Page 92 of Holly Jolly Heat
So we ate.
And for twenty minutes, we were just a family having breakfast. No industry crisis. No ethics investigations. No threats from competitors.
Just pack and family, together.
It was exactly what Michelle needed.
By noon, we were in full preparation mode.
Michelle had drafted and redrafted talking points. Lucas had practiced his segments until they sounded natural instead of rehearsed. Ro had mapped out every camera angle and lighting cue. I'd established security protocols for every potential scenario.
"We need to notify my clients," Michelle announced, pulling up her email. "Before the stream. They deserve to hear it from me first."
"All of them?" Lucas asked.
"The major ones at minimum. They'll see it eventually, better to control the message." She started typing. "I'll send a group email to the smaller accounts, individual messages to the top five."
I watched her work. She was efficient and professional, her fingers flying across the keyboard. This was Michelle in her element. Strategy. Communication. Control.
"Sent," she said after fifteen minutes. "Now we wait for responses."
Her phone started buzzing almost immediately.
Client 1: "Thank you for the transparency. Let's talk tomorrow about next steps."
Client 2: "This is unexpected. I need time to think."
Client 3: "You've always been professional with me. I trust you to continue being so."
Client 4: "I appreciate you telling me before I heard it elsewhere. Watching tonight."
Client 5: "Can we schedule a call? I have questions but I'm not jumping ship yet."
"Four supportive, one uncertain," Michelle summarized. "That's... better than I expected."
"Because you're brilliant at your job," I said. "Pack bond doesn't change that."
"I hope the industry agrees with you."
Her phone buzzed again. Callie Cross.
Callie: "Got your email. I'm watching tonight and I'm bringing backup. Other omega creators want to support you publicly. I’m rallying the coalition that supported me and Kara. You're not alone in this. "
Michelle's eyes filled with tears. "Callie's recruiting other creators to support us publicly."
"Because you're not just fighting for yourself," Ro observed. "You're fighting for every omega who comes after you. They know that."
"I didn't ask to be a trailblazer."
"No one asks to be a trailblazer. But here you are anyway." Lucas squeezed her hand. "And you're going to be amazing."
Through the bond, I felt her fear and determination in equal measure.
My omega was terrified. But she was going to do this anyway.
That was courage.
By 6 PM, we were running final checks.
