The moment On Suhyeon stepped into what looked like a waiting room, she violently yanked off her bow tie. It was like a flaw had suddenly marred an otherwise flawless ornament. Only after she tossed the crumpled tie onto the sofa did I realize just how well it had suited her.

　　With impatient fingers, she undid a few buttons on her shirt. For what felt like only a brief moment after that, I hovered restlessly near the door she had pushed open, abandoned and utterly at a loss.

　　“Um, are you all right?”

　　Befitting someone raised in the lap of luxury, her skin was flawlessly clear. It took a second for me to notice how pale her sweat-slicked face and neck were. Up until the moment we got here, she had been smiling with easy composure, leaving me bewildered by whatever was happening. But now her once-impeccable presence was entirely undone. Her pomaded hair was messy now, and as she drew shallow, ragged breaths, her face was so drained of color she looked ready to collapse.

　　“On… I mean, ma’am. Are you okay?”

　　“I’m just not used to events like this.”

　　“Huh?”

　　Not used to events like this? What on earth does that mean?

　　“Are you just going to keep standing there?”

　　She motioned to me as I stood staring blankly in surprise. She wasn’t telling me to come to her, just indicating that I should sit on the nearby sofa, waving her lengthy fingers through the air. And if she was telling me to come, what choice did I have? Still cautious, I walked over to the designated sofa and sat down.

　　What do you call a seat sharper than a bed of nails? Whatever it was, I felt as though I were sitting on one, my hips fidgeting constantly. Being perched awkwardly on the very edge of the cushion was bad enough, but what really made me uncomfortable was On Suhyeon, who had called me all the way here without saying a word about what she wanted.

　　It would have been easier if she had just ordered me to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness or something. But no, she just leaned against the massive solid-wood table, looking down at me. Tick, tock. The second hand of a clock somewhere sounded deafeningly loud.

　　“How do you feel?” On Suhyeon asked.

　　“Honestly?”

　　“Yes, honestly.”

　　“It’s uncomfortable and nerve-wracking. I want to run away.”

　　On smiled. Even in her disheveled state, her languid smile wasn’t bad to look at. Not that someone like me had any right to judge her appearance, but good for nothing or not, I couldn’t deny that she was remarkable.

　　“Then how did you feel earlier, when you were standing outside the restroom?”

　　And then she blitzed me out of nowhere. The corners of her lips, still holding a lingering smile, slowly straightened. She’d finally gotten to the point. I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the hem of my dress tight.

　　“You don’t actually think I called you because of my girlfriend, do you?”

　　“I’m not that stupid.”

　　“Never said you were. If anything, I’m surprised by how sharp you are.”

　　I snapped my head up to stare at her.

　　“Did you really think some dumb manager could have a casual chat with me? What, you think he had the balls to mention what his wife does for a living?”

　　“Are you saying you made that up?”

　　“Yeah. Because if I say that’s what I heard, then that’s what I heard.”

　　On slowly crossed her arms with an arrogance like no other. The only reason that haughty look didn’t feel like posturing was because she had the power to back it up. Well, that and her face was unexpectedly radiant. Her eyes looked wildly excited. Pure delight was bubbling out of her, like she had just been given a fun new toy to play with.

　　“May I ask what you want from me?”

　　“You know you haven’t answered how you felt, right?”

　　“I was shocked. I’ve never seen anyone do something like that before.”

　　“Is that why you were staring so intently?”

　　“I don’t know why I did it either. I just happened to look, and… it just happened.”

　　My response didn’t seem to be the right one. Or at least, it wasn’t the answer On Suhyeon wanted. The excitement in her eyes quickly faded. She seemed a little angry, maybe even a little sad.

　　Granted, this was all just speculation on my part, and since my guesses hadn’t exactly been right so far, I decided to keep my mouth shut. I only needed to answer when asked, and she couldn’t keep me here forever, so this confrontation had to end eventually, one way or another.

　　“Well, that’s a little disappointing. I thought you were enjoying the view, Heeju.”

　　My mind went blank. The fact that she knew my name didn’t make any sense.

　　“Just like me.”

　　On straightened her back as she lifted herself off the table, stepping forward until her feet were right against the toes of my shoes.

　　The scent of an alpha hit me like a truck. It was true what they said about dominant alphas still radiating powerful pheromones. My pupils dilated as a shiver ran down my spine. I clamped both hands firmly over my mouth and nose.

　　Alphas and omegas losing their sense of reason and self-restraint to pheromones was a thing of the past. Experiments to control cycles like heats had continued over generations. The traits of present-day alphas and omegas had faded until they converged into betas, and the only ones who retained even a faint trace of their unique traits were dominant female alphas. Hence why female alphas were so rare.

　　And that majestic creature was standing right in front of me. Looking up at her from where I sat, she seemed to go on for miles. It felt like a massive, towering wall was blocking my path.

　　“Did you enjoy it, ma’am?”

　　“Yes.”

　　“You enjoyed having me watch?”

　　“Yes.”

　　“Excuse me, but are you a pervert?”

　　“Yes.”

　　On Suhyeon was ruthlessly honest. Unfailingly serious. Unable to tell whether this was a game, a pass, or something else entirely, I could only try to steady my racing heart.

　　“I came thanks to you, you know.”

　　Upon hearing her words, I flinched, pulling my shoulders in. No matter what I did, I couldn’t hide my burning face.

　　“I had to milk out so much cum that I almost ended up late for the event.”

　　Her words felt like a hard slap across my cheek. My temples throbbed. Unable to sit still, I could only let out nervous whimpers and moans.

　　“Why on earth are you telling me this?”

　　“Because I want to.”

　　“Ma’am, don’t you have plenty of partners who would enjoy this kind of dirty talk? Why go out of your way to tell me…”

　　“Heeju, if I wanted someone else, I wouldn’t have gone through the time and effort to bring you here, would I?”

　　Isn’t that right, asked On with a sweet reverb in her voice. Then she bent her knees. Her towering frame, once standing tall like a mountain, was now folded up right in front of me. It was the first time someone other than my husband had locked eyes with me from so close.

　　She tilted her head and leaned in closer, like she was about to kiss. Her tuxedo jacket brushed against my knees. That’s how close we were.

　　“It might be hard to believe, but it’s been a long time since I came like that.”

　　“Maybe it’s just because someone was watching you.”

　　“Do you really think this was the first time someone’s watched me?”

　　The rumors my husband had babbled on about echoed loudly in my head. Right. If what my husband said was true, she must have done far worse.

　　“You know what alphas do? We fuck and cum all the time, regardless of time or place.”

　　“…Please stop.”

　　“And I’d rather not explain any further how excruciating it is when we can’t.”

　　The room fell silent. On Suhyeon didn’t say anything else. But that didn’t mean she was done communicating with me.

　　Her hands grabbed my ankles. Startled by the act, I jolted in my seat like someone had pricked me with a pin. Her hands, hot now, were sliding up my calves.

　　“Um. Ma’am? I’m, uh, married, you know? You saw my husband earlier.”

　　“I know.”

　　“You can’t do this. This is wrong. You have a girlfriend. Earlier you…”

　　“I’m not actually seeing her.”

　　“Well, you still have plenty of other women.”

　　“I never said I didn’t.”

　　For a moment, it looked like she’d decided to rest her hands on my knees. Her fingers stroked my kneecaps and then behind my legs. Her deep-set eyes searched mine frantically, like she was looking for something. I have to push her away. I have to shove her off. The voice inside me screamed, but my paralyzed mind was in no state to listen.

　　“Heeju.”

　　“…Yes?”

　　“If your panties are clean, I’ll have you taken home right away. Along with your husband.”

　　“What?”

　　“You heard me.”

　　Her hands prepared to move again. Gripping my knees tightly enough to crush them, she hitched up the hem of my dress. Soon her hands covered my thighs.

　　“I’ll never seek you out again, and there will be no repercussions for your husband.”

　　“What are you saying right now?”

　　“I’m saying I’m taking off your underwear to check.”

　　“Miss On!”

　　This relationship had never been fair to begin with. But that didn’t mean I had to endure her touching my privates so carelessly. On Suhyeon’s hand slipped between my thighs. Summoning every last ounce of strength, I squeezed my legs together and twisted my hips. Putting all my momentum into the recoil, I swung my arm at her.

　　My wedding ring became stained with blood. I stared in turn at the bloody ring, at my finger wearing it, and then at On Suhyeon, who was cupping her cheek with one hand braced on the floor. In the room where even breathing seemed to stop, there was only the dark, ominous sound of dripping blood.

　　Run. Run. My whole body burned. Strength surged down to my legs. I needed to shove On Suhyeon’s hunched body aside and dash outside.

　　I clenched my fists, bit my lip, and scrambled to my feet. The moment the door she had pushed open came into view, I was certain my escape would be a success. I really thought I could get away from her, but then her massive arms wrapped around my waist.