Page 29 of Give Me You
"Which one of us?" I ask, looking at Liam.
Liam considers for a moment. "You've been dealing with the River situation. If the police follow up, it makes more sense for you to have an alibi that puts you at the club. With Emilio." He pauses. "Plus, you're better at the corporate bullshit than I am. You can handle a room full of investors."
"Alright," I say, committing to this insane plan. "I'll be your Alpha."
Emilio's eyes widen slightly, like he didn't expect me to agree so readily. "Just for the investors. Just until this blows over."
"Sure," I lie smoothly. Because I already know this won't be temporary. Not really. The bond forming between us, the one Liam and I both feel, isn't going to disappear just because Emilio wants it to. And playing the part of his Alpha, even in a limited capacity, will only strengthen it.
"We need to get our story straight," Liam starts, ever the voice of reason. "If they ask questions, you both need to have the same answers. How long have you been together? Why did you keep it secret? What are your plans for the future?"
Emilio groans, dropping his head into his hands. "This is going to be a disaster."
"Probably," I agree. "But it's a disaster we can manage."
Liam pulls out his phone, already making notes. "How long have you been together? I'd say at least a few months. Long enough that the pregnancy makes sense timeline-wise, but not so long that people will question why they haven't heard about it."
"Four months," Emilio says quietly. "We've been together for four months. We kept it secret because I didn't want the investors to think I was using an Alpha to run my business. I wanted to prove I could do it on my own first."
The story explains the secrecy and plays into Emilio's known desire for independence. Liam types it into his phone, building out the details.
"What about the baby?" I ask. "Are we saying I'm the father?"
Emilio's hand stills on his stomach. The question clearly makes him uncomfortable. "I don't know. If we say you're the father, that's a lie that could come back to bite us. But if we say you're not, they'll question why you're stepping up." He stands and heads toward his bedroom, dismissing the conversation but I can’t blame him.
Especially with that longing look in Liam’s eyes, the one that tells me Liam really wants this to be real. Fuck, I think I do too.
Emilio
Anxiety claws at my throat, making it hard to breathe. The familiar tightness in my chest builds with every step toward the conference room, every second that ticks closer to this meeting. My hands shake slightly, and I clench them into fists to hide it. This is it. The moment where everything either falls into place or completely falls apart.
Liam's hand finds the small of my back, the touch sending warmth through me, helping to ease some of the panic threatening to spiral out of control. The light blue suit I chosethis morning fits perfectly, tailored to hide my belly while still looking professional. Liam has already mentioned peeling it off of me multiple times since I put it on, to distract from the awkward, fake story we put together.
Even Akira pressed a firm kiss to my forehead before we headed down the stairs, the gesture so unexpectedly tender it made my breath catch. His lips lingered there for a moment, and I could feel the weight of what he wasn't saying.Be brave. We've got you. You're not alone.All of it communicated in that single touch.
Otto stands by the conference room doors, his expression as unreadable as ever. But his eyes ask questions, the way they always do when he knows I'm keeping something from him. The man has worked for my family long enough to read me better than almost anyone.
"We came to an agreement," I say quietly, keeping my voice low so no one else can hear. "They won't take anything from me, but they'll stand in for me as my Alphas." Akira was supposed to be my Alpha, but in the end, it didn’t make sense to only choose one of them.
Otto chuckles and then he nods, understanding passing between us without need for more words. He's worried, I can see it in the set of his shoulders. But he trusts my judgment, or at least he's willing to support my decisions even when he disagrees with them. His hand reaches for the door handles. "Ready?" he asks.
No. I'm not ready. I'll never be ready for this. But I nod anyway because what choice do I have? Otto presses the doors open, and we step inside.
The investors are already gathered around the long table. Every single one of them. My irritation spikes immediately. The meeting wasn't supposed to start for another ten minutes. They gathered early, probably to discuss me without me present. Totalk about whether I'm fit to run this club, whether my Alphas are real, whether they should just hand everything over to Zaden and be done with it.
Composing myself takes effort. Every muscle in my body wants to tense, wants to lash out, and demand to know what they were discussing. But I force my expression into something neutral. This is a performance. I need to play my part.
Walking to the head of the table, I take my seat. Akira and Liam flank me, one on each side. The symbolism isn't lost on anyone in the room. I'm protected, claimed, and backed by powerful Alphas. It's exactly the image we need to project.
"Thank you all for coming," I start, my voice steady. "I know there have been concerns about my ability to manage Aurum Pulse given recent events and my condition. I'd like to address those concerns by introducing you to Akira and Liam Stark."
Akira stands smoothly, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Gentlemen, Ms. Patricia," he nods to the one female investor. "I'm Akira Stark. My brother Liam and I have been working closely with Emilio for several months now. We've kept our relationship quiet until now out of respect for Emilio's desire to prove himself independently."
Akira's tone is confident, authoritative, and exactly what these investors want to hear from an Alpha. He's playing the role perfectly, and I should be grateful. I am grateful. But something about watching him take charge makes me angry because all of the investors are suddenly more interested.
Charles leans forward, his expression skeptical. "And you're both willing to take on responsibility for the club's operations?"
"We're willing to support Emilio in whatever capacity he needs," Liam says, forcing his authority into his voice. "But let's be clear. This is his club. His vision, his work, his legacy. We're here to provide backing, not to take over which is why we didn’t step forward until we were asked."
