Page 18 of Give Me You
The investors are all there, seated around the long table as per usual. Charles is at the far end, his judgmental expression immediately taking me in. Cole, the owner of Neon Dreams, sits beside him. A few other investors I recognize are scattered around the table, their faces ranging from concerned to outright hostile.
And then there's Zaden, standing at the head of the table like he already owns the place. He's leaning back with his arms crossed, that smug smile on his face that makes me want topunch him. He thinks he's won. He thinks this is finally his moment to take everything from me.
The room goes quiet as I walk in, the only sound my footsteps on the hardwood floor. I move to stand across from Zaden, refusing to let him intimidate me. Otto follows me in and takes his place by the door, his presence a silent reminder that I'm not completely alone in this.
Charles clears his throat, breaking the silence. "I'm sure you have a great explanation for why the owner was drugged up and caught in pictures." The Alpha has already decided I’m guilty which isn’t a surprise but that just means he was probably one of the reasons this meeting was called. Like this is just a formality before they vote me out.
"Actually, I do have an explanation," I say, forcing my voice steady despite the nerves churning in my stomach. "Last night, I was drugged without my knowledge."
Another investor, a man named Gregory with silver hair and a permanent scowl, scoffs. "You're just saying that. We all know that you're close with the Stark Alphas. Everyone knows they deal drugs. It's not a stretch to think you were sampling the merchandise."
The accusation makes my blood boil. "I'm pregnant, as most of you knew before. I would never harm my child. Those drugs could have killed us both." I pause, letting the weight of that sink in. "What I want to know is who drugged me and why. I'll get to the bottom of this."
Charles leans forward, his fingers steepled in front of him. "That's all well and good, Emilio. But the fact remains that you were incapacitated during one of the most important nights for the club. The Neon Dreams launch was supposed to establish us as a premier venue, and instead, we have pictures of you looking like you can't handle your own product circulating online."
Cole speaks up, his voice abnormally calm for a situation like this. I also don’t know who invited this guy to our private meetings when he wouldn’t even have a vote in the matter. "The launch itself went well from a sales perspective. Neon Dreams sold better than we projected. But the optics are concerning. Our brand is about fun and safety, and having the club owner appear to be under the influence doesn't align with our values."
Zaden steps forward, that smug smile growing wider. "Which is why I stepped up last night. Someone had to keep things running smoothly while my brother was… indisposed. The VIP section was a disaster when I took over, but I got it sorted. Made sure our clients were taken care of. Made sure the sponsor was happy."
I want to call bullshit and point out that Otto said Zaden was suspiciously active last night, almost like he knew I'd be out of commission. But I don't have proof. Not yet. And making accusations without evidence will only make me look more unstable.
Charles looks around the table. "I think we need to vote on whether Emilio remains as CEO of Aurum Pulse. All in favor of keeping him in his current position?"
The room erupts into discussion, voices overlapping as the investors talk over each other. Some are arguing in my favor, pointing out my track record and the success of the club under my management. Others are arguing for my removal, citing last night's incident and my pregnancy as evidence that I can't handle the pressure.
Gregory is particularly vocal. "We can't have someone running the club who's going to be dealing with a newborn in a few months. It's not practical. And if he can't even keep himself safe, how is he supposed to keep the club safe?"
Another investor, a woman named Patricia, who's always been somewhat supportive, counters. "Emilio's parents trusted himwith this club for a reason. One incident doesn't negate years of successful management."
"One incident is all it takes," Charles spits back. "And given hiscondition, we need to think about the long-term stability of this investment."
The discussion goes on for what feels like hours, but is probably only ten minutes. My heart is pounding, my hands clenched so tight my nails dig into my palms. Finally, Charles calls for order.
"All in favor of keeping Emilio as CEO, raise your hand."
I watch as hands go up around the table. Patricia raises hers immediately. Two other investors I don't know as well follow suit. But it's not enough. Charles, Gregory, and three others keep their hands down.
"The vote is tied," Charles says. "Which means we need a tiebreaker. And in situations like this, the senior investor makes the final call." He pauses, his eyes locked on mine. "I vote to keep Emilio as CEO. For now." Relief floods through me, but it's short-lived. Charles continues, his tone making it clear this isn't a victory. "However, we need to see your Alpha by tomorrow. We don't think you can handle this on your own, and having an Alpha co-sign on your decisions will give us more confidence in the club's future. Zaden had to pick up your slack when you disappeared. We need assurance that it won't happen again."
The relief turns to dread. My Alpha. The one that doesn't exist. The one I lied about having. And now I have less than twenty-four hours to produce him or lose everything.
The smile that spreads across my brother’s face is victorious. "You lost, brother. This club is slipping through your fingers because of what you chose."
I want to argue and tell him to go fuck himself. But the words won't come. A sharp pain spreads through my chest, my breath catching in my throat. I resist the urge to place a hand on mychest, to let anyone in the room know that the anxiety I’ve been swallowing down all morning is finally making an appearance. So, I just nod stiffly and turn to leave, ignoring Zaden's satisfied expression.
Otto follows me out as I head straight for my office. The hallway seems longer than usual, my legs unsteady. What is bringing this on? Is this another heat spike? Is my body betraying me again?
I push into my office and place both hands flat on the edge of my desk, trying to catch my breath. Otto is beside me immediately, pulling a bottle of water from the mini fridge I keep in the corner. He holds it out to me, but I shake my head. Water won't fix this. Nothing will fix this.
The door opens again, and Liam strolls in. "I got this."
I stare at him, confusion cutting through the panic. Why is Liam even here? How did he know to come? But before I can ask, Otto and him share a nod before Otto leaves, closing the door behind him. I don’t even get a second to think before Liam pulls me into his chest. The scent of cedarwood surrounds me, grounding me in a way nothing else has.
"Breathe," he murmurs, his hand rubbing circles on my back.
I sag against him, my body giving up the fight to stay upright. The panic starts to ease, my breathing slowly evening out. Liam's purr starts up, a low rumble that vibrates through his chest and into mine.
"I don't know why, but I can feel your anguish," Liam says softly. "I was already on my way, but I'm here now."
