Reiji Sasaki(29) approached Aoi, stopping at a respectful distance. He extended a hand for a formal handshake and said,
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Seika. I hope you already know who I am."
His citrus-scented pheromones grew even clearer at this proximity.
Aoi returned the handshake with a smirk.
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Sasaki. And yeah, I know who you are—nice and clear. But you're even more handsome and calm in person."
Her hand lingered longer than what formality required.
Reiji smiled politely, though unease flickered beneath his expression. He gently pulled his hand back.
"Thank you for the compliment. Did the employees brief you about the contract?"
"Yeah, they did. My manager will take care of the paperwork, so you don't have to worry about it."
"That's good. Thank you for your cooperation. I hope your work here goes smoothly."
"I should be the one thanking you," Aoi said.
"I'm actually a huge fan of your products. I heard they're designed and overseen by you personally."
She pulled out her car keys and let him see the brand logo engraved on them.
Reiji glanced at it briefly.
"That's good to hear. But no need for exaggeration or flattery. It's all part of the coordinated efforts of our team."
"Being humble, huh?" Aoi grinned.
"Still, I gotta stay on the good side of the CEO, right?"
She winked playfully.
Their exchange was interrupted as a woman approached them.
"Sir, it's time for the board meeting," said Ms. Aizawa.
"Excuse me, Ms. Seika. I have other matters to take care of," Reiji said with a slight nod.
"It's okay, Mr. Sasaki. I won't take any more of your time," Aoi replied with a smile.
"That's so considerate of you. Feel free to look around the company. I'll take my leave now."
With that, Reiji headed toward the elevator.
---
Nozomi Aizawa, a beta woman of age 26, dressed in a sharp formal shirt and skirt combo, stood beside him. Her glasses framed her strict, nerdy yet professional aura. She was Reiji's secretary—and also his cousin.
Inside the elevator, Reiji turned to her.
"Nozomi, who sent the promotion offer to Mrs. Seika? I wasn't informed in advance."
Nozomi adjusted her glasses.
"It seems... it was Mr. Nao Sasaki."
"What? My dad did?" Reiji asked, eyes wide in surprise.
"Yes. I was shocked too. He hasn't involved himself in company matters since that incident three years ago..."
Ting. The elevator doors opened.
They walked toward the Board Meeting Room in silence. Nozomi handed Reiji a few papers as they walked.
Reiji took out a small bottle from his coat pocket, opened it, and swallowed a suppressant pill. He took a deep breath and stepped inside the meeting room.
---
The meeting commenced. Board members were already raising concerns and issues.
Reiji cleared his throat.
"Erhm... Shall we move on to our topic of the day?"
The room quieted slightly.
"We've held the top spot in car sales for years. Now, I'd like to expand our automobile range. Our team has come up with a design for a motorbike."
"Motorbike?" one of the directors raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Reiji nodded.
"Cars aren't suitable for every situation or customer. A motorbike would be a better option for regular usage, especially among middle-class consumers—"
Before he could finish, the directors began objecting, one after another.
"Are we really targeting the low-class market now?"
"What about the budget and design implications?"
"We don't need a bike to grow—we should focus on expanding car production!"
The discussion escalated into a full-blown argument. Voices clashed, and the air thickened with aggressive pheromones—released both involuntarily and deliberately. Most of the board members were either alphas or betas, and they weren't exactly holding back.
The tension weighed heavy in the air. Though Reiji kept his expression composed, his body trembled beneath his suit. The overwhelming wave of pheromones made him nauseous.
Still, he endured—until break time.
"Excuse me," he muttered, standing up. His legs were shaking, but he masked it as best he could and left the room.
The moment he stepped outside, he sucked in a deep breath—like a fish thrown back into the sea after suffocating on land. He staggered toward the restroom, one hand against the wall for support, the other covering his mouth.
"Damn you... Alphas," he muttered.
"I wanna puke."
"Oh! Mr. Sasaki!"
Aoi popped out in front of him from a nearby corner.