Page 3 of Such a Grumpy Omega
Over the next few days, I brainstormed with myself, trying to think of exactly how I needed to act in order to maintain my current income stream while shifting my attention to a whole new type of work. And…I finally came to the conclusion that was not going to work. The gated communities I pulled together took every moment of my workday, and if I began another, there would be no room in my schedule for anything else. I had to choose whether to cling to security or take a chance to make a big change.
Finally, I picked up the phone and made a call. The person on the other end agreed to see me in an hour, so I stuffed my tablet in my bag and told my assistant I’d be out for the rest of the day and not reachable.
Gregory’s shock should not have surprised me. Not only did I never take any time off sick, my frugality in personal matters also extended to never traveling anywhere not directly business related. It was a business decision joining Cuffed when it opened. Networking. Remarkable how many of the city’s professionals and officials were members.
And that was where I planned to go now, to meet with Talon, who happened to be in his office at this time of day. I had aproposal for him and his co-owners that I thought might be good for them and for me.
“I’ve never been in this section of the building,” I said, looking around admiringly. “It actually never occurred to me that there would be so many offices in a nightclub.”
Talon chuckled, handing me a bottle of sparkling water from his office refrigerator. “We needed every one of them before we bought the buildings on either side. We’re going to need more administrative staff once we triple our size. And since I do a lot of the hiring…I’ll be a busy alpha for a while.”
“I should think so.” I considered how I wanted to express my ideas since they were not nearly as organized as my usual propositions to investors. In this case, I would be the investor. If they even wanted me. I hadn’t been spending many evenings at the club lately, something I missed and hoped to remedy. “That brings me to what I came to discuss with you.”
He grinned, leaning back in his maroon leather executive chair. “I thought it might. Why don’t we move to the sofa where we can speak more comfortably. In fact, if you don’t mind, I think Bronson is here, and I’ll invite him in to speak with us.”
“Sure.” The man he referred to had been present the night before and had been one of those who had heard me complaining about a life most people would have been thrilled to live. I couldn’t think of a way I could come out looking anything but ungrateful for the life Fate had dealt me.
But I had come here and was taking up these very busy men’s time, so I saw no way out but forward. I moved over to the couch and sat on one end, while Talon stepped out and returned with Bronson, whose smile was even bigger than the other man’s. “Fraser, I hoped you’d come by. Talon seems to think we made an impression on you when we last spoke.”
“He’s right.” I drew a breath before speaking. “I’ve been wanting to make what I do more relevant, if that makes any sense at all.”
Talon sat on the other end of the couch, and Bronson helped himself to a bottle of water from the refrigerator before sitting on one of the two chairs opposite us. They didn’t speak, just sat patiently waiting to hear what I might have to say.
All right, then.“As you may or may not know, most of what I have been involved in, at least recently, has been large gated communities consisting of mini mansions, and while it is lucrative, I’m a little tired of making rich men richer while creating islands where they can avoid real people—shifters and otherwise.” Wow. I hadn’t ever thought of it quite that way, but now that I had, I understood my feelings a little better.
“That’s logical.” Bronson cast a glance at Talon. “And I assume you are here because you think we can help with this?”
“Or maybe he can help us,” the other owner said.
“I hope it will go both ways.”
“After we spoke, I talked to all the other owners,” Bronson said, “and they have authorized me to ask if you would be interested in investing in our corporation. We think your experience would be helpful with what we’re doing now as well as a possible new club in another city in a year or two.”
“Investing? As an owner?”
Talon went to the refrigerator and returned with a fresh sparkling water for me as well as one for himself. “Yes, we have been open long enough to be showing profits, and some will of course be reinvested, but continued growth requires a fresh influx of cash now and then. Those of us who are already in have duties around the place, but we are also open to a silent partnership if you prefer.”
“Although it would be a waste of your talents,” Bronson put in. “Money is helpful but skills like yours are much more valuable.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’d be very interested in taking part in the current expansion, and the new one? I have to say, I very much like getting in on the ground floor. What city did you have in mind?”
We spoke for a few hours, with other owners popping in as they arrived for the afternoon until we finally had to go to the conference room just to have enough chairs. Of course, the amount it would cost for a full partnership was substantial, but I’d had a fair guess in mind. It turned out to be close and not an issue, and by the time I left the meeting, we had a handshake agreement that their lawyers and mine would fluff up into a final document.
Things were changing fast. And I felt better, lighter than I had in a long time. Fate had once again been kind to me. I couldn’t ask her for anything more.
I joined the owners in the bar for a toast then headed out.
Chapter Four
Everly
“What’s going on?” The alpha from the night before, one who had told me good evening, walked toward me, but I stood my ground. I wouldn’t be intimidated no matter how gorgeous and alpha-y he was.
I would get access to this place and fucking end them.
“This gentleman would like to enter the club but I explained to him that it is members only.”
The girl’s name tag said Julie. Julie didn’t know it but, if I had my way, she would be out of a job soon.
