Booker’s Bliss (Divergent Omegaverse #3)

Chapter One

Frey

The entire building was buzzing with the gossip that Lane and Derick Starling were retiring and their eight sons were going to take over. They were all going to return to town and work in the same building as Frey.

Fiddlesticks!

Frey ran a hand distractedly through his hair, nodding at the folks he passed, offering a smile he didn’t feel but forced to his lips. It was expected. He was the smiley, flirty fox. Only right now, with this news having been confirmed by his boss, Hollis Adice, and Derick's personal secretary, Monica, he wasn’t able to put on a real front of fun and friendly.

He listened to the snippets of conversation as he went.

“All of them in the same building?”

“Can you imagine the chaos?”

“How will this impact our jobs with so many people issuing orders?”

He didn’t stop and add his thoughts, keeping to himself his own speculation on the impact such a decision would have on everyone. Scared was what he was. There were many reasons for this and none he could or would talk about with anyone when it would mean he’d have to share some secrets he’d told no one except his doctor.

The fears he had were all about Booker coming back into the office full time and potentially what that meant for him. Fashion design, trends, and working with design concepts was the area Frey had majored in at college. These were Booker’s assigned part of Starling Enterprises. He could add up the same as everyone else when he recalled what changes these were and Hollis’s words.

“I haven’t really said anything, other than that I won’t be a walkover. And that I was honored, ‘cause I am. As for keeping them in check, you’ve been doing that for years. As for listening to us… that’s tricky to say when we barely get to see them, except for important meetings and new business that relates to their particular area of interest. Then it’s usually just one or two of them, not all eight.”

It all made horrible sense and left him conflicted. Because it stood to reason, Hollis would pair him and Booker together— in close confines.

Please, can you lay off?

His fox was in its damn element. It had taken a liking to the big bear shifter from the beginning and over the years they’d gotten to know him, his fox had set his sights on the bear. He believed they’d make a perfect pair. The bear, though grouchy and growly, had a big heart, which Booker wasn’t always able to hide. He’d endeared himself to his fox side.

Frey had not had the same—

Tell that lie to someone who might believe you .

Something else his fox had started to do was interrupt his thoughts and read them when Frey didn’t want him to. I’m not listening to you.

The loud snort got ignored as Frey sniffed and continued on, hoping he could catch Hollis alone to talk about his minor—major issue.

Frey’s step faulted. Shit, would Hollis continue with his current role, or would that change with his new position in the company?

There was little that got past Frey. He’d overheard Monica, a PA, talking on the phone about Hollis having a vote on what happened at board level. It had to mean he was going to be crazy busy if he had to work closely with all the brothers who, up to now, only visited Hazardville a few times a year for important meetings, but were now returning permanently .

A shiver ran up Frey’s spine at the thought of seeing the bear daily. It was selfish to think only of himself, but right now, with these sudden changes and a recent visit to his doctor and the subsequent tests he’d needed, Frey had too much worry for himself.

Frey did work with Booker, but until now, they’d not worked too closely together and he’d behaved in such a way the bear hardly tolerated him, and for good reason.

He sighed dejectedly as he trailed down the corridor, trying to figure out how to approach Hollis to explain he didn’t want to work with Booker and come up with a reason that didn’t make the actual reasons too obvious.

Frey had spoken to no one about his past. He had a work persona that he’d perfected to hide his insecurities, and it had succeeded. With everything in life, nothing stayed static and what he’d avoided—Booker—was about to land on his doorstep in an unceremonial fashion.

He should have anticipated everyone else would have the same idea as him when he got to Hollis’s office not a minute later, to find Isley, Monty, Bowie, Ziggy, Lennon, and Wilder crammed in the office.

“Let’s take this to the coffee lounge. There are more seats there and we won’t feel crammed in like sardines,” Hollis demanded, shaking his head at them.

Frey noted how others working on the floor stopped as they passed, curious looks aimed their way. Frey suspected that whatever official announcement came out, it would be too late, as gossip spread like wildfire.

Ushered inside, Frey perched on a colorful padded seat close to Hollis as a hush fell and an air of expectancy came. Frey took none of his usual enjoyment at being in the coffee lounge with its sweet smells and cheerful atmosphere, one Lane Starling had created to make staff feel relaxed when taking a break.

Frey didn’t take his gaze off Hollis after he shut the door and gave them his full attention. He looked the epitome of a smart, no-nonsense business executive, suited and booted with dark-rimmed glasses. “Lane and Derick are retiring. They have asked all their sons to return to Hazardville and run the company jointly.”

Monty’s chuckle held no humor. “As if they’ll be able to do that!”

“Yes, well, that’s not for you to worry about. For now, your biggest concern is that for the transition to happen smoothly, you will each find yourself allocated to one of the sons who work in the area of your expertise.”

It was exactly as Frey expected, but the sucker punch came nonetheless, and the wince he’d noted Hollis did while talking was now his own.

“What… no… you can’t be serious,” stuttered Bowie.

He didn’t look at Bowie as he waggled his thumb in Bowie’s direction, working to maintain his cool. “What he said! You know I—”

“I know perfectly well your opinion of a certain brother. You have made that abundantly clear. As I have said before, that is not my issue. My job is to ensure that my team, who are paid a princely sum to do their jobs,” he met each man’s stare, “do it. If you are unhappy, then I’m sure there are other firms looking to hire.”

“Hollis, do you really need to be an A-hole?” Frey questioned, finding it impossible to sit still so lounged back on the padded chair, doing his best to convey none of the anxiety forming into a hard ball in his guts. His hand rested on the arm of the seat, moving continually to release some of his tension .

Hollis gave Frey a stare that expressed his displeasure, which he hated but was too up in his own head about his fears coming true to worry about.

“Leave him be, Frey. This applies to him too,” Bowie pointed out, looking at Hollis sympathetically.

The remaining conversation flew over Frey’s head as he remained focused on one thing. Booker would be here—all the time!

How the hell was he going to avoid him now?