Reasonable Loss - 44

“But I doubt something that bad happened…. The executive director’s a dominant alpha. Who in the world could kidnap him.”

Eunsu nodded in agreement. Dokwon was 190 cm tall. Even with a gun to his head, he could overpower anyone with his dominant alpha pheromones.

No, kidnapping didn’t even make sense. In the 21st century, why kidnap a big corp exec. This wasn’t some drug cartel.

Eunsu’s fingers fidgeted restlessly.

So he wasn’t the only one Dokwon had been dodging since yesterday. Thinking that oddly eased his mind. It wasn’t just him being avoided. Meaning, he wasn’t mad at him either.

But then…. Where the hell was Dokwon and what was he doing.

Shadows fell over Eunsu’s face again. Secretary Jeong looked ready to burst into tears himself.

“Did you call the chairwoman?”

Eunsu asked. Secretary Jeong shook his head.

“No. It’s only half a day, so a bit…. Uh, a bit…. The chairwoman’s sharp as a knife. If she finds out about this blackout, I might get booted from the company. He’s only been back at work a month since the accident, and at this crucial time….”

“….”

Eunsu nodded in understanding. It was true. Myunghee was soft only with him; to others—no, even to Dokwon—she blew cold winds.

So what to do. As he pondered, Secretary Jeong let out words like a sigh.

“If he’s just gone radio silent, that’d be a relief, but I can’t figure out why. He’s never acted this irresponsible. Yesterday he wrapped up the contract at H Hotel and left….”

“…Pardon?”

At the familiar word, Eunsu’s eyes widened.

“Pardon?”

Secretary Jeong asked back.

“H…. Hotel? Dokwon was there yesterday?”

Eunsu stepped closer to Secretary Jeong, demanding.

“Yes. From 11 a.m. to just before 8 p.m. It was a big contract, so he stayed the whole time.”

“….”

Eunsu blinked slowly. Dokwon had been in the same hotel as him yesterday. Work ended before 8, and around then his heat hit and he was in some stranger’s arms.

After that, no contact from Dokwon.

What had happened. Had he seen something. Caught a glimpse of him by chance. Smelled the pheromones he was cluelessly pumping out. Followed the scent. And, and seen him clinging to some strange man’s arms.

Eunsu’s shoulders began to tremble. A bad feeling crept in. His spine chilled, his knees weakened. Then suddenly his lower belly stabbed. Dull pain. Like that creep had punched it hard.

Eunsu clutched his belly and doubled over.

“Ah….”

His body went cold in an instant. Bl00d drained from his fingertips and toes. Secretary Jeong, horrified, rushed to support him.

“Team Lead Yoo? What, what’s wrong? Belly hurting? Should I call the hospital? I’ll get an ambulance right….”

“No, no…. It’s, it’s fine….”

Eunsu patted the startled Secretary Jeong. Then he forced a casual expression and straightened up. His belly still hurt, but he didn’t have time to fuss here. He’d already been to the hospital. No need to go again.

First, he had to find Dokwon. Ask what he’d seen, clear up any misunderstanding.

“I, I’ll go to Dokwon’s place….”

Eunsu shrugged on his jacket with a face pale as a ghost. Secretary Jeong habitually helped him with it. Eunsu gave a faint smile in thanks.

“I was there a few hours ago, and he wasn’t home.”

“He might be now. If you hear from him, let me know too.”

“Yes, I will.”

Eunsu bowed lightly. Secretary Jeong bowed back. Eunsu mustered his shaky legs and caught the elevator. Secretary Jeong’s puzzled gaze poked at his back, but he didn’t turn.

* * *

Dokwon wasn’t home either. Only cool, empty air greeted Eunsu. The faint traces of Dokwon’s pheromones lingering here and there suggested he’d been gone at least a day. Meaning, since going to work yesterday, he hadn’t come home.

Eunsu wandered the house in a daze. He checked the kitchen, study, bathroom, hoping Dokwon might be there, but no luck.

Finally, entering the bedroom, Eunsu sighed long at the neat bed. The empty room felt oddly cold, so he turned to leave, but his feet stopped.

“….”

Standing blankly with the doorknob in hand, he shuffled to the bed. Then he slowly lay down on it. Dokwon’s scent wafted thickly. His tense muscles melted away.

Eunsu buried his nose in the blanket and inhaled deeply. Dokwon’s pheromones. Not the fake ones from yesterday, but the real Dokwon’s.

Eunsu breathed in Dokwon’s scent for a long while. But greed knows no end, so the lingering afterscent wasn’t enough; he craved the smell from Dokwon’s skin, his nape, his embrace.

Eunsu twisted and wrapped the blanket around his whole body. Then inside it, he gently stroked his belly.

His body hurt. The bruised shoulder and pelvis throbbed blue-black, his wrist ached, his belly pulled. Nausea kept him from eating, so his stomach burned. Above all, his pounding heart was the issue. It thumped so hard he nearly dry-heaved.

Eunsu was scared. Had Dokwon witnessed yesterday. Was that why he wasn’t answering, not showing up at work.

Eunsu fumbled out his phone. He opened the messages with Dokwon. All from him.

[Dokwon, sorry. Work’s busy, leaving late.]

[Dokwon, you home? Should I come now?]

[Why aren’t you picking up?]

[Mad? Sorry. Didn’t mean to be late.]

[Dokwon. Where are you.]

Dokwon hadn’t replied, hadn’t even read them. Eunsu stared at the screen, then tapped Dokwon’s name and hit call. He’d probably just hear the tone again, but on the off chance.

But this time was different. The electronic voice said the phone was off. So no tone even.

As Eunsu dejectedly went to turn off his phone, it buzzed. Eunsu glanced at the screen.

[Eunsu. How are you feeling today?]

[Had dinner?]

It was Seongheon. Eunsu’s eyes crumpled in disappointment. Then he slowly typed back.

[I’m okay.]

[About to eat dinner.]

Right. He hadn’t eaten all day. The doctor said to eat well. Eunsu buried his nose in the blanket and inhaled deeply. Then he sat up like stretching after sleep.

Gotta eat, eat.

Eunsu muttered “eat” like someone obsessed as he left the bedroom.

Dokwon’s fridge was full of food. Fruits, various jams, sparkling water, ice cream—all things Eunsu could eat. Stuff he could stomach during morning sickness.

On one side, small containers were neatly stacked. Inside were finely prepped ingredients for Eunsu’s smoothies.

Strawberries, bananas, blueberries, apples—all cut up. At a glance, it wasn’t pro work. So not the periodic housekeeper, not store-bought.

Dokwon must have washed, peeled, sliced them one by one with those big hands.

“….”

Eunsu stared until the fridge beeped its warning.

* * *

The company was in an uproar. Not the kind where the building shook and news poured out nonstop, but among the execs, the chairwoman Myunghee, and Eunsu—the ones in the know, it was chaos.

It had been three full days since Dokwon’s blackout. A company exec missing work without notice—not one day, but three. Impossible to hide. For now only execs knew, but soon it’d leak outside.

Myunghee quietly hired people to track Dokwon. Phone location, card records—but he wasn’t easy to pin down.

Everyone told Eunsu it’d be fine. They’d find him soon, just a matter of time, and give him hell when they did.

Eunsu said nothing. He wore a dry, expressionless face—not smiling, not crying.

Eunsu just, just…. felt embarrassed and ashamed at the fuss. Because the reason Dokwon vanished might be him.

Eunsu sighed long through his nose. Across from him, Myunghee jolted upright in surprise.

“Why? Not tasty? Can’t eat it?”

Today Eunsu ate lunch with Myunghee and Kiho. Sweet-spiced ribs and cold noodles—delicious. No foul smells, the meat’s gaminess masked by seasoning, the cool noodles slid down easy.

Then he was eating cookies with warm tea. He’d sighed without thinking, thinking of Dokwon.

Eunsu smiled and shook his head.

“No. It’s good. It’s the most I’ve eaten in a week.”

“…What does that mean. You barely ate today, and that’s the most in a week?”

“Ah….”

Eunsu made an “oh no” face. Slip-up. He shouldn’t have said that. As he worried how to take it back, Myunghee growled like a tiger.

“It’s that punk Dokwon’s fault, right? Can’t eat because he bolted.”

“Mother, no.”

“Don’t stress. I’ll nab him by week’s end somehow. Cut off his legs if I have to…. Grown man ditching work and his pregnant lover….”

Myunghee’s nails scratched the sofa arm. She’d really break Dokwon’s legs if she found him. Eunsu bit his lower lip, at a loss.

Then Kiho, beside him, gently clasped Eunsu’s hand.

“Eat well, Eunsu. Don’t worry about Dokwon, think of yourself. Look at his size. He’s not just…. a bit beefy, like a sleek bear. A guy like that could starve a month and not die.”

At that, Eunsu let out an unwitting laugh. Sleek bear. It fit Dokwon oddly well.

Myunghee and Kiho’s faces relaxed at Eunsu’s laugh. Kiho pushed a tray piled with cookies, tarts, macarons toward him.

Eunsu demonstratively picked the biggest tart and popped it in his mouth.

It was sweet.

But not tasty.