Page 2 of Give Me You
He's one of the few people who know about the pregnancy. I told him a month ago, after I nearly passed out in my office from exhaustion. He didn't judge me, didn't ask questions I didn't want to answer. He just nodded and told me to take care of myself, which is more compassion than I've gotten from anyone else lately.
"He's healthy," I say, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach before I catch myself and drop it back to my side. "I'll have to make an official announcement in the next week or so. I can't hide it much longer."
Otto nods, humming a low sound that makes me wonder how he never packed up. He’d be good to an Omega. "Good to know."
We turn down the back hall toward the conference room. My stomach tightens with every step, anxiety crawling up my spine. I hate these meetings. The sponsors are all Alphas, all men who think they know better than me just because of what I am. They smile to my face and talk behind my back, waiting for me to slip up so they can swoop in and take control. And tonight, with Zaden already stirring the pot, I know it's going to be bad.
"What's the vibe in there right now?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Otto hesitates, which is never a good sign. "It's tense. The party this evening needs to go off without a hitch to get the investment from that new drink supplier. Everything is running smoothly so far, but the VIP section is…"
He trails off, and I frown. "Zaden was supposed to handle all that."
Otto shrugs, his expression carefully neutral. "You know he's never going to willingly do his job if it means working for you."
I sigh, straightening my shirt and trying to ignore the way my hands start shaking. Of course, he didn't. Zaden's been a manager for three years, and he spends more time undermining me than actually managing anything. But I can't fire him. The sponsors would see it as proof that I can't handle conflict, that I'm too emotional to run the club. So I'm stuck with him, and he knows it.
I stop outside the conference room door and take a deep breath. Otto gives me a reassuring nod, and then I push the door open, all of the sponsors looking up at my entrance. There are six of them, all seated around the long table with drinks in front of them. At the head of the table, leaning back in his chair like he owns the place, is Zaden. He smiles when he sees me, an all-knowing smile like he’s got something up his sleeve.
"I'm so glad you could join us," he says, his tone dripping with false warmth. "I was telling our sponsors that maybe it's time for a change in how things are run here. After all, my pregnant little brother shouldn't be working so hard, should he?"
All the color drains from my face, the room tilting slightly as I try to process what he just said. Every pair of eyes in the room is on me, the sponsors leaning forward, interest sharpening their expressions. My hands instinctively move to my stomach before I catch myself and drop them to my sides, but it's too late. They've already seen.
Fuck.
Emilio
The shock hits me first before it twists into something hotter. Anger curls in my chest, but I force it down and fix my face into something neutral. I can't afford to lose my temper right now, not with all of them watching me like I'm some kind of spectacle. I take a breath and walk to the other end of the table, across from Zaden, pulling out the chair and sitting down with as much composure as I can manage.
Zaden straightens up in his seat, a wild smile spreading across his face. He thinks he's backed me into a corner I can't escapefrom, and maybe he has, but I'm not going down without a fight. Otto steps up behind me, his presence giving me a little boost of confidence. I can think of three options right now. I can deny the pregnancy outright, which won't work because I'm clearly showing if they know what to look for. I can admit it and let them tear me apart for not having an Alpha. Or I can lie my ass off and buy myself some time to figure out what the hell I'm going to do.
I choose the third option, even though I know it's going to come back to bite me.
I lean forward slightly, folding my hands on the table in front of me. My voice comes out steady, which is a minor miracle considering how hard my heart is pounding. "I told my brother in confidence. I wasn't ready to share that information just yet."
One of the investors, a man named Harrison with salt and pepper hair and a sharp jaw, sets his glass down. "I'm not sure how comfortable we are with this, Emilio."
"It's a good thing you don't have to be," I say, keeping my tone even. "But just know that my Alpha is fully aware of my activities and asked not to be revealed at this time. We weren't going to announce anything for another week as we set everything in motion."
Zaden's smile falters, his expression darkening. "That's all bullshit."
I turn my gaze to him, letting some of the anger I've been holding back seep into my voice. "No, you just prematurely made it seem like I can't handle my own club while neglecting your own duties. I heard that the VIP section hasn't been fully prepared."
There are frowns around the table now, a few of the investors exchanging glances. Zaden bristles, his jaw clenching. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off before he can.
I clear my throat, straightening in my seat. "You will all meet my Alpha shortly, but that would take away from what we aredoing here, and we all know you would then defer to him rather than me. This ismyclub. One of many reasons my Alpha and I haven't made it official just yet."
Harrison leans back in his chair, studying me curiously. "So in a week, we'll meet the father? You understand that having a pregnant Omega as the owner of a club is a bit…"
"Unorthodox?" I finish for him. "Yes. But you didn't truly have a problem with me until a few minutes ago when you found out. Seems I was doing just fine. Now, can we discuss the new drink sponsor, or do you need to ask me more questions about my pregnancy?"
The room goes silent. No one meets my eyes except Zaden, who's staring at me like he wants to reach across the table and strangle me. I hold his gaze for a moment before turning my attention back to the rest of the table.
"Excellent," I say, pulling a folder from the stack Otto places in front of me. "Let's talk about Neon Dreams."
I launch into the presentation, walking them through the details of the new drink sponsor. Neon Dreams is a premium energy drink company looking to break into the nightclub scene, and they've chosenAurum Pulseas their flagship location. It's a good deal, one that could bring in a significant amount of revenue if we play our cards right. The drink itself is marketed toward the party crowd, with flavors designed to pair well with alcohol and a branding campaign that's all about living in the moment and embracing the chaos of nightlife.
A few of the investors chime in as I talk, asking questions about the rollout plan and the marketing strategy. Harrison seems genuinely interested, and Marcus, the younger Alpha who usually doesn't say much, actually leans forward and starts taking notes. But I notice a shift in the dynamic almost immediately. Two of the investors closest to Zaden, Charles and another man named Vincent, aren't really participating. They sitback in their chairs with their arms crossed, their expressions blank of any emotion. I can tell I'm losing support, and it makes my stomach twist with anxiety.
