Mint meets Citrus

Reiji Sasaki approached Aoi, standing at a respectful distance, and offered his hand for a formal handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Seika. I hope you already know who I am," he said, his citrus-scented pheromones intensifying at the close proximity.

Aoi accepted the handshake, holding on longer than strictly necessary.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Sasaki. And yeah—your reputation precedes you. But you're even more handsome and composed in person."

Reiji smiled, concealing a hint of unease as he gently withdrew his hand.

"Thank you for your comment. Did the employees inform you about the contract?"

"Yeah, they did. My manager will handle the remaining paperwork. You don't have to worry about it," Aoi replied.

"That's good. Thank you for your cooperation. I hope your work here goes smoothly," Reiji said.

"I should be the one thanking you. I'm a big fan of your products, you know. I heard you personally design and oversee them," Aoi teased, flashing her car key to display the SASAKI brand name.

Reiji shrugged modestly. "No need for exaggeration or flattery. It's the coordinated effort of our whole company."

Aoi winked. "Being humble, huh? Still, I gotta stay on the CEO's good side, right?"

At that moment, Mrs. Aizawa stepped in. "Sir, it's time for the board meeting."

"Excuse me, Mrs. Seika, I have other matters to attend to."

"It's okay, Mr. Sasaki. I won't take any more of your time," Aoi replied with a smile.

"That's very considerate of you. Feel free to look around the company. I'll excuse myself," Reiji said, moving towards the elevator.

### In the Elevator

Nozomi Aizawa, a beta woman with a strict, professional, and slightly nerdy aura—accentuated by her glasses—stood by Reiji. She was not only his secretary but also his cousin.

"Nozomi, who sent the promotion offer to Ms. Seika? I was just informed," Reiji asked, his curiosity piqued.

Nozomi adjusted her glasses. "It seems Mr. Nao Sasaki sent the offer."

"What? Dad did?" Reiji's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah. He hasn't gotten involved in company matters since that incident three years ago."

The elevator chimed at their floor. They headed towards the board meeting room. Nozomi handed Reiji a few papers as he quietly popped a suppressant pill from a small bottle, inhaling deeply before stepping inside.

Nao Sasaki, a dominant alpha man of age 55, is founder and ex-chirman of SASAKI MOTORS.

### The Board Meeting

The meeting commenced and directors wasted no time voicing issues and concerns.

Reiji tried to regain control. "Erhm! Shall we move to our topic of the day?"

With everyone's attention, he announced, "We've been the best seller of cars for years. I want to expand our product range. Our team has come up with a design for a motorbike."

"Motorbike?" a director interjected, skeptical.

"Yes, a motorbike. Cars aren't suited for everyone or every situation. A motorbike could be a better, more affordable option for daily use, especially for the middle class..."

Arguments erupted:

- "Are we really targeting the lower classes?"

- "What about budget and design?"

- "We don't need a bike to expand our company."

- "Wouldn't increasing car production be better?"

The arguments grew heated. Several directors—primarily alphas and betas—began releasing aggressive pheromones, whether intentionally or not, to assert their dominance. The boardroom became saturated with chilling, overwhelming scents that made Reiji's body tremble. Despite his best efforts, the suppressants were barely enough to help him endure the oppressive atmosphere.

Finally, during the break, Reiji excused himself. Barely managing to keep his composure, he staggered out. With trembling legs, he pressed himself against the wall, one hand supporting him, the other covering his mouth.

He muttered through gritted teeth, "Damn you, alphas... I'm going to puke."

Suddenly, Aoi appeared from around the corner.

"Oh! Mr. Sasaki!"