Taeyong headed to the reception desk while the bustling crowd moved around him and jumped out of his path. They glanced and whispered about one of three things: Taeyong's visible bump under his silk shirt, the bags with the cafe's logo on them, or the fact that they knew who he was.
The receptionist jumped up from her seat and bowed. "Hello, Mr. Park. How are you? Would you like me to clear an elevator for you?
Taeyong removed his sunglasses and smiled. An empty elevator would be a nice break from everyone's scents. But he glanced over at the queue. "I'm okay," he said. "Please tell Secretary Byungsoo I'm here."
He made his way to the elevators as one opened up. When one person noticed him, it was a chain reaction of employees stopping others from getting into the elevator. Holding back his smirk, Taeyong nodded at them and got into the empty elevator.
"Please hold the door!" A hand cut through the closing doors, and Taeyong blinked when he saw Eunae. She was huffing and clutching onto her purse, dressed in a grey suit.
Someone reached out to stop her, but Taeyong let her in. "Which floor," he asked politely as she stood next to him, catching her breath.
"20, please," she said before looking up, equally surprised to see him. "It's you!" She bowed her head and grinned brightly.
"Yes, it's me," Taeyong chuckled. "How are you, dear?"
"Good," Eunae breathed out and nodded.
"Good, good," he repeated. She stared at her reflection and started adjusting her new bangs. She pursed her lips and furrowed her brows. She was wearing pink lipstick this time.
"I like your new look," Taeyong said. The short hair and light colours suited her youthful face." Are you meeting anyone in particular?"
"Oh, thank you," Eunae beamed before shaking her head. "No. Well, yes? I have an interview for an internship." She smiled and squared her shoulders. "It's time for me to move on. Can't depend on boyfriends forever, right," she said, with a hollow laugh.
Taeyong's smile softened, and he placed his hand on her shoulder, brushing off her blazer. "I'm sure you'll do great."
Eunae looked at him through the glass reflection, her eyes on his stomach and the bags in his hand. She smiled sadly. Taeyong could tell she probably envied his life, but it was a life she couldn't have with Hyunwoo.
The doors opened, and Taeyong squeezed her shoulder. "Good luck," he said and dropped his hand.
"Thank you," Eunae said and turned to him and bowed. When she stood, she peered into his eyes. "Thank you," she repeated.
With a firm nod, Taeyong watched her walk out. "Oh, Eunae!"
Eunae whipped around. "Yes?"
Taeyong folded his hands together and smiled. "You look good in pink."
Eunae's face lit up, and she bowed deeply as the doors closed.
Sighing in the silence, Taeyong looked around the elevator, biting the inside of his cheek as he smiled.
Going up 45-floors, the doors opened to Secretary Byungsoo waiting for him. "Hello, Taeyong," he said with a bow. His hair was slicked to the side, and his face was dotted with concealer.
Taeyong chuckled as he stepped out, handing the boxes to Byungsoo. He nearly dropped them by their weight, but thankfully did not. "Did you freshen yourself up for me?" Taeyong asked teasingly.
"Of course," Byungsoo said with enthusiasm. "I feel bad when you scold Daehyun because of my appearance."
"You are always presentable," Taeyong said. "I'll only scold him when he works you to the bone."
Byungsoo shook his head. "It's okay, I promise. I love my job."
"Alright," Taeyong said, admiring his dedication. There was a reason why he lasted so long under Daehyun's strict work ethic. Taeyong made sure to remind the beta how grateful he was for getting Daehyun home early while still getting the work done.
"Where is he, anyway," Taeyong asked, looking around the peaceful floor.
"He's in a meeting," Byungsoo explained as he untied the boxes on his desk.
Taeyong took a few steps and leaned his head around the corner. At the end of the hall was the glass meeting room. He spotted Daehyun at the end of the table, leaned back in his chair with his fingers pressed together menacingly. Taeyong giggled. The poor employees were trembling through their presentation.
He spotted the building model on the table and hummed. Even from there, he could tell what a beautiful building that would be.
Stepping back, Taeyong handed over one of the bags. "This one is for you, Byungwoo," he said. "It's a full meal in here, plus I've added dessert. Make sure you eat it all, understood?"
Byungwoo nodded, his cheeks tightening to hold back a smile- or maybe to hold back a hug. "Thank you, Taeyong. You didn't have to."
"I know," Taeyong whispered. "But, I wanted to."
He stepped back as Byungwoo put the other two bags in Daehyun's office when a wave of chatter came from down the hall.
Taeyong shook out his shoulders and straightened up as Daehyun, and his colleagues turned the corner.
Daehyun led the group, speaking to someone in an equally expensive suit. Their eyes met, and Daehyun's stern expression softened to the one Taeyong was used to.
Taeyong's heart fluttered as Daehyun walked over and pecked his lips. "Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all. I just got here."
"Look who's here." Taeyong looked over Daehyun's shoulder and tensed before smiling. Hyunwoo sauntered over, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Visiting your alpha, Taeyong?"
Taeyong fought the urge to roll his eyes. Thankfully, Daehyun wrapped his arm around his waist. "He occasionally does. We try not to spend all our time only at home."
Hungwoo nodded. "Lucky. You should spend as much time together before"–his eyes flicked down and a split second of disdain flashed over his face–" the kid comes."
"How is he, by the way," Taeyong asked. "Your kid."
Hungwoo stared at him, and Taeyong didn't budge. Instead, his eyes flicked down and under Hyunwoo's sleeve poked out a tacky gold watch. Taeyong held back a smirk. Jaejin would never buy something like that. Looked like Eunae had moved on, and Hyunwoo was still processing the blow to his ego.
Daehyun cleared his throat and tightened his grip around Taeyong's waist. "Mr. Cheung," he said, calling out to the older gentleman he stepped away from. "I'd like you to meet my mate, Park Taeyong."
Taeyong tore his glare away from Hyunwoo and nodded his head to Mr. Cheung. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Taeyong said, keeping his hands below his bump.
"Pleasure." Mr. Cheung glanced down and his face tensed, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening. "Are you not an alpha?"
Taeyong's eyebrow twitched, but he quickly schooled his face and laughed politely. "My height does make me seem so. But no, I'm an omega," he said, flashing a smile at Daehyun.
Mr. Cheung's unruly eyebrows lowered. "Weren't you married to an alpha, Mr. Kim?"
"No. You might be thinking of my mother or cousin," Daehyun explained.
"I see," Mr. Cheung said. He glanced back at Taeyong and cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, I'll be leaving now. Come, Director Bu," he said, referring to Hungwoo. "Goodbye, Mr. Kim."
Taeyong scowled at Mr. Cheung's backs as he walked away, already in a more animated conversation with Hungwoo. There was no doubt he was an alpha. A rude, entitled one. One that obviously came from an alpha-only 'no omegas allowed' kind of family.
"Should we sit down before you burn a hole in his head," Daehyun asked softly against his ear. Taeyong pouted at him, his anger faltering under Daehyun's amused gaze.
"Don't tease me. He's the mean one," Taeyong mumbled and pulled away, taking his hand. "Byungwoo. Make sure Daehyun has no calls until we return."
Byungwoo nodded. "Yes, of course."
Grinning, Taeyong held his chin up as he led Daehyun into his office, closing the door behind them.
"Since when are you allowed to give Byungwoo orders," Daehyun asked, shrugging off his blazer, draping it over his desk chair.
"Since I'm your mate," Taeyong teased. He walked over to the two couches and sat where the boxes of food were set out on the coffee table. Byungwoo placed them on cloth napkins with the chopsticks on the side, along with two glasses and water.
"He knows the drill now," Daehyun chuckled as he rolled his sleeves up, exposing his defined forearms. Taeyong bit his lip as Daehyun sat beside him, reaching out and traced his fingers down the vein.
"Are you hungry for food, or something else," Daehyun asked, nipping Taeyong's ear.
Squeaking, Taeyong pulled back, laughing. "I can't help it. You're so nice to look at," he confessed.
Chuckling, Daehyun nuzzled his neck, pressing a kiss on his mark. "You're good to look at too."
Taeyong's spine tingled. "No, I'm not," he mumbled. "I had to use so much contour on my cheeks just to look normal. That's how bloated I am," he said, pointing at the makeup on his jaw.
Daehyun laughed and kissed his temple. "You're still beautiful," he said and placed his hand on his bump. "Especially now," he growled.
Giggling, Taeyong placed his hand over Daehyun's. He went to kiss him when he felt a nudge against Daehyun's hand. From inside.
Taeyong paused, gaping. "Did you feel that?" he asked, meeting Daehyun's equally confused look.
There was another nudge and Taeyong jumped. He clasped his hands over his mouth. He felt the baby wiggle around and nudge again. "The baby's kicking," he whispered before there was another kick. Taeyong flinched, chuckling. "Suddenly so active..." he mumbled.
Daehyun's smile grew and cupped Taeyong's cheeks, kissing him firmly. He placed both hands on Taeyong's bump, and the baby kicked again.
Silently, Daehyun focused on each kick in awe, his musky alpha scent wafting and mingling with Taeyong's. Leaning back, Taeyong grinned as he watched Daehyun. There were only a handful of people who experienced this side of Daehyun. Underneath the strict boss and dominating alpha, demeanour was the real essence of an alpha. Protective, loving, warm, and paternal.
"Our baby will be the luckiest baby in the world," Taeyong said softly.
Looking up, Daehyun's smile softened. "They already are."
Taeyong blushed and pursed his lips for Daehyun to kiss.
He hoped one day all omegas would be as lucky as him and find their perfect alpha.