4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Celeste
I arrived at the large compound, which technically belonged to the family trust. For many centuries, omegas didn’t have the legal standing to be independent. Wealthy ones would still be expected to bond with a pack, and then everything would be managed by the alphas.
My parents had thought ahead, knowing I could potentially be at someone else’s mercy as I was their only child. My uncle, thankfully, was in my corner throughout all of this. But even he had some old school views.
Even now, as I strode through the halls of my family’s estate, I felt the precarious nature of my position. I was the wealthiest omega in the province, but only if I could convince other people that I deserved my position. Now at twenty-four, I had no pack to take me in if I ever lost this position. My uncle was the technical owner of the estate until I found a pack to bond, and he could kick me out of the compound if he wanted to. Not that he had any reason to. But I still tried to toe the line when it came to my uncle. I’d been a model niece as far as I was concerned. I’d listened to his advice, heeded his guidance, and tried my best to prove how strong of a leader I could be.
My heels clicked on the marble as I walked down the hall to his office, the echoing noise announcing my visit to anyone in the vicinity. I reached the wooden door, knocking curtly as I stood outside and waited.
The door swung open, and Sterling stood there, holding it for me with his usual, effortless precision. I never quite knew what to make of him. He was always dressed in a suit, crisp and immaculate, complete with a poker face. He rarely spoke to me, and when he did, it was clipped, professional, never personal. His steely gray eyes gave me no indication of what he thought. But I never quite trusted my uncle’s staff.
Sterling had been his closest assistant for two years now, replacing Arnault, who had been an absolute nightmare and a traitor. Although Sterling seemed to be loyal, I learned to never put my guard down around him. I breezed past him, ignoring his presence as I approached my uncle at his large wooden desk.
“So apparently, the news is reporting that Harringday is now going to offer paid parental leave.” He said, not looking up as he scribbled signatures on various documents. I felt my mouth go dry. Somehow, I always felt like a child when he reprimanded me.
“I know the announcement came earlier than we planned,” I said, keeping my tone even. “But it was a calculated decision. The journalist was gearing up to publish a hit piece on me. But I took over the narrative. Now everyone’s talking about how progressive Harringday Industries is.”
He shook his head slowly, lips pressed into a line. I held back a sigh, trying not to let his quiet disapproval chip away at my resolve.
“You know these things have a time and a place to be rolled out. Our Communications team had an entire strategic plan, and now all that work has to be thrown away.” He said, still not looking up yet. I bit back on what I really wanted to say. Even though I had cemented my place at Harringday, I still had to appease my uncle and the board of directors. Though they allowed me to take on the role as CEO, I was still running my plans by them before anything minor could be implemented. It was maddening.
They just didn’t trust an omega to be a real leader. If they had the slightest concern I was taking the company in a direction they didn’t like, they could attempt another vote to oust me. Their lack of trust in me was a type of discrimination I always had to deal with. It would never happen to an alpha. I bit back my frustration and nodded at his words.
“Anyway, that’s not the reason I called you in today. There’s something more serious we need to discuss.” My uncle said, his tone somber as he finally looked at me and stood up from his desk. When his eyes met mine, I wondered how he could possibly be related to my father. They looked nothing alike, my uncle’s beta frame smaller and so very average looking compared to my father’s alpha height. A few moments passed, and I started to get antsy about what he wanted. Normally I could handle even the worst news, so why was he hesitating? He sighed. “There’s been a development.” He finally said.
“What development?” I asked, wishing he would get to the point. I’d handled plenty of fiascos before. No company as large as Harringday was without problems.
“I don’t have to remind you how close we came to disaster when the Tedena incident occurred.” My uncle said, and my mind instantly flashed back to that awful time.
Ah yes, the Tedena incident - an off-the-books factory, outdated fire codes, and a quiet payoff to keep the story buried. I hadn’t even known about it until after the damage was done.
“Of course you don’t have to remind me. But that’s been handled.” I said, my stomach turning as I wondered where this was going.
“Well it seems that despite our best efforts, somehow the Pack Lockwood has gotten their hands on proof that not only did it happen, but it happened under your approval.” My uncle’s words hit me like a brick. How could anyone, let alone Pack Lockwood, get such a thing?
“What? The entire fiasco was because of Arnault!” I said tightly, my mind flashing back to when my uncle’s old assistant had almost ruined me. When the incident was uncovered during one of our internal audits, we found out he’d signed off on the whole cover up - involving a bribe to the local mayor - using my signature. A forgery, and something he should never have been able to do. By the time we found out, the damage was done. My uncle had his assistant fired and removed from the premises, but since the directive was under my name, it would be me who would look responsible if it ever came to light.
My uncle nodded. “Yes. But it seems that he might have sabotaged you in revenge. Pack Lockwood has copies of the paperwork, which clearly makes you look like the responsible party.” My uncle said, and I felt my heart race. That pack would ruin me, in any way possible, if they had the chance. And this was their chance.
“This is a disaster!” I said, pacing around as I started to sweat. My mind raced as I thought of how we would have to handle this. It would be a PR nightmare, plus with my already spicy reputation, many people would choose to believe that it was me who made the decision, not my uncle’s power-hungry assistant. It had almost been a year since I was voted in as CEO, and the board members who were always against my ascension could use this to tip the scales and vote me out.
“There is, however, a way out of this.” My uncle’s words stopped me.
“I don't like the way you said that.” I replied, wondering what he was delaying telling me.
“You won’t like it. But you need to consider it. It’s the only way we can save the company, and your reputation, from this PR mess.” His words were heavy, just like the weight in my stomach.
“What is it? Tell me.” I pleaded, stopping to face him.
“Pack Lockwood has come to us with a proposal. They have proof of the Tedena incident, but they also have their own issues to deal with.” My uncle said, his arms crossed as he watched me. “They have been, how can I put it, unsuccessful in their endeavors to find an omega since the Darlington Ball.” My uncle tried to be as diplomatic as possible, but he was putting it lightly. They had been practically radioactive since I’d outed them for their attempted kidnapping of me. Since then, no omega, or anyone else, would go near them. Despite the tension in the room, I almost smiled to myself at the thought of them suffering. They deserved every second of it.
“And? What do they want?” I asked, trying not to let panic take over.
“They want to fix their reputation. They are very serious - and they want you to agree to several terms. The first is that you withdraw your claim that they were behind the attempted kidnapping.” My uncle’s words almost made me want to laugh. How could I lie about something I knew they were behind? “That’s the first part of the request. The other part is that you agree to court them, publicly, for image only. Not in reality.” He quickly added. My jaw dropped open at his words.
“ Court them? You have to be kidding me!” I yelled, throwing my hands up in the air. “They were behind the plot to kidnap me and ruin my chances at being CEO! They almost cost me the family legacy!” I cried, sweat beading down my back as I thought about what they were asking. How could I eat my words publicly, and make a realistic effort at pretending I would ever date this awful pack?
“Celeste, consider it. It would be a fake courtship. It benefits both sides. Think of it as any other business deal. If you were to date them, it completely clears their reputation and makes them one of the most desirable packs in the world. And they will keep your secret.” My uncle pleaded as I ran my hands through my hair.
“What makes you think they would keep their side of the deal? If they have proof that the Tedena incident was under my watch, they could always release it later once their reputation is clear!” I said, disgusted at the idea of having to go through with such a charade. My uncle crossed his arms and looked at me, his face stone cold serious.
“Mutually assured destruction. They have already written out a contract. We’d each get a copy with signatures if you choose to go forward with this. Once the terms are completed, they would clear their reputation, and you would keep your name out of the Tedena scandal. If they were to come forward and expose you, we could take the contract public and everyone would know they forced your hand in it.” I circled the desk, and in the corner of my eye I saw Sterling, still as a statue.
“Some privacy please, uncle.” I said in a low voice.
“Leave us, Sterling.” My uncle dismissed his assistant, who nodded and turned to exit the office. I waited until he was gone before continuing.
“Uncle, you know they could slip the papers to someone else as soon as the deal is over. Then someone else could simply show proof of the Tedena incident, ruining my reputation as soon as theirs is clear.” I said, gritting my teeth.
“Already thought of that. There’s a clause for that exact situation - they are willing to put millions on the line to assure that their evidence would never get into another person’s hands. They must be absolutely sure that however they procured it, they have the only copy. Otherwise it would be crazy to put their money on the line.” He said as I paced, my mind thinking of all the possibilities.
“No. I want it negotiated so that if that were to happen, I’d have a stake in their company. A rather large one.” I stepped back, and my uncle looked at me in surprise.
“I’ll ask them to amend the contract.” He seemed pleased that I was considering it. “But Celeste, there’s one more thing.” He said as I sighed.
“What, uncle?” I said with barely restrained frustration.
“Part of the contract stipulates that during the duration of the courtship - three months, by the way - is that you live with them on their compound.” He watched me as I processed the last part, my mind whirring in disbelief for moments before I finally responded.
“Absolutely not!” I yelled, almost ready to flip the desk in my frustration. “No way would I ever want to live with them! Who knows what they would do to me! I would have to be insane to agree to such ridiculous demands!” I cried, my body shaking with anger.
“They only ask because you’ve always been known to live with the packs you courted before.” He replied apologetically.
It was true - in my other major courtships, I had always moved in with the pack to see how our life would be if we lived together. It was clear from my social media posts that I always lived with a pack during a serious courtship. Well, the few that I’d had, anyway.
“Celeste, hear me out. I think it’s an opportunity. You can gain their trust, and find out more about how they work. Bring your knowledge back with you.” He said.
“So, you’re talking about corporate espionage? You know they will be doing the exact same thing to me.” I said as I shook my head in frustration.
“They have an attached wing where you would stay. You wouldn’t have to see them in the house at all if you didn’t want to. You just have to make it look real to the press.” He was pleading for this to go through. “Celeste, they’ve given you until the end of the day to consider, or they will go public.” My heart raced. One day to throw this on me? I had to hand it to them, they knew how to play dirty. It was hard to make a decision or think clearly when you were panicked and under pressure.
“Celeste, I need to know now what you are thinking. If you are against it, we need to prepare for the fallout - the board will certainly use it against you. But please think about it. Your name, your legacy, it’s all on the line. You know the Tedena incident incriminates you, even if you and I know you had nothing to do with it.” My uncle's words filled the room as I paced more, trying to think.
I couldn't let the Tedena incident get out. The board could vote me out if I tanked the company’s reputation, of that I was sure. But could I stand living with that despicable pack? Who knew what they would do to me? They had already tried to set up my kidnapping.
“I need assurances in place if I go through with it. We need regular check-ins, and I want the media releases to go through me. I can’t have them pulling anything tricky.” I said, and my uncle looked slightly relieved that I was considering the abominable deal. I couldn’t help but feel anger at his desire that I go through with this. He didn’t want any bad press for Harringday either. But he wasn’t the one who would have to live with a nasty pack of alphas.
“We can get all that sorted. But we need to work quickly.” He replied. I thought over any addendums I needed in the contract.
“Also, we need them to pick a time to sign the contract, if they have only given me a day to respond. We need a time and a place, and trusted witnesses.” I said. My uncle looked at the desk. “What? What is it?” I asked.
“The other thing I need to mention to you is that they only told me about all of this, including their offer, today. They are already here, in the North Wing, waiting for your decision.”