2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Rowland
A date? You have got to be kidding me. Groaning, I hover over the electronic diary on my computer, wondering when they managed to put that Friday evening appointment in without me noticing.
Must have been before I went into the meeting. Thankfully, I have some time before lunch with the investors, so I pick up the office phone in front of me and lean back into my chair, scratching my beard while it rings.
“Yes, Mr. Hall?” Riley answers the phone promptly using her flawless customer service voice, but I’m already sure she knows too well why I’m calling and only acts like nothing is amiss.
“Riley…would you kindly tell me who made that personal reservation for tomorrow evening?” Even the fancy restaurant setting has ‘Mother’ written all over it. Brickland Grove? Whoever the date is, they’re going to think I see them as an escort, not a date.
My questionably loyal secretary draws in a sharp, nervous breath, and her silence already tells me enough. This isn’t the first time—or fifth, for that matter. “Mrs. Hall, sir,” she admits in a low voice, and I sigh straight away. “She told me not to mention it. That you were fine with it. I apologize,” she says in a more serious tone, but I imagine she probably sits there with a slight smirk on her face.
“It’s fine,” I murmur, rubbing my eyes. I shouldn’t be dragging my employees into this stupid mess between me and Mother. That goddamn woman, she’ll never stop. “I’ll call her now. Don’t worry about it, Riley.”
“Of course, sir. Don’t forget about your phone call at twelve forty with Mr. Keller.”
“Thank you for the reminder. I won’t.”
Putting the phone down, I lean over the table. The papers next to me need signing, and there are at least five people in line to speak to me, so I have to sort this out quickly.
Shit. Was that school meeting today?
No. Oh, thank god. It’s next week.
I take my personal phone out of the pocket of my suit and dial Mother. As I glance around my office, I wonder if I’ve been working too much lately. That Friday evening spot was the only space in my schedule, otherwise filled to the brim. I didn’t even have time to see Mac this morning. He’s probably going to be complaining about it all evening.
Mina, on the other hand, is as distant as ever. Doesn’t seem to mind my absence at all. I hoped that giving her the space would help, especially at her age. Being twelve isn’t easy, but now I’m not even sure if I’m doing the right thing for her. Parenting never gets easier, does it?
“Yes, dear,” Mother’s voice sounds in my ear, breaking my train of thought. She sounds pleased with herself, so I figure she already knows what I’m calling about.
“How many times have I told you to not make random meetings for me without my knowledge?” I ask with a deep sigh, hopefully relaying all of my mounting dissatisfaction with her.
“Your schedule was open, and I have the children that evening anyway!” she blurts, acting like what I just said was unreasonable. “You have not gone on a date in ages, Rowe. Dear, you have to enjoy yourself sometimes.”
I can’t help but shake my head, even though I know she means well. Spinning around in the leather chair, I stare at the family photo on the wall. “I don’t have time to date. You know that. Didn’t we talk about boundaries not that long ago?” I smirk playfully as I talk, knowing I will go crazy if I take her too seriously. She’s only trying to help in her own annoying, infuriating way.
“Oh, stop acting like I’m doing something criminal. I am your mother. This past year, I’ve seen how low you’ve been getting. Always stressed and worn out…”
“Not this again, please,” I growl, rolling my eyes to the back of my head. “I am fine. I don’t need a person at my side to be content. I barely have enough time for work and the kids in my day.”
She scoffs. “That is where you are wrong. We all need someone to love. Someone to share our family with. To grow old with. And your ‘growing old’ is quickly approaching, dear.”
I clench my teeth and push an exhale through them. “Mom…”
“You’re nearly forty! Working all day, then sitting at home alone. What a sad, sad way to be! That is not what I imagined for you. You should be happy .”
“I’m not alone,” I remind her firmly. “I have Mac, Shawn, and Mina. Remember?”
“You haven’t been the same since…” I know where she’s going with it and would have stopped her if there wasn’t a huge lump growing at the back of my throat, suddenly preventing me from even drawing a breath. “Look, darling. It’s been five years. Tomorrow, in fact. It will be five years since that…hateful, ignorant bitch imploded our entire—”
“Mother!” I snap, raising my voice a little louder than I wanted. She will never stop being a sore spot, will she? No matter how many years pass by. No matter what she did or said. “I’ve told you one too many times to please call Hope by her name. She is the mother of your grandchildren.”
She sounds a little taken aback, but I know mom better than to expect her to stand down, especially when it comes to Hope. “Whatever you say, I know that what she did changed you. And I won’t let you give up on love, so…please, give this blind date a chance. For me.”
Looking at the ceiling, I press my lips together and try to remember the last time I truly believed I could be happy with someone else. The last time I tried to date, it only made me feel like an even bigger failure. No matter my status, there was always something. It always ended up only confirming the horrible things Hope had said about me.
Mother stays patient for a while, letting me wrestle with the answer, until she speaks again. “He’s a nice omega from a wonderful family. He works as a data analyst at a big company. I know his parents from my time in the MTC group. They’re lovely people. I think you would really benefit from someone who’s knowledgeable and settled like that.”
I sigh. The lump in my throat only keeps getting worse.
I’ve tried dating betas, omegas, even other alphas. None of it made a difference. For all of them, it was always too much work, in various ways. Maybe it simply isn’t fair to just thrust the burden of my condition onto someone else. Maybe I should accept the fact that this is the way things are for someone like me.
“Mom, I…”
“Please,” she urges, masterfully tugging at my heartstrings. “This one last date. Do it for me. Try to have fun. I won’t ask any more after that, I promise.”
Groaning, I turn back to face my desk and stare at the pop-up window on my computer’s screen. It’s been so long since I’ve been out with someone. With a man, at that. Perhaps…perhaps I should give it a shot. I’m just so tired of disappointment.
“Alright, alright,” I say, scratching my beard. “If you’ve already set this up, I can’t just cancel on him out of nowhere. Wouldn’t be right.”
Mother does little to mask her excited inhale. “That’s my boy! Wonderful,” she rejoices, and I can almost feel her joy over the phone.
“I have a call in a minute. Need to go,” I say firmly. Now that I’ve dealt with this, I need to get back to work. “And please, never put Riley in a position to keep things from me, alright? She is my secretary. I am her employer. You can’t just make her a part of your illegal match-making service,” I add, feeling like if I don’t, Mother would think I'm angry with her.
She chuckles. “Of course. But she was the one who suggested the restaurant. Said you enjoy eating there. The girl is perceptive.”
I roll my eyes.
“The girl works for me. She’s paid to be perceptive. She is also engaged. Goodbye, Mother,” I mumble out of annoyance and end the call. “ God ,” I whisper to myself and rub my face. The reminder for the incoming business call pops up in the corner of my screen.
In an attempt to get my head back in the game, I sip my cold coffee and focus on my reflection. I loosen the tie a little and study my beard. It’s getting too long. The salt and pepper that found its way on it—thankfully not on my head just yet—makes me look older than I’d like. I will have to find some last-minute appointment to get it trimmed if I want to make this person’s dinner at least a little worth it. Even if nothing will come out of it.
Fighting the heavy feeling telling me there is no point in even hoping, in expecting anything but another disappointment, I roll my head back and take a deep breath.
She didn’t even tell me his name.
A male omega, huh?
My chest tightens, differently to the usual anxiety. A familiar sensation, coming from somewhere deep within. It’s been too long… It has been too long since I felt the warm sense of satisfaction. Comforting, steady.
The phone rings, springing my attention back. I straighten my back in the seat, clear my throat, and hover my hand over the phone. If there is one thing in my life I feel fully confident in, it’s my work. Let’s forget about this foolish date and get back to making things happen.
“Rowland Hall, speaking.”