Shelter in your arms

Monday morning arrived with a knot of anxiety in Jongin's stomach. He stood in front of his closet, frowning at the meager options before him. Nothing seemed appropriate for a prestigious architecture firm. His café uniforms were too casual, and the only button-up shirt he owned had a small coffee stain near the collar.

"Appa, hurry!" Yujin called from where he sat on their bed, already dressed in his best outfit—a dinosaur sweater and tiny jeans that Jongin had splurged on during a rare sale.

"I know, baby," Jongin sighed, finally settling on a plain navy sweater and his least-faded black pants. It wasn't impressive, but it was clean and respectable. He'd have to use his first paycheck to invest in better work clothes.

The address Kyungsoo had sent led them to a gleaming glass building in the heart of the business district. Jongin had passed it many times, usually while making deliveries to less impressive neighboring structures, but had never imagined he'd be walking through its revolving doors as an employee.

"Big!" Yujin gasped, head tilted back to stare at the soaring ceiling of the lobby. His voice echoed slightly against the marble and glass, causing a few well-dressed professionals to glance their way.

Jongin tightened his grip on Yujin's hand and approached the reception desk, where a stylish woman with immaculate makeup was speaking rapidly into a headset. Her nameplate read "Mina Jung, Front Desk Manager."

"Excuse me," Jongin began once she'd finished her call. "I'm here to see Do Kyungsoo. I'm his new assistant."

Mina looked up, her eyes sweeping over Jongin and Yujin in a quick assessment that made Jongin's skin crawl. Her expression shifted from professional courtesy to poorly concealed disdain.

"I'm sorry, this isn't a public space," she said, her tone clipped. "If you're making a delivery, the service entrance is around the back."

Jongin felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I'm not delivering anything. I'm starting work here today. As Mr. Do's personal assistant."

Mina's eyebrows rose slightly. "Do you have an appointment? I don't see anything on his calendar."

"I—he told me to come at nine," Jongin fumbled in his pocket for his phone, wanting to show her Kyungsoo's text messages as proof. Yujin, sensing his father's distress, pressed closer to Jongin's leg.

"Mr. Do is very particular about his schedule," Mina continued, her voice taking on a condescending edge. "He doesn't hire staff without going through proper channels, and I manage all appointments for executive hiring." Her gaze flicked to Yujin. "And this is definitely not a place for children. Are you lost, perhaps?"

The combination of embarrassment and indignation made Jongin's scent spike with distress, despite the suppressants he'd taken that morning. A few people in the lobby turned to look, which only increased his mortification.

"I'm not lost," Jongin said, struggling to keep his voice steady. "Kyungsoo—Mr. Do—offered me the position himself. If you could just call up to his office—"

"Listen," Mina cut him off, lowering her voice. "I don't know what you think is happening here, but Mr. Do doesn't personally hire assistants off the street. Especially not—" her eyes darted to Yujin again, the implication clear: especially not single omega parents.

Jongin felt something cold settle in his chest. This was exactly what he'd feared—being looked down upon, being seen as less than because of his circumstances. He was about to turn and leave, to text Kyungsoo that this had been a mistake, when a familiar deep voice cut through the tension.

"He's here for work. As my personal assistant."

Kyungsoo stood just beyond the reception desk, having emerged from the elevator without either of them noticing. His expression was calm, but there was something in his eyes—a controlled anger—that made Mina pale visibly.

"Mr. Do! I was just explaining to this... gentleman that there must be some confusion about—"

"There's no confusion," Kyungsoo interrupted, his tone frighteningly polite. "I hired Kim Jongin personally. He starts today." He turned to Jongin, his expression softening slightly. "I was coming down to meet you. I should have anticipated this... misunderstanding."

The way he emphasized the last word made it clear he understood exactly what had happened. Mina's face flushed with embarrassment.

"I apologize, Mr. Do. I wasn't informed—"

"That's because it wasn't your concern to be informed," Kyungsoo replied, still perfectly cordial but with an edge that left no room for argument. "Jongin will be working directly with me. Please make sure his credentials are processed by IT today." He turned his attention to Yujin, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes. "Good morning, Yujin. Do you remember me?"

Yujin's face broke into a delighted smile. "Soo!" He reached out his free hand toward the alpha, all shyness forgotten.

Kyungsoo's entire demeanor transformed as he crouched down to Yujin's level. "That's right. Are you ready to see where your dad's going to work?"

Yujin nodded enthusiastically.

"The childcare center is on the third floor," Kyungsoo explained, standing up again. "We can stop there first if you'd like."

Jongin, still processing the whiplash of emotions from Mina's dismissal to Kyungsoo's intervention, managed a nod. "That would be good, thank you."

Kyungsoo gestured toward the elevator, deliberately positioning himself so that Jongin and Yujin would walk ahead of him—a small courtesy that allowed Jongin to save face after the public humiliation. As they passed the reception desk, Kyungsoo paused.

"Mina," he said quietly, "my office. Noon."

The color drained from her face. "Yes, sir."

---

The childcare center on the third floor was nothing like the makeshift arrangement at the café. It was a bright, open space with large windows, colorful educational toys, and a staff of qualified childcare professionals. Yujin, initially clinging to Jongin's leg, was soon captivated by a dinosaur-themed play area.

"We have four children currently enrolled," explained the center's director, a warm beta woman named Sooyoung. "Most between ages two and four. Yujin will fit right in."

Jongin watched as his son cautiously approached another little boy who was building a tower of blocks. "He's not used to being around many children," he said worriedly.

"That's common," Sooyoung assured him. "We'll take it slow. You can check on him anytime during the day."

After completing the necessary paperwork and giving Yujin a tight hug goodbye (which the toddler barely noticed, already absorbed in block-building), Jongin followed Kyungsoo to the elevator again.

"My office is on the top floor," Kyungsoo explained as they ascended. "You'll have a desk in the adjoining room. Seulgi, my current assistant, will show you the systems before she starts her leave next week."

Jongin nodded, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in his stomach. "About what happened downstairs—"

"You don't need to talk about it," Kyungsoo said firmly. "Mina was out of line. It won't happen again."

"But she wasn't entirely wrong, was she?" Jongin pressed, needing to address the elephant in the room. "I don't look like I belong here."

The elevator doors opened onto a minimalist reception area in shades of gray and white. Kyungsoo waited until they were walking down the hallway before responding.

"Appearances are meaningless," he said finally. "You're qualified for this job. How you dress or where you come from has nothing to do with your ability to do it well."

There was something in his tone—a personal edge—that made Jongin wonder if Kyungsoo was speaking from experience.

They passed several glass-walled offices where people in smart business attire worked at sleek desks or gathered around digital displays. A few looked up as Kyungsoo passed, nodding respectfully. Their gazes lingered curiously on Jongin, who fought the urge to hunch his shoulders under the scrutiny.

At the end of the hallway stood a set of double doors. Kyungsoo pushed them open to reveal a spacious corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. One wall was covered in architectural drawings and 3D renderings, while another held a collection of awards and certificates.

"This is your desk," Kyungsoo said, indicating a workstation just outside his office door. "Seulgi should be here any—"

"Here!" called a cheerful voice as a heavily pregnant woman hurried down the hallway, a tablet clutched in one hand. "Sorry, doctor's appointment ran late." She smiled warmly at Jongin. "You must be Jongin! I'm Seulgi. So glad you're here—this little one could decide to arrive any day now."

Her open friendliness was such a contrast to Mina's coldness that Jongin found himself smiling back. "Nice to meet you. And congratulations."

"Thank you! Now, let me show you everything before my brain completely turns to pregnancy mush."

The next hour was a whirlwind of information as Seulgi walked Jongin through the calendar system, email protocols, filing procedures, and the dozens of other tasks that made up her daily routine. Kyungsoo disappeared into his office, occasionally visible through the glass wall as he worked at his desk or took phone calls.

"He's particular but not difficult," Seulgi explained in a lowered voice, nodding toward Kyungsoo. "Likes things done a certain way, but he's never unreasonable. And he'll never ask you to stay late without proper notice."

"He seems... different from most bosses," Jongin ventured.

Seulgi smiled knowingly. "You have no idea. When I told him I was pregnant, the first thing he did was increase my health coverage and adjust my hours. No questions, no complaints." She patted her rounded belly. "This little one is going to have the best godfather in Seoul."

Jongin blinked in surprise. "Kyungsoo is going to be your baby's godfather?"

"He offered," Seulgi said, her expression softening. "That's the kind of person he is. Looks scary on the outside, total marshmallow underneath." She glanced at her watch. "Oh, it's almost noon. You might want to step out for a bit."

"Why?"

"Mina's meeting," Seulgi explained with a grimace. "Word travels fast around here. Whatever happened this morning, it wasn't good."

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Mina appeared at the end of the hallway, her confident stride from earlier replaced by a nervous gait. She knocked on Kyungsoo's door and entered when he called out.

Seulgi tugged Jongin toward the break room. "Come on, I'll show you where the coffee machine is. Trust me, you don't want to be within earshot for this."

---

The break room was sleek and modern like the rest of the office, with a high-end coffee machine that made Jongin think of the café with a pang of nostalgia. Several employees were gathered around a table, their conversation halting abruptly when Jongin and Seulgi entered.

"Everyone, this is Jongin, Kyungsoo's new assistant while I'm on leave," Seulgi announced brightly. "Jongin, meet the team."

There were nods and polite smiles, but Jongin could feel the curiosity and assessment in their gazes. He managed a small wave, hyperaware of his worn sweater and simple haircut among their designer clothes and salon styles.

"So," said one man after an awkward pause, "how do you know Kyungsoo?"

Before Jongin could answer, Seulgi cut in. "Headhunted him from that café Kyungsoo's been raving about. Apparently, he runs the place practically single-handed."

It wasn't entirely accurate, but Jongin shot her a grateful look for the face-saving explanation.

"Must be some café," muttered another employee, just loud enough to be heard.

Jongin felt his cheeks heat up, but Seulgi merely raised an eyebrow. "Kyungsoo has an eye for talent. Anyone want to question his judgment?"

There was a collective shift in the room, a subtle backing down that told Jongin volumes about Kyungsoo's authority in this place.

"Just surprised, is all," the first man said, more conciliatory now. "Seulgi leaves big shoes to fill."

"Well, I'm sure Jongin is more than capable," said a woman with kind eyes, offering him a genuine smile. "I'm Joohyun, head of interior design. Let me know if you need anything while you're settling in."

"Thank you," Jongin replied, relief washing over him at the simple kindness.

The tense moment was broken by the appearance of Mina in the break room doorway. Her makeup was intact, but her eyes were slightly reddened, and she held herself with a rigid formality that suggested she was holding back strong emotions.

"Excuse me," she said stiffly, making her way to the coffee machine.

The room fell silent, everyone suddenly very interested in their phones or coffee cups. Jongin couldn't help feeling a twist of sympathy for her, despite the morning's humiliation. Whatever Kyungsoo had said to her, it had clearly been effective.

As if summoned by the thought, Kyungsoo appeared in the doorway, his eyes immediately finding Jongin among the group. "There you are. Could I see you in my office when you're done here?"

"Of course," Jongin nodded, setting down his barely-touched coffee cup.

As he followed Kyungsoo back down the hallway, he could feel the gazes of the other employees on his back—some curious, some skeptical, some outright hostile. The disparity between his world and Kyungsoo's had never felt more pronounced.

"Is everything okay?" he asked once they were back in Kyungsoo's office, the door closed behind them.

Kyungsoo gestured for him to sit in one of the sleek chairs facing the desk. "I wanted to check how you're settling in. And to apologize again for this morning's incident."

"You don't need to apologize," Jongin said quickly. "It wasn't your fault."

"It happened in my company, to someone I hired," Kyungsoo replied, his expression serious. "That makes it my responsibility."

Something about his unwavering accountability made Jongin's chest tighten. "What did you say to her? To Mina?"

Kyungsoo's eyes met his. "I made it clear that disrespect toward any employee—regardless of their position, background, or family status—is grounds for termination."

Jongin blinked, surprised by the severity. "You threatened to fire her?"

"I informed her of company policy," Kyungsoo corrected mildly. "And reminded her that my hiring decisions are not up for public debate."

"The others think the same thing she does," Jongin said quietly. "That I don't belong here."

"Then they'll need to adjust their thinking," Kyungsoo replied, as if it were that simple. "You were hired for your abilities, not to meet anyone's expectations of what an executive assistant should look like." He paused, then added more gently, "Give it time. They'll see what I see."

Something in the way he said it—what I see—made Jongin's heart rate pick up slightly. He looked away, focusing on the city skyline visible through the windows.

"I should check on Yujin," he said, needing a moment to collect himself.

"Of course." Kyungsoo nodded, seemingly unaware of Jongin's sudden discomfort. "Your schedule is yours to manage, as long as the essential tasks get done. Seulgi can show you what those are."

Jongin stood to leave, but paused at the door. "Thank you," he said, not turning around. "For giving me this chance."

"Jongin," Kyungsoo's voice made him look back. The alpha's expression was unreadable but intense. "I didn't give you anything. You earned it."

It was exactly what Jongin needed to hear, though he hadn't known it until that moment. With a quick nod, he left the office, closing the door behind him.

At his new desk, he took a deep breath, trying to steady the confusing mix of emotions churning inside him. Pride at being here, anxiety about proving himself, irritation at those who doubted him, and something else—something warm and unsettling that flared whenever Kyungsoo looked at him with those serious eyes.

His computer pinged with a new email notification. The subject line read: "First Assignment - Urgent." Opening it, he found a simple message from Kyungsoo:

_Need presentation materials organized for Friday's client meeting. Files are on the shared drive. See Seulgi for access. Important to get this right._

_Also, there's a company credit card in the top drawer of your desk. Take Yujin for ice cream after work. He earned it by being brave in a new place today._

_- DKS_

_P.S. So did you._

Jongin stared at the screen, a smile slowly spreading across his face despite himself. Maybe, just maybe, this could work after all.