claim what lay before him.

"I believe we are about to engage in intercourse..." Hun replied, his voice equally strained. Wrapping his arms around Uta's shoulders, he added, "Are we not?"

Closing his eyes, Uta inhaled deeply, savoring the intoxicating blend of their pheromones. "I am going to regret this..." he murmured, before locking eyes with Hun. "What have you done to me?"