Alpha Culinary Love

I stared at my computer screen, trying to focus on the spreadsheet in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to Jiyeon. It had been a week since she left for France, and I was already feeling the weight of her absence. Lunchtime was approaching, and I couldn't help but remember how Jiyeon used to bring me lunch every day, her bright smile and delicious meals always the highlight of my day. Now, with her gone, everything felt dull and lifeless.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at the clock—nearly noon. I took a deep breath, trying to push away my irritation. "Come in," I called, my voice more clipped than I intended.

The door opened, and my secretary, Mina, walked in. She held a folder in her hands and wore a somewhat anxious expression. "Sa y est, I have the information you requested about Professor Delacroix," she said, handing me the folder.

"Thank you, Mina," I replied, taking the folder from her. I had asked her to gather some details about this Professor Delacroix after Jiyeon kept mentioning her. Something about this woman made me uneasy, and I needed to know more.

Mina stood there, hesitating, as if she had more to say. "Is there anything else?" I prompted, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"Well, I thought you might want to go over the details now," she said carefully. "There are some...interesting findings."

I nodded, opening the folder and scanning the documents inside. Delacroix's credentials were impressive, her career filled with accolades and prestigious positions. But as I delved deeper into her background, my unease grew. There were numerous mentions of her relationships with students, both professional and otherwise. Nothing outright scandalous, but enough to raise red flags.

"Interesting," I murmured, my brow furrowing. "It seems Delacroix has a history of getting...close to her students."

Mina shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, it appears so. She's known for being very charming and, well, persuasive."

I closed the folder, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. "Thank you, Mina. That will be all for now."

"Of course," she said, giving me a sympathetic look before leaving the room.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the closed folder on my desk. The thought of Jiyeon spending so much time with this woman, especially in one-on-one sessions, made my blood boil. I knew I had to do something. I couldn't just sit here while this Delacroix possibly tried to get closer to my wife.

My mind raced as I considered my options. Finally, I made up my mind. I couldn't focus on work, not with this gnawing at me. I would go to France and see Jiyeon. Maybe it was impulsive, but I needed to be there, to see things for myself.

I quickly made arrangements, using my contacts to secure a private jet. Within an hour, I was on my way to the airport, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and anticipation. The flight to France seemed to drag on forever, despite the luxury of the private jet. I tried to distract myself with work, but my thoughts kept circling back to Jiyeon and Delacroix.

As we landed, the sky was already darkening, the sun setting over the French countryside. I didn't inform Jiyeon of my arrival; I wanted to surprise her and maybe catch a glimpse of this Delacroix woman myself. After a few hours of driving through the picturesque landscape, I finally arrived at the school.

I parked the car and pulled out my phone, dialing Jiyeon's number. The phone rang a few times before she picked up, her voice bright and cheerful. "Hey, Yura! How are you?"

"Hey, Jiyeon," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rush of emotions. "I was just thinking about you. What are you up to?"

"I'm just finishing up some study notes in my dorm," she replied. "It's been a long day, but really productive."

"That's great to hear," I said, smiling despite myself. "Listen, I have a surprise for you. Could you come outside for a moment?"

"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" she asked, her tone curious and excited.

"You'll see," I teased, stepping out of the car and looking around. "Just come outside."

There was a brief pause before Jiyeon responded. "Okay, I'm on my way."

I leaned against the car, my heart racing. A few minutes later, I saw her emerge from the dorm building, her expression one of surprise and delight when she spotted me.

"Yura!" she exclaimed, running towards me. I opened my arms, and she flew into them, wrapping me in a tight hug. "I can't believe you're here!"

"I missed you too much," I admitted, holding her close. "I had to come see you."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at me with shining eyes. "This is the best surprise ever."

"I'm glad you think so," I said, smiling down at her. "I couldn't stand being away from you for so long."

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other, before Jiyeon led me towards a bench nearby. "Come on, let's sit and talk. I want to hear all about your week."

As we sat down, I took her hands in mine, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "How have you been? Really?"

"It's been intense," she admitted. "The classes are challenging, but I'm learning so much. And the professors are incredible."

I nodded, trying to gauge her reaction. "And what about Professor Delacroix? You mentioned she's been giving you extra sessions."

"Yes, she's amazing," Jiyeon said, her eyes lighting up. "I've learned so much from her already. She's really helped me improve my techniques."

I forced a smile, trying to keep my jealousy in check. "I'm glad to hear that. Just...be careful, okay? I've heard some things about her."

Jiyeon frowned, looking puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Just that she has a history of getting close to her students," I said carefully. "I don't want you to get caught up in anything inappropriate."

Jiyeon shook her head, squeezing my hands. "Yura, you don't have to worry. She's just a teacher. I'm here to learn, and that's all."

"I know," I said, trying to let go of my anxiety. "I just...I care about you so much. I don't want anything to come between us."

"Nothing will," Jiyeon said firmly. "You mean the world to me."

I leaned in and kissed her, feeling the tension between us dissolve. "I love you," I whispered against her lips.

"I love you too," she replied, smiling.

Just then, a voice called out from the shadows. "Well, this is a surprise."

We both turned to see Professor Delacroix approaching, her expression unreadable. "Jiyeon, who is this?"

"This is my wife, Yura," Jiyeon said, standing up and stepping slightly in front of me, as if to protect me.

"Ah, so this is the famous Yura I've heard so much about," Delacroix said, her tone pleasant but with an edge I didn't like.

"Yes," I said, standing up as well and extending my hand. "Nice to meet you, Professor."

Delacroix shook my hand, her grip firm. "Likewise. I must say, Jiyeon speaks very highly of you."

"Thank you," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've heard a lot about you as well."

The three of us stood there in awkward silence for a moment, before Jiyeon broke the tension. "Professor, this is such a nice surprise. Yura just got here, and we were about to catch up."

"Of course," Delacroix said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "I didn't mean to intrude. I was just heading back to my quarters."

"No intrusion at all," Jiyeon said quickly. "Thank you for everything today, Professor. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Jiyeon," Delacroix said, giving me one last, lingering look before turning and walking away.

As soon as she was out of sight, Jiyeon turned to me, her expression concerned. "Yura, are you okay?"

I nodded, though my mind was racing. "I'm fine. I just...I don't like the way she looks at you."

Jiyeon sighed, pulling me into a hug. "There's nothing to worry about. I'm here for you, and only you."

"I know," I said, holding her tight. "I just can't help but worry."

"Let's not think about her," Jiyeon said softly.

We spent the rest of the night talking and catching up, the tension between us fading away. Despite my lingering doubts about Delacroix, being with Jiyeon made everything feel right again. As we lay in bed, holding each other, I felt a sense of peace settle over me.

But in the back of my mind, I knew this wasn't the end of the story. Delacroix's presence loomed like a dark cloud, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a new challenge.