by Austin Bates
I knew without a doubt that the gorgeous omega was probably fretting so much he could barely live with himself. He seemed to carry the weight of the world of his shoulders regardless of what circumstances he found himself in. As much as I’d teased him, and for all of Thompson’s conviction otherwise, the young omega cared very deeply about his work. He was so meticulous when it came to programming. There were no endless loops in his code, and everything was properly annotated in the correct format. He mentioned that it was intended to help with any collaborations, but I was more convinced it was his inner perfectionist coming to play. He didn’t have thin skin per se, and he didn’t mind constructive criticism. It just seemed that he couldn’t handle any confrontation where emotions ran high.
The day couldn’t end on that note. I refused to allow it. I wouldn’t let his stress consume him as it so often did, not if I could help it. His was the first name in my contacts list, something that made me chuckle though I knew it was just alphabetical order. I tapped the button to call him, holding the phone to my ear with a pretty good idea of how the call would end. In all likelihood, it would just never start. As much as I wanted Aaron to answer my calls, he had been reluctant to do so before this whole scandal. Not that it had to be a scandal-- not if we were careful. I would have told him as much if he answered, but didn’t feel comfortable leaving anything incriminating in his voicemail. Breathing a sigh, I realized I was probably calling and leaving more text messages than was strictly necessary. I never could figure how to go about things correctly when it came to Aaron. I was so confident in every other facet of my life, and it was frustrating that of all things, some fling would knock me off my game.
My traitorous mind insisted it was because I wanted more than a fling-- much more.
I shut that thought down before it could fully manifest, though there was a twinge of longing in my chest. I didn’t like to let my mind be clouded by matters of the heart, but it was unavoidable when it came to Aaron. Of course, I had gone so long without even knowing the identity of the stranger I longed for that even finding out he worked for me was more of a relief than anything. It occurred to me that the workplace dynamic could change, and not in any good way. That would only stress the omega out all the more, so after repeatedly calling his number, I settled on leaving a voice message. Something simple and innocuous.
“Hey, Aaron. It’s Logan-- ha, who else would it be? I know this must be a lot to take in but I want you to know I’m not angry at you. If anything, I’m fascinated. I have to know if you can reciprocate even a fraction of my--” I cut myself off, pausing for a moment too long for comfort. “Interest. My interest in you, Aaron. Please. Call me,” I said, cursing how desperate I sounded. The sex had been good, but that’s all it was and that’s all it would ever be. The voice in the back of my mind pointed out that if it was just sex, I’d have moved on long ago. It wasn’t a voice I gave much credence to.
With the infallible knowledge that the young omega wouldn’t contact me for a while, I had to figure out some way to stay occupied. I didn’t want to linger on those feelings any longer than necessary, not when I had no inkling of Aaron’s thoughts on the matter. Breathing a sigh, I shuffled over to my desk and sorted through some of the reports I’d been looking over. When I had actually discussed the numbers with the software engineer, they were more promising than even I had expected-- and I had full confidence in ECSD as a brand. Talking to Win about the state of my finances and revenue had only built up my expectations even higher. The unease faded as I realized every reason I had for my confidence. I’d made bad investments in the past, but this wasn’t one of them. The current project did so well that it blew everything else out of the water. I was proud, akin to a parent watching their child flourish-- though considering Aaron’s relationship with his dad, that felt like a bad analogy.
My staff deserved to be rewarded, and the public desperately needed to know about the application and my associated success. I wasn’t above honking my own horn, and after the work that had been put into ECSD, I felt justified in my pride. I just wasn’t sure what was the best means of accomplishing those tasks. Gift cards for the staff would likely have been appreciated, but I wanted something more exciting. Something like the Christmas party.
When the thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t resist smiling. It was obvious! Things with Aaron had started at a masquerade party, and I wanted to show him how much I wanted him. What better way to get the word out about ECSD than a grand gala? Talk about killing two birds with one stone. It would be perfect-- I’d have my assistant send out mass invitations to the local upper crust alphas, and my workers could enjoy drinking, dancing and laughing. I hoped I would enjoy something a lot more intimate but I dared not raise my hopes too high. The fact that Aaron had bolted from the restaurant was a bit discouraging. We both felt something, in the closet and the bathroom-- it was undeniable. Had it just been fleeting for him? Should it have been equally fleeting for me?
I could have driven myself crazy thinking about how unlike myself I was behaving. I was an alpha, and not just any alpha-- I was the alpha. It didn’t suit me to spend my time pining over an omega, nor was it becoming to doubt myself to that extent. I was Logan fucking Bryce; any omega should have been tripping over themselves for a chance to be mine. It might have been a conceited thought, but that didn’t make it any less true. Maybe I just needed to remind Aaron of his passionate actions in that blessed closet. Perhaps his feelings were something he’d stuffed down for so long that it was scary to have them rekindled, but what was there to be afraid of? A place at my side meant that he would always be taken care of and always cared for. He would be protected at all costs-- even if it meant losing my best friend.
I pushed that thought aside as I dialed my assistant’s number, pleased with how promptly she answered. I ran through a quick explanation of my plans-- leaving out the primary reason for all of it: Aaron. I knew that he would have to be involved in the planning of the party somehow, and if I gave him tasks he could take pride in, he wouldn’t even hesitate to show up and see his work in action. I emphasized the importance of the tasks I thought up for Aaron, and my loyal assistant promised to see things organized without a hitch. There was a hint of humor in her tone, as if she knew more than she let on. I decided not to dwell on it, leaving her to the planning and organization of the party. She seemed excited to be in charge of something so extravagant, and I couldn’t blame her. Though she’d been in the position for some time, she hadn’t had the opportunity to fully exploit my notoriety. It was a callous way to think of it, maybe, but as long as she got things done effectively, I wasn’t concerned.
She’d been enthusiastic as she bid me a good night, insisting that she had to get to work on things right away. I appreciated her drive but when I ended the call, my thoughts didn’t linger with her, or even the party itself. My heart stuttered every time I let my mind drift to thoughts of the omega I’d been chasing for so long. Admittedly, I often thought with my dick. The fact that the sex had been fantastic was surely part of it, but thinking of Aaron’s blushing face in the restaurant restroom brought a smile to my face. What I’d give to look him in the eye, grab him and drag him to the nearest closet to reenact our first encounter. Except it would be all the more perfect-- it wouldn’t be a stranger. I wouldn’t be on some wild goose chase trying to find out who had brought me to such heights, because it would be Aaron. It would be the sweet and darling omega that I had known for so long.
The reason for our history gave me pause, of course. As much as I wanted to blow off Thompson’s potential tantrum, I knew that their relationship was a fragile one. I wanted to take as much heat off of Aaron as I could. It was one thing to have a full fledged brawl with your college friend, but the things he would say to his son would be too foul for the meek omega to take. I saw the way Aaron’s eyes dulled when he talked about Tom, and I heard the pure stubbornness in Thompson’s voice every time we discussed the application. It was a shame, really. There wa
s so much for the other alpha to be proud of because Aaron’s achievements and contributions to the growth of ECSD could never be matched. I might have been biased, but even when Aaron had just been someone to get a rise out of, I respected his work. I may have talked down to him, but it was because a part of me loved to see the fight in his eyes. I knew things weren’t going to be perfect or easy, and I didn’t want that. I wanted the clumsy and earnest passion I remembered so clearly.
As I disrobed for the evening, leaving my home office to properly relax, my thoughts lingered on Aaron. It should have been enough to make my cock throb, but I was frustratingly more concerned with how to approach my long-time friend. Even if it was the last straw and he decided that our friendship was finished, that was something I could get over easily. Perhaps easily was an exaggeration, but it would have been bearable. My life would not be ruined if Thompson was removed from it, especially if it meant more desperate kisses and embraces with his gorgeous son. The one thing that lingered in my mind was the cruelty I knew Thompson was capable of, and the way Aaron’s voice already shuddered any time he tried to talk about his father. I didn’t know how, but I was going to protect the timid omega, and though it was strange to be so committed to the issue, I’d never felt the level of determination that rushed through me at that moment. I protected all of my possessions, and in spite of how dark the thought may have seemed, I was determined to claim Aaron as my own. No matter the cost.
9
Aaron
Staring at the ceiling, I listened to the steady vibrations of my cell phone as I was repeatedly called and texted. The dream had been disconcerting enough, but the fact that Logan seemed to be going all out with the knowledge that we’d fucked was… unnerving. It wasn’t that I was afraid of Logan, I knew without a doubt that he would never hurt me. It wasn’t even that I found him unattractive or retched at the idea of being with him. Being with Logan was a nice thought, though too nice for my liking. After our first encounter, I vowed I would never fall for his charms again. For all his chronic douchebaggery, he was endearing in a way. The fact that he was so shaken over the whole thing was actually delightful. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was getting desperate. That thought was laughable, though. Logan didn’t get enamored with anyone, and if there were to be someone in his life, it wouldn’t be some geek like me. I inhaled slowly, counting to ten before exhaling a breath that was supposed to be calming. It didn’t achieve the desired purpose, but honestly, I was just happy to be spared hyperventilating.
Even after my phone had long stilled, I refused to get out of my bed. I had no idea how to deal with the problem at hand, and likely would never know the appropriate way to respond. Social cues weren’t really my strong point, but to say that implied I had any strong points. I could feel myself falling into the usual self-deprecating mindset I adopted during crises. It shouldn’t have even been an issue. It was stupid to get so worked up, and nothing would come of it. Even if his memories of the night were amazing, I was sure that he was hyping things up too much. Disappointing him seemed inevitable, be it in the bedroom or as one of his workers. I could only imagine the strain that would be placed on his friendship with my father, and I didn’t even want to think about the disapproval I would surely receive. The scenario I’d dreamed of hadn’t been all that farfetched, except for the love confession mid-orgasm. My father already resented my life choices, and a part of me felt sure he’d accuse Logan of corrupting me or something equally ridiculous. As much anxiety as I carried through my day to day life, I was still an adult and fully capable of making my own choices. Maybe they weren’t always the best choices, but they were mine to make.
Was it fear of the fallout that kept me from even looking at the messages I’d received from Logan? It wasn’t like he could say much to scare me off at that point, I was already scared out of my mind and my surroundings felt suspiciously like rock bottom. At least I still had the programming job for ECSD. Working for Logan would surely be tense from that point, but I had nowhere else to go… yet. There had been a rather tempting offer from an investor in the UK but I wasn’t going to let this project crumble to dust because of some awkward encounter. Rather, it had been a series of awkward encounters by then, but the point still stood. In spite of the overwhelming desire to close my eyes and let sleep claim me once more, I knew it wouldn’t do any good to get rusty while moping over my boss. Sliding out of bed, I strode towards my desktop computer, grabbing my cell phone as I passed. If I was going to be productive, I might as well go all out. I would have to listen to the messages eventually, in spite of the queasiness that swept over me at the thought. I hoped it was better to get things out of the way, as a matter of fact, I knew it was. If I dealt with the issues at hand, we’d be able to move past this whole thing much more quickly. Ignoring it would only cause the issue to fester, and I couldn’t afford to lose my tenuous grip on what sanity remained within me.
Unlocking my phone, I winced upon seeing twenty text messages and a single voicemail. Deciding that the texts would be easier to shake off, I scrolled through the messages with vague interest. They were mostly inquiries as to whether or not I was alright-- if I was angry, if I was safe. The final text was simple, but sent chills down my spine just the same.
Call me.
I knew that calling him was the absolute biggest mistake I could possibly make at the time. I should have simply deleted the voice message, but being the foolish man I am, I listened with baited breath. The desperate tone that had been in his texts was all the more evident in his voice, his sheer desire striking me to the very core. I pressed my thighs together, hating myself for getting involved in this whole thing. Even his voice had me trembling, and I was tempted to put the phone on speaker and loop the message as some sick… pleasure? Torture? The dominating force wasn’t clear anymore. It took every ounce of willpower contained within me to strengthen my resolve and delete all of the messages. I lingered on the delete button for a brief moment when erasing the voice message, but I finally did it as vehemently as possible-- like ripping off a bandage. I tossed my phone towards the corner of my room to hopefully be forgotten for the time being. Booting up the computer, I immediately checked my email and was simultaneously relieved and disappointed to not see any messages from the man who haunted my thoughts. I did have a message from Cieran, with the usual attachment of prospective omegas. I’d fallen behind on regularly running the matchmaking algorithm, and was a bit surprised that our clients hadn’t gotten annoyed yet. Shaking off thoughts of my inevitable failure, I opened the attachment and went to work. For all the slacking I’d done, I had a lot to make up for.
By the time I was done, around a dozen dates had been arranged and I felt mildly accomplished. As hopeless as I was when it came to my own love life, my algorithm seemed to work wonders for so many people. I couldn’t just abandon the project and destroy the opportunities of so many. I’d need to find a replacement before leaving the company, though Logan wouldn’t be informed as such until I’d found someone suitable. I didn’t think I could handle him trying to sway my decision. He could be so charming and so convincing. I just hoped I could avoid as much contact as possible with the elder alpha. I couldn’t stay locked in my apartment for the rest of my life, as appealing as it might have been. I would return to work the next day, and it would be business as usual. Any banter Logan tried to approach me with would be swiftly rebuked. I’d keep my head down and my nose clean, and hopefully find someone to take my place sooner rather than later.
Walking into my office was almost eerily calm compared to the scene I’d expected. I managed to stutter out a halfhearted greeting to Cieran when he tried to speak to me. He seemed to sense that something had me frazzled, and fortunately didn’t push the issue. At least, not at that exact moment. He handed me a cup of coffee the way I liked it, smiling before wandering back to whatever he was working on. I envied Cieran to an extent. I felt guilty for thinking as much, because his life had been so hard before ECSD came into
his life. He still seemed so careless and worry-free, flitting around the office to do whatever it was that caught his attention. He rarely stayed in one place for long, and I considered just watching him fidget with various fixtures. The paintings on the wall were never quite straight, if he was to be believed. I was more convinced that adjusting them just gave him something to do. I didn’t bother to mask my smile as he cleaned the coffee pot, making disgusted noises all the while. I did have work to attend to, however, and as much as I’d like to remain distracted, I couldn’t let our user base down.
The week passed much calmer than I’d expected, but my pessimism lingered. Somehow, even though I had no proof, I had a feeling that things were going to soon hit the fan. I concentrated on a line of code when there was a knock on the main office door. Since my door was open, I saw Cieran jump up from his desk before eagerly crossing the floor, nonplussed as another hard knock sounded.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” Cieran called out, pulling the door open and staring expectantly at the person on the other side. I couldn’t quite tell what was going on, as Cieran’s narrow body was still enough to block my vision. He chatted amicably with the stranger for a moment, taking a large box and sitting it just beside the doorway. “Now, get out of here,” Cieran said in a serious voice that lasted all of five seconds before he dissolved into giggles. The delivery man looked confused and somewhat flustered, and I stared at the other omega in the room as I heard the postman’s shoes rapidly retreating down the hall.
“You always have such a way with strangers, Cieran. Have I ever told you that?” I asked in a deadpan tone, to which he only smiled in response. Pushing the door closed, he turned his attention back to the box he’d deposited on the floor. His expression was curious, and after pushing away from my desk, I made my way over the scrutinize the delivery as well.