by Esme Beal
I turned back to Jon and gritted my teeth.
“Don’t force my hand,” I said. “You know that nobody can run this company as well as I can.”
“The board of directors has only one responsibility. Not to you or me or even the people. It’s to this company. And we will do what needs to be done to make sure that this company is maintained, regardless of who occupies this conference room.”
I sighed a soft breath through my nose. I knew what I had to do. My last effort to try and plead with Jon to see reason was lost on him.
There’s no other way…
“Very well,” I said as I straightened my tie. “It’s clear what my options are. The decision I have to make is obvious.”
“And what is your decision?” Jon asked.
“I—”
The doors to the conference room suddenly boomed open. I turned and watched as Noah quickly paced toward me. Behind him, my assistant Donna followed right after him.
The board members all murmured to one another, wondering what was going on.
“What is this?” Jon said. “Who are you?”
“I’m Noah,” he said. “Ashton’s Omega. The convicted criminal. The ex-convict you no longer want him to be with.”
“Noah…” I whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“Stopping you from making a mistake.”
Noah stood next to me at the head of the table. He put his hands behind his back and looked at each of the board members one by one.
“Look at you,” he scoffed. “People in charge of the richest company in all of Snow Falls. Respected by your peers all over the world. You’re obligated to do what’s best for WET. You advise Ashton to do what’s best. And for what? To make sure your bottom line grows as much as it can.”
Noah began pacing back and forth. He had the attention of the entire room.
“What does WET even do?” he asked. “What services do you provide? What products do you sell? What do you do for the people of Snow Falls?”
“We do a lot for this city,” Jon said.
“Maybe you do. But I know what the people in this city need. I’ve lived in the Southern Block my entire life. They don’t care about whatever fancy technologies you’re coming up with. They don’t care about new gadgets or scientific discoveries. You know why? Because they’re busy trying to live their lives. They’re struggling just to make it.”
There was a determination in Noah’s eyes I’d never seen before.
“I am a criminal. Convicted of a crime. Stealing food because there was someone in need. I’ll admit that. I’m not ashamed of it. But I have to ask, where was this company when those people down there in the Southern Block were starving? Where were you when those people needed clothes or had nothing to protect themselves from the heat or the rain or the snow? I know where I was. I was down there with them. Now…”
Noah looked at me, a frown on his lips even though he remained as determined as ever.
“…Now you threaten to take away everything from a man who worked so hard to get where he is. All because of what? Because he fell in love. He didn’t choose me. I didn’t choose him. Webb Enterprises and Technology… If any of you value the success of this company at all, you’ll realize that it was never about putting up a front with the CEO and whatever handpicked Omega you chose for him. It was about what you did. There are people out there who need help.”
Noah pointed out toward the window. The Southern Block in the distance I’d become so familiar with had never looked as amazing as it did now.
“Ashton won’t step down as CEO of this company. Not for you. Not for me. Not for anybody in this city.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” Jon said.
“It’s not. But there’s someone with more influence than you or me.”
“And who’s that?” Jon said, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
“The public.”
The frown left Noah’s lips, replaced with a confident smile that made me do the same even though I didn’t know what he was getting at.
“Donna has a direct line to the papers,” Noah said. “If you make Ashton step down, she’ll make the call first. Everything that happened in this room will be known. What will the public think when they read what happened? How much support will WET receive when they realize that the CEO, the man who created this company, was forced out because he decided to sleep with a man who was convicted for stealing a loaf of bread? I can’t imagine they’ll be too curious to support WET then. I can’t imagine any worse PR for this company. How will this company survive without the support of the people of Snow Falls?”
Noah sighed a deep breath. He swallowed to clear his throat. He looked exhausted from having to say everything he just did. I couldn’t imagine what was going through his head. But he kept smiling at me softly. In my chest, my heart thumped so hard for him. I wanted to squeeze him tight in my arms and never let him go.
“Well,” Jon said as he turned to the board of directors. “Have you made a decision, Mr. Webb?”
“You know what my decision is,” I said, my eyes locked on Noah.
“Very well. The board has all of the information it needs. In light of these new developments, we’ll reconvene at a later time to discuss your status as CEO of this company.”
The board of directors got up from their seats and all started to file out of the room. Jon gave me a smirk and patted me on the shoulder before leaving with the rest of the board. As soon as they were gone, I let out a sigh of relief.
“What are you doing?” I said to Noah. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I knew what you planned on doing,” he replied. “I wasn’t about to let you walk out on your own company for my sake. You couldn’t plead for yourself so I did it for you.”
“And you?”
I raised an eyebrow at Donna. She gave me a shrug and held her arms out.
“You’re my friend,” she said. “That more than anything. When Noah said you needed my help, you know I had to do everything I could.”
“Well, nothing is settled yet. Let’s just hope that the board sees reason and you don’t have to talk to the papers. I think they’ll understand though…”
Noah wrapped his arms tight around me. I held him in my embrace and kissed him on the top of the head.
“Is there anything else I can do?” he asked.
“Not with the board. There is something I need to do though. Something I planned on doing anyway.”
“And what’s that?”
Noah and Donna stared at me, confusion on both of their faces. I smiled knowing that nothing would stop me from settling the other business I had.
“It’s time to pay a visit to someone.”
Chapter 24
ASHTON
“Are you sure about this?”
After what just happened in my office a few moments ago, I was filled with a confidence that made me feel like I could do anything. Seeing Noah now made me more determined than ever.
I put my hands on his shoulders and nodded.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “There’s nothing she can do to me in there. She knows that there would be hell to pay if she tried.”
“Considering what she’s already done, I wouldn’t put anything past her.”
“Maybe. But I didn’t come here to start a fight with her. I’m here to finish it.”
I gave Noah a wink to reassure him that everything would be all right. His smile was enough for me to know that I didn’t have anything to worry about.
I turned toward the guards standing at the door and gave them a nod.
“It’s Ashton Webb,” one of the guards said on his walkie-talkie. “Here to see Queen.”
I was ushered into the building with the two guards by myself. I made my way through the casino, ignoring all of the onlookers, until I was back to the lounge I’d been to once before.
I stood in front of the curtain and Queen’s beast of a personal bodyguard stepped out from behin
d it. He was followed right after with Queen right behind him. She was dressed in a lavish red dress today, accentuating all of the features of her physique. The usual amount of makeup on her face covered up what she really looked like.
She looked down her nose at me, her lips slowly curling into a smirk.
“Mr. Webb. You’ve returned.”
“I have. There’s some business to discuss.”
“I see. And have you reconsidered my proposal from last time?”
“I’ve something else for you to consider. If we could discuss this in private.”
“Very well…”
She sauntered through the curtain. I followed her into the small, private lounge where she sat in her seat, sipping on a glass of wine and indulging in the luxuries of her privileged life.
“It’s so good to see you,” she said. “I’m sorry about what happened at your building the other day. I was just trying to make you see reason.”
“I understand what you were trying to do. You didn’t have to go that far.”
“But I did. You see, you’re the richest man in all of Snow Falls. You and I could create a partnership greater than anything this city has ever seen. Think about it. The amount of money I’m making would increase dramatically if I were to receive your support. I think it’s only fair since I’ve invested in your company.”
She gave me a sly smile, hiding it behind another sip of champagne.
Just relax… Stay calm…
I glanced at her oafish bodyguard. He was eyeballing me intensely the entire time. I stood patiently with my hands behind my back, just waiting until Queen got everything out.
“So,” she said. “I take it the board isn’t too pleased with the information I’d given them.”
“A CEO dating a convicted felon. It’s hell on public relations.”
“I was only helping you to see reason. Drop the Omega and join me. I’m sure you had some bond with him but you have to do what’s best for business. I’m sure the board made you see that.”
“They did. Unfortunately for you, it didn’t work.”
“Oh?”
She arched an eyebrow at me, her stare beginning to fill with the disdain I was used to. The smirk on her lips disappeared. I didn’t plan on leaving this place with Queen in a good mood.
“What you don’t understand is that when you have a strong bond with someone, they’re willing to do anything for you,” I said. “That Omega went to bat for me. He put himself on the line when he didn’t have to. He said what I couldn’t. Now the board understands that me not being with Noah is the worst kind of public relations nightmare they could ever have to deal with.”
“I don’t—”
“Noah is an Omega from the Southern Block. The kind of ordinary man that everybody could relate to. When people see that even I, the richest man in the city, could fall for someone like him, it will fill them with a hope like nothing else. Your attempt at trying to discredit me or my Omega by revealing a little detail about his past backfired. He was a criminal but you never looked into what kind of man he was. You didn’t really expect me to lose my company over something so trivial, did you?”
“Ha!”
She laughed and rolled a grape into her mouth. She chewed with her mouth open as she looked me up and down.
“Very good, Mr. Webb. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the CEO of Webb Enterprises and Technology. Oh, well… You can’t blame a woman for trying.”
“In this case, I can.”
“Careful now. I’m an investor in your company.”
I chuckled softly at her and shook my head.
“My company is grateful for any investment it can get. But you can keep your investment. I’m sure my company will be fine without it.”
“Very well… Let’s agree to go our separate ways. Bruno, escort Mr. Webb out, will you?”
Bruno stepped toward me but I put my hand up.
“There’s just one other thing I wanted to discuss with you.”
“Is there now?” she said. “And what’s that?”
I took a step toward her, staying as calm and patient as I could.
“You threatened my relationship with my Omega,” I said. “You threatened my position with the company. Did you really think I would let your callous actions go unpunished?”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that sounds like a threat, Mr. Webb.”
“It’s not a threat. No, it’s something more than that. A reminder of just who I am.”
“Ah…”
She got up from her seat. She was a few inches shorter than me but that didn’t stop her from defiantly looking up at me like she was bigger.
“And what will you do?” she asked. “Call the police and tell on me? If my operation hasn’t been shut down so far, what makes you think they’ll have any interest in doing so now?”
“I’m not going to call the police.”
“Will you tell the papers? Squeal on me and tell all my dirty little secrets like I tried to do to you?”
“No. I can close the Queen’s Pit more easily than that.”
“And how’s that?”
“I have money.”
“Ha!” she scoffed. “I own this property. As rich as you are, there’s no price you could pay me short of everything you own. No, the Queen’s Pit will remain in Snow Falls for as long as I’m alive.”
“I can’t afford to buy this property. But you underestimate just how much money I have, Queen.”
“Are you making me an offer?”
“Not to you. To the people around you.”
I smiled but she wasn’t doing the same. The realization of what I was saying was slowly beginning to get through to her.
“I have money,” I said. “Money that the property owners around you won’t refuse. Think about it, Queen. I’ll buy the property to the north, south, east, and west of you. In every direction, you’ll have a business surrounded by my property.”
“And what will you do with that property?”
“Level it. Pave it completely and turn it into a parking lot. Or perhaps I’ll build housing. Housing specifically designed for people down on their luck like the shelters in the Southern Block. Think about it. The Queen’s Pit will be the hub for the people I know you loathe. What will your clientele think when they have to wade through miles of filth, to get to your place? A giant spotlight would be on Queen’s Pit. It’d only be a matter of time until they found somewhere else to throw their money away. Perhaps, I’ll start my own casino. A legitimate casino. I know a few city council members who’d be willing to—”
“You wouldn’t dare try to compete with me.”
“Just like you wouldn’t dare try to take my business from me.”
I moved closer to her and looked her right in the eye.
“Stay away from me,” I said. “Stay away from my Omega. Stay here and celebrate what you have. If you don’t, I won’t hesitate to destroy you. This is the only warning I’ll give you.”
Bruno stepped forward and glared at me. I looked him up and down.
“I have enough money to afford the best personal training money can buy,” I said to him. “If you put a finger on me, I won’t hesitate. Is it really worth hurting yourself for her?”
Bruno turned toward the woman he worked for. Queen had never looked so frustrated before. Skin red. Jaw clenched. She glared at me, hard breaths through her nose.
“Get out,” she muttered.
I gave her one last glance before finally turning around and leaving. The guards didn’t give me any trouble as they escorted me back out toward the entrance where Noah was waiting for me.
“What happened?” he said. “Are you all right—”
“It’s okay,” I said as I hugged him. “Just had to settle some business.”
“Queen… What did you say to her?”
“You have nothing to worry about from Queen any longer. From now on, everything is going to be just fine. I promise.”
Chapter 25
NOAH
One week later…
My stomach had already swelled to the point of a noticeable bulge. My skin stretched out, the muscles of my abs replaced with a round, smooth belly.
I looked down past my stomach and smiled at the man buried underneath me.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I said with a soft chuckle.
I pressed my knees onto Ashton’s arms and pinned him down.
“Noah, please,” he playfully pleaded. “Let me go!”
“No, I’ve got you right where I want you.”
“What would they think of me? An Alpha being taken by his Omega. Think of the headlines.”
“I don’t care what everybody says. I’ve got you right where I want you.”
I kept myself on top of him, my knees sinking onto his arms.
“Okay, okay! You can at least move your legs. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
I slowly moved my knees away from his arms.
“Now…” I said as I ran my hand through his hair. “You know what I want.”
“I do…”
He stuck his tongue out and licked my already hard cock. The slick wetness of his tongue on the underside of my shaft sent a shudder through my spine.
“That’s it,” I sighed as I massaged his scalp. “Just like that…”
Ashton wrapped his lips around me and started sucking on me the best he could. I rolled my head to the side and admired the view in the mirror. Me on top of him, my cock in his mouth, my belly swollen and proud.
I reached out and braced myself on the headboard as he swallowed my cock whole. I was so hard just from being naked with him. Now I was on the verge of exploding.
“Oh, God… Oh, God…”
He moaned on my cock, his breath warm and his mouth so wet. All of the shudders shooting through my spine were too much for me to handle.
“I’m gonna come… Swallow me, Ashton…”
“Mmm-hmm…”
He moaned with his mouth full of me. I rocked my hips gently back and forth. It didn’t take much more effort to quickly find my end.