***

Minjae quickly adjusted the camera as soon as Yejun left, leaning back in the chair. He had not expected anything in the office after the trip would feel different, but it was clear that Yejun saw him differently. In the past, even when he did message Yejun about a contract fix, Yejun never came down to Acquisitions. He always arranged for Minjae to come up to the imprint floor.

It wasn't that Minjae minded; ever since returning, he felt like his work had tripled. On top of finalizing the series deal, he already had requests to sign on three new books, since sales wanted higher numbers for Gye’s end of year report. Minjae understood it was a new imprint and they wanted it to look as good as possible, but he felt like he was being pressed under someone else's thumb to produce results.

“<Focus, Min,>” Minjae muttered to himself, saving the document and standing up from the desk. He carefully left the small meeting space, not surprised to see Eunji waiting for him outside the door. “Hwang-ssi, not right now.”

“Oh, so now Park can have whatever contracts he wants?” the beta huffed, her short black hair bouncing as Minjae struggled to keep his expression neutral. “Memoirs are mine to handle.”

“Yes, but the Life of Ruba Arafa Amir, Palestine's First Female Judge, is not a memoir.” Minjae repeated, feeling like he and Eunji had this argument too many times. He knew of everyone on the team, she was the least internationally connected, but she was good at her job, and was a full time employee. There was only so much he could do. “She is writing about her entire life, not just her experiences as a judge. That makes it an autobiography.”

“You are arguing semantics.”

“Hwang, this is publishing, we all work in semantics. If you want autobiographies as well as memoirs and short stories, I’m happy to give them to you,” Minjae finally offered, noticing the way Eunji’s expression shifted from annoyance to worry. He thought so. “But you don’t get to take one contract just because you like the author.”

“Fine!” the woman huffed, and Minjae watched as she headed back to the office. He resisted the desire to pinch his nose as he followed, adjusting the folder in his hand. 

“You know, it’d be nice if everyone just focused on their own work, right?” a new voice made Minjae look up, and he noticed Dalcheon Acquisition's lead, Song Aera, walking towards him down the hall. She was wearing her usual dress-suit and Minjae quickly turned away. It was rare for an omega to be a team lead, but Aera was one of the longest lasting employees in the entire Acquisitions department and she was paired. 

Which made her flirting worse.

“We all are just trying to do our jobs correctly,” Minjae insisted, walking down the hall even as he heard Aera walk quickly behind him. He considered taking longer strides just to get away faster, but decided against it, knowing that Aera had no reason to follow him all the way to the Gye office. 

“Are you heading to lunch? We could–”

“I still have work to do, Song-nim, so I’ll be staying in the office.” Minjae said quickly, wishing he had checked the time. No wonder she had cornered him at this precise moment. He ignored her pouting noise as they turned the corner, and he could see the elevator closing. Who had left? 

“We’re equals, Lee-ssi, there’s no need to address me so formally,” Aera pushed and the alpha did his best to focus on making it to his team’s section of the floor. Sometimes he envied the privacy the editors had, wishing Acquisitions could live on the same floor. “You are way too formal for someone so young.”

“I’m sorry Song-nim, but it would be impolite for me to address you otherwise.” Minjae nearly yanked the door open, managing to nod politely to the other lead. “Enjoy your lunch.”

He quickly stepped inside before she could say more, and sighed with relief when he saw the office was already empty. He needed the space to think, to stop smelling Song’s overbearing scent of violet and thyme from how she always stood way too close to him. Minjae walked over to his desk and sat down heavily, tossing the folder onto the corner. 

“<Soon,>” Minjae whispered, closing his eyes as he leaned back in his chair glancing at the drawer that hid his resignation. He had planned on leaving as soon as they finished the deal, aware he had overstayed at Baekwon. He was already supposed to have taken over Ashfern Press in LA, but he had wanted to be the one to see this series deal through. Now, however, he would have to stay a bit longer in order to help Yejun. 

Yejun was smart, gifting Jieun the omega sex toy they had found in America. It was a perfect trap for the entitled Alpha; an object she should not use until after being paired, and one she could not excuse using early. Minjae had helped Yejun to make sure it was one that connected to a phone app, one the alpha had offered to download to protect the beta from the information. Minjae would know when and where Jieun used the toy, and as long as he knew that, he could get the evidence Yejun needed.

Of course, once that happened, Yejun would be an eligible beta again; once again put through the process of having high class omegas and alphas bidding for his hand. Minjae was sure Chairman Lim would pull strings to give Yejun time, keeping the vultures at bay until Yejun was emotionally ready. 

Minjae shifted, taking a deep breath as his sister's words echoed in his mind. There was no world in which he could bid for Yejun's hand again. Even if Chairman Lim would overlook him missing his original chance, he was an heir to an American company now. She would never allow her son to leave Korea, so Minjae could only hope it would be after he left for the states. He didn’t want to be around as Yejun was treated like a prize to be won. He didn't want the temptation of a second chance.

Minjae opened his eyes, sitting up straight as he opened his email. Now was not the time. 

He had work to do.

***

Eonni 💨: Hey! Halmeoni approved the one you liked! Let me know when you want to go pay the bojeung-geum.

Yejun smiled as he sipped on his macha, the bright green color soothing his nerves. Haemin had helped him to submit the approval to their grandmother and while he had expected a yes, he hadn’t expected her to decide so quickly. She either trusted Haemin greatly, or his grandparents trusted him more than he thought. 

Yejun stepped off the elevator, carefully adjusting his phone as he typed out a reply.

Yejun: I should be done on time today. The agent said I could move in same day?

Eonni 💨: Yup! If thats what you want, I’ll send you the contact of the movers me and Seoyeon used.

Yejun smiled, setting his cup down as he sat in his chair, glad that no one else was back from lunch yet. Yejun rarely went for lunch with the others, usually only going if Woojin and Jieun could talk him into it. Lunch was better used to catch up on other tasks or meetings, so he often got to enjoy the silent office. 

Yejun: I don’t have enough stuff for movers, but thanks for the offer, 

Yejun finally set down his phone and he opened up his email to see the contract from Minjae. As he opened it, he tried to consider how he wanted his new place to look. All he had to take from the estate was a suitcase or two, considering he didn’t own much. A part of him wondered if he should ask Minjae for help, since he knew Minjae lived on his own. Seulgi had let it slip during their trip in America, complaining that she still had to stay at the family estate despite them being the same age. 

It would also give them an excuse to walk around together and find a different place to meet, somewhere that wouldn’t draw attention from his mother or Jieun. He understood why Minjae wanted to limit meeting in person, but Yejun never enjoyed texting. Woojin teased him for being old fashioned, but he simply preferred to meet face to face. It was easier for him to understand a person, to read their intentions. 

“Although I guess I was never good at that,” Yejun muttered, his thoughts turning back to Jieun. He felt the familiar pang in his chest, a reminder of how much he still cared about the alpha. He was still worried about facing her, afraid of whatever the truth might be. Did she really not care, or was she just so entitled she thought he wouldn’t be hurt by her words? Yejun didn’t know which was worse and he didn’t know if he wanted to find out.

Shaking the worries from his head, Yejun opened the email, carefully reading each page as he put his initials next to Minjae’s. The contract still had to be re-signed by the American press and then approved by Baekwon’s finance team. He didn’t have time to spiral today.