13

"A threatening letter?"

Face stiff, Mark showed the note at the meeting.

The original was turned over to the investigative agency, so what was left was a copy. The content of the crude bullying text, made by cutting and pasting magazines, was not very extensive.

"God's Judgment for the Dominant Alpha!"

Josh turned the paper around and handed it to Seth, who saw it and passed it to Henry, and Henry to Isaac. After everyone saw the note, Mark opened his mouth:

"I'm skipping all the fan letters or hater jokes they send to the office, but this one is different from those."

"There is no address on the envelope."

Mark nodded at Josh's comments.

"Someone put it in the mailbox. But there is nothing on CCTV. How did it happen?"

Seth muttered with a serious face:

"Who are the people who visit this place…?"

They all tried to remember and fell silent. Mark continued speaking:

"Everyone who comes in and out of the mansion now has at least a year working here. The company said they were hired after strong identification. But I don't know, so I'm going to blacklist them all just in case."

"Was the religious group responsible for this?" Isaac asked.

Mark shook his head.

"This alone is not enough to conclude that. Maybe it is a camouflage. The most urgent thing now is how to get through the next party safely."

"Party?" Seth asked as soon as he heard from Mark but immediately remembered. "Ah."

Seth, distraught, looked at everyone with compassion. The rest held their heads. Chase had decided to attend a party to promote the film, which was supposed to start filming soon, because his role was so close to that of the protagonist.

A threatening letter at a time like this. Josh sighed. Furthermore, there were frequent terrorist attacks against dominant Alphas. Keith Pittman, owner of the production company and a dominant Alpha, was also attacked. He was probably a target because he was a celebrity, but Chase Miller was several times more famous than he was. During Chase's stay in the house, everyone felt comfortable and enjoyed the peace, but now it was over. Mark opened his mouth with a serious face:

"Let's talk about what we're going to do at the party. First of all, the location is Mr. Pittman's mansion…"

Everyone focused on his words without saying anything. Around the end of the discussion, Mark added:

"Everyone has their tailcoat, right? Take care of your clothes, and if you don't have them, let's all rent together tomorrow. What do you think? Now, who didn't bring one?"

He raised his hand and looked around at everyone once.

Nobody raised their hand. Soon, Mark said with a disappointed look,

"Is it just me?"

Henry said irritably:

"What is a tailcoat? Why do we have to be like peacocks? Can't it just be the suit you wear to work?"

And he smiled.

"I can't help it if they ask me," Mark replied in a dry voice.

Suddenly, Isaac and Josh's gaze met. Isaac smiled.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Josh wearing a tailcoat."

"Josh is fine even when he's naked."

They all looked at Seth, dumbfounded.

Isaac asked first before Josh could open his mouth, his face stiff.

"How do you know?"

Henry pulled his upper body back and made a disgusted expression. Then Seth said, confused:

"What are those looks? We all went on vacation together before, to Miami!"

"Ah."

"Ah."

It was suddenly heard all over the place. They looked back at their memories. Isaac looked at Josh with a much more relaxed face.

"That's right. On that occasion, you surfed."

Josh sympathized with his vague expression as if he remembered.

"Yeah, it was fun."

It was before Peter, so he spent a lot of time with the members, including vacations. He thought he had good memories, but Henry had different opinions.

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"When did that happen? I'm not going with you again, damn it. Wherever you go, women and men, you destroy everything."

"Josh is handsome and has a good body; he can't help it," Isaac added jokingly.

"I'm a little short." Josh added, "But thanks."

Then Seth smiled and agreed.

"Right, that's Josh's only downside."

Josh didn't hesitate and hit Seth on the back of the head without getting angry. Then Seth playfully looked at Josh and soon added:

"Thanks to you, we've had a lot of dates too. I'd love to go with Josh. The women will speak to him first, so I don't have to strain to hunt."

"It's definitely an advantage, if you're not married…"

Immediately after speaking, Isaac looked at Mark.

After Isaac finished speaking, Mark hastily coughed and said:

"I have to call home."

Josh, who was in a hurry to get Mark's attention from behind him, noticed that the look Henry was giving Isaac wasn't very good. He was watching him with an angry expression.

Did Isaac say something offensive? He looked back at his memory, but nothing came to mind. Henry seemed to have the urge to fight Isaac.

Should he stay and stop it?

He thought about it for a while, but it was useless. Contrary to expectations, Henry got up without saying a word and tried to leave his seat. He didn't forget to throw a word at Josh at the end.

"It's your turn in the monitor room."

"Okay," Josh said with a smile. After the short reply, he added, "Good evening, Henry."

He looked at Josh silently. Like most Alphas, he had a beautiful face. After a while, Henry turned around, cursing briefly, and left. Then Josh got up from his seat and his eyes met Isaac's.

"…Do you have something to say?"

He suddenly remembered that Isaac was trying to tell him something today. Isaac opened his mouth and soon looked back at Seth, who was just reviewing his security plans again. Isaac looked back at Josh and smiled as usual.

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"No, next time."

"…Okay."

Is it private?

He didn't even have to ask, so Josh just turned and headed for the monitor room.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

TherThere was tension in the mansion since the morning, as many people came and went. Cutting specialists, coloring specialists, massage specialists, etc., chased Chase from head to toe, decorating him like a peacock.

"It's something famous people don't have to do."

Isaac shook his head, looking exhausted just from watching.

Josh had similar thoughts, though for slightly different reasons.

Do you really have to do all that?

If Chase simply went to bed, woke up, and attended the party, people would still praise him.

When Chase, whose hair had been dyed by an expert and had finished all preparations, appeared, everyone had the same thought.

The zombies will double.

"Everyone, be ready for today," Mark warned with a nervous expression.

No one made a joke. Each had their own weapons. Everyone except Seth got into the car, their faces stiff, and soon left the mansion.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

Keith Pittman had decided to hold the event at his home, likely for security reasons, even though it was meant to promote the movie. The company's security team had reportedly hired a large number of temporary bodyguards.

Seated inside the car, fully prepared, Josh thought of Keith Pittman. The most powerful man in the world, the creator of scandals, adored by the media, and a dominant Alpha. Most importantly, he was Emma's boss. Pittman had been a dangerous man then and still was. Especially from the perspective of an older brother with a rather young sister.

When Keith Knight Pittman first took over the entertainment company and ventured into business, many had dismissed it as a misguided investment—assuming he was just trying to become a celebrity by starting a management company. Some speculated he intended to use the production company to cast himself in roles of his choosing. Of course, they were all wrong. Despite his striking looks, akin to most dominant Alphas, he had never stood in front of the screen himself. The only persistent rumor was that he had bought the company to handpick his companions.

Indulgence toward dominant Alphas was inevitable, but their natural debauchery bored the general public. Keith Knight Pittman was no exception.

His face adorned countless magazine covers in grocery stores, his beauty making him instantly recognizable even if he tried to remain inconspicuous. Of course, getting a chance to pose with him was about as likely as winning the lottery. That was why, when Josh first heard that Emma had taken a job as Pittman's secretary, he felt compelled to intervene.

"Don't you have another place to work?" he had asked.

Emma had responded sarcastically. "If you knew of a place this good, Josh, wouldn't you be working there yourself?"

He had no answer for that.

For months, Josh had worried that Pittman's promiscuous private life might negatively affect Emma. This was nothing like high school, when boys chased Emma and frightened her. Back then, Josh had been able to protect her. Now, he was too far away. The only consolation was that Pittman's extravagant looks were far from Emma's taste. Sadly, Emma had terrible judgment when it came to men.

In Josh's opinion, there were far more handsome men, but she always went for the weird ones. Once, he even introduced her to the most popular player on his team, but she rejected him and confessed her love to the biggest nerd in school. The outcome was unacceptable. Furious, Josh had gathered his teammates to confront the guy, but in the end, Emma scolded him instead.

Keith Knight Pittman seemed to be light-years away from Emma's usual preferences, but Josh still didn't trust her. He worried she might fall for Pittman. It was an unsettling thought, but thankfully, he had yet to see any signs of infatuation. Emma still seemed to be obsessed with men who resembled deer. However, just when he was about to feel relieved, he suddenly recalled something Emma had said the last time they met.

"Romance is supposed to sprout at work."

His face turned pale.

Did she have someone in mind? Don't tell me it's Pittman…

Josh grew anxious, but there was nothing he could do now. Fortunately, Pittman didn't seem to involve himself with his subordinates. He had been working for years without scandal, and Josh had yet to hear any rumors about an office romance. But these things could happen anytime. Emma's past love stories flashed through his mind like a film reel. She always pursued the men she liked, and it never ended well. It was incomprehensible. She was his little sister, but even Josh could acknowledge that she was quite beautiful. During her school days, he had spent an inordinate amount of time keeping away the jerks who pursued her. Of course, Emma hated him for it, but Josh had been serious.

How could he let guys like that near his little sister? It wouldn't be any different even if the guy were a dominant Alpha.

Emma had mentioned that every time Keith Pittman chose a partner, the secretarial team leader prepared a private catalog of candidates for him to select from. Fortunately, the team leader was meticulous and clear about the qualifications required. Emma had never become Pittman's target.

After so many years, Josh had almost forgotten about it. Emma rarely spoke about her work, and Josh never imagined he would see Pittman in person. He had also never told his family about his current job. Everything about Chase Miller was classified. Thankfully, Emma wouldn't be attending tonight's party. Most of these events were handled by the secretarial team leader. The party of a dominant Alpha was not entrusted to just anyone.

Emma would be home resting after work. Meanwhile, Josh was in a car on his way to work. That was fine by him.

"Have you ever seen Pittman?" Isaac, sitting next to him, suddenly asked.

Josh shook his head. "No."

"Does he have a bad temper too?" Josh asked.

Isaac snorted. "Is there a dominant Alpha who doesn't have a bad temper?"

They reached their destination without further conversation.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

The party at Pittman's house was swarming with reporters and an eager public. A massive iron gate separated the guests from the crowd, who were held back by a rope barrier.

"AHH…!"

The moment Josh stepped out of the car, screams nearly shattered the air. The deafening noise made him wince—it was as if a horde of zombies was descending upon Chase. Not far away, the actress starring alongside Chase was waving at the guests. Everyone, including Josh, immediately surrounded Chase's car. After scanning the surroundings, Mark opened the door, and Chase Miller finally emerged.

For a moment, everything went silent.

Even Josh stopped moving. His ears rang despite the earpiece partially muffling the noise. But when Chase came into view, Josh was completely stunned.

Dressed for his new role, Chase's hair was dyed black. His pale complexion stood out starkly against the dark color, and his lips, strikingly red, enhanced his usual expression. With a simple motion, he casually lifted a stray strand of hair with a finger, and not just the crowd but even those inside the mansion were mesmerized.

"Crazy… Handsome as hell," Henry muttered behind him.

It was a harsh statement, but Josh couldn't help but agree.

Even after seeing Chase daily, dealing with his unbearable temper, Josh had to admit—Chase looked breathtakingly good tonight.

It was a harsh expression, but he couldn't help but feel empathy. Anyone who actually saw Chase Miller would think the same. Even Josh, who saw him almost every day, was so sick and tired of his terrible temper that he lost his mind. Chase's flamboyant blonde hair glowed black tonight. On top of that, the short hairstyle made his graceful facial structure stand out even more. He thought that Chase would be breathtakingly handsome even if he shaved his head. However, instead of shaving his hair, he was well-groomed with black hair and wore a suit that suited his tall, well-built figure. It was perfect, like he was at an Academy Awards ceremony. Flashes went off everywhere as planned, and people kept yelling his name. Chase waved his hand with an expressionless face.

Henry complained.

"Abominable bastard."

Josh thought about it too. People struggled from place to place. The bodyguards fought them with all their might. As there had already been several accidents, the number of bodyguards deployed was enormous, and the measures were strictly enforced.

Whoo.

Only afterward did they finally break through the crowd and enter the mansion where the party was being held. Everywhere he looked, it was packed with actors, staff, and influencers who were invited to the film. Even Isaac, who wasn't very interested in celebrities, was mesmerized for a while. Mark was also momentarily stunned, but soon regained consciousness and comforted the team.

"You have to start. Stay alert. Everyone knows what to do, right?"

"Yes, Mark."

They all responded one after another.

Josh soon turned to look and checked his surroundings. At first glance, he saw the butler greeting the guests. The butler winked at Mark and then took a step back. He was in charge of looking around according to Mark's instructions. Henry and Isaac were some distance from Chase, watching and ready to move as soon as necessary. Seth had the role of guarding inside the mansion.

Although he had received information about the main attendees, he couldn't afford to let his attention slip since he didn't know all the guests, bodyguards, and staff. Josh's job was to make sure there were no particularly suspicious movements around. Most of the people gathered were famous figures, and Pittman had hired more bodyguards than usual, so there should be no accidents. However, he was not at ease, especially after receiving a threatening letter. Josh hadn't let his guard down, even with other bodyguards watching the surroundings. As he quickly scanned the area, his eyes suddenly found a man, and he hesitated. He realized it without having to check his striking purple eyes. The man was obviously a dominant Alpha.

Keith Pittman, Josh thought inwardly.

He had seen Pittman's face in countless media appearances, but this was the first time seeing him in person. Pittman was as tall as expected. Furthermore, his impeccable suit and imposing physique were perfect. Josh secretly sympathized with the media, wondering why Pittman had never acted in a movie. He thought Pittman would be a big hit just by appearing in one corner of the screen. As that thought crossed his mind, Josh belatedly realized that he didn't smell Pittman's pheromones. At the same time, his gaze landed on an ear with a clear marking.

"Is Pittman married?" he whispered to Mark in a low voice.

"No. You didn't know? Someone must have left the mark on their own. He's going crazy looking for the culprit right now," Mark added sourly, startling Josh. "He must have been driven mad by the RUT, but he doesn't know who did it. If an Alpha gets marked unilaterally, that's it. If he can't find that Omega, he'll have to live alone forever. Who would have guessed that Pittman would be held back by a faceless partner?"

Although Josh's situation was the opposite, he couldn't help but feel a connection to Pittman's predicament. At least Josh knew who had marked him. Josh empathized with the Alpha. Keith Pittman wouldn't be able to smell anyone's pheromones while the mark was etched—unless it was the scent of the Omega who left it. Looking at the situation, the Alpha was definitely at a disadvantage against the Omega. His life was essentially bound the moment the mark was placed. Josh casually touched his ear with the headphone and thought,

I can't believe I can find a new partner, but they—the Alphas—can't.

At the same time, he remembered Peter's face, and Josh sympathized with Keith.

Yes, it was me, not Chase, who lost his mind.

"He said he would kill him if he found him."

Josh snapped back to reality at Mark's sudden addition.

I'm glad I'm not the one who marked him.

After confirming Chase's entrance to the party, Mark ordered everyone to take their respective positions. Josh moved to survey the mansion, just as he had been assigned. The screams from outside the mansion continued to echo through the night.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

"… I see, I've never seen him before."

"They're really purple, it's incredible."

Chase furrowed his brows and ignored them. The whispers and intrusive stares were nothing new—he had endured them his entire life. Maybe they would continue until the day he died. Perhaps even after death, he would remain a subject of gossip and ridicule. Simply because he was a dominant Alpha, he drew the gaze of everyone around him, as if he were a rare animal on display. In truth, the term "rare animal" wasn't inaccurate. Among the crowd at the party, at this moment, only Keith Pittman and Chase were dominant Alphas. The only difference was that they weren't in a cage.

Chase frowned slightly at a man who frequently glanced his way. He had long accepted that people were naturally drawn to his face. But this man—he wasn't even trying to hide it. That insolent kid.

He sipped his champagne irritably. What unsettled him even more was the fact that he cared about the man's gaze. The realization that Josh had escaped his attention for a few days also grated on his nerves. He won't quit. Chase paused, realizing he hadn't seen Josh much recently.

Why am I thinking about that man now? It doesn't matter whether he quits or not.

This party is dull, he thought.

He needed something entertaining, but nothing promising was on the horizon. Usually, dominant Alphas were the main attraction at parties, but in Chase's case, the attention was even more suffocating. He had no interest in dealing with people at an event he was attending purely out of obligation. These people were just gossiping in their own little circles. His best defense was to ignore them.

Just greet Keith Pittman and leave. As always.

But there was always someone who tried to be friendly.

"Long time no see, Chase. How have you been?"

He glanced at the woman addressing him. He had no recollection of her, but she smiled and introduced herself.

"Naomi Parker. We're working on the same film. Nice to meet you."

Chase was forced to shake the small white hand she extended before quickly letting go. Now leave, he thought, his expression remaining rigid. But Naomi seemed unfazed. She gazed at him with a mix of curiosity and boldness, then focused on his face.

"I heard Grayson was worried sick because he thought the role didn't suit you, but you look better than I expected. Why would he say that? Maybe it's just because he's your brother?"

Hearing his brother's name from an actress he barely knew wasn't surprising. She was laughing as if trying to jog his memory, but Chase responded bitterly.

"You can't be serious."

"Oh? But why? He's such a good actor."

Naomi batted her eyelashes theatrically.

Instead of answering, Chase took another sip of champagne. Grayson must have slept with this woman. His reaction remained cold—he was used to Grayson parading as a "lone wolf" searching for "true love." Nonsense. Grayson had never felt a genuine emotion in his life. Chase didn't need Naomi to tell him what his brother had said about him. He already knew.

Chase was sick of his own brother—deep, bitter hatred churned in his gut. Naomi, sensing his disinterest, smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.

"Have you read the script? There are so many series, I couldn't read them all, but honestly, I was surprised. Chase is Dr. Plame. Of course, my character has a lot of dialogue too."

The actress, known for her scandalous personal life, seemed slightly embarrassed to be playing a character so different from her usual roles.

"We should both work hard, right?"

For a moment, her eyes flickered with uncertainty, despite the smile on her lips. Even as a confident lead actress, she seemed uneasy. Chase simply frowned at her, offering no comfort. Naomi grew even more nervous under his impassive stare.

Can I really act alongside a man like this?

She had seen Chase's performances in films, but those were the result of careful editing. Filming together would be another matter entirely. She had her doubts.

"You do know what roles you and I are playing, right?"

Before Chase could respond, another voice interjected.

"Of course he does. He signed the contract."

Naomi turned, startled. A familiar face stood before her. The idea of escaping the awkward conversation crossed her mind, but Chase didn't care. He was used to moments like these.

"Keith."

She greeted him warmly, suddenly relieved.

"Long time no see. Thanks for letting me take on the role. It was an unexpected opportunity."

Keith Pittman responded with his usual blank expression, as if he had already known what she would say.

"Everyone assumed I gave you the role because we were sleeping together."

"No one thought that. Right?"

Naomi forced a smile, and Keith replied nonchalantly.

"Then prove them wrong. Prove me wrong."

"Oh God."

She laughed—a mischievous, breathy sound, so different from the sultry image she projected in Hollywood. Her face brightened, but soon she blinked in realization.

"But what about your partner? I think I saw her earlier, right?"

Keith Pittman never attended these parties alone. Or so she thought.

But Keith showed no interest in answering. He merely pulled out a cigar and placed it between his lips. Whether he didn't know where his partner was or simply didn't care, it was unclear. Just then, the director entered the room. Naomi quickly excused herself and disappeared.

The murmurs around them never ceased. But the two men remained silent. Eventually, Keith spoke first.

"Grayson has been bothering me for days."

Unsurprised, Chase smirked cynically. He watched as Keith deftly lit his cigarette and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

"You really don't have to do this if you don't want to. Of course, you'll have to pay the fine."

His words were devoid of emotion. Chase responded in kind.

"I don't intend to pay a fine."

"Good."

That was all. Keith said nothing more. A long silence stretched between them as he raised the cigarette to his lips again.

"It's not easy being Grayson's brother."

Keith muttered absently.

Chase chuckled dryly.

"If you were my brother, things might be a little better."

Keith didn't reply. White smoke curled between them. Keith flicked the cigarette between his long fingers, letting the ash fall.

"My brother would never think that."

If he could trade Grayson for Keith, even for a day, Chase thought, he might actually thank God.

Just as the cigarette ashes landed in a passing waiter's tray, Keith's expression suddenly changed. His gaze hardened. Without a word, he turned and left in an instant, disappearing into the crowd.

Chase, left alone, lit another cigarette and sighed. The chatter around him felt distant. He tried to drink his champagne, but of course, he wasn't drunk. He would have to drink every glass at the party to feel anything.

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Then, he heard the sound of rustling leaves.

Joshua Bailey.

Chase's eyes widened as he murmured his name.