Dominant Married Life

#06

Worried that he might have done something inappropriate while drunk, Idam became cautious. Taemin touched his forehead with an embarrassed expression and carefully began to speak.

“After we finished talking, Idam suddenly said he wasn’t feeling well. So then…”

“Did I… throw up?”

It was a predictable outcome, given that he had been feeling unwell even before losing consciousness. Taemin nodded instead of answering verbally.

“So both my clothes and Idam’s clothes were ruined, and I had them dry-cleaned. At first, we were both wearing robes, but I guess we took them off while sleeping because it got hot.”

If that was the case, shouldn’t there have been robes around the bed? He couldn’t remember if there were, having left in a hurry that day due to his confusion.

“To put it simply, ‘nothing’ happened.”

After finishing his words, Taemin picked up his water glass and took a sip. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I see…”

It seemed that although Idam wasn’t in his right mind that day, he had clearly managed to control his pheromones. Usually, alphas or omegas exposed to Idam’s pheromones suffered from aftereffects for three days to two weeks. It had been a week since meeting Taemin. If Taemin had been exposed to Idam’s pheromones, he should be in the midst of suffering now. However, the man before him seemed perfectly fine. Idam realized that his pheromone control skills were improving day by day.

But why had Idam been in so much pain that day, to the point where it was difficult to walk? Above all, what about the blood stains that had soaked the carpet? He wondered if he should ask. As Idam hesitated, Taemin spoke first.

“But when I woke up the next day, you were gone. I was disappointed because I wanted to talk more about marriage.”

“Ah… I had an appointment that evening.”

In fact, there had been nothing scheduled that evening, but Idam made up the excuse to imply he had other commitments.

“I see. Then do you not remember anything about being with me that night?”

“No…”

Idam answered heavily, looking at Taemin. His blue eyes seemed to be urging Idam to try to remember more. So Idam furrowed his brow, trying once more to recall that night. But it remained as hazy as fog.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to think about it anymore.”

“Alright…”

Idam hunched his shoulders and lowered his head. And as Taemin looked at Idam like this, his eyes burned with the hunger of a starving spider. He narrowed his eyes as if hiding something, then returned to normal before continuing.

“I worried afterwards. I thought you might be rejecting my request. But I needed an omega, so I decided to ask one more time. At first, I just wanted to see you. But I pretended to make a request at the office, thinking the other employee might find it strange if they saw us together.”

That was true. If Taemin had acted like he knew Idam, Youngchun would surely have questioned their relationship later. Idam, unable to tell the truth, would have had to continue lying while sweating profusely, only adding to his troubles.

But Idam didn’t understand why the request content was what it was. Saying things like Idam had seduced him just made Idam uncomfortable and confused. Couldn’t he have just said he came to look for an acquaintance? However, it seemed presumptuous to question such details, so Idam kept quiet.

“We didn’t run into each other at the office, but it was lucky we met by chance at the cafe.”

“Yes…”

While Taemin might consider it lucky, Idam was currently in an awkward situation.

“Would you be willing to marry me?”

“Ah…”

“We just need to be together for a week.”

Taemin emphasized “one week” particularly strongly, as if trying to lessen the burden Idam felt. But something was still bothering Idam.

“Even if we pretend to be a married couple in front of your father for a week, what will you do if you need to see him again after that?”

It seemed impossible to temporarily deceive someone who wasn’t a stranger but a blood relative.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve taken care of everything.”

Taemin answered leisurely, as if he had anticipated Idam’s question. But Idam’s doubts weren’t over.

“Then do I have to have a wedding ceremony with you?”

Usually, marriage involved the union of two families, with parental involvement. Moreover, if his father was interfering with his son’s marriage age, wouldn’t he consider the wedding ceremony even more important? Even if it was just pretend, the thought of actually having a wedding ceremony with him felt burdensome.

“My mother passed away long ago, and I don’t have a good relationship with my father. So we plan to say we’ve already had the wedding ceremony without my father.”

“What?”

Idam had seen situations where couples married without permission when their parents opposed. In that case, Idam would become the omega who married against Taemin’s father’s wishes. He couldn’t understand what kind of ridiculous situation this was.

“I… I… I don’t think I can handle your father.”

The image of a father-in-law from a drama flipping a table while saying he’d never allow the marriage even if dirt entered his eyes flashed through Idam’s mind.

“My father is only strict with me. He’s polite to others.”

“But… still…”

“You won’t get hurt. So don’t worry.”

“However…”

“I’ll compensate you sufficiently.”

Compensation…

Running a corporation and being called a big shot, he must have a lot of money. Idam thought of his current miserable situation. If he could endure for just a week, couldn’t he escape from this sewage-like reality?

At that moment, Taemin’s arm stretched towards Idam’s bangs. His index finger touched Idam’s forehead. Surprised by Taemin’s sudden touch, Idam felt his pheromones leak out slightly. Realizing this, he quickly concealed his pheromones. In the closed room, even a small exposure might make Taemin suffer.

“There was some dust on your bangs.”

Taemin smiled as he removed his hand from Idam’s forehead. But why? His breathing sounded strangely rough. Could it be that he was having difficulty breathing due to the influence of Idam’s pheromones? Although Idam was confident in his pheromone control, very occasionally his pheromones would manifest when he was surprised or experiencing mood swings.

Taemin had asked Idam to stay by his side for just a week, but it was overwhelming to even imagine what might happen if his pheromones were released. It seemed better to refuse, but he hesitated, torn between giving up and the temptation of money.

“Will you think about it and give me an answer?”

“Yes… I understand.”

Given the magnitude of the matter, it seemed necessary to consider it a bit more. If it weren’t for his pheromone disability, he wouldn’t have to hesitate like this… Idam always resented this cross he had to bear.

* * *

After finishing their meal, they left the Korean restaurant. The parking lot was quiet, as if all the other customers had left.

“Where do you live? I’ll drive you home.”

Taemin looked down at Idam with a careful expression. Idam’s gaze briefly fell on the sedan they had arrived in, but he quickly shook it off.

“No, it’s okay. I have some business to attend to, so I can go alone.”

In reality, Idam had no plans after this. But having received an expensive meal and not having accepted Taemin’s proposal, he felt burdened and decided against it. Also, going alone was much more comfortable. Taemin’s eyes briefly turned cold. But it was so fleeting that Idam didn’t notice.

“Then, can you give me your number?”

“What? My number?”

“Whether you accept my request or not, we need to keep in touch.”

Taemin held out his phone to Idam. Since his words made sense, Idam took it as if in a trance and entered his number. After retrieving his phone, Taemin looked at Idam’s number and pressed the call button. Simultaneously, the phone in Idam’s pocket rang. Idam quickly took out his phone and saved Taemin’s number. It felt strange to be exchanging numbers with someone like this.

“Then, keep in touch.”

Taemin gave a friendly eye smile. It felt like facing a dazzling ball of light. Idam stared at that smile as if mesmerized, then quickly lowered his head, feeling his cheeks flush.

* * *

“How did it go, CEO?”

Inside the moving sedan, the large man at the wheel looked in the rearview mirror. Taemin sat in the back seat. Unlike when he was dealing with Idam earlier, his eyes were now as fierce as those of a starving beast.

“Who are you talking about, Secretary Kang?”

“I’m talking about Yeo Idam.”

“For now, I’ve ensnared him with ‘lies’.”

Taemin elegantly picked up his phone. He stared at Idam’s number that he had just received and typed a message.

Then he stared at the phone with sharp eyes. Exactly one minute and 30 seconds later, Idam’s reply arrived.

Only then did Taemin’s expression relax, as if he had achieved his goal. Secretary Kang looked perplexed, as if he couldn’t get used to this side of Taemin.

“CEO, didn’t you originally dislike omega pheromones? Then why specifically…”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen an omega whose pheromones smell like a fairy, so I find it interesting.”

“A fairy?”

Secretary Kang looked confused, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He also looked skeptical.

“Even earlier, when I lightly touched Yeo Idam, his pheromones leaked out. I thought I was going crazy wanting to ‘eat’ him again.”

Taemin’s eyes were filled with heat as he elegantly raised the corners of his mouth.