Page 23 of Give Me You
Walking into the main area, I nearly collide with Cole. The Beta stands near the bar, nursing what looks like a whiskey on the rocks. His sharp eyes take me in, something in his expression telling me this conversation won't be pleasant.
"I wasn't sure you'd show after that mess of a meeting," Cole says, his tone casual but his posture tense.
The comment irritates me immediately. "This is my club. Why wouldn't I?" My voice comes out sharper than I intend, but I'm tired of people questioning my commitment. "Just because Zaden is trying to sabotage what I've built doesn't mean I'm not going to push through it."
Cole nods slowly, something like awe flickering across his face. "I respect that."
We talk for a few minutes about Neon Dreams, about the sales numbers from last night, and about the new flavors Cole wants to introduce next month. The launch went well despite everything that happened. Better than projected, actually. People loved the drinks, loved the aesthetic, loved the way they glowed under the blacklights. Cole mentions a few new marketing strategies he wants to implement, ways to capitalize on the buzz from opening night.
But then his expression shifts, becoming more serious. "And you're okay? I should have asked earlier."
The concern in his voice catches me off guard. "I'm much better, thank you." My defenses go up automatically, walls slamming into place. "You should have never been in that conference room. It was unprofessional as fuck and I'm sorry."
Cole shrugs, unbothered. "I've been around worse. But hey, if you need help producing an Alpha, I can help you with that."
My entire body tenses, anger flooding through me. "What the fuck did you just say to me?"
Cole holds up his hands, trying to placate me. "I was only brought up to speed this morning, but we both know that you don't have an Alpha." He leans in slightly, lowering his voice so no one else can hear. "Come on, Emilio. It was like your whole big thing when you hooked me in, that we don't need Alphas and that we are just as capable as them. I don't want to see the club go to Zaden and if all you need is an Alpha…"
A snort escapes me. "I appreciate the concern, but thereisan Alpha. He's just not involved in the politics of my club because that was the deal. This whole building and everything in it is what I've built and his grimy hands aren't allowed on it."
The lie comes out smooth and even though I've been telling it for less than twenty-four hours, it already feels rehearsed. Maybe because I've been lying to myself for longer than that.
Cole's expression doesn't change. "I get it. I'm just saying that come tomorrow if you don't…"
"Now you're just being disrespectful," I cut him off. "Enjoy the evening, Cole."
Without waiting for his response, I turn and walk away. Everyone has an opinion about what I should do, how I should handle my life, who I should let control me. Nobody thinks I can do this on my own. Not the investors, not my brother, not even the people who are supposed to be my allies. Well, most of them.
The thought of making rounds through the crowd hits me, and suddenly a pang of fear from what happened last night flitsthrough me. The memory of being drugged, of losing control of my own body, of stumbling around vulnerable and exposed. What if it happens again? What if someone else tries to drug me? What if I can't protect myself or the baby?
Instead of heading to the main floor, I veer toward the VIP lounge. The exclusive section feels safer somehow. Security is tighter up here. Plus, it's where Liam usually is. Not that I need him. I don't need anyone. But knowing he's nearby makes the anxiety ease slightly.
Except when I reach the top of the stairs, Liam is mysteriously absent. The booth where he usually sits with Akira stands empty save for Akira himself. He's at the last booth, working with a customer. I wait until the customer nods, pockets the package, and walks off before approaching.
Akira looks up, his gaze immediately softening when he sees me. The change is so dramatic it almost makes me stumble. One second he's all business, hard edges and calculated moves. The next, his expression melts into something warmer, something that makes my stomach flip.
"I heard you were doing better," he says, his voice carrying across the space between us.
My frown deepens. Something about the way he's looking at me feels too intense, too knowing. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Akira's eyes darken with lust, his gaze walking all over me. Starting at my face, trailing down my neck, lingering on the hint of lace peeking through my shirt, following the lines of my suit down to my shoes and back up again. The heat in his stare makes my skin prickle, my body responding in ways I don't want to acknowledge.
A whine builds in my throat, and I bite it back, swallowing it down before it can escape and betray exactly how much his attention affects me.
"You look like a fucking snack," Akira says, his voice dropping lower. "And if that lace peeking out through your shirt is anything like the panties I peeled off of you last night, then that's why I'm looking at you like this."
Heat floods my face, my cheeks burning. "It wasonenight."
Akira throws his hands up in defeat, but there's amusement in his eyes. "I apologize for ogling the boss."
My heart flutters, and I hate myself for it. I've always been admired, always had people looking at me with desire. But something about the way Akira does it feels different. Like he's not just looking at an Omega he wants to fuck, but at me specifically.
A smile manages to break through despite my best efforts. "Where's Liam?"
"He's interviewing a few people with Otto," Akira says, leaning back in his seat. "Trying to figure out what happened last night."
Nodding, I look around the VIP section again. The space is filling up, people claiming tables and ordering bottles. The energy is good, the vibe exactly what I want for this club. Exclusive but not stuffy, upscale but still fun. Then, without even thinking about it, I take a seat across from Akira.
