Chapter 10
Ten
HOLLIS
Remy and Felix are clearing away plates when I feel my phone vibrate in my bag. Glaring at it, I will it to shut up.
“That sounds aggressive,” Malcolm says teasingly. “Maybe you should answer it.”
“I’ve been trying to ignore it,” I say, putting down my wine glass to pull my phone out.
Frowning, I see that it’s an unknown number. I can’t ignore it since I’m a business owner who works off her cellphone, this happens often. I really should commit to a work and personal phone, but haven’t bothered yet.
“Hello, this is Hollis Edwards with Cupid’s Call, how can I help you?” I ask.
Malcolm smirks as I turn on my customer service voice. It’s a professional tone, which clearly says that this is a business interaction. Anything outside of that isn’t acceptable.
It usually works.
“ Ah, Hollis. This is Emilia Richardson,” she says.
Fuck. My eyes grow wide at Malcolm and Brice, and I place my finger on my lips. Putting the phone on mute before hitting the speaker so she won’t notice, I resume the conversation.
“Hello, Emilia. What can I do for you?”
I notice Brice text someone, and I have a feeling it’s Felix and Remy.
“ What you can do is cancel your silly little event,” she sniffs. “ We both know it’s a distraction technique to pull people away from an event that’ll actually benefit them.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” I murmur, making sure she can hear me.
It’s a reflex to pull the phone away from your mouth when you’re on speaker, but I can’t have her realize that others can hear her. I’m trying to cover my ass here. This is a woman who is very comfortable making people disappear.
“I believe that omegas can be business people, go to school, and do whatever it is that their heart desires. The bubble you insist on putting us in is damaging. Also, your antiquated ideas of what makes an alpha a ‘good’ person are skewed to your needs,” I remind her.
Emilia hums under her breath, and I’d be willing to bet money that she’s saying very unfavorable things about me in her head. Thankfully, I don’t give a shit what she thinks.
“ My ideas are what will bring omegas to heel like the naughty things that they are, ” she says.
My jaw drops in disgust. She’s an omega too! Why does she think that she’s better than everyone else?
“This isn’t a hierarchy of who is a better omega, Emilia,” I say.
“I started my dating company because of people like you. The idea that there’s only one correct way to find a pack if and only if that’s something an omega wants is antiquated and wrong.
There isn’t a chance in hell that I’m going to cancel?—”
“ Don’t think I didn’t hear your radio interviews,” Emilia seethes, cutting me off. “ Do you enjoy hearing yourself speak so much that you need so much air time? Omegas should be demure, something you’re clearly lacking in.”
Rolling my eyes because she can’t see me, I shake my head. For goodness sakes, I only did two interviews.
“I will never be anything close to demure, Emilia. I’m actually quite proud of that. I didn’t say anything I’d ever feel the need to retract during my interviews either,” I say. “It was all true.”
“ You said your event was unbiased!” Emilia complains. “ Hollis, this is slander. None of the things you said are true, and while I don’t want to get my lawyers involved, I will if you force my hand.”
“Do you think I don’t have a lawyer?” I ask, laughing. I probably shouldn’t be taunting her, but I’m annoyed. “I have three, Emilia. Depending on the situation I decide which one I call. I know for a fact that I didn’t say a word that was untrue, so please stop posturing.”
“ Fine ,” she growls. “ I’m going to continue in my usual path to bring omegas and packs back to traditional living. I’m not responsible for your decisions, Hollis. I hope you can live with them.”
I can hear Malcolm and Brice’s sharp intakes of their breaths, and I put my finger to my lips again. The bitch is actually threatening me. I wish I’d thought to record this. Fuck.
“Emilia, honestly,” I murmur, preparing to bluff.
“This recording will be at my lawyer’s office so quickly your head will spin.
I promise that you don’t want to threaten me.
From your podcasts to phone conversations, I don’t think you’re going to make it to your own event since you’ll be in a jail cell! ”
I can play catty as necessary. A slight tap on the table has my eyes darting up, and Brice points to his phone, which is recording. Giving him a brilliant smile, I incline my head in thanks. Damn, these alphas are quick on their feet.
“ No one can touch me, my sweet summer child,” Emilia laughs. I’m going to need to be very heavily armed at my event. Dammit. I can probably find thin knives to weave into my hair.
“This call is no longer productive,” I state. “I’m going to return to my wine and my date, Emilia.”
“ You don’t date, Hollis. A confirmed bachelorette is what they say about you. Do you think I’m stupid?”
Brice clears his throat, and I’m grateful for it. I have a fucking stalker.
“Emilia,” he says loudly. “It’s Brice Ledger, and it seems that you’re threatening someone very dear to me. I don’t think that’s a very good life decision, do you?”
“ Mr. Ledger?” she asks in surprise. “ Are you honestly on a date with Hollis Edwards? I’m surprised. Aren’t you aware of who her parents are?”
Fucking kill me. Emilia makes it sound as if they’re world renowned serial killers instead of upper crust mafia members with some insider trader tips. My parents aren’t the type of people who are dangerous. They have guards to keep their home secure, while I learned my skills from other people.
“The parents I’m estranged from?” I ask. “That’s adorable, Emilia.”
“We also believe that you’re not a reflection of who your sperm donor is,” Malcolm says caustically. “Have the day you deserve, Emilia.”
My finger smashes down on the phone to hang up on her, while Felix and Remy push off the wall of the house. I really haven’t been paying attention to my surroundings.
“Damn,” Felix mutters. “She’s gone from being a nuisance to an actual problem, hasn’t she?”
“Well, she didn’t offer to braid my hair and have drinks, that’s for damn sure,” I grumble. “I need to see what her podcasts are saying about me. I keep forgetting to listen.”
“So this isn’t the first time she’s threatened you?” Remy asks.
“Apparently not. That’s one of the other reasons for the increased security. The senior mafia members specifically brought it up to me. They’re concerned about the issues this could cause for me,” I say. “I’m not canceling, I’m just going to buy more knives.”
Felix adjusts his erection with a wince, and I chuckle. I guess they’re into knife play. Kinky fuckers. I’m not sure what I think about that but I am glad that my love of all things pointy doesn’t scare them.
“Unfortunately, I’m not especially excited that the leader of ROWS is gunning for me. How much of my conversation did you record by the way, Brice?”
“I hit record right after giving Felix and Remy a heads up to be quiet coming back out,” he says. “I’ll send this to you now.”
A couple of touches on his screen has my phone vibrating, and I nod in thanks.
“I’m going to need to make some calls,” I say regretfully. “I really do hate to cut this short. The food was delicious and the company was top tier.”
Malcolm smirks at me, and I have a feeling this may be an excuse for them to ask me out again.
“Go do what you have to,” he says. “How is your Saturday afternoon? Think it’s open?”
“I need to do a walk through of the event space that day, but otherwise I’m free,” I say, without needing to check my calendar.
God, I can’t believe the event is so close. I’m at eighty percent capacity now. I just need to bridge the gap between interest and confirmation.
“Want some go-fers?” Brice asks with a grin. “We take direction well.”
Fuck. How do they manage to do this to me? Squeezing my thighs together, I swallow hard as I perfume. Well, I guess I’m showing my cards tonight. Stealth isn’t in my wheelhouse.
All four alphas groan as my scent hits their senses, and since Felix and Remy are still standing, I can see the outlines of their cocks in their pants easily.
I know I’m an omega, but clearly some things have to be outside the scope of what I can fit inside of my pussy.
“I bet you do,” I breathe. “Okay then. Umm. Yeah. That happened. I’m going to need to map out where I’m going to set up, put tents, space heaters, etc. I’m up for company if you’d like to come.”
Scooting back my chair, I stand up to put my phone in my clutch.
“We make you nervous,” Malcolm observes, slowly following my lead to stand too.
“The four of you are overwhelming, though not in a bad way. My mind just goes straight into the gutter around you,” I say. “Everything just sounds really dirty.”
The back of my hand touches my heated cheeks, and they look as smug as pigs in shit.
“It’s an occupational hazard,” Remy explains. “It’s very difficult to control.”
“I’m sure it is,” I smirk, walking toward the back door.
Felix beats me to the door and opens it, allowing me to walk ahead of him. His hand settles on the small of my back as he leads me through the house as his pack follows behind us.
“Hollis, can I have your phone? I want to make sure you have everyone’s numbers,” Malcolm explains.
Intrigued, I unlock it and hand it over. Malcolm opens the contacts and inputs numbers and names, not bothering to snoop. I appreciate that not because I have anything to hide personally, but because my clients and friends deserve their privacy.
“Since Emilia is so insistent on calling from unknown numbers, the last thing we need is to make you uncomfortable picking up a call if it’s us” he says, handing back my phone.
Felix helps me back into my coat, and they all walk me out. Malcolm glances at his phone for a second before he hits a button, and I notice that the gate opens immediately.
“Are you expecting someone?” I ask before I can bite back my words.