Page 41 of Give Me You
The email is professional but leaves no room for argument. A reminder that I'm still in charge, that I'm not going anywheredespite everything that happened. Some of them will probably be annoyed that I'm taking time for myself, but they can deal with it. I've earned the right to slow down, to focus on my pregnancy and my Alphas instead of constantly fighting fires.
Standing up from my desk, I walk to the windows that overlook the club. The main floor is packed tonight, bodies moving to the music in waves of color and light. Everyone is having fun, laughing and dancing and living in the moment. It's like an entirely different vibe without the shadow of my brother around to ruin things. The energy feels cleaner somehow, less tainted by ulterior motives and manipulation.
This is what the club is supposed to be. A place where people come to escape their problems, to celebrate life, to connect with others. Not a battleground where family members fight for control and investors scheme behind closed doors. Watching the crowd below, I feel a surge of pride. This is mine. I built this. And nobody is taking it from me.
Pulling out my phone again, I call Otto. He answers on the second ring, his voice steady and professional as always. "What do you need?"
"We need to have a meeting with the investors," I say, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I sent an email but I want to make it very clear what they can and can't do going forward."
"When?" Otto asks.
"Tomorrow morning. Ten am. Non-negotiable," I reply. "And make sure everyone knows it's mandatory. If they can't make it, they can send their resignation."
Otto chuckles. "Bold. I like it. I'll send out the notifications now."
Hanging up, I take one more look at the club below. Tomorrow I'm going to set boundaries, going to make it crystal clear that while I have Alphas now, that doesn't change who's in charge. The investors need to understand that their days of treating melike a figurehead are over. From now on, they either respect my authority or they can take their money elsewhere.
The next morning arrives faster than I expected. Sleep came easily last night, wrapped between Liam and Akira with their scents surrounding me and their warmth keeping the nightmares away. When my alarm goes off, I feel rested and ready to face whatever comes next.
Getting dressed, I choose a suit that shows my belly proudly. No more hiding, no more pretending to be something I'm not. The investors are going to see exactly who I am, a pregnant Omega and successful business owner, and they're going to accept it or leave.
Heading down to the conference room, I find Otto already there, setting up. He gives me an approving nod when he sees my outfit choice. "Ready for this?"
"More than ready," I say, settling into my chair at the head of the table.
The investors trickle in slowly over the next fifteen minutes. Patricia arrives first, giving me a warm smile. Marcus comes next, looking slightly nervous. Cole from Neon Dreams shows up with a coffee in hand, his expression curious. Gregory is last, as usual, his permanent scowl in place. There's a few others that file in, their names escaping me at the moment.
Liam sits beside me on my right and Akira takes the seat on my left, completing the picture. Both of them nod at the investors as they settle in, but neither speaks. This is my meeting, my show. They're here to support, not to take over.
When everyone is seated, I lean forward and clasp my hands on the table. "Thank you all for coming on short notice. I know the last few weeks have been chaotic, and I appreciate your patience during this difficult time. But I want to make something very clear moving forward."
Pausing, I make eye contact with each investor in turn. Making sure they're all paying attention, that they understand the importance of what I'm about to say.
"I am running this club," I continue. "Not my Alphas. Not anyone else but me. When you have questions about operations, you bring them to me. When you have concerns about finances, you bring them to me. When you want to discuss the future direction of Aurum Pulse, you bring them to me."
Some of the investors shift uncomfortably. They've gotten used to deferring to Akira and Liam over the last week, treating them as the real power while I'm just window dressing. But that stops now.
"I understand that having Alphas beside me changes the dynamic," I acknowledge. "And I appreciate that many of you feel more comfortable dealing with them. But this is the legacy my parents built and then left to me. No one is going to ruin that. I might have Alphas now, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Aurum Pulse is still mine. It will always be mine."
The statement hangs in the air, a challenge and a promise rolled into one. Patricia nods immediately, her support clear. Marcus follows suit after a moment of hesitation. Cole raises his coffee cup in a small salute, a grin on his face.
Gregory, predictably, looks less convinced. "And if we disagree with a decision you make?"
"Then you're welcome to voice your concerns," I say calmly. "But at the end of the day, the final call is mine. If you can't accept that, if you need an Alpha to make you feel secure in your investment, then I suggest you sell your shares and find another opportunity."
The ultimatum is clear. Accept my authority or get out. There's no middle ground anymore, no room for the kind of passive-aggressive undermining that's been happening for months.
"I think we can all agree to that," Patricia offers. "Emilio has proven himself more than capable. Recent events were... unfortunate, but they don't reflect on his ability to run this establishment."
"Agreed," Cole adds. "The Neon Dreams partnership has been incredibly successful. I'm more than happy to continue working under Emilio's leadership."
Marcus nods. "Same here. I think we all just want to see the club succeed."
Gregory remains silent for a long moment before finally sighing. "Fine. But I expect regular updates and transparent financials."
"You'll have them," I promise. "Just like you always have." I hate that they flipped so easily, that the moment there was no other optionbutme, they folded. However, it’s better than nothing.
The meeting continues for another hour as we discuss logistics and future plans. But the power dynamic has shifted. The investors direct their questions to me, waiting for my answers before looking to Akira or Liam for confirmation. It's a small change, but it matters. It shows they're finally starting to see me as the person in charge.
