Yoon Heun

Haeun gathered himself after a long pause at the window, then stood up and walked toward the door. He needed air—something to break through the heavy weight of the conversation with his mother. As he stepped out of his office, his assistant, Eunja, immediately appeared, crowding him before he could even take a proper breath.

"How'd it go with your mother?" Eunja asked, her tone gentle knowing, how stubborn Yoon Minho could get, while handing him a cold bottle of water. Her eyes darted to his face, scanning for the usual signs of frustration.

Haeun sighed, cracking open the bottle and taking a long drink. "The same as always," he muttered, leaning against the hallway wall. "Another alpha dinner. Another pointless night."

Eunja raised an eyebrow, but she didn't push further. She was used to this kind of situation by now, having witnessed countless similar encounters between Haeun and his persistent mother. "Well, at least you didn't have to meet the alpha here," she offered.

Haeun shot her a tired look. "Small victories, I guess."

She glanced down at her tablet, tapping through his schedule. "Speaking of, you have an appointment at XXX restaurant tonight. 7 p.m. sharp. Though the other party may be a little late. Seems like they have another meeting that might run over."

Haeun rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Of course. Why wouldn't they be late?"

Eunja smiled sympathetically. "Look, just get through this one, okay? I know it's not easy, but maybe it won't be so bad this time."

"Right," Haeun replied, though his voice held no conviction. He had long given up on the idea that any of these arranged dinners would ever lead to something meaningful. "Any clue who this guy is?"

"Someone your mother found through his network," Eunja said, trying to keep her tone light. "I didn't get the full details, but he's apparently some hotshot alpha. You know how it goes."

"Perfect," Haeun muttered, his sarcasm evident. He took another sip of water, then pushed off the wall, resigned to the evening ahead. "Guess I'll see how 'different' this one is."

Haeun tucked the water bottle under his arm and straightened his tie, preparing to head out of the building. "Do I have time to breathe before I head into this disaster?" he asked, half-jokingly, glancing over at Eunja as she reviewed his schedule.

"You've got about 6 hours until your dinner, so you're free until then," Eunja replied, tapping on her tablet. "I cleared your calendar for the afternoon so you could have a break."

"Thanks," Haeun said, his voice softening as he turned to leave. "I'll try not to waste it."

He stepped into the elevator, leaning against the cool metal wall as it descended, his mind already drifting to the dinner he was dreading. As the doors opened to the bustling lobby, the usual blend of executives, staff, and visitors milled about, barely giving him a second glance. Even as the CEO of a successful game company, Haeun often felt like just another face in the crowd—something that, ironically, offered him a small sense of relief.

As he walked out of the building, he took a moment to savor the fresh air, the sounds of the city filling his ears. But the tension of the upcoming meeting lingered, gnawing at the back of his mind. Another alpha, another dinner, another attempt to appease his mother. It all felt so meaningless.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. Eunja again, as she was as efficient as ever.

Eunja: Don't forget, the restaurant is XXX. 7 p.m. sharp. I booked you the best table, so you'll at least have a nice view!

Haeun smirked at the message. Eunja always tried her best to make these things easier for him. He smiled and sent a quick response.

Haeun: I'll need that view to survive this ^^.

He kept his phone and began walking down the street, his thoughts shifting between the looming dinner and the overwhelming expectations of his family. He knew, deep down, that this wasn't about finding someone he loved. It was about fulfilling a role—doing what was expected of him as the heir of the Yoon family.

As he reached a small café a few blocks away from the office, he ducked inside, the familiar scent of coffee and baked goods wrapping around him like a warm embrace. He walked straight to the counter, his eyes scanning the display of pastries, cakes, and sweets. As much as he hated these arranged dinners, sweets always had a way of improving his mood, even if only for a moment.

"I'll take a strawberry shortcake, a chocolate croissant, and two macarons," he said without hesitation, eyeing the colorful display with more interest than he'd had all day.

The barista raised an eyebrow at the sheer number of desserts, but Haeun didn't care. He needed something to take the edge off the evening ahead. After a few minutes, his order arrived on a small tray, and he carried it over to a secluded corner by the window. As soon as he sat down, he took a forkful of the strawberry shortcake, the sweetness melting on his tongue, easing some of the tension in his chest.

Haeun sighed in relief. This was exactly what he needed—a brief escape, a few moments of sugary indulgence before facing the inevitable.

As he worked his way through the mountain of sweets, he watched people stroll by outside, wrapped up in their own lives. The café's atmosphere, with its soft chatter and the clinking of cups, helped soothe him, even if only temporarily. For now, he could pretend that he wasn't Yoon Haeun, the chaebol heir with responsibilities weighing on his shoulders.