• Love For Rent •JC

Chapter 01 • Mr.Work alcoholic.

Third person
Omniscient POV:

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T

he sun shone brightly over Seoul, reflecting off the glass windows of towering skyscrapers. Inside one of these towering buildings, Choi Seungcheol, an alpha whose reputation for perfectionism and intense work ethic preceded him, strode through the halls of his footwear company. The scent of his powerful, unmistakable alpha pheromones hung in the air, commanding attention and respect from everyone around him. People subconsciously straightened up as he passed, feeling the unspoken influence of a high-ranking alpha in their presence.

Clad in a sleek black Italian tuxedo, his appearance was as sharp as his business acumen. Every step he took exuded confidence, with his incompetent assistant, a young beta, scurrying nervously behind him, struggling to keep up.

"Mr. Choi, we have to finalize the open concept for our display in Daegu," the assistant stammered, flipping through a clipboard of notes as she hustled to match his brisk pace. "And the meeting with Mr. Kim and his partner starts in ten minutes. They’re waiting for your approval to move forward with the funders."

Seungcheol didn’t break stride. His eyes were focused, his jaw set in determination. His only response was a curt, "Water."

The assistant, startled by the simplicity and abruptness of his request, froze for a second. She looked around wildly and then darted off to find an unopened water bottle, her heels clicking loudly on the polished marble floor. She raced to the company’s canteen, finally locating a chilled bottle of water in the refrigerator.

When she returned to the reception area, panting and holding out the water, she found Seungcheol mid-argument with a member of the design team. His usually composed expression was now clouded with frustration.

"I already told you yesterday!" Seungcheol’s voice was sharp, almost cutting. "Be more careful with the design! And for God’s sake, organize those papers! We are not running a rubbish dump here. Do I make myself clear?!"

The designer, visibly flustered, nodded meekly. "Y-Yes, sir. I’m sorry."

The assistant hesitated but finally stepped forward, holding the water bottle. "Mr. Choi, here’s your water… Oh, and your uncle’s wife, Mrs. Hae-in, called four times yesterday," she managed to say, her voice shaky.

Seungcheol barely acknowledged her, taking the water with a casual nod and ignoring her mention of the phone calls. He pivoted on his heel and walked toward the kitchen area, his assistant trailing behind him.

"Jim, I already told you—change the coffee machine and the coffee brand. We need something of higher quality." Seungcheol directed his command toward the kitchen chef without so much as glancing at his assistant.

Jim, a beta chef who had been with the company for years, nodded with a knowing smile. "Don’t worry, Mr. Choi. The new coffee machine is on the way, and we’ve already switched brands. Should arrive by tomorrow."

"You’re the best worker here, Jim," Seungcheol said with a rare hint of warmth. "And how many times do I need to remind you to call me Seungcheol? You’re older than me, and it’s weird."

Jim chuckled softly. "Calling you by your name feels too casual. You’re still my boss after all."

Seungcheol rolled his eyes, though a small smile played on his lips. "If you say so. By the way, I’m planning to fly to Milan this week. I’ll bring back some samples of Italian coffee brands. Give me your final thoughts so we can set up a direct import for the company."