Page 4 of The Betas: Rene
Chapter Two
Henri’s Study
Armand was seated behind Henri’s desk with Henri and Julien sitting in front of the fireplace. Henri passed Martin Frankie’s résumé, and Martin gave it to Armand. He then took his customary place behind Armand’s left shoulder. René sat down in the loveseat placed in front of the desk and motioned Frankie to sit next to him.
Armand read the sheet in front of him. “Your résumé…” Armand held up the sheet, “is very impressive.”
“Thank you, Mr. La Marche, although I haven’t worked for anyone but Dante, I’m a competent financial manager, have supervised people, managed my stepfather’s property, and controlled his legitimate business interests. I’ve also done other incidental work for him, such as guarding Mr. Bellaire’s husband.”
“A job for which your father was very well paid,” Armand observed.
“Excuse me, Mr. La Marche,” Frankie interrupted. “Dante is my stepfather. My father was Francis Xavier Fitzgerald. He died in Bosnia when I was ten. Dad was with the Army Rangers and was awarded a Silver Star posthumously.”
“I stand corrected. I can see why you would make the distinction.” Armand blinked hard, taken aback at Frankie Ferone’s vehemence.
“Neither the men who came with me that night nor I made one extra dime for that job,” Frankie added. “My stepfather was out of line.”
“Armand, Frankie’s men searched for Stawski the next day in Queens and came back that night without charge,” Julien reminded him.
Henri said, “Frankie also aided Vitas and I when we were in danger from Chernof. Frankie actually confronted one of the Russians and held him off until Regis came outside.”
Armand raised an eyebrow. “You have advocates among my board members.”
“I’d hoped I had.” Frankie smiled. “I consider Julien and Henri friends. When we came to Julien, he treated us like human beings instead of hired thugs. Because of that, we came back and then when Julien called, offered to help Henri.”
Armand nodded. “They and their husbands speak well of you. Their recommendations hold weight with me. When would you be available to start?”
“The first of May, although I plan to take a week’s vacation before I take a new job. I haven’t had a vacation in ten years.”
The Alpha first spoke over the Alpha Link to René.“René, you have two weeks.”Then aloud, he said to Frankie, “Mr. Ferone, you’ll have my answer by the first. The job pays a stipend from Garou Industries of two hundred and fifty thousand plus a salary from my funds of two hundred and fifty thousand. You’ll work closely with Martin and René and be in constant contact with the deputies to the rest of Garou’s board members and their husbands. I can’t guarantee you a job yet, but I will let you know in the time specified. If I can’t hire you personally, I’ll make sure you find a job elsewhere.”
Frankie gaped at him. “Thank you, Mr. La Marche, I don’t know what to say except that I’m grateful for your consideration.”
“You and René go down and enjoy the reception. Julien, Henri, and Martin, we have business to discuss.”
Armand waited for the door to Henri’s study to close behind Frankie and René. “I can’t hire him unless René is successful with his mating. Frankie is an Alpha in the human world, a Hi-Beta in ours, like Julio. So, René’s way is not an easy one.” Armand examined the résumé again.
“If you’ll excuse me for speaking, Alpha…” Martin spoke up. “When I met Edward, it became immediately apparent that he was a Hi-Beta. Yet it only took me a day. The attraction was instantaneous. I got him to see things my way as soon as I declared myself. Once Julio was healing from his injury, it took Alpha Daurensbourg two days. Frankie will not be as difficult as you think. I expect poor René to have a hell of a ride, but it will be interference from Don Ferone, not Frankie’s reluctance that will give him fits.”
§ § §
René and Frankie descended the stairs, and Frankie walked over to take another plate to the buffet. René found them seats at a table for two set up in a private corner. Frankie returned to René after filling his plate. “My God, I’ve never been this hungry. I’m beginning to feel like I haven’t eaten in the past month.”
Frankie sat down and focused on eating his food. Midway through his meal, he asked, “Are you seeing anyone?”
René breathed a sigh of relief. His Mate was interested. “No, I’m not. The family is very conservative. We don’t do casual. When we begin to see someone, we’re dead serious. I’d like to start seeing you.”
Frankie cleared his throat. “I hate to ask, but I’ve got to get away from my stepfather or lose my mind. Would seeing you jeopardize my chance at a job with Mr. La Marche or Garou?”
“No, it wouldn’t. Mr. La Marche will decide on your employment on your own merits, and where it is he’d like you to work.” René was lying to his Mate, a bad way to start out, but if Frankie chose not to see him, Armand couldn’t hire him because of their secret. The situation was exactly the opposite of what Frankie thought it was, and René couldn’t say a thing.
“The hell with it. Mr. La Marche said he would help me get a job even if he can’t hire me. It’s past time I did something for myself. Yes, I’d love to see you. I can’t say how serious I am yet, but in ten years, I’ve never agreed to see someone exclusively. I don’t think I’d be very happy if you saw someone else at the same time as you were seeing me.”
“We don’t believe in sex before marriage…is that a big problem?”
Frankie grumbled under his breath. “I haven’t had much opportunity for sex in the past ten years. Dante made sure of it.” He sighed. “Why should this be any different? Of all the men I could pick, I get one with morals.”
René choked on his laugh. All was good. He had little reason to be jealous. Wolves possessed excellent hearing as his Mate would hopefully soon learn.
