"You met with the CEO's mother?" Tanya shrieked, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Not so loud, Tanya!" I hissed, quickly glancing around to make sure no one heard. It had only been a day since I met Mrs. Walker, and I couldn't resist telling Tanya about it. Predictably, she got way too excited.
"Sorry, sorry!" she said, flipping on the dough mixer. With a sly grin, she added, "So… when should I expect the wedding invite?"
I paused mid-way through writing the stock order and looked at her dryly. "I went to meet Mrs. Walker, not to talk about marriage."
"Same difference," she said with a shrug, peering into the mixer.
"It's not the same. Robbie and I still have a lot to work through. We need time. I need time," I said, walking toward the cold storage.
Tanya followed behind me, her voice more thoughtful now. "You still angry at him… for abandoning you?"
I didn't answer immediately. I pushed open the heavy steel door and stepped into the walk-in, the blast of cold making my bones ache instantly. As I ran my hands across the inventory, I said,
"Anger isn't something that just disappears in a few months. But it's not just about that."
"I get it," Tanya said, grabbing a heavy bag of butter cubes from a lower shelf. "It's probably better this way. Rushing in without resolving things… it's a recipe for disaster."
"Wow," I said with a grin. "Look who's all grown up and wise."
"Can't be a brat forever," she shot back, sticking out her tongue. She hoisted the butter cubes into a clay bowl and said almost offhandedly, "Still… I feel bad for Fred."
I stilled.
That was still a sore point. There was a time I tried to talk myself into believing I could return Fred's feelings. Tried to believe I owed it to him, for his kindness, for always being there. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't.
"I always wondered," Tanya continued as she walked out, "why you didn't fall for him. That kind of sincerity is rare."
I sighed, more to myself than to her. Maybe we just weren't meant to be. Maybe love really isn't about logic.
***
During my lunch break, I slumped in the chair in my office, completely drained. Shuffling between Garnish, Timepass, and Hot N Sour was exhausting. People assume higher positions mean less work, but with the mental pressure and all the mistakes you're accountable for, it's a damn lie.
I stretched out, cracking my neck, and started browsing for local tutoring services. Twen's exams were around the corner, and although he wasn't doing poorly, he'd been struggling more lately with math and history. I didn't want him to fall behind, and with how little I was home, I thought hiring a tutor might help. Hopefully, it wouldn't overwhelm him.
I was comparing rates and reviews when my phone rang. No caller ID. I answered without checking.
"Yes?"
"Busy?" came Robbie's low, velvet voice.
I smiled without realizing it. "Not really. Just looking into tutoring for Twen. Thought a little extra help might ease the pressure."
"Why? His grades are dropping?"
"No. But the curriculum's getting harder. He's only in second grade, but it's starting to pile up."
Robbie chuckled softly. "He's seven, Tony. Not prepping for med school. Don't stress him out more than he already is."
"I don't want him to fall behind," I said, a little defensive.
I heard him exhale. "Listen, I sent you an email. It's a list of schools, top-rated ones. Check them out."
I blinked, pulling the phone back to look at it. "Schools? Why?"
"Because that hellhole he's in right now is poisoning him. The bullying, the parents talking shit, the teachers turning a blind eye, it's disgusting. They're normalizing discrimination between Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. If Twen turns out to be an Omega like you, he'll get crushed there. I'm not letting that happen."
His voice was sharp, almost shaking.
I paused. The memory of Twen's tearful face, the way he'd sobbed about what the other kids and their parents said about us, came back with full force.
"You remembered that?" I said softly.
"Of course I did," he muttered. "Jane pulled together the list. Best academics, modern curriculum, and most importantly, no fucking prejudice."
I opened the email on my screen. "I'll look through them tonight. How's the meeting going?"
"Official dinner in the evening. The planning board will be doing the final presentation. Then it's done."
"Don't slack now. Just a few hours left, power through it."
"I'm not slacking," he grumbled. "But plastering a fake smile while being polite to every condescending investor is exhausting."
I laughed under my breath. I was about to reply when I heard a woman's voice in the background, "Mr. Walker, Mr. Mandes is waiting for your signature on the contract."
Robbie's voice: "Tell them I'll be there in a minute, Jane."
"You better go," I said before Jane could reply.
"Yeah… but hey, give me a kiss for luck?"
I rolled my eyes and sent him a kiss emoji. "There, good luck."
There was a pause before he groaned dramatically. "An emoji? Seriously? That's cheating."
"Goodbye. Knock 'em dead."
I hung up before he could whine more, chuckling. That flirtatious little side of him hadn't changed one bit. It was annoying, and kind of endearing. I stared at the computer screen and realized my break was over. I closed the tab and got back to work.
***
By the time I made it to the parking lot, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Winter was driving insane business. The sheer volume of orders was enough to make any sane person crack. The moment I sat inside my car, my phone buzzed again.
Robbie?
Seriously, does he have a sixth sense?
I pulled it out, expecting his name.
It was Sam.
I answered. "Hey—"
"Tony," Sam's voice was frantic. "Did you pick up Twen?"
My body froze. "What? No. Why?"
"I can't find him!" Sam said, panic rising in his voice. "I waited outside the school, but he didn't come out. I checked with the security, he left the classroom but hasn't been seen since! Tony, he's missing!"